Thu

5 Oct

Student Spotlight: How Does Someone Become a Geologist?

(October 5, 2023) - Discovering a mineral deposit is a complex process, there’s no doubt. So, too, is finding one’s passion within the many post-secondary offerings. For Nia Gauthier, the path to becoming a geologist was also hidden beneath the surface. Nia is now a thesis-based Masters of Geology student at Laurentian University, supervised by Dr. Stéphane Perrouty.

Through her academic journey, Nia completed two post-secondary degrees and is working towards her third. “I didn’t think I could make it to university at first, and I am now beginning my Master's, something I didn't think was achievable,” she said. After graduating from École Secondaire du Sacré Coeur in 2018, Nia thought about applying to Laurentian’s Engineering program, knowing that career options in Greater Sudbury were plentiful. However, she didn’t think she had the high school science grades necessary to attend. Nia didn’t let this discourage her, and she completed a two-year Civil and Mining Technology program at Collége Borèal to boost her grades. “Going to college first helped bridge the gaps of what I learned in high school and gave me the tools I needed for university,” she said.

During her college studies, Nia discovered she had a passion for geology and wanted to learn more once she had been introduced to the field. Underground and field exploration mapping is where Nia’s interests lie. Nia worked with Borden Gold, a company located in her hometown of Chapleau, as a core technician, soil sampling in the core shack alongside geologists during the summers from 2018 to 2020. She was happy to discover that Laurentian has an exceptional Earth Sciences program with comprehensive field school training, so she prepared for the next step and began her degree in September 2020.

“Many of the faculty at Laurentian are passionate about student success,” said Nia. Tobias Roth, Lynn Bulloch, and Dr. Pedro Jugo are just a few of the staff and faculty members who positively impacted Nia’s academic experience. In her undergraduate studies as an Earth Sciences student at Laurentian, Nia was a member of the Earth Sciences Club. Through the Club, she attended annual weekend trips to Bancroft, Ontario, for mineral collecting. “The trips were a big step in getting to know other students while doing something we are passionate about,” said Nia. The Willet Green Miller Centre also created an environment where Nia felt at home with other geology students.

Nia gained field exploration experience during the summer of 2021 while working for SPC Nickel, a junior company in Sudbury, where she searched for copper, nickel and PGE (Platinum-group elements) bearing minerals. Earlier this year, Nia was notified by a Laurentian faculty member about a field exploration position with Frontier Lithium in Northwestern Ontario. She spent the summer of 2023 working for the company, searching for LCT (lithium-cesium-tantalum) pegmatites. Nia is excited to graduate in two years and will travel while working in production or exploration geology. Nia even sees potential for completing a PhD later on in life. Nia is an example of why you should follow your passion and never give up, even when it might be more difficult than finding your typical nickel deposit.