Earth & Environmental Sciences

Spotlight: John Cox

Spotlight: John Cox

What kind of research do you do?
I have been investigating the water which people drink from water wells on Hornby Island, British Columbia. Rainfall on the island sinks into the earth and moves underground until reaches wells drilled into the rock which forms the island. The quality of water varies widely on different parts of the island: sometimes it is salty, sometimes it smells of rotten eggs, and on occasion it dries up altogether. My research tries to explain why these variations occur and hopes to help people find supplies of plentiful, healthy water.

What is the coolest thing about your work/research?
I get to wander along the beach looking at rocks which form the cliffs and shoreline. I also get to talk to lots of people about the water they drink and use for cleaning and other household purposes.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of a career in science?
Try out several different subjects and find the one which you enjoy the most. The one where you look forward to going to class, where you like reading the textbook and going online to research more information, where you want to talk to your professors and other students about information you have learned. This is the subject which may lead to your future career!