Britni Brenna, Geoscientist-in-Training

Please tell us about your personal background.

I grew up in North Battleford as the second daughter of teachers. While I prioritized academics and athletics, I also very much enjoyed living close to a river, many lakes, and a prairie ski hill. I spent time after high school backpacking around Central America and living on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where I started to realize I was becoming a “nature nerd”, hiking along coasts and near waterfalls, examining tidepools, beachcombing, ocean fishing, backcountry camping, and exploring in rainforests. I had an aptitude for science but had not yet had any formal “outdoor education”.

Why did you choose geoscience, and what is your area of specialty?

I was living on Vancouver Island and looking to pursue a career in STEM, and the Earth and Ocean Science (EOS) program at the University of Victoria (UVic) jumped out at me from a brochure. However, I dropped the “ocean science” as soon as I learned how seasick I get (true flatlander). I transferred to USask to be closer to home and eventually ended up pursuing a master’s degree in geology. I’ve been a “generalist” in geoscience but have gravitated towards geochemistry and the laboratory environment.

Where and when did you study, and how would you describe that experience?   

I studied EOS at UVic from 2006 – 2008 and completed my BSc Geology at USask in 2010. I returned to USask to complete an MSc under Dr. Robin Renaut in 2012, graduating in 2016.

My undergraduate experience was challenging and eye-opening, realizing how many directions I could take with geoscience. I was a keen student, motivated by passionate professors as well as a few awards and bursaries. My master’s program was incredible, studying a strange rock formation in a saline lake in the East African Rift in southern Kenya. I spent two months total in Africa, explored the Kenyan Rift Valley from north to south, slept under the stars, saw giraffes, zebras, hyenas and hippos near my field sites, worked not-far from a hominin site (Olorgesailie), and met interesting scientists with amazing stories of travel, adventure, and research.

What are some of the most interesting, rewarding, and/or challenging experiences you have had?   

So many! A field season with the geological survey (including an attempted world record for mosquito bites in a single summer), learning to orienteer and map geology on the Canadian Shield. A winter drilling project in northern SK, commuting across frozen lakes and logging thousands of metres of core. My masters field work included many +40˚C days collecting observations in East Africa. Analytical laboratory work is busy, technical, and a masterclass in multitasking. Each job/project came with unique challenges and nary a dull moment.

What have you appreciated most about your geoscience journey?   

Truly, it has been the variety. I have pursued work in gold exploration, light oil exploration, research lab management, occupational health and safety, geoanalytical lab quality assurance, and finally, lab instruction at the university. I’ve ended up where I started in geoscience (in the classroom) and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with students keen on learning about the earth.

Any mentors or role models you’d like to tell us about? What insight or wisdom did they impart?

I’ve had the privilege of working with brilliant scientists including Dr. Michelle Hanson, Jason Brasseur, Dr. Robin Renaut, Dr. Helen Baulch, and Rob Millar. They each had a calm demeanor, and I admired their ability to tackle challenges and work under pressure with great composure. They are all intelligent, considerate, and curious leaders in their fields, and I feel fortunate to have had the chance to get to know them through geoscience.

What activities or interests do you enjoy outside of your professional pursuits?

I play competitive ultimate frisbee and I’m a novice pickleballer. I’m also a knitter, a cyclist, a gardener, and a pet parent.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Since I work with undergraduate students (the next generation(s) of geoscientists), I hope my journey can be inspiring in the sense of giving different things a try. Explore the world and stay curious!