Women’s Week at the University of Wrocław – dr hab. Matusiak-Małek

-My research deals with a very narrow study of petrology, more precisely, I work on rocks of Earth’s mantle. The Earth has its own mantle and it is from a great designer – Mother Nature. Around 35 kilometers beneath our feet lays the Earth’s mantle which has a ductile structure. It is difficult to reach it because we cannot drill so deep into the Earth. Therefore, I look for parts of the mantle that volcanoes bring to the surface of Earth’s crust. In Lower Silesia, these fragments are between a few to dozen or so centimeters. I examine the mineral and chemical composition which allows me to analyze what processes went on in the mantle, when they occurred, and what is their impact on the crust’s dynamics today. These dynamics are extremely important because the Earth’s crust is responsible for the majority of global processes happening on Earth – the change in continents’ alignment, earthquakes, and volcanism. Even though this structure is so distant, it has a direct impact on our lives. What is more, there have been volcanoes in Lower Silesia recently, in its geological sense, which allows for the mantle’s analysis. Lower Silesian volcanoes are 2 to 3 million years old but there are some even as old as 25-27 million years old. Geologists consider them young, recently gone extinct. A good example is Ostrzyca Proboszczowicka or Wilcza Gora near Złotoryja. There are many of them and some bring petrologists parts of the Earth’s mantle.

-I am an educator, and I conduct classes for Polish and international students. Unfortunately, not all of them are interested in the petrology of the Earth’s mantle. However, every geology student must know a bit about petrology. I also work on the popularization of science. I coordinate popular science lectures, get involved with Dolnośląski Festiwal Nauki [Lower Silesian Festival of Science], and recently I have opened a YouTube channel “SprawyPrzyZiemne” [DownToEarthMatters] with my colleagues from the faculty. Through that, we are trying to bring matters of geography and geology closer to people, show that geography is not only the study of river names and geology is not only coal mining but show the different aspects of our academic and research work. These are studies that not only equip us with broad knowledge, but also bring us closer to nature.

-My advice for girls who aspire to be scientists is – do not neglect any part of your life. Work and studying are important but your personal life is too. Do not lose your femininity, women can bring a lot of positive features to science that men cannot. Magdalena Matusiak-Małek (born 1982) – geologist, petrologist, and a scientific and didactic worker at the Institute of Geological Studies of the University of Wrocław wherein she graduated, received her Ph.D. and professor title. Since the beginning of her career, she works on the composition and evolution of rocks of the mantle and lower layer of Earth’s crust. Author and co-author of papers about the deeper layers of the lithosphere. Supervisor and assistant supervisor of BA and MA theses. She was awarded by the Prime Minister for her Ph.D. dissertation and scholarship for outstanding young researchers. She is the executive and executor of international scientific projects and an admired educator. She actively takes part in the popularization of Earth and Environmental Studies. She is a mother of two daughters passionate about animate and inanimate nature.

Translated by Anna Kobylowska (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.