Suarez sisters steal applied science show in San Antonio

By Chris Posey

Twin sisters Celina and Marina Suarez wowed local San Antonio high school students during the keynote address of the Applied Science Education Program, a part of the 2011 SEG International Exposition and 81st Annual Meeting. The program took place in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Wednesday, 21 September.

Students from area high schools filled the auditorium to see and hear the Suarez sisters' insights on "Walking with Dinosaurs and other Critters through the Cretaceous Greenhouse World and into the Future." The sisters shared the microphone as they provided a brief overview of the Cretaceous period and followed with eight insights to being successful scientists. The twins referenced their own personal experiences in the field to help articulate the following eight points, which the two felt were essential to initiating and maintaining a prosperous career in the geosciences:

  1. Dream big and keep at it.
  2. Have a stress reliever.
  3. Find good mentors and listen to them.
  4. Do internships, make connections, get lucky.
  5. Don't be afraid to try something new.
  6. Work hard.
  7. Spend as much time in the field observing [as possible].
  8. Keep learning.

Suarez and Suarez shared topical lessons gleaned from their research, as well as from their involvement in geology and geochemistry over the years. The two focused specifically on the "greenhouse condition" in which the earth currently exists, pointing out that this is not the first time in the life of the planet that it has existed in such a state (it's just that humans sometimes have a tough time getting used to it). The sisters went on to explain the process of fossilization throughout the millennia and the implications of skeletal absorption of rare earth elements (REE) for modern fossil research. The two also elaborated on the role of stable isotopes in learning more about prehistoric climates.

Celina and Marina provided a quick summary of the dinosaur species they discovered during their Master's research in Utah. The Geminiraptor suarezarum, Latin for "Twin Predatory Thief of the Suarezes," was named for the two sisters.

Following the keynote, students broke up into small groups to engage in question and answer time with the Suarez sisters.

Celina and Marina Suarez are natives of San Antonio, Texas. They earned their BSc degrees from Trinity University. They also earned their MSc degrees in geology from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and PhD degrees in geology from the University of Kansas. Currently, Marina Suarez is an assistant professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Celina Suarez is a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at Boise State University.

View the Applied Science Education Program photo gallery

Go to the 2011 Annual Meeting news overview