Katy Freeborough

"I was surprised with the categories that I was given when I did the role model quiz. I was assigned a coach, coordinator and trainer. They are all roles that sound like you should be a bit more outgoing and confident, and that is not me at all at work! I am a person who asks a lot of questions and worries! However reading through the descriptions I do actually agree. I enjoy my job and I think that enthusiasm can rub off and inspire people. Whilst most of my time is actually spent at a computer, I do get a chance to engage with other people. Speaking, presenting or meetings, always makes me nervous but when I talk to school children about my work and I can see them be inspired, or I speak in a terminology in a meeting that other people can understand, it really helps me. Sometimes we can too often speak in science terms that can confuse. All three roles have qualities where you work well with other people, I am definitely more of a team worker rather than a lone worker. I definitely work better in a group, although when I am not in work I like a bit of my own space. I am quite diplomatic when I talk to people and think it is very important to see both sides of a story. In a scientific world I wonder that sometimes that might seem frustrating when I am asking for clarification, lots of questions or trying to see the other side of a story, but I think that it is important to think everything through. A mentor once told me that they liked me questioning as it made them think through things in a way that they hadn't before! As someone who didn't know what they wanted to be a child, I love that I am doing something that I enjoy, and that I am also supporting and working with other people to do that. The scientific world is complex and I feel like I am still learning. "

"When people talk about ‘geological hazards’ most people think of volcanoes, earthquakes, and big landslides. They are the big and impressive events sadly often with high numbers of fatalities. When considering geohazards in the UK, the impact on businesses, infrastructure, utilities and housing is greater from shallow geohazards. These are often not as dramatic but are vitally important to consider in our economy, transport and livelihoods. My work focuses on the susceptibility of land or infrastructure to two these kinds of shallow hazards, landslides and clay that can shrink and swell. I enjoy working with lots of different people, internal and external, to turn our science, maps and scientific knowledge into useful information, fit for the users purpose. My job is still very varied and I feel like I am still learning a lot of the time!"

"I have been at the BGS for 18 years now. In that time my role and the projects I work on have changed from supporting lab work and databasing, through to scientific interpretation, presenting and project management. I work part time and the work- life balance for me is an important one that my organisation supports. I have always been lucky enough to enjoy field work as part of my job ranging from coastal landslides, quarry sampling to landscape interpretation and ground truthing of our maps. I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up and made choices based things I enjoyed rather than thinking of a specific role or job. I studied Geography at University and chose a course with a year’s work placement; thinking that if I still didn’t know what I wanted to do at least I had a year’s work experience as well as a degree. "

"I am a mum of two rapidly growing boys, and spending time with my family is still the most important thing to me. I love reading and read all sorts of books. My husband says he can tell how good a book is if I am stirring the spaghetti bolognaise with the book in my hand! I also enjoy sitting at my sewing machine or crafting. I am a football coach, and although the boys are now older and know more than me about football, they still need me to talk to if the game isn’t going well and tie shoe laces at speed when it’s cold and rainy and the boys can’t feel their fingers! If I am feeling a bit low or tense my favourite thing is to wrap up on a cool autumn day and walk.My greatest personal achievement was running the London Marathon in 2016. I never wanted to run ‘a marathon’, I only wanted to do London. I used to watch it on the TV when I was younger trying to spot a family friend. This had been my “I’d love to but I never will” dream and never in a million years did I think I would ever be able to run 26.2 miles, or actually get a ballot place to try! But I did it and loved every step. My medal hangs in my toilet to remind me that you can achieve if you want to. "

"Although I do get some good field work at certain times of the year, and I do get to go to interesting conferences and meetings, my days at the moment are mostly spent at a computer. I am examining maps, and other sources of BGS data and trying to help interpret them in a way that more suits the user. At the moment I am working on projects that are combing maps in computer mapping systems (GIS - Geographical Information Systems) and as decision making support tools for prioritising funding, further investigations at site specific levels; these are looking at landslide hazards that could affect the railway, summarising ground data to help provide overview of potential hazards for developing brownfield sites and landslide hazard assessments. I am also part of a small team that provide information to the Met Office every day on landslide hazard in the UK and associated impacts. We use BGS maps and weather information to model possible ground conditions. This information gets sent out to Category 1 and 2 responders (Police, fire, councils, utility owners, etc.) to assist them in their preparations for adverse weather conditions. I also spend looking at social media for new landslide events and keeping our national landslide database up-to-date. This also involves time answering enquiries from the general public, students, homeowners, consultants who are interested in landslides in their area. "

"Following GCSE's I went to sixth form to study A-levels in Geography, Biology and Mathematics. Following this I completed a BSc (Hons) in Geography. This was a four year course with a years work placement in the third year. I worked for the Environment Agency for a year in the Hydrometry and Inspections teams looking at river levels and flows in the East Midlands. After graduating, I was applying for all sorts of unsuitable jobs just because they were advertised. Whilst doing this I joined a well known Temping Agency. As a fluke of luck I managed to gain a temporary role back at the Environment Agency for a full 6 month contract in the same offices! I was in a different team, but doing a role that was still interesting processing Environmental licences. Whilst there, and with good EA references, I interviewed for an Assistant Scientific Officer at the British Geological Survey in December 2000. I been here ever since. Within that time I worked hard to gain 2 merit promotions an am now at a scientific level I am more than happy with. "