Geological Society of America Announces 2021–2022 Fellows for Science Policy and Communication

Boulder, CO, USA: GSA is pleased to introduce three outstanding new Fellows who will assist with efforts during the next year to increase efficacy in serving society through science.

The 36th GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow (CSF) is Amanda Labrado, a biogeochemist with a broad background in earth and environmental sciences. She recently received her Ph.D. from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she studied how microbes facilitate the formation of minerals on the top of salt domes, large geological features located below Earth’s surface. Her graduate research was supported by a NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship for Planetary studies since her project, although centered around Earth-based observations and experiments, has implications for the search for life elsewhere.

Through the course of her studies, Labrado broadened both her scientific and cultural horizons by conducting geophysical surveys of the subsurface in South Africa, geomicrobiology in Spain, and cave research in Sicily and Cambodia, along with participating in international conferences. Labrado received numerous scholarships from various organizations, including The Geological Society of America (GSA), the Society of Independent Professionals Earth Scientists (SIPES) Foundation, and the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), as well as from a petroleum research consortium. She completed an internship with Chevron and was also awarded the Bruce Davidson Memorial Award in Geosciences, which commends both scholastic excellence and community involvement within the geosciences department.

Labrado was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, a predominantly Hispanic border community situated in the semi-arid landscape between the Franklin Mountains and the Rio Grande. As this border region is greatly affected by air pollution and drought, Labrado learned how inseparable socioeconomics, policy, and science are, and the challenge of successfully and effectively communicating science with various audiences. Because of this, Labrado served as the president for the local chapter of the Association for Women Geoscientists, which promotes women and other underrepresented groups in the geosciences, and president of the El Paso Geological Society, which aids in exposing the community of El Paso to local geological attractions. These organizations helped her engage with local teachers, students, and non-scientists, gaining a unique perspective on the intersection between environmental, social, and political issues.

Morgan Monz will serve as the 2021–2022 GSA Science Policy Fellow in Washington D.C. Monz has a broad background in earth sciences and science communication. She recently earned her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, where her research focused on better understanding the microstructural processes in natural ice that play a major role in glacier and ice sheet movement. During her Ph.D., Monz worked as a teaching assistant, served on multiple departmental committees, and volunteered as the department’s outreach coordinator. As part of the American Geophysical Union’s Voices for Science 2020 policy track cohort, she conducted policy outreach activities to promote the use of data and scientific knowledge in decision making, and to increase engagement between scientists and policy makers. She also helped launch the Twin Cities Science Policy Network in an effort to increase science policy engagement within Minneapolis and St. Paul, specifically.

Prior to her Ph.D., Monz earned her B.A. from Colby College where she double majored in geology and environmental science. At Colby, she developed a particular curiosity for understanding the complex interactions between humans and the environment. Her current interests incorporate climate science, geology, and science communication, specifically on how the intersection of these topics can be used for building a repository of accessible data that supports policy aimed at developing a more climate- and environmental hazard–resilient nation.

Emily Zawaki began her term on 1 August as the 2021–2022 GSA Science Communication Fellow. In this role, Zawacki will help translate technical research from GSA journals and meeting presentations into relatable stories for non-technical audiences.

She recently received her Ph.D. in geological sciences from Arizona State University. Beyond her scientific expertise, Zawacki has significant experience in traditional communications and journalism; she was editor-in-chief of her undergraduate alma mater’s newspaper and was selected to participate in GSA’s Science Communication Internship program in 2019. She greatly enjoys conducting science outreach online and has created numerous fun educational videos for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram on a wide range of subjects. Zawacki is pleased to have the opportunity to bring her skill set together as GSA’s Science Communication Fellow, where she looks forward to incorporating multimedia as a means of making cutting-edge geoscience research more accessible for non-technical audiences.

The Geological Society of America (GSA) (https://www.geosociety.org) unites a diverse community of geoscientists in a common purpose to study the mysteries of our planet (and beyond) and share scientific findings. Members and friends around the world, from academia, government, and industry, participate in GSA meetings, publications, and programs at all career levels, to foster professional excellence. GSA values and supports inclusion through cooperative research, public dialogue on earth issues, science education, and the application of geoscience in the service of humankind.

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For Immediate Release
2 August 2021
GSA Release No. 21-44

Contact:
Christa Stratton
+1-303-357-1093

Amanda Labrado
Amanda Labrado

Morgan Monz
Morgan Monz

Emily Zawaki
Emily Zawaki