Meet Vicki Tschirhart

Dr. Vicki Tschirhart is a research scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada at Natural Resources Canada. Dr. Tschirhart has been working in the field of geophysics for over 3 years and received her PhD in Applied Geophysics from McMaster University in 2014.

Transcription – Meet Vicki Tschirhart

[Music starts]

[Fade in to Vicki Tschirhart seated]

[Text on screen:
Vicki Tschirhart
Research scientist,
Natural Resources Canada]

Vicki Tschirhart: My name is Vicki Tschirhart, and I'm a research scientist who specializes in applied geophysics with Natural Resources Canada.

I think I've always been a little interested in science. I – when I was five, I got a microscope for Christmas. They – my parents both studied science in university, and my siblings are both scientists, so it's always been pretty fundamental to my family life. My dad was a geography teacher, and during the summers he would take us on cross-Canada road trips where he would point out all the land forms. And I was always fascinated with how things formed and why they were there.

I've had a few mentors since I've gotten involved. Some of the – my first ones were my mother was a scientist, and my PhD supervisors have been helpful. Even my primary supervisor, if I have a question I'll still call him for advice. And since working at NRCan, I've been really fortunate to work with a lot of really fantastic scientists, either from working in the field with them or collaborating with them on projects.

Fundamentally, the thing you're most proud of is when someone appreciates your science. Because it's a – it's an external validation of what you're so passionate and excited about.

The advice I would give to someone getting involved in my field is that you have to stand up for your science. You're – at the end of the day, you're going to be your number one advocate for what you believe in and your scientific ideas. Don't be afraid to speak up and say something, to add it to the conversation, because everyone's going to have a different perspective on things.

Now that you know my story, I encourage you to start your story. Choose science.

[Text on screen: #CHOOSESCIENCE]

[Vicki Tschirhart fades out, #CHOOSESCIENCE text is enlarged with background science graphics]

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[Canada wordmark]

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