Estella Atekwana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Estella Atekwana
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Estella Atekwana in 2020
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Estella Akweseh Nkwate
September 13, 1961 |
| Alma mater | Howard University Dalhousie University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geophysics, Biogeophysics, Tectonics |
| Institutions | University of Delaware Oklahoma State University |
| Thesis | Gravity and magnetic interpretation of the Kapuskasing Structural Zone in the Val Rita and Groundhog River Blocks, northwestern Ontario, Canada (1990) |
| Doctoral advisor | Matthew H. Salisbury |
Estella Atekwana (born September 13, 1961) is a leading scientist who studies the Earth. She is a geophysicist, which means she uses physics to understand our planet. Her work focuses on two main areas: biogeophysics and tectonophysics.
Biogeophysics looks at how living things and Earth's processes interact. Tectonophysics studies how the Earth's crust moves and changes. Dr. Atekwana is currently a Dean and Professor at the University of California, Davis. She has also taught at many other universities, including University of Delaware and Oklahoma State University. She has received many awards for her important work.
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About Estella Atekwana
Estella Atekwana grew up in Cameroon, a country in Africa. She was the first person in her family to go to college. She started at Howard University in 1983, first studying medicine. But she soon found her passion in geology, the study of Earth's rocks and soil.
She earned her first degree in geology from Howard University. Then, she continued her studies there, getting a master's degree in geology in 1986. In 1991, she earned her Ph.D. in Geophysics from Dalhousie University in Canada. After finishing her education, she began her career as a professor.
Dr. Atekwana has taught at several universities across the United States. These include Western Michigan University, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, and Missouri University of Science and Technology. She also spent time as a visiting professor in Botswana, a country in Southern Africa.
Helping Others in Science
Dr. Atekwana is a strong supporter of making science open to everyone. She works to increase diversity in Earth sciences. This means encouraging more women and people from different backgrounds to study geology and geophysics. She also helps build scientific skills in developing countries.
Her efforts have been recognized with special awards. Both the Association for Women Geoscientists and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists have given her "Outstanding Educator" awards. She also serves on important committees for major science groups. These include the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
What Estella Atekwana Researches
Dr. Atekwana is known for creating a new field of study called Biogeophysics. This field uses tools from geophysics to understand how tiny living things, like microbes, affect the Earth. She often studies places where the ground has been polluted, for example, by oil.
Understanding Contaminated Sites
In one of her early projects, Dr. Atekwana and her team studied areas with oil pollution. They expected to find certain things, but instead, they discovered something new. The ground in these polluted areas was very good at conducting electricity. This was a surprise!
She realized that this electrical signal was caused by many different things working together. These included the geology of the area, the chemicals present, and the living microbes. This discovery led her to connect these different fields. It showed how important it was to study them together.
Her research helps us understand how microbes change the electrical properties of soil and rocks. This knowledge can help scientists map out pollution underground. It can also help them find ways to clean up contaminated sites.
Studying Earth's Movements
Dr. Atekwana also uses geophysics to study how the Earth's crust moves. This is called tectonics. She looks at deep structures inside the Earth. These structures help explain how continents break apart, a process called rifting.
For example, her work in Malawi and Botswana showed how old rock structures deep underground affected how the land split apart. Her research helps us understand how our planet has changed over millions of years.
New Ways to Collect Data
Dr. Atekwana is also exploring new ways to collect geophysical data. She is involved in a project that uses smartphones with special sensors. This could make it much cheaper and easier to gather information about the Earth. This is especially helpful for schools and scientists who might not have access to expensive equipment.
Important Works
Dr. Atekwana has helped write many scientific articles. Some of her works include:
- "Bacterial Stern layer diffusion: experimental determination with spectral induced polarization and sensitivity to nitrite toxicity"
- "High-resolution magnetic susceptibility measurements for investigating magnetic mineral formation during microbial mediated iron reduction"
- "The Microbial Community Structure in Petroleum-Contaminated Sediments Corresponds to Geophysical Signatures"
She also helps edit scientific journals. She is an associate editor for the American Geophysical Union's Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences. She also serves on the advisory board for the Journal of African Earth Sciences.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Atekwana has received many important awards for her contributions to science:
- Elected Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Fellow, Geological Society of America
- Fellow, American Geophysical Union
- Reginald Fessenden Award from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (2021)
- Society of Exploration Geophysicists 2020 Virtual Near Surface Global Lecturer
- Association for Women Geoscientists 2019 Outstanding Educator
- Outstanding Educator Award, Society of Exploration Geophysicists (2016)
- Elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America (2016)
- Eminent Faculty Award, Oklahoma State University (2015)
See also
In Spanish: Estella Atekwana para niños
