Catherine Hickson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine Hickson
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| Born | 1955 (age 69–70) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of British Columbia |
| Awards | Honorary Doctor of Technology - University of the Fraser Valley
C.J. Westerman Memorial Award 2023 Geoscientists Canada’s Canadian Professional Geoscientist Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Volcanology, Geology, Lithium Exploration, Geothermal Energy |
| Institutions | TTGeo, Alberta No.1 |
| Thesis | Quaternary volcanism in the Wells Gray-Clearwater area, east central British Columbia (1987) |
Catherine Hickson (born in 1955) is a Canadian scientist who studies volcanoes. She is known as a volcanologist. She used to work for the Geological Survey of Canada, which is part of the Canadian government. Now, she leads her own company, Tuya Terra Geo Corp. She earned her PhD in geology and volcanology in 1987 from the University of British Columbia.
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Dr. Hickson's Amazing Career
Becoming a Volcanologist
Catherine grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her family loved to travel. Trips to places like Banff National Park and Yellowstone National Park showed her the wonders of nature. She saw geysers and learned about volcanoes.
In 1980, something big happened. Catherine was camping near Mount St. Helens in the USA. The volcano suddenly erupted! This amazing event changed her life. She decided to focus her studies on volcanoes. She got her university degrees from the University of British Columbia. For her PhD, she studied volcanoes in Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia.
Working with the Government
Early in her career, Catherine studied past and future volcanic eruptions. She looked at how volcanoes in Canada and around the world could affect people. She worked for the Government of Canada for 25 years. She was part of the Geological Survey of Canada.
In 1998, she helped plan a practice exercise. It was called Thunderbird III. This exercise prepared people for what to do if Mount Baker, a volcano in the USA, erupted. In 2003, Catherine helped write a report about a possible eruption at Mount Cayley, a Canadian volcano.
She also worked with the International Civil Aviation Organization. They created rules for planes flying near volcanic ash. Volcanic ash can be very dangerous for aircraft. Catherine also helped create Canada's plan for responding to volcanic eruptions. This plan is called the Interagency Volcanic Event Notification Plan (IVENP).
Exploring New Energy
In 2008, Catherine started working in the private sector. She joined a company called Magma Energy Corp. This company focused on geothermal energy. Geothermal energy uses the Earth's heat to make electricity. She became a Vice President there in 2010.
Her work took her to many countries. She learned about geothermal energy in Chile, Iceland, Italy, Peru, and the USA. After leaving Magma, she continued to work on projects that use the Earth's heat. This heat comes from hot water and steam released by volcanic activity.
In 2014, Catherine started her own company, Tuya Terra Geo Corp. This company helps develop geothermal energy. It also explores for lithium. Lithium is a metal used in batteries. It is often found in areas with volcanic activity and geothermal systems.
Catherine also helps lead Dajin Resources Corp. This company looks for lithium in salty water called "brines." These brines are found in places with a lot of volcanic activity.
In 2018, Catherine helped restart the Canadian Geothermal Association. It is now called Geothermal Canada. This group helps Canadian researchers and companies develop geothermal projects. It is a not-for-profit group.
Today, Catherine is the CEO of the Alberta No.1 Geothermal Energy Project. This project will provide both electricity and heat to an industrial area in Alberta.
International Adventures
Catherine's work has taken her all over the world. She spent a lot of time in South America. This continent has many large, tall volcanoes.
She created and led a big project called the Multinational Andean Project (MAP). This project ran from 1996 to 2002. It worked with Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. The goal was to gather good geological data for finding resources.
A second project, Geoscience for Andean Communities (MAP: GAC), ran from 2002 to 2006. This project focused on keeping communities safe from natural dangers. These dangers included volcanoes, earthquakes, and landslides. This project grew to include Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela.
For this important work, Catherine received the C.J. Westerman Memorial Award in 2010. She also received the Head of the Public Service Award in 1999. In 2015, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Technology from the University of the Fraser Valley.
Helping Others Learn
Catherine loves to share her knowledge. She has written many books and articles for young people and the public. She is also a popular speaker and leads field trips. She wants everyone to understand more about Earth science.
One of her main interests is Wells Gray Provincial Park. She did her PhD research there in the 1980s. She has been connected to the park ever since. She leads trips and gives talks about the park's amazing geology. She even tried to get it recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
She is the president of the Wells Gray Wilderness Society. This group helps people learn about the park through studies and workshops. She also helps the "Wells Gray Gateway Protection Society."
In 2018, Catherine led the first trip to explore Sarlacc's Pit cave. This new cave in Wells Gray Park is the largest of its kind. Catherine was contacted about the cave because of her long history with the park. She helped figure out that it was a "karst" cave, not a volcanic one. She continues to help explore this amazing new discovery.
Notable Publications
Books
- Mt. St. Helens: Surviving the Stone Wind (2005)
- Nature Wells Gray: A visitor's guide to the park (2004)
- Nature Wells Gray: The Clearwater Valley (1989)
Articles
- Hickson, Catherine J., T. C. Spurgeon, and R. I. Tilling. (2013). "Eruption Types (Volcanic Eruptions)." Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards. Springer Netherlands, 2013. 290–293.
- Hickson, Catherine J. (2013). "Base Surge." Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards. Springer Netherlands. 41–42.
- Stasiuk, Mark V., Catherine J. Hickson, and Taimi Mulder. (2003). "The vulnerability of Canada to volcanic hazards." Natural hazards 28.2: 563–589.
- Hickson, Catherine J., et al. (1995). "Intraglacial volcanism in the Wells Gray–Clearwater volcanic field, east-central British Columbia, Canada." Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 32.7: 838–851.
