May 24, 2019
UOW geologist one of ABC’s Top 5 Scientists for 2019
Dr Dominique Tanner researching how precious metals are concentrated in undersea volcanoes
Geologist Dr Dominique Tanner, who is researching how precious metals are concentrated in undersea volcanoes, has been announced as one of the ABC’s Top 5 Scientists for 2019.
The Top 5 program is an annual quest to find five of the brightest science communicators in Australia, to help them share their ideas with the country.
It is open to PhD-qualified early career researchers working in Australian universities and research organisations in science, technology, engineering, maths and medical research.
Each of the Top 5 Scientist winners will work with ABC journalists and broadcasters to spread the word about science.
Dr Tanner is a lecturer in the University of Wollongong’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Her research spans the realms of geochemistry, mineralogy and petrology, with a focus on understanding how economic concentrations of metals are formed within the Earth’s crust.
“What does our planet look like under a microscope? How do magmas and hot fluids concentrate precious metals beneath volcanoes? How do gemstones form? These are the fundamental questions that have interested me since childhood, and are now the focus of my research as a lecturer at the University of Wollongong,” Dr Tanner said.
“To answer these questions, I study the chemistry of minerals at the microscale using electron microscopy.
“Like tree-rings, crystals often display fine growth bands. These bands provide a near-continuous record of chemical changes in their environment during their growth history. For example, single crystals can record magma mixing, sudden bursts of water-rich fluid or the collapse of surrounding rocks into a magma chamber.
“As well as research, I am equally passionate about recruiting and developing the next generation of Earth scientists through public outreach and teaching.”
In 2018 Dr Tanner took part in an expedition on the research ship JOIDES Resolution to the undersea Brothers volcano.
“My research requires me to collect rocks and minerals from active and extinct volcanoes around the world,” she said.
“Last year, I spent two months at sea collecting rocks from within an active undersea volcano, north of New Zealand. I was part of an international team of 34 scientists from 17 different countries.
“By analysing the chemistry of these rocks in detail, our team will learn more about the evolution of our ocean’s chemistry through time, the limits of life in extreme volcanic environments as well as the processes that concentrate copper and gold beneath modern volcanoes.
“Understanding how precious metals are concentrated within the Earth is crucial if we wish to extract them sustainably.”
ABC broadcaster Robyn Williams, presenter of RN’s The Science Show, was one of the adjudicators of the Top 5 Scientist applicants.
“This year we were struck by the exceptionally high standard and appealing conviviality of the recipients. They are passionate about science communication and I am looking forward to seeing them share their knowledge and expertise with the ABC’s audience,” Mr Williams said.
The Top 5 program was launched for science scholars in 2015 and expanded to the humanities in 2018. The 2019 Top 5 humanities recipients will be announced in July.