Jannitta Yao, a PhD student in earth sciences, was one of four Guarini students who traveled to Washington, D.C. for the AAAS CASE 2025 conference, which introduces graduate students to federal policymaking and advocacy for scientific research.
What do you consider your hometown and how has it shaped you today?
I was born and raised in the Bay Area, which not only spoiled me with its beautiful weather and food, but also instilled a deep curiosity about the ways in which technology and computation can be used to answer some of the outstanding scientific questions that we have about the world. My first experience with geology also came in the form of earthquakes from the active faults that cut through the bay!
Where did you earn your undergraduate degree and what did you study?
I went to Wellesley College for undergrad and majored in geosciences and computer science.
What program are you in at Dartmouth, and what drew you to pursue your degree here?
I am in the earth sciences PhD program at Dartmouth. When I was applying to graduate programs, I was drawn to the size of Dartmouth’s tight-knit community, as well as the faculty’s commitment to teaching and mentorship on top of their research.
Tell us about your research—what big questions are you tackling, and what inspired you to dive into this field?
Over Earth’s 4.5 billion year history, our planet has experienced major changes to its atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. I research the geochemical evolution of Earth’s crust with a specific focus on the first 2.5 billion years of Earth history, and I tackle this question through a combination of computational, lab, and field methods.
I am trying to constrain the tectonic processes that produced Earth’s earliest continents by examining the geochemistry of the oldest rocks that exist on the planet today. Understanding the processes by which continental crust first formed on Earth is relevant for our understanding of the evolution of other rocky planets, both in our solar system and beyond.
This area of early Earth research and planetary evolution is very fascinating because we know so little about this period of Earth history, especially when compared to more recent geologic history. There are a lot of fundamental open questions about this period of time, and I hope to contribute to answering some of these questions through my research.
What motivated you to apply for the AAAS CASE workshop, and what do you hope to gain from this experience?
After meeting with the congressional offices of New Hampshire representatives during the 2024 American Geophysical Union (AGU) fall meeting, I was inspired to apply to the CASE workshop.
During these meetings, I advocated for increased research funding for science agencies and stressed the importance of earth science research and its impacts on New Hampshire residents.
I came out of these meetings with an interest in science policy work, and am hoping to learn more at this workshop about what science policy advocates do, especially in the face of an executive branch that is trying to gut the scientific research capabilities of federal agencies.
The CASE workshop provides hands-on experience with policymaking in Washington, D.C. Is there a particular policy issue or area of science advocacy that you are especially passionate about?
I am passionate about increasing representation in the sciences. Specifically, I am interested in improving the retention of systematically underrepresented and racialized groups at the undergraduate level, with the goal of diversifying the graduate school and professoriate groups in this country.
At Dartmouth, I am engaged with this type of work through the E.E. Just Program as a Graduate Fellow, where we aim to create an inclusive STEM community through undergraduate research opportunities, cross-disciplinary research talks, and community-building events.
If you could give one piece of advice to incoming graduate students, what would it be?
Cultivate your community! Grad school can be lonely and there can be periods of time where it feels like you are struggling by yourself. It is really important to have people who you can lean on and can prop you up when you hit one of these rough patches.
Personally, I find that cultivating my communities both within my department and in the larger Dartmouth community has made some of the most rewarding parts of my grad school experience.
What’s your favorite spot or activity in the Hanover/Upper Valley area that helps you recharge outside of research?
I’m a big fan of the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich! As a volunteer at the Montshire, I’m really grateful for the perspective and the community that this space provides.
So much of my work as a graduate student is incredibly specific and it’s easy to get lost in the weeds, so interacting with the wonderful staff and visitors at the museum lets me take a step back and communicate why Earth science is so important.
In addition to leading Earth science-focused activities at the museum, I also enjoy hanging out with the museum’s resident ball python, Ghana!
