Martin Nguyen

Martin Nguyen is a Specialist Structural Geologist at Rio Tinto in Perth. Martin uses structural geology to understand the orientation and distribution of rocks in time and space, and couples this with their geochemistry.

By combining these datasets, Martin solves a range of different problems such as understanding groundwater flow, figuring out where is best to find a particular metal type, how to design mine pit walls to be safe, and documenting the geology for future generations to see.

Why did you choose this career pathway?

Being part of my long-term goal of teaching Earth Science, I definitely wanted to gain some practical post-university experience in the field which led me to applying for industry exploration geologist jobs. Since becoming a professional geologist, I’ve learned that it’s a great opportunity to make an impact in society that needs resources to work towards sustainable futures, work with some brilliant people from all around the world, build professional networks and travel! Financially, the work has been very rewarding which is always a nice bonus. 

The expectation of the job for you to travel for (sometimes) long periods of times to remote areas can be a strain and difficult to work around if you have never experienced something similar before but it is something that can be managed and mentors will have plenty of advice to help build a routine out of travel.

Despite there being a potentially hostile profile on what geologists in the industry look like, the overwhelming majority of geologists advocate for and actively work towards green energy developments.

What were your career worries and expectations when you were at uni?

As someone part of the LGBTQ community and who is a racial minority in Earth sciences, I was worried about the potential hostility of field work in the industry and whether or not there was enough representation and support for me to work. Overall however, I’ve thrived in the industry.

While it remains that there are few LGBTQ and Asians working in the industry, I have been comfortable being myself and navigated tougher situations through the help of good mentors, support from leaders and a strong support network. A lot of my concern was solved by shifting my thinking from, “Are there enough people like me to look to?” to “I start the changes I want to see in my workplace”. I think too that going in as a minority, I had to prepare myself to have sometimes uncomfortable conversations with people who may never have heard my point of view outside of the media or circles. Every opportunity is an chance to learn from different perspectives and share your own – we’re all human after all.

Another worry of mine is maybe a bit more universal – suffering from imposter syndrome. I think it’s so easy to think that you’re not brilliant enough or skilled enough to do the job that you’ve been hired to do when you’re surrounded by experienced technical professionals. The best way I managed imposter syndrome was getting regular feedback from my supervisors, running ideas with friends and asking lots of questions no matter how silly they sounded. Perspective is also really important here too – everyone starts from the same place and that doesn’t discount all the hard work you’ve put in to get to where you are today. If anything, it’s something to celebrate!

I still suffer from imposter syndrome now from time to time but at least I had the opportunity to build confidence in my technical skills and remind myself that I’ve worked hard to get to where I am.

What are the best parts about your job?
What are the hardest parts?

Being able to be surrounded by similarly passionate geologists always makes for great discussions but also lifelong friends and doubly so when you have access to a company’s numerous areas that you can explore and study. It’s really a privilege to be able to walk in areas that very few other people have ever before. The variety of work is another great part of the job. I do so many different things across a range of problems that my days are extremely varied and that keeps my brain pretty happy.

The remoteness and isolation can be both part of the best parts but also some of the hardest parts – there is plenty of serene and breathtaking scenery to be captured in the field but being able to deal with often being alone and so far from home is a small sacrifice we make for our jobs. My tip: build up a support network both at work and at home. You never know when a friendly face around the campfire will be a source of relief.

How well did your degree prepare you for your career path?

My degree gave me so many transferable skills from independent learning, project planning, critical thinking and synthesis skills during my honours research component to time management and experience with working with lots of different people during the dreaded university group assignments. I still use the public speaking and both written and verbal communication skills I honed during university.

From a technical perspective, my biggest tip to any budding earth scientist is to really build a solid foundation in science. I think it’s so easy to discount lots of the things you learn as a scientist as not applicable for “the real world” but I fully disagree.

As a geologist, I consider my skills and technical background like different paint pots and the problem I’m working on like a canvas. The more fundamentals I know in chemistry, biology, maths and physics, the more colours I can paint with. Not all canvases need all colours but being a scientist, regardless of type, means building the courage and curiosity to be creative with knowledge. You’d be so surprised at the number of times knowledge of matrices, calculus, ecology, thermodynamics, and pH calculations have saved me, even as an industry geologist.

What does your career progression look like from here?

After some time in the industry, I’d still love to return to academia to teach Earth sciences, building on my experience in the industry.

It would be a dream come true to be able to continue outreach and encourage both students and the general public to be more aware of the positive contributions Earth scientists are making in the world every day and the power of Earth science information in informing some of the biggest issues such as climate change, natural hazards and resources and urbanisation.

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