April Abbott

April Abbott studied at St Lawrence University (NY) for her freshman year, International Christian University for her sophomore year (Tokyo, Japan), and finished up her studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY) with a dual major in Geoscience and Asian Studies. She earned her Master’s from the University of Minnesota Duluth working on past temperatures in East Africa using the relatively new organic proxy TEX86.

Q: Have you always wanted to work in this field?  Was there a defining moment in school or your childhood that guided you in this direction?

A: My dad is first mate on R/V William Scandling (owned and operated by Hobart and William Smith Colleges), so I spent summers as a kid on Seneca Lake (Finger Lakes, NY) on the boat with him and was able to watch the various professors projects and classes that would utilize the boat and have always wanted to make a profession out of it. In high school I participated in the Environmental Science Summer Youth Institute (ESSYI) through Hobart and William Smith Colleges which further confirmed that water sciences was what I wanted to study (and really helped me get ready for college in the natural sciences). 

Q: What classes did you choose to take in HS? What were your majors in undergrad/grad school?  Was there a favorite, least favorite?

A: Useful High School Classes – Calculus, Physics, Earth Science, Chemistry, Biology

Q: What bit of advice can you offer to our future scientists and explorers following on this blog?

A: Talk to people!  Most researchers (students and professors) are more than happy to talk about their work.  When it comes time to apply to colleges that connection/advice from faculty can be more valuable than anything else.