Marion McKenzie
USA
Paleo-glaciology doctoral student
Marion became interested in glacial geology and polar geosciences during her undergrad at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. There, she conducted work on paleo-glacial ice flow in Iceland and northern Pennsylvania as well as research on permafrost degradation in Alaska. She is now a PhD student in the Ice and Ocean Group at the University of Virginia studying paleoglaciology and ice sheet dynamics in the formerly glaciated Puget Lowland, Washington State. Her research includes a combination of field, laboratory, and computer-based analysis. Understanding the past of glacial systems is the key to predicting the future of contemporary glacial systems, which is why Marion is so interested in previously-glaciated landscapes!
She serves on her department’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee as a graduate student representative. She hopes to contribute to removing barriers to academia and add to efforts to make academia a more welcoming and inclusive space so that scientists from all walks of life may be supported and see themselves represented. When not working on research or in the field, Marion enjoys running, hiking, painting, and spending time with her dog Evy!