Dr Val Finlayson
@justsomeisotope.bsky.social
UMD Assistant Research Scientist; views entirely mine. NSF-funded #saveNSF #saveNOAA. Isotopes, volcanoes, and Earth's mantle. Midwestern by birth, sort of all over these days. Sometimes at sea, learning the stories seamounts tell. she/they
The adjustment back to life on land involves a very attached tabby. Can't complain about that.
August 21, 2025 at 10:50 PM
The adjustment back to life on land involves a very attached tabby. Can't complain about that.
Hi, I'm Val Finlayson and I'm a high-temperature geochemist at the University of Maryland. My research focuses (mainly, but not exclusively) on Cretaceous oceanic volcanoes and Pacific tectonics. Actually just got back from 3 incredible weeks at sea, collecting new rock samples from old volcanoes!
August 20, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Hi, I'm Val Finlayson and I'm a high-temperature geochemist at the University of Maryland. My research focuses (mainly, but not exclusively) on Cretaceous oceanic volcanoes and Pacific tectonics. Actually just got back from 3 incredible weeks at sea, collecting new rock samples from old volcanoes!
Good morning Honolulu
August 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Good morning Honolulu
It's been real, Majuro. Hope to see you again someday.
August 18, 2025 at 8:09 AM
It's been real, Majuro. Hope to see you again someday.
Also, shout-out to that time last summer during TN435, when we brought in an awesome dredge haul and I ended up head-to-toe in ferromanganese.
April 30, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Also, shout-out to that time last summer during TN435, when we brought in an awesome dredge haul and I ended up head-to-toe in ferromanganese.
Here, take a moment and enjoy two snoozy kitties napping together.
February 11, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Here, take a moment and enjoy two snoozy kitties napping together.
As 2024 wraps up, I present my favorite Rock of the Year (#RotY):
A lava (composition TBD) sampled from the Mid-Pacific Mountains and what we estimate to be ca. 110 million years old (absolute age also TBD). This is incredibly well-preserved, evidenced by the intact fresh (!) glass quench rinds.
A lava (composition TBD) sampled from the Mid-Pacific Mountains and what we estimate to be ca. 110 million years old (absolute age also TBD). This is incredibly well-preserved, evidenced by the intact fresh (!) glass quench rinds.
December 27, 2024 at 9:46 PM
As 2024 wraps up, I present my favorite Rock of the Year (#RotY):
A lava (composition TBD) sampled from the Mid-Pacific Mountains and what we estimate to be ca. 110 million years old (absolute age also TBD). This is incredibly well-preserved, evidenced by the intact fresh (!) glass quench rinds.
A lava (composition TBD) sampled from the Mid-Pacific Mountains and what we estimate to be ca. 110 million years old (absolute age also TBD). This is incredibly well-preserved, evidenced by the intact fresh (!) glass quench rinds.
We did well. It was a great expedition.
September 12, 2024 at 8:27 PM
We did well. It was a great expedition.
Full moon over the central Pacific
August 20, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Full moon over the central Pacific
Probably my favorite rock of the expedition so far.
August 19, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Probably my favorite rock of the expedition so far.
This dredge is going in the water tomorrow.
Can't wait.
Can't wait.
August 9, 2024 at 2:43 AM
This dredge is going in the water tomorrow.
Can't wait.
Can't wait.
Couldn't tell you why, but sometimes I wish peanut butter jars could have lids like this. Reusability +1
June 19, 2024 at 3:39 AM
Couldn't tell you why, but sometimes I wish peanut butter jars could have lids like this. Reusability +1
My PhD advisor catching me taking a photo of him taking notes almost exactly seven years ago, while we were doing a dry run of a field trip around Oahu.
It's been a little under two years since we lost him, and I still miss him every day. Hell of a scientist, mentor, collaborator, and human.
It's been a little under two years since we lost him, and I still miss him every day. Hell of a scientist, mentor, collaborator, and human.
May 18, 2024 at 2:28 AM
My PhD advisor catching me taking a photo of him taking notes almost exactly seven years ago, while we were doing a dry run of a field trip around Oahu.
It's been a little under two years since we lost him, and I still miss him every day. Hell of a scientist, mentor, collaborator, and human.
It's been a little under two years since we lost him, and I still miss him every day. Hell of a scientist, mentor, collaborator, and human.
One of the pre-totality shots I got on Monday. The partial cloud cover always adds a dramatic flair.
April 10, 2024 at 5:26 PM
One of the pre-totality shots I got on Monday. The partial cloud cover always adds a dramatic flair.
That's up there as some of the coolest two minutes of my life.
April 8, 2024 at 7:52 PM
That's up there as some of the coolest two minutes of my life.
Wonder why I'm hungry for mango right now.
April 4, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Wonder why I'm hungry for mango right now.
Sometimes all you need is a nice strong oxidizer to solve your problems.
April 3, 2024 at 11:05 PM
Sometimes all you need is a nice strong oxidizer to solve your problems.
It's a huge fucking bummer to walk up to your car to run an errand, only to discover that sometime in the last couple of days, someone slammed their car door so hard into yours that there's a giant scuff and dent. No note, of course.
No respect for shit that isn't theirs.
No respect for shit that isn't theirs.
March 21, 2024 at 8:31 PM
It's a huge fucking bummer to walk up to your car to run an errand, only to discover that sometime in the last couple of days, someone slammed their car door so hard into yours that there's a giant scuff and dent. No note, of course.
No respect for shit that isn't theirs.
No respect for shit that isn't theirs.
I straightened up my office a little bit yesterday and found a history of science sticker book I picked up a few years ago while at the AMNH. If I remember correctly, the purchase decision was made solely because of this wonderful Archimedes sticker.
February 28, 2024 at 12:24 AM
I straightened up my office a little bit yesterday and found a history of science sticker book I picked up a few years ago while at the AMNH. If I remember correctly, the purchase decision was made solely because of this wonderful Archimedes sticker.
Chocolate chip banana bread, heavy on the bananas.
February 25, 2024 at 4:04 AM
Chocolate chip banana bread, heavy on the bananas.
This is my job title from now on.
February 23, 2024 at 3:25 AM
This is my job title from now on.
Meet a piece of what is possibly one of the most important (and slightly damp) rocks I've worked on. It doesn't look like much, but it's helping tell a story about a time in the oceans that I don't think we understand terribly well.
February 15, 2024 at 5:15 PM
Meet a piece of what is possibly one of the most important (and slightly damp) rocks I've worked on. It doesn't look like much, but it's helping tell a story about a time in the oceans that I don't think we understand terribly well.
Best. Tissue boxes. Ever.
February 4, 2024 at 10:01 PM
Best. Tissue boxes. Ever.
Hey scooter users, can you please not park your shit in the middle of the access ramp when you're running errands?
This is at a pharmacy to boot.
This is at a pharmacy to boot.
January 20, 2024 at 8:10 PM
Hey scooter users, can you please not park your shit in the middle of the access ramp when you're running errands?
This is at a pharmacy to boot.
This is at a pharmacy to boot.