Chippewa Valley Times

Lyndsie Vickers, a geology major and Blugold Fellowship recipient at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC), reflects on the serendipitous events that shaped her academic path. Her interest in science began with a group project on water filtration systems, prompting her future explorations into hydrogeology. "I pointed to our filtration system and said that I wished I could do ‘that’ for a job,” Vickers recalls.

The turning point came when a judge introduced her to hydrogeology, subsequently leading her to apply to universities offering this degree. She chose UWEC after receiving a fellowship. "I made the right choice," Vickers asserts.

Vickers discovered hard rock geology through her research activities, eventually taking over a senior’s project. Her mentor, Dr. Robert Lodge, praises her swift understanding and adaptation to the project's complexities. "She handled it all better than any of my senior students ever had," Lodge notes. Her work is "essentially rewriting the geologic history of Wisconsin," and will be showcased at upcoming meetings in Golden, Colorado, and Mountain Iron, Minnesota.

Vickers intends to pursue economic geology, building on her internship experiences with Talon Metals, a Minnesota mining company. Through this role, she gained insight into metallic mining, a field she aims to enter. Eric Swanson, her internship supervisor, emphasizes the significance of robust industry-academic ties: “The mining profession as a whole benefits from these types of relationships."

Vickers values the opportunities arising in the Upper Midwest’s resource-rich regions. “This is a beautiful part of the country, and there are many great economic geology projects happening,” she explains. With a focus on environmental consciousness, she appreciates the support and encouragement she has received, overriding the expectations from her background that often limit young women in scientific fields.