Cameron Brown is a 4th Year Environmental Geochemistry PhD student in Dr. Aradhna Tripati’s lab. His research applies carbonate clumped isotope thermometry, major cation analyses, and trace element geochemistry to: (1) quantify calcite-scale precipitation conditions relevant to geothermal reservoir sustainability, (2) refine hydrogeological models of fault zones to better understand how fluids influence slip behavior, and (3) improve the precision of paleoclimate reconstructions used to model changes in global temperature.
After exploring various fields within geoscience, Cameron discovered that he would like to pursue a career in Los Angeles’ water industry. His interest in this field was sparked during a two-month research expedition, where he sailed with the International Ocean Drilling Program to the Japan Trench in the Pacific Ocean. As a shipboard geochemist, he worked to understand the hydrogeological factors that contributed to the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. This experience fostered his passion for the technical aspects of water characterization. However, his work with the grassroots environmental advocacy program, the Better Watts Initiative, in South Los Angeles, shifted his interests toward applying technical expertise to projects driven by societal and community impact.
To Cameron, the most important aspect of the CDLS fellowship program is that it provides opportunities for individuals to pursue careers in STEM while fostering pathways for fellows to apply their unique skill sets towards advancing environmental justice initiatives.
Outside of academics, Cameron loves to travel internationally and run marathon races.