Postgraduate 2nd Place

Justin MacDonald

How does it feel to win?

Great! It is nice to have your work appreciated by professionals in your field.

What did you find the most interesting/challenging part of your project?

The most interesting part of my project involves detachments in delta—deepwater fold-thrust belts. Relatively little research has been published on detachments in these systems and how they affect overlying structural geometries. The biggest challenge with my project is that there are very few wells drilled in the Bight Basin; this means we have to utilise concepts/models to improve the quality of the work, in terms of both geomechanics and structural geology, to ensure the interpretations are plausible.

What /who inspired you to choose your subject/topic?

Mapping in the Mackenzie Mountains for my MSc started my interest in fold-thrust belts. My current project relies solely on seismic data for mapping but having the hands on experience is a huge bonus.

What do you hope to do next in your career?

It would be great to continue working on fold-thrust belts, either as an industry researcher/geoscientist or in a postdoctoral position.

What do you love most about structural geology?

It is responsible for topography; skiing in the Alps would be impossible without it! It is also variable in scale and complexity, and is a major control on many hydrocarbon traps and ore deposits.