ASU grad channels passion for planetary science into a future in geosciences
This fall, Arizona native Alan Bartlett will graduate with from ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. After graduation, Bartlett plans to pursue graduate studies to further their research in igneous petrology and volcanology.
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.
As a middle school student, Alan Bartlett was captivated by the vast diversity of moons and planets in our solar system, sparking a passion for planetary sciences. Now, as a student at Arizona State University, that curiosity has expanded into a deep fascination with geosciences, focusing on the intricate and complex systems that shape our own planet.
This fall, the Arizona native will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in geological sciences with certificates in field geology and planetary sciences from the School of Earth and Space Exploration. As a member of Barrett, The Honors College, Bartlett, who uses "they/them" pronouns, will graduate with honors, having also received the Ravi DeFilippo Geology Field Camp Scholarship.
During their time at ASU, Bartlett contributed to several significant projects, including their honors thesis under Christy Till in the Experimental Petrology & Igneous Processes Center (EPIC) and Amanda Clarke.
“Alan has been one of the most capable undergraduates I have had the pleasure of conducting research with in my 11 years at ASU,” Till said. “Not only are they an excellent geologist and communicator and a budding petrologist, but they were always on top of their work and proactive in communications, such that working with them was always a lot of fun.”
After graduation, Bartlett plans to pursue graduate studies to further their research in igneous petrology and volcanology. Embodying the spirit of a lifelong learner, they reflected, “I’m painfully aware of the paradox of knowledge, where the more one learns about a topic, the more one also discovers how much they don't know. Geoscience excites me because despite knowing a lot, there's so much we have yet to fully understand.”
With this mindset, Bartlett hopes to apply their knowledge in a professional setting, contributing to ongoing research and exploration in the geosciences at the United States Geological Survey.
Bartlett shared some of their thoughts and experiences with ASU News.
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: I became passionate about planetary science in middle school, mainly through individual reading and research. I found the variety of worlds throughout our solar system to be incredibly fascinating, from the volcanic world of Io to the icy dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt. My interests evolved throughout my time at ASU, and while I still follow research on planetary science, I gravitated toward studying geosciences. There are so many ways to investigate the numerous complex processes happening on the surface of our planet — and within it.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
A: I chose ASU because of SESE's connections with NASA and space exploration. Additionally, the amount of student involvement and community outreach, with programs like NASA's Space Grant, Psyche Inspired and events like SESE Open Door/House and ESE Day made me very optimistic about the opportunities for getting into research and science communication as an undergraduate.
Q: How do you balance the demands of graduate studies with personal life and self-care?
A: I think that the most important factor is building emotional intelligence and the capacity for self-examination — you need to know what works for you. Being able to challenge and understand my limits was the first step in understanding my needs and how I should properly pace my work. I found that granting myself time for relaxing hobbies, like drawing and fishing, both eased my mind and made me more productive leading up to the time I allotted for them.
Q: What are the key skills or experiences you gained at ASU that you believe will be most beneficial in your future career?
A: Overall, I think that the geoscience program has given me a strong foundation of geoscience concepts on which to build my graduate career on. I learned many valuable skills that will prepare me for graduate school and the workforce, from constructing stratigraphic columns in sedimentation and stratigraphy to identifying minerals in thin section in petrology to using ArcGIS to create geologic maps in field geology. I also completed several honors contracts, which provided deeper experience with conducting research, such as learning to prepare quartz crystals for analysis in a secondary ion mass spectrometer with Dr. Rick Hervig.
Q: What advice would you give to incoming graduate students to help them make the most out of their ASU experience?
A: Use your time in college to try new things. Go to clubs and meet new people, make friends with professors and people in your college, try some new hobbies. I struggle with social anxiety, so I find it hard to insert myself into social activities, but I've met some of my best friends through ASU clubs. You're only in college for a few years, and you get out of it what you put in, so make the most of your time here. Step outside your comfort zone a bit, and there's a good chance that you'll make connections that will benefit you for the rest of your life.
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