Meet Polyanna Rowe, PhD

Q: Hi Polyanna, welcome to the Mira Geoscience team! We are so glad to have you here and eager to know more about your professional skills.

Polyanna: My main geophysical skills include processing and interpreting ground and airborne gravity and magnetic data, satellite gravimetry and altimetry, and gamma ray spectrometry data. Additionally, I have specialized expertise in visualizing and interpreting seismic tomography and deep reflection seismic data, geophysical logging data, and heat flux data. I earned my PhD in Geophysics in 2023 from the Centre for Exploration Targeting at The University of Western Australia. Before that, I completed my MSc in Applied Geophysics in 2017 and my BSc in Geophysics in 2014, both from the University of Brasilia, Brazil.

Q: Wow, that is very impressive. How about your professional experience, could you share a little bit more about previous projects you have worked on?

Polyanna: My professional experience is broad, encompassing airborne, surface, and downhole geophysics. I have worked on diverse projects such as 3D earth modelling, data integration, and interpretation. These projects focused on the signatures of mafic-ultramafic orthomagmatic and basin-hosted mineral systems in the Pilbara Craton margin, Rudall Province, and Canning Basin in Western Australia.

Additionally, in South America, my work involved studying rifted basins and orogeny in the Proterozoic Brasilia and Paraguay belts, as well as the western margin of the San Francisco craton.

Q: Did you work with any geoscience institution on any projects that you feel particularly proud of? 

Polyanna: Before joining Mira Geoscience, I was a science collaborator for the Geophysical and Tectonic Research Group of the Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology, primarily working with Applied Geophysics, Integration of Geophysical and Geological Methods, and Seismotectonics. I also have experience as a Seismic Signal Analyst, specializing in induced seismicity and hazard assessment for hydroelectric plant reservoirs in Brazil.

My PhD project, which was a part of the MRIWA M521 project entitled “Lithospheric and crustal-scale controls on multi-stage basin evolution: Impacts on Mineralising Systems,” involved developing technological solutions for integrating geophysical, petrological, geochemical, and petrophysical data to improve the efficiency of mineral exploration across Western Australia.

Q: Congratulations on your PhD. What a remarkable achievement! To conclude with this interview, would you mind sharing with us a few details about what you like to do outside of work?

Polyanna: I moved to Perth for my PhD but fell in love with nature here. Originally from the Mesas region in Brazil, I have always been passionate about exploring nature – from waterfalls and hiking to now enjoying the new natural environment I am surrounded by, like beaches, forests, and caves.

Additionally, as a Brazilian, I have a deep appreciation for coffee, considering that my home country is known for producing some of the best coffee in the world. This love for coffee is one of my cherished daily rituals. In my leisure time, I enjoy playing my acoustic guitar, a hobby that provides a peaceful retreat from my dynamic professional life. While playing the guitar is a passion, my musical tastes are diverse, ranging from neoclassical to indie and metal genres, which I love listening to.