Jeff Rubin, NREMT and GSA Fellow, on the influence of #geoscience on his life and career: We tend to see science as an academic pursuit, and there’s so much value in that domain. There’s also tons of value—and space—in geoscience for people who aren’t interested in academic careers and may be better generalists than specialists, but who want to apply their knowledge and skills to society. That’s where I live. I’m a geologist who decided to serve as an emergency manager. At some point during my dissertation work, I realized that I had little desire to work in research or academia. This wasn’t just dissertation blahs but a realization. I love science and being a scientist—I’m very analytical and focus on evidence in everything I do—I just didn’t want to work in it. After I was done with dissertation coursework, I decided to take a professional fling: I was an EMT and firefighter, volunteering with a small fire district, and wanted to be a better medic, so I went through a large hiring process and started ambulance shiftwork with City of Austin Emergency Medical Services (EMS): 24 h on, 48 h off. I’d bring a laptop to the station to try to get some dissertation writing in and do my long lab runs on my second day off. After finishing, I decided I wanted to see what EMS was like without the equivalent of a second full-time job (i.e., dissertation), and I liked it. EMS is an instant-gratification field—pretty easy to assess whether you’ve done well—and it was really gratifying to see that the scientific process applied outside of the lab: for every patient you make an assessment (observations), develop a hypothesis (differential assessment), test it (treatment plan), and even publish (patient care record). I may have suffered extended sleep deprivation but never suffered a lack of intellectual stimulation. It also paid poorly but it started me on a completely different career path. I spend way more time reading and providing peer review for medical journals than geoscience journals, but it was my scientific training that allowed me to do that, and particularly to be useful as a state medical volunteer during the pandemic. #GeologyRocks #ScienceRocks #StemCareers
Casey Ping
1mo
It was fun to be along for part of the ride. Congratulations for a great career
That was fun. Thanks to Kelly Finefrock for putting it together.
Matthew Dawson
1mo
Jeff, thanks for all you've done for geoscience and for GSA!
Jeff this is really special stuff. I never knew elements of your amazing journey and always appreciated talking to you. Best regards.
Dave Allen
2w
Nice job Jeff... I've always held you in the highest regard while working with you. I really appreciate the insights and the expertise you brought to our Fire District, our surrounding agencies and communities...
Linda Davis
1mo
What an inspiration you are and have been!
Jefe Recibe un fuerte abrazo y mis mejores deseos en esa actividad que te apasiona!!
Professor
1moExtremely candid and always inspiring. Must read content for many of us.