Georgia Grant

Victoria University of Wellington PhD student Georgia Grant investigated changes in global sea-level dating back three million years ago.

“The Antarctic Research Centre, which has an amazing international reputation, was the obvious place to do this, and I was lucky enough to be funded for my PhD by the Marsden Grant awarded to my supervisors, Professor Tim Naish and Dr Gavin Dunbar.”

For her PhD, Georgia studied climate cycles that took place between 3.3 and 2.5 million years ago by analysing samples from the Whanganui Basin. “I reconstructed the timing and magnitude of sea-level changes three million years ago, which was the last time Earth’s climate was as warm as it will be in the coming decades.”

Georgia’s research shows that global sea levels rose by as much as 25 metres above present day due to melting parts of the Antarctic ice sheet. This melting happened under warmer climate conditions, when carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were like today—400 parts per million. “This provides insight into what might happen to global sea level if we keep carbon dioxide above this level.”

During her PhD, Georgia travelled to the United States to undertake laboratory work at Stanford University, and to learn and develop a software program at Western Michigan University. She also presented at conferences in the United States and Italy.

“From a small corner of the world, Victoria University of Wellington places huge importance on international collaboration, which allows you to be a part of a wider scientific community.”

She is now planning on applying for a postdoctoral position overseas. “My aim will be to model ice-sheet response to warmer climates of the past and, in particular, to constrain the contribution of sensitive marine-based sectors of Antarctica to global sea level.”