Hi everyone! My name is Julia Mansfield, and I am 23 years old. I grew up in New York City, where I was surrounded by more buildings than trees, but through my love of being outside I developed an interest in understanding how our planet works. I went to college at Harvard University, where I studied Earth science, and now I am living in New Zealand as a Fulbright research student at the University of Otago, the oldest university in the country. Although New Zealand is very far from home, I have loved living among the birds and rolling hills so far, and I am very excited to continue learning more about this beautiful and fascinating country!
In college, I became especially interested in geology, which is the study of the Earth’s structure, materials, and the processes that shape it over time. Geologists study rocks, mountains, oceans, and the powerful forces inside the Earth that move continents and build landscapes over millions of years. My research focuses on something called a fault, which is a crack in the Earth’s crust where large pieces of land move past each other. When faults shift, they can cause earthquakes. I am studying the Green Island Fault, which lies just offshore from New Zealand’s South Island, to better understand whether it could pose an earthquake risk to the people living nearby. I use special scans called seismic data to create images of what the Earth looks like underground, almost like taking an X-ray of the ground. By building a 3D model of the fault, I hope to help scientists and local leaders better understand how to prepare for future earthquakes.
New Zealand is an exciting place to study geology because it sits on the boundary between two huge tectonic plates. This means the land is constantly moving, which creates mountains, earthquakes, and dramatic landscapes. The country is known for its green, rolling hills, many, many sheep, and unique wildlife. One of its most famous animals is the kiwi, a small bird that cannot fly and is mostly active at night. In fact, people from New Zealand are often called “Kiwis” after the beloved bird!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
