Richard Chopping
Manager, Geoscience Mapping Through Cover - Geological Survey of Western Australia
Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Geophysics) & Master of Science (Earth Physics)
November 2021
Richard Chopping is Manager of the Geoscience Mapping Through Cover group at the Geological Survey of Western Australia. The small team works to unearth the hidden geology of the state.
The nature of the geology in Western Australia means that much of the rocks of interest are buried below layers of soil, desert, and regolith. Richard describes his team’s work as much more like air crash investigation: limited data to reconstruct things, and having to use good science to understand how Western Australia has come to be assembled.
Lunchtime during field work at Mount Painter, Arkaroola, South Australia.
Why did you choose this career pathway?
I fell into doing geology! I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do at uni, so I took a general science degree. Geology was my fourth subject; it turns out it’s a great application for computer science. It certainly beats writing software for a generic software house, and the challenges of the science mean you’re always doing something interesting.
During fieldwork deploying Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) equipment in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales.
What are the best parts about your job?
What are the hardest parts?
The best part is probably the variety. We work on a lot of different parts of geology, including hydrogeology, regolith, and also the deepest parts of the Australian continent.
This variety probably also brings the hardest parts, as you’re constantly having to think about different things. I wouldn’t change that part for simplicity and a singular focus, though.
Geophysics equipment used to map the pit at St Ives.
What are the major challenges in your field?
The two main challenges of geophysics are the challenges around the physics of the earth, and the communication of geophysics as a science.
The former is limited by laws of physics, there is only so much you can learn from the limited physics we can measure.
The latter is limited by the education of the audience – geologists, and also the general public – about physics and also numerical problems. It’s on us geophysicists and geoscientists to bring the audience along rather than trying to be the smartest person in the room so people understand what geophysics can tell them, and some of the reasons why it can’t tell you everything you might want to know.
Driving through outback South Australia for AusLAMP fieldwork.
How did you get to your current role?
I got to my current role through a few jumps. I initially joined the public service in an IT role but was then recruited to Geoscience Australia to perform some research on how mineral systems change geophysical responses. I got to work on a huge range of projects at Geoscience Australia after that, including mapping large regions of Australia through application of all different kinds of geophysics, work on mineral prospectivity, and even science communication such as helping compile the wonderful publications to support the linear scale Geological Time Walk. I took on more and more management and leadership in my role as was needed.
I then moved to CSIRO to act as a theme leader in a Future Science Platform there, which gave me the experience of managing larger projects and competing interests of different business areas, which let me take on my current role at the Geological Survey of Western Australia.
A key to this is that I didn’t just work linearly on one thing, I moved to projects where I was needed and did my best at each of these projects, no matter how diverse they were. I kept an open mind about the right way to do things and then opportunities came to me.
Fieldwork in Sweden
How well did your degree prepare you for your career path?
Earth sciences really is the biggest problem-solving science there is! It incorporates science from every discipline, so it helps me immensely. Not just in terms of the specifics of my job as a geophysicist but there’s a lot to be learnt in the way earth scientists think and unravel geological history.
One of the first field trips we did in first year was to an outcrop which was hard to decipher. We were taught to step back and understand the context first to then zero in on the right areas to look at. Those that didn’t heed this advice struggled but learning how to see the whole picture first and then tackle the problem areas is useful beyond just a roadside outcrop.
Conducting a geophysical survey of tailings at Savage River mine, Tasmania.
What does your career progression look like from here?
At this level it’s really more about consolidation. I’ve made most of my progression to get here. Realistically I either broaden the science I apply through the work of my team; I manage a larger group; or I broaden to a different area of leadership. I’m not sure which one of these options will end up happening for me.
So far I’ve had an exciting career and I’d be quite happy to end up retiring at this level having just done a good job at it.
Mapping seawater incursion using geophysical equipment.
What advice would you give to students in your study area trying to decide on a career path?
The best thing you can do is be open-minded to the opportunities and follow what you enjoy. Don’t sweat the marks you get at uni, just work as hard as you can at what inspires you. I also wouldn’t chase the money: when I started geology was in the doldrums and IT was booming. By the end of Honours that had flipped around.
Early in my career I didn’t think I was going anywhere but I realised progress for most careers was not linear but instead came with irregular jumps. It takes a bit of faith to not panic and let things play out, but doing a good job will always reward you with good opportunities, though not always immediately.
Sunset in Kingoonya, South Australia.
Anything else you’d like people to know about your job?
Don’t be scared about ‘management’. The important part is the leadership, and management is often the things required to make your leadership effective. It’s incredibly rewarding to enable science of a team rather than just your own science. Your science just becomes broader. The other side is don’t rush to get promoted higher.