Ashley Patton

"I strongly identify with the 'Investigator' personality type as it is quite fact and logic focused which is exactly how I see myself. I like things to be based on evidence rather than feelings and instinct. Sometimes people think I can be a bit too rational and not ever so willing to go with the flow but you know where you are with rational! I also like problem solving and have a natural curiosity about the world which fits with the 'Quality Controller' type. I hate an unanswered question. I think I am also diligent and can be trusted to do a job thoroughly, with attention to detail. However, I don't really see much natural fit with the 'Manger' type my results came up with."

"As an engineering geologist working in research I can feel a bit like a jack of all trades. My work ranges from research in new technologies for exploiting geothermal energy in cities where groundwater is warmer because of heat loss from buildings, through to volcanic hazards and landslide mapping. The thing that connects them is the application of geological knowledge to real world problems, rather than research for the sake of research. Most of what I do has some element of either urban problem solving or geohazard assessment so it is very applied. I love the fieldwork aspect of my work and more recently I've started to enjoying presenting my research to range of UK and international audiences which as a shy person I never thought I'd say. There are a lot of hidden aspects of my job like travel, using technical software and computer programming which you can pick up as it suits your interests and I like that flexibility to try new things and learn new skills."

"I have wanted to be a geologist since I was nine years old! I used to stuff my pockets with stones from as soon as I could walk independently and every family holiday would revolve around my desire to visit show caves. I think to do what I do you have to be really keen on geology as a hobby because it's not just a job, it's a lifestyle. I did geography, biology and English literature for A Levels because my college didn't offer geology so I needed two sciences and then I just did the English to improve my literary skills (very useful for writing papers as it turned out). Then I did a BSc in Geology (with study abroad) at Derby and Windsor, Canada. Afterwards I did my MSc in Geohazard Assessment at Portsmouth which helped me get my fist job out of uni for a consultancy in Hong Kong. As a student I also did a summer placement teaching English in Belgium and all my experience overseas, together with having an MSc, was a big factor in my getting the job in Hong Kong, and working in industry in a big city like Hong Kong was a huge part of how I got the job I have today. Although it is in research, it is applied so having worked in industry first has really helped me identify with our stakeholders' needs."

"I have a vast range of interests, and I would say many don't seem to fit with what you'd expect an engineering geologist to like. That's because there is no template for an geologist, or anyone else, is supposed to fit. I love geology, both as a career and a hobby and many of my holidays involve hiking up volcanoes in Iceland or Italy or somewhere, and probably boring family with explanations of why this particular lump of rock is so fascinating. But I also like the history and culture of the places I visit, and of course, lazing on a beach. I like hiking in this country too and go on long walks across muddy farmers fields just as you might expect a geologist to to but I also like the glamour of the ballroom and every week I put on my sparkly dance shoes and attend ballroom and Latin dance classes. I like dressing up and especially love 50s fashion, although other days I am just as happy in artistic \"hippy\" clothing. I am not easily pigeonholed. At the moment I'm doing a PhD part time as well as working so I don't have loads of free time but I make the most of it. I have an allotment which gets me out in the fresh air and I like making things. I make soap, clothes, ornaments, Christmas decorations, you name it. I am even knitting a geological cross section at the moment so it is possible to combine my geeky interests! I play the guitar and clarinet and am also learning Welsh and enjoy being p[art of a Welsh speaking community."

"I don't have a typical day at work. Some days I'm in the office doing admin or something technical like running an analysis, making maps or writing a paper, other days I am out in the field or laboratory collecting data. I attend and present at a lot of conferences too (some overseas which is great fun) and I spend a lot of time visiting stakeholders to help us to serve their needs. Typically a project will involve having an idea, reaching what has been done before, collecting data and testing out some theories and then writing it up either as a report or a paper for publication. Often I'll get to present my findings along the way as well and work with other researchers on a similar topic to expand out research and develop collaborations. Other things will be more applied such as doing a specific piece of work for a client top address a particular problem that they have like the presence of a potential geohazard at a specific site that needs some technical assessment. It varies a lot and that's why I love it. It's never boring."

"AS Levels in Chemistry and General Studies.A Levels in Geography, Human Biology and English LiteratureBSc Geology (with study abroad)MSc Geohazard AssessmentThree years as a graduate engineering geologist at URSEngineering geologist at BGS (ongoing)Part time PhD (ongoing)"