Geology for Global Development

Introducing Our New Authors – Cecilia Reed

Introducing Our New Authors – Cecilia Reed

Over the next few weeks, we’d like to introduce you to some new faces on the GfGD blog, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives on topics relating to geoscience and sustainable development. We’re delighted to have their input and look forward to their posts. Today we interview Cecilia Reed – a creative earth science communicator and an expert voice and onscreen contributor for the BBC.

Tell us about your journey into the Earth Sciences.

My journey into the Earth Sciences is a bit of an unusual one. I initially graduated with a degree in the arts and digital film which led me to production work in the audio-visual media industry. I am passionate about storytelling and communication but felt that the work I was doing wasn’t contributing to the world in a meaningful way.

…a 2-month solo expedition into Central America where I video documented the volcanic landscapes and its relation to the locals

With a longstanding curiosity for geography and the earth, I started attending adult part-time courses in Geology and reading anything ‘rocky’ related to teach myself about the subject. Any opportunity where I could learn more about the earth, I was there!

As a creative, being resourceful is a key skill, where (having already maxed out my loans for my undergraduate studies) I used this skill to find out about public lectures, online courses, locally organised fieldtrips, books and volunteering opportunities that could help me further grasp the scientific foundations of our geological world.

Audio-visual storytelling ideas sprang from this newfound content where I started producing YouTube videos about what I was learning. This included a 2-month solo expedition into Central America where I video documented the volcanic landscapes and its relation to the locals.

It wasn’t long after this trip that BBC Earth saw these videos and invited me into Bristol to be trained in broadcasting. It was upon having meetings with executive producers that I realised it was probably time to do a degree! I applied to do an MSc at UCL which combined the Earth Sciences with Sociology and Science Communication. I finally found the purpose and meaning for my storytelling and communication dreams.

Why did you take an interest in GfGD?

I met the founder of GfGD, Joel Gill, after having recently produced the volcanic web series in Central America. We shared an incredibly rich and refreshing conversation on geological cross-cultural and spiritual perspectives, which got me excited knowing that others within the field had similar views. Since then, I have keenly followed the work that GfGD do and look forward to contributing to their blogsite. Geology for Global Development values inclusivity, inter-disciplinary thought and open-minded innovation which I agree are vital when it comes to developing the UN’s Sustainable Goals and ever more important as we enter critical times regarding the climate crisis.

readers can expect from me articles and stories on the human condition in relation to our ‘uncertain’ geological earth

What themes or topics are you interested in?

I care deeply about human emotional vulnerability and wellbeing. Therefore, readers can expect from me articles and stories on the human condition in relation to our ‘uncertain’ geological earth. I believe other ways of investigating human vulnerability in the face of potentially hazardous events need to be explored so that we can create and generate new ways of engaging with the natural world. ‘How can we personally and socially become with geology?’ is a topic I am currently exploring.

Cecilia Reed can be contacted via Twitter: @LadyRockUK or email: cecilia_reed[at]yahoo.co.uk

This guest post was contributed by a scientist, student or a professional in the Earth, planetary or space sciences. The EGU blogs welcome guest contributions, so if you've got a great idea for a post or fancy trying your hand at science communication, please contact the blog editor or the EGU Communications Officer to pitch your idea.