Join us this month on GeOCHemISTea as we sit down with Brittany Hupp, Assistant Professor at George Mason University in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences. Brittany specializes in micropaleontology, sedimentology, and low-temperature geochemistry, exploring ancient climates and ocean conditions to better understand modern environmental challenges.

In this episode, Brittany shares her unconventional path into geosciences—from a dairy farm in rural Ohio to oceanic research cruises—and offers practical advice for aspiring geochemists seeking interdisciplinary careers. She introduces listeners to the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a pivotal ancient global warming event used as a critical analog to current climate change. Brittany explains how geochemical proxies, such as stable isotopes and trace elements in microfossils (foraminifera), illuminate past temperature shifts, ocean acidification, and hydrological changes.

Tune in for captivating stories from life at sea, including the social dynamics aboard research vessels, and discover how paleoclimatology provides valuable insights into Earth’s climate sensitivity and future scenarios.

Grab your tea… it’s time to spill!