How did you end up studying meteorites?

After doing a Geology degree I came to meteorites via a PhD on the Moon. I spent my PhD, and much of my research career working on lunar meteorite and Apollo samples, and have been distracted by meteorites from Mars or from asteroids along the way.

What do you enjoy about your job?

Probably the experience of finding a new meteorite in Antarctica or in Chile. It’s an amazing feeling being the first person to pick up a new sample from space. Or getting to look at a new meteorite – be it from the Moon or an asteroid - on the scanning electron microscope so I can see how complex it is and what it is made of. Its always fun to see a new sample for the first time and start to ask questions about how it formed, or how it was altered by different geological processes.

What is your favourite meteorite?

Oh that’s a hard question…. Its difficult to pick between a sample I have done a lot of research on, such as a lunar meteorite lava flow sample called Miller Range 05035 or a fabulously complex messy lunar breccia called Northwest Africa 4472, or one we have been lucky enough to find on the Antarctic meteorite trips.

What are your hobbies?

What are your hobbies? I love gardening – give me a compost bin to turn, or a trip to the garden centre and I am happy.