Adrienne Noftall

When did you realize you wanted to work in STEM or Skilled Trades?

I always had a keen interest in nature, science, and being outdoors when I was growing up. At a young age, I knew I wanted to be a scientist of some kind when I was older. During grade school, I took all the science and math courses that were available to me. When I was accepted into Memorial University, I did courses in vertebrate biology, ecology, earth sciences, and mathematics, and loved every minute of it.

Why do we need more women in STEM and Skilled Trades?

We need to get away from old stereotypes that certain jobs are only suited for specific genders. Young women need to understand that regardless of gender, they can do a job or task to the same level of expectations and quality as men working in the industry. In addition, only focusing on one gender for a position really only limits your pool of potential successful candidates more so than it helps to find the right candidate for the job.

What does your typical workday involve? Can you work remotely? (indoors/outdoors, office/plant, travel time, teamwork/solo work)?

Being a geologist, my typical workday is quite dynamic. It can vary greatly depending on several factors including time of year, weather, and deadlines. I work both on-site in camp, as well as in the field. My typical workday consists of logging core for current drill holes, setting up pads for future drilling sites, and doing field site inspections once work is completed in an area. Working in a remote camp requires you to be flexible and willing to take on challenges outside of the scope of your work. There will be times you have to work with your team to get the job done, as well as times you have to work independently.

What is a common misconception about your field of work?

A common misconception about my fieldwork being a geologist with a gold exploration company is that the main (or only) thing we do is pan for gold to find areas of interest. While a few people have panned for gold in the area from the company, I myself have never done this on-site. We have very sophisticated tools and historical data that aid us in targeting areas of interest when looking for gold.

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies/activities?

"I have a wide variety of interests. I love gardening and growing my own vegetable garden every Spring / Summer. In the Winter when I can't plant anything outside, I work with various computer programs to create and build an idea of what my gardening projects will be for the months to come. I take great interest in trying to see what I can grow both indoors and outdoors. I like to challenge myself and learn about local flora and fauna in order to identify them both in my spare time, as well as in the field. Being able to do this can be both fun and an easy way to keep you safe and knowledgeable on potential dangers in the field. I enjoy learning about computers and playing different video games. I have built a few of my personal desktops, and many of my friends come to me for advice when looking to buy a new computer or laptop. I enjoy learning different computer software to help me with several different hobbies I have (3D printing, landscaping, photo and video editing). I enjoy building scale models, and I am happy to be a member of the IPMS (International Plastic Modeler's Society) St. John's Chapter, where the goal is to promote the hobby through building and sharing our work."