I’m Satoshi and I’m a third-year student studying Geophysics here at Durham. Although I have less contact hours than I did in 1st and 2nd year, there’s still so much to learn. Here’s a typical day in my life as a Geophysics student.
Why Geophysics?
Geophysics is a subject that I kind of fell into. Not exactly knowing what I wanted to do at university when I was in sixth form. I was tied between my love of being practical and learning about the earth and my interest in maths and physics, when I stumbled upon the word ‘geophysics’ while doing some physics revision and I wanted to learn more.
Geodynamics
I start the week with geodynamics, learning about how and why the Earth’s mantle has evolved over geological time. In Geodynamics, we gain an understanding the geology of the Earth’s mantle, as well as looking at the maths of how our planet works. Fascinating stuff. My other days are similar, learning about processes like volcanoes and earthquakes before wrapping-up for the day and spending time out with friends, or relaxing at home.
Time for beer and boulders
After a bit of self-study, I make my way down to the Durham Climbing Centre for the DU Mountaineering Club’s weekly ‘Beer and Boulder’, where we get to go climbing followed by a quick trip to the pub. There are so many opportunities to get out and about and join societies and clubs here in Durham.
Getting out and about
Throughout my time at Durham, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity of going on multiple field trips as a part of my course. Being able to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to a real-life environment and bringing the data I collected back to the university, has been beneficial in helping me understand how the world works.
To support in my studies, I’ve also been lucky enough to do an internship at an engineering firm in London, where the geological knowledge and data analysis skills I’ve gained during my time in Durham were really shown to apply directly to industry. Spending time out of the classroom, putting theory into practice is a great part of the course.
A city for walkers
Durham itself is a really unique place. Not only is it an interesting and historic city, home to a UNESCO world heritage site, but it’s also surrounded by beautiful countryside. In fact, if you take a short 15 minute walk from the centre of town you’ll find yourself in the countryside. As a relatively small place, everything you need is just a short walk away. The fact that Durham is so walkable is great. Whether you’re on your way to a morning lecture or going home after a night out, being able to walk is something Durham really has going for it. Not to mention of course, all the colleges and landmarks around the city, this really is a great place to live and explore on foot!
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