Prof. Monika A. Kusiak

What’s the work that you do?

I am an isotope geochemist that dates minerals! My major interest is in early Earth processes. My fieldwork is in polar regions because this is where many of the oldest rocks are. I have participated in 7 polar expeditions, leading 3 of them. Two of these were to Polish Antarctic stations on King George Island, West Antarctica (H. Arctowski) and the Bunger Hills of East Antarctica (A.B. Dobrowolski). The other were to the Arctic, including the Polish polar station Hornsund on Spitsbergen, as well as in Labrador and Greenland. I apply a variety of isotopic techniques to the mineral zircon in ancient rocks, in order to understand the behaviour of elements at the nano- and micro-scale. This provides us with rare insights into the early evolution of our planet.

What keeps you going?

The joy of uncovering the unseen. When you prepare an expedition, you get this incredible feeling that most probably no-one was there before, that maybe you can discover something new, something incredible and unknown. Then there is the special feeling from working in polar regions. My experience of the Arctic is very different from that of Antarctica. Up north, we have a variety of dangerous wild animals and irritating insects. In the south, the dangers lie in the inanimate forces of nature, especially the climate. Antarctica is so empty, vast and peaceful that you feel like the world has stopped around you and then you are closer to God. However, it doesn’t really matter if you are up north or down south, you are at the end of the world, alone with this amazing nature around you, and time runs so much slower than in other places.

What’s your message to the world?

Do whatever you dream to do. Don’t be afraid to walk in the clouds and go outside of the box.