Dania Frazier

Tell us about your work/ research. What kinds of things do you do?

I enjoy teaching and sharing my passion for science with pretty much anyone who will listen. While in school, I worked as a tutor in the campus' learning center; my favorite subjects to work with students on were earth sciences (geology, astronomy, oceanography) and chemistry. As a student, I completed a series of independent study projects that explored different aspects of education. I want to inspire people (especially kids) to explore the natural world, so I storyboarded picture books about Polynesian wayfinding and safe, ethical exploration of tidal pools. My school was also generously gifted a sample from an IODP sediment core, so working with a professor who was familiar with the JOIDES Resolution, I broke down the core sampling methods using a post-expedition write up then created a guide for other students to perform sediment sample washes and smear slide analysis which also explained why sediment sampling is such an important part of oceanographic research. This was one of the highlights of my time in school, I show off the microfossil pictures I took for the project frequently.
 

What sparked your initial interest in your career?

I love rocks! I've always thought they were cool and collected ones that caught my eye, even before I learned anything about them. My mom is into new-age style spirituality and would take me places with gorgeous "crystals and gemstones" (which were really just a million variations on quartz and other colorful rocks). I've also always been close to the ocean, growing up in the Puget Sound, and living by the water just feels right. I enjoy exploring beaches and investigating the sediments I find there.
 

Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?

I had a handful of teachers over the years push me towards science, but I'm neurodivergent and that caused issues in my classes. Until my mid-twenties I just assumed I was bad at math when really, I hadn't been approaching problems or learning in ways that worked for me. Once I started working around that in college, I became a lot more confident in my abilities and thrived in my science classes. However, the math and science instructors at my college- especially Kaatje Kraft- encouraged me to do more and branch out. They helped connect me with outside programs, scholarship opportunities, and extracurriculars that built on what I was learning in class.
 

What element of your work/ study do you think is the most fascinating?

One of my favorite things to do is compare the sediments of different beaches to see which has more volcanic glass, microfossils, shell fragments, etc. Sand is just so pretty under microscopes and every beach is unique. I also love working with students to find methods of learning that work best for them, which requires us to come up with creative ways to approach problems together, especially when it comes to explaining relatively complex processes like rock identification and the physics behind ocean waves.
 

How did you get involved with Ocean Exploration Trust? How did you become part of the expedition team?

My former instructor frequently recommends this program for students and had been pushing me to apply for a couple of years. I finally did, and now I'm so excited to go out and actually do the science, not just learn about it from a textbook or reviewing post-expedition write-ups.
 

What other jobs led you to your current career?

So far, my professional experience related to Earth sciences has been limited to on-campus work as a tutor and lab technician. My career goals for the future are somewhat vague because I honestly don't know where I want to end up yet, but I know I want to keep inspiring others, see the bottom of the seafloor (ideally in-person), and look at more cool sand. In the immediate future, I'm working towards a career with my local public library so I can at least help others learn while I get myself into a position to continue my education.
 

What are your degrees and certifications?

Associates in Earth Sciences- Whatcom Community College, 2022
 

What are your hobbies?

My family's always been creative and embraced an eclectic variety of artistic mediums. My usual choices are drawing and watercolor painting. I'm also an avid gamer, especially of high fantasy settings, and excel with casually strategic board games. When the urge to cook strikes, I love baking, especially cupcakes and cookies, though I tend to measure by feel and less by actual measurement. That's lead to some fun flavor combinations and interesting results, especially when done for the purpose of using vegan ingredient alternatives.
 

What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?

I don't even have a career doing what I want yet, but I can say that the advice I've been given is to find what excites me about a subject and lean into that. Motivation can be my biggest hurdle, so I try finding something about a topic or job that interests me and orient my focus around that. What I can speak on is the internal process I went through to even get myself into school. I waited until well after my friends had finished their degrees, when I felt ready and motivated to get back into learning. From high school graduation to my mid-twenties, I had no idea what I wanted to do and talked myself down from science because I thought I was "bad at math" when in reality I was just demotivated to get better. Since I waited, I found a subject I was really passionate about and had the life skills to support myself through school, leading to stellar performance and a genuine passion for what I was studying. So my advice is to be kind and patient with yourself, find what you're genuinely interested in, and be open to change. Plus, a lifelong sense of curiosity can help keep you fascinated in whatever you do.