Natural Resources: Geologist
Natural Resources
Donielle Chittenden: Geologist
By Mike Yoshiura
Most geologists are adept on land, as they study the composition, structure and other physical aspects of planet Earth. For 27-year-old geologist Donielle Chittenden, it’s the sky that has no limits.
CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF
Donielle’s father is a retired Delta Airlines pilot. Growing up, he encouraged his daughter to familiarize herself with the airplane’s cockpit, hoping that she would one day fly with him. The idea of piloting an aircraft didn’t immediately take off, but years later Donielle caught the bug. After moving to Hawai‘i in 2002 from Utah, she obtained her private pilot’s license.
“I wanted to take advantage of the beauty of Hawai‘i,” she says. “Flying was a way for me to explore the Islands. When I’m flying, I feel so relaxed. In a way, it’s like I’m set free.”
ABORTED LANDING
The majority of Donielle’s early years were spent in San Diego, where she immediately made a connection with the beaches and scenic bluffs of sunny Californ-I-A. Much to Donielle’s dismay, her father got a new job and her family relocated to Utah, where she wrapped up her secondary education.
When it came time for her to select a college, the idea of returning to California was enticing. Instead, Donielle opted to stay close to home and attend the University of Utah, where she pursued a mechanical engineering degree.
During her sophomore year of college, Donielle needed a change of scenery so she signed up for a national exchange program. Finding a college campus near the ocean was high on her priority list. “I selected the University of Hawai‘i (UH) as my first choice,” she says. “Looking back, it was the best thing for me. When I moved here, everything fell into place. I was only supposed to be here for one year. Eight years later, here I am.”
ON THE GROUND
Living in paradise rekindled her love for the outdoors, and a friend randomly suggested that she major in geology. “It was funny, because it came at a time when I was starting to question whether engineering was the right career for me,” Donielle says.
Geology seemed like the ideal fit, but Donielle was two years away from acquiring an engineering degree. She wondered … could the credits she had already earned be applied toward a geology degree?
Donielle was in need of advice so she visited the counseling office at UH. A counselor devised a plan that had her graduating with a geology and geophysics degree in four semesters. To Donielle’s surprise, most of the math and science credits required in the engineering program transferred over to her new career path.
Her 12 months in the exchange program quickly flew by, but Donielle remained in Hawai‘i to continue her education at UH, where she graduated with a geology and geophysics degree in 2003.
DESTINATION ARRIVAL
Today, Donielle calls Hawai‘i home, making a living as a geologist with the URS Corporation’s Environmental Division. Her division specializes in cleaning up and preserving the environment, and it develops solutions to protect and restore our air, water and soil quality.
Her official title as project coordinator allows her to coordinate and manage field activities and collect samples for laboratory analysis. Her job duties require an extensive knowledge in preparing proposals and technical reports, as well as organizing and conducting public presentations. According to Donielle, communication skills, both oral and written, are skills she uses on a daily basis. And, they’re her biggest on-the-job assets.
Due to technology advancements, geologists can now study the landscape through remote sensing (satellite and aerial photography). Although appreciative of the advancements in science, she says that the technology takes away from the fun fieldwork. “Ideally, I would be out working in the field. Fieldwork is the best part of my job,” she says. “But about 70 percent of my time is spent in the office.”
Donielle’s love for the environment extends well beyond her career. She is an avid recycler, rides her bike three miles to work and is always looking for ways to conserve energy and water around the house.
At this point in her life, Donielle is content with her career. However, she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of becoming a commercial pilot. Who knows, maybe one day she will follow in the footsteps of her father, and trade in her private pilot’s license for a commercial one.
