I’m Kniya Duncan!
My name is Kniya Duncan; I am from Queens, New York. I am a first-generation Caribbean American. I am currently a junior majoring in Geology at Binghamton University. During my sophomore year, I started working in Dr. Molly Patterson’s lab conducting mineralogical analysis on a sediment core recovered from the Ross Sea, Antarctica, during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 374.
Over the summer of 2022, I was a part of an REU at Tulane University associated with the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, where I carried out analyses on a coastal ice core from Kay Peak Ridge near the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. During the REU, I worked with Dr. Peter Neff, Dr. Ryan Venturelli, and Dr. Brent Goehring.
My inspiration stems from the lack of knowledge we currently have on the implications of climate change in polar regions and the far-reaching consequences these isolated regions have on our planet. I am motivated to contribute to polar research, no matter how small or big those contributions might be, to fill that gap in knowledge.
I am a first-generation Caribbean American, my mother is from Trinidad, and my father is from Jamaica. Being a Caribbean American is what I am most proud of; I love my culture and my family, and the support I get from them motivates me to pursue my passion for geology and polar science.
Last year, my friends and I restarted the Geology Club at Binghamton University, and I am happy to be its President. Being a part of this club has allowed me to build a strong community within the geology department which was lost during COVID.
During my freshman year, I came across Dr. Peter Neff's TikToks (@icypete), where he showcased what science is like in Antarctica and how the import ice cores research is. I reached out to Dr. Neff to ask if he would be interested in interviewing for a project I had. He agreed, and I got to learn more about Antarctic science. This led to my opportunity to work on the Tulane REU, which led me to then present my research findings at WAIS workshop and connect with other scientists for possible future collaborations.
My parents are extremely proud of me, they may not always understand the work that I am doing, but they support me nonetheless.
In the future, I hope to get into glacial geophysics, either through another research experience or during my graduate studies. I also hope to carry out fieldwork in Antarctica.
Polar Science may seem like an impossible “club” to get into, but it is not.
If you are interested in working in polar science, reach out to people either at your school, at conferences, or even on social media. The Polar community is full of amazing and welcoming people who are looking for fresh minds to help solve problems.