Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe facts for kids

Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe is a talented geologist from Ubiaja, Nigeria. She was born in August 1962. She is an expert in palynology, which is the study of tiny plant fossils like pollen, and sedimentology, the study of how rocks and dirt are formed. She is a Professor of Geology at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She also helps lead the College of Engineering and Computing as an Associate Dean.

Her Journey in Science

Early Life and School

Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe went to St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School in Benin-city, Nigeria. She loved geology and earned a top degree in it in 1983. After college, she worked for a big oil company called Shell in Nigeria. She started as a production geologist, helping to find oil. Then, she became a palynologist, studying tiny fossils in Shell's lab.

She decided to go back to school and earned her master's degree in applied geology in 1987. After that, she taught at the University of Ife in Nigeria. She then received a special scholarship to study for her doctorate at the University of Cambridge in England. She finished her PhD in 1991, focusing on ancient environments in the Niger Delta. Soon after, she joined Missouri University of Science and Technology as a geology professor.

Leading the Way in Geology

Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe became an associate professor in 1997 and a full professor in 2005. She also led the geology and geophysics program for many years. From 2015 to 2017, she was the interim head of her department. Today, she is an associate dean, helping to guide academic programs in engineering and computing.

She has also worked on exciting projects like the Ocean Drilling Program in 1995. This program involves scientists drilling into the ocean floor to learn about Earth's history. She has held many important roles in science groups, including being president of The Palynological Society. She also served on committees for the Geological Society of America. She helped lead workshops to train new geology teachers. Since 2013, she has been part of a global science program under UNESCO. She is also an elected fellow of several major scientific societies, which is a high honor.

In 2024, a new type of tiny fossil, called a dinoflagellate cyst, was named Batiacasphaera obohikuenobeae after her. This was to celebrate her important work in studying ocean sediments.

Her Research and Discoveries

Studying Earth's Past

Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe's research mainly focuses on palynology and sedimentology. In palynology, she studies tiny fossils like pollen and spores found in rocks. These tiny clues help her understand what ancient environments and climates were like. She also looks at how these fossils relate to the chemistry of the rocks.

Her work has helped scientists learn a lot about Earth's past climate and environments. She has studied areas all over the world, from the Americas to Africa and Australia. Her dedication to science has helped us better understand Earth's long history.

New Ways to Study Fossils

One exciting part of Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe's research is using computers to study fossil pollen. She uses special imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) to identify tiny pollen grains more quickly and accurately. This new method is a big step forward in palynology. It helps scientists learn more about how plants have changed over millions of years and how Earth's environment has shifted.

Awards and Honors

• Medal for Excellence in Education, AASP - The Palynological Society, 2023
• Women's Hall of Fame Inductee, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2022
• Elected Fellow, The Paleontological Society, 2020
• Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2017
• Elected Fellow, Geological Society of America (GSA), 2011
• Fulbright Specialist Roster Candidate, 2010–2015
• Elite American Educators, 2010–present
• Best Poster Award — XXIII Brazilian Congress of Paleontology, Gramado, 2013
• Woman of Legacy, Voices of Edo Women, 2011
• Science and Technology Award, Nigerian People's Forum— USA, 2008
• NSF Committee of Visitors, 2008
• SEPM Outstanding Journal Paper Award, Journal of Sedimentary Research 2007
• American Men and Women of Science, 1994–present