Profile
Isaac Dawson
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About Me:
I live in Leeds and research glaciers in Norway π§.Β When I’m not at work I love playing sports, cooking and being out in the mountains πΎπβ°οΈ.
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Hi! I’m Isaac and I’m originally from Sheffield but now live in Leeds. Before Leeds I lived in Norway for two years which gave me a love for icy places! I’m a big fan of being outdoors, climbing, cycling and playing badminton. When I can’t be outdoors I’ll usually do some cooking or read a book.
On a bike ride!
Hiking!
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My pronouns are:
he/him
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How I use Geography in my work:
I study climate change and how it is impacting glaciers. This includes fieldwork to visit mountainous landscapes and taking measurements using all sorts of equipment such as temperature sensors and drones.
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My Work:
I research glaciers in the Arctic and how climate change affecting them! I do this using imagery from satellites and fieldwork.
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I’m currently working as a PhD researcher at the University of Leeds. I look into how glaciers in Norway are being affected by climate change, as well as how this will impact society in Scandinavia. The main glacier I focus on is Jostedalsbreen, which is the largest glacier in mainland Europe!
These glaciers are unfortunately melting fast due to our climate warming and this causes sea level globally to rise, which is a big problem as millions of us around the world live near the sea! Locally, melting glaciers can cause flooding, changes to water availability and less tourism to Norway.
I use pictures of the glaciers taken by satellites and field trips to Norway to monitor these glaciers and measure how fast they might be melting and why they are doing this.
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My Typical Day:
On a typical day I work at my computer in the office but I also have plenty of time to chat with other researchers and learn new things. If I’m lucky I’ll spend a few weeks in summer somewhere in the Arctic on fieldwork!
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I’ll try and get to my office for 9am. The first thing I’ll do is check my emails and have a chat with the other researchers in my office. After this I’ll boot up some scientific software so I can analyse data I’ve collected, for example some pictures of glaciers taken from satellites or glacier temperature readings I have from my fieldwork. Sometimes I’ll also have a meeting with my supervisors to discuss my research project. I’ll typically leave work at about 5pm, and I’ll go home and cook some tea or play some sport with friends.
In summer I’ll go on fieldwork (usually to Norway!), where I’ll spend most of time walking around in the mountains using equipment such as temperature sensors and drones to collect data from the glaciers. Being able to explore these landscapes is the best part about my job!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d build a huge model of a glacier so students can learn more about how they work!
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Education:
I’m from Sheffield and went to school there, doing GCSEs and A Levels in Geography and the sciences (as well as some arts). I always enjoyed being outdoors in the Peak District when I was younger, so I decided to study Physical Geography at Newcastle University after I left school.
In Newcastle I was lucky enough to go on a trip to Iceland to see glaciers, and that inspired me to do my master’s degree in Norway where I could be closer to the mountains. I loved this experience and it led me to my current PhD in Leeds studying glaciers.
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Qualifications:
I did GCSEs in Geography, Art, German, Maths, English and Sciences, as well as doing BTEC Sport. At A Level I took Geography, Chemistry and Physics.
My bachelor’s degree (BSc) and master’s degree (MPhil) at university were both in Physical Geography.
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Work History:
My first job was at ASDA in Sheffield, where I worked in the holidays and alongside my studies for about five years. I worked there full time for a year in between my A levels and university. During my studies I’ve also worked part time as a teaching assistant at University.
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Current Job:
I’m currently a full-time PhD researcher at the University of Leeds. I work on my own research project (studying glaciers in Norway) and it should take me a little less than four years to complete!
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Employer:
I am funded by the NERC Panorama DTP. They get money from the government to support PhD students such as me doing scientific research.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Sport-loving glaciologist
What did you want to be after you left school?
I had no idea!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Only occasionally
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Outdoor education β°οΈ
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Johnny Flynn
What's your favourite food?
Noodles π
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1) Play more sports 2) Visit more icy places 3) Stop procrastinating so much
Tell us a joke.
Why are mountains so funny? They're hill-areas!
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