Dr. Sarah Strano

Education:

Ph.D. Oceanography,
Oregon State University, 2014

B.S., Geology,
University of Pittsburgh, 2007.

B.A., History,
University of Pittsburgh, 2007.

Research interests:

My research spans a variety of topics including understanding paleomagnetism, paleoclimate, and developing new techniques for studying these topics. Specifically, I use magnetic measurements from marine sediments from the North Atlantic, Gulf of Alaska and the Baltic Sea to improve understand how magnetization is acquired in sediments and quantify the post-depositional remanence magnetization process (pDRM).  Using an improved understanding of this process, we can improve reconstructions of the past geomagnetic field and understand how these magnetic records are affected by regional environmental changes. This work requires a combination of high-quality observational data (e.g. radiometric dating, deep-sea and ultra high-resolution paleomagnetic records) and application of a variety of statistical tools to minimize and quantify uncertainty (e.g. Bayesian and random walk statistics, cluster analysis, regression analysis, etc.).  Using these tools, we show that the pDRM process exists and must be accounted for when developing paleomagnetic records and combing them for regional and global reconstructions using deep-sea paleomagnetic records as a chronic-stratigraphic tool to better constrain sediment core chronologies.

Outreach interests:

I am always eager to participate in outreach activities.  I love communicating about science and what I know to any audience who is willing to listen.

Over the past few years, I have been a collaborator and consultant for the JOIDES Resolution Regional Outreach Network (JRON) with the Consortium for Ocean Leadership and Deep-Earth Academy. I helped develop the concept and advise educators in the development of scientific activities used for museum and science family days as part of JRON. These activities highlighted the science accomplished through the JOIDES Resolution and IODP.

My experiences at the University of Pittsburgh, CEOAS, and abroad have helped me not only to cultivate my scientific objectives as a researcher, but also a desire to develop better methods for teaching science to the public. At CEOAS, I am lucky to have the opportunity to participate in many outreach activities, including Suitcase Science, and the Salmon Bowl.

Feel free to contact me for information on outreach, or to ask any questions you have about research in the lab!