Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe facts for kids

Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe is a famous geologist from Nigeria. She was born in August 1962. She studies tiny fossils and rocks to learn about Earth's past. This field is called palynology and sedimentology. She is a professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She also helps lead the College of Engineering and Computing there.

Becoming a Scientist

Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe went to school in Benin-city, Nigeria. In 1983, she earned her first degree in geology. After that, she worked for a big oil company called Shell. She helped find oil and studied tiny fossils for them.

She then went back to school for her master's degree in applied geology. This was at the University of Ife in Nigeria. Later, she taught there as an assistant lecturer.

Studying in Cambridge

Francisca received a special scholarship to study in England. She earned her PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1991. Her research looked at ancient environments in Nigeria. Soon after, she joined Missouri University of Science and Technology as a geology professor.

Her Work as a Geologist

Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe became an associate professor in 1997. By 2005, she was a full professor of geology. She has also led the geology and geophysics programs. Currently, she is an associate dean. This means she helps manage academic programs for engineering and computing students.

Exploring the Ocean

In 1995, she worked as a shipboard sedimentologist. This involved studying sediments from the bottom of the ocean. It was part of the Ocean Drilling Program.

Leading Science Groups

Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe has held many important roles. She was president of The Palynological Society (AASP). She also served on committees for the Geological Society of America. She helped women in geoscience through the Association for Women Geoscientists. She has been an editor for science journals too.

Since 2013, she has been part of a UNESCO science board. This group helps study global changes on Earth. She is also an elected fellow of several major science societies. These include the Geological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

What She Researches

Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe's main research areas are palynology and sedimentology.

• Palynology is the study of tiny fossils. These include pollen and other plant spores. By studying them, she can learn about ancient environments. She also finds out about past climates and how old rocks are.
• Sedimentology is the study of how sediments (like sand or mud) form. It also looks at how they are deposited and what they become.

Her work helps us understand Earth's history. She studies microfossils from places all over the world. This includes parts of America, Australia, Africa, Egypt, and Iraq.

Using Technology for Fossils

One cool part of her research is using computers. She uses something called machine learning to study fossil pollen. This means she uses special computer programs. They help identify tiny pollen grains much faster and more accurately. This helps scientists learn more about how plants have changed over time. It also shows how Earth's environment has changed.

Selected Publications

Here are some of the important papers Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe has helped write:

• Mathur, R., and Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., 2021. This paper looked at how zinc isotopes can show the impact that ended the age of dinosaurs.
• Romero, I.C., and Oboh-Ikuenobe, F., 2020. This research used special computer networks to improve how fossil pollen is identified.
• Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., and Awad, W.K., 2017. This paper studied ancient tiny fossils in Nigeria. It compared them to fossils from other parts of the world.
• Barron, A., and Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., 2017. This work found evidence of deep-sea conditions in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Pletsch, T., and Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., 2001. This paper discussed how Africa and South America separated long ago.
• Jaramillo, C.A., and Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., 1999. This research used tiny fossils to understand ancient layers of rock in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
• Oboh, F.E., 1992. This paper described ancient environments in the Niger Delta.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe has received many awards for her work:

• 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
• Woman of Legacy, Voices of Edo Women, 2011
• Science and Technology Award, Nigerian People's Forum— USA, 2008