719: Dr. Abby Smith: Studying the Sea through Shells, Skeletons, and Sediments

Dr. Abby Smith is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Marine Science at the University of Otago. She Received her B.A. Degree in Geology and Biology from Colby College, her M.S. Degree in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and her PhD in Earth Science from the University of Waikato. Abby joined us in this interview to share stories from her life and science. People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes Life Outside of Science<br /> Abby is a mother of two, and she keeps busy with family life and taking care of her kids. In her free time, she likes to watch cricket, knit, and cook. In particular, Abby has been experimenting lately with making different fruit jams and preserves. The Scientific Side<br /> In the lab, Abby is dedicated to studying shells and the animals that make shells. She is interested in how shells are made, what they are made out of, and how fast they grow. Abby also examines how shells break down over time and uses old shells to understand what the water was like in the past. A Dose of Motivation<br /> “If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn’t be called research.” by Albert Einstein What Got You Hooked on Science?<br /> Abby grew up in Boston and spent her summers on the coast of Maine. As she learned more about the animals and plants on the beaches, Abby began leading her own guided tours to share her knowledge with guests. After high school, Abby worked at the New England Aquarium, and she enjoyed telling visitors stories about the sea life there. This fascination with ocean life has stayed with Abby throughout her career. The Low Points: Failures and Challenges<br /> The workload of an academic scientist is a challenge. It seems like there is constantly more and more to do, and expectations are constantly on the rise. This was particularly challenging when Abby was raising her children, and she knew that female graduate students in the program were looking to her as a role model. There were times where she just had to accept that sometimes things weren’t going to be perfect. A Shining Success!<br /> Abby has worked in her department for over 20 years, and it was really wonderful when her colleagues in the department unanimously selected her as their department leader. It was great to know that they respected her and her work. In particular, Abby was pleased to know that the dean wanted to appoint her to the position because she had excellent work/life balance. Book Recommendations<br /> Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers, The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly Most Treasured Travel<br /> One place that Abby will never forget is Sicily. She traveled there for a meeting of the International Bryozoology Association and was delighted to enjoy the phenomenal food and sunshine with her colleagues. Her sisters also visited her the week before the conference, and they enjoyed sampling the fresh foods of Sicily together as they explored the city. Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories<br /> When