Research

I study the geochemical compositions of Hawaiian volcanoes to understand and characterize the mantle heterogeneities that are feeding the Hawaiian mantle plume. I work with large sample databases created from open source data to interpret large-scale trends within the Hawaiian Islands.

  

Left to right: Eldfell volcano in the Westman Islands, Iceland / Geology field school in Oliver, BC, Canada / The boundary between the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

 

Teaching

EOSC 220 - Introductory Mineralogy

EOSC 333 - Elemental and Isotopic Geochemistry

EOSC 515 - Graduate Seminar Course (Peer Co-Leader)

University of British Columbia - Master of Science in Geological Sciences

  • Vancouver, BC, Canada (2024-Present)

University of British Columbia - Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences

  • Vancouver, BC, Canada (2019-2024)
  • Undergraduate Thesis, 'Deciphering the Source and Composition of Hawai'i Deep Mantle Source Heterogeneities: The Trace Element Perspective', Supervised by Dominique Weis (2023-2024)

Williamson, N. M. B., Weis, D., Thistlethwaite, E., Harrison, L. N., Armstrong, C., Scoates, J. S., & Garcia, M. O. (2025). Heterogeneous enriched geochemical compositions in Hawaiian lavas: Contributions from recycled continental materials in the Loa source of the Hawaiian plume. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 397, 75-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2025.03.012

Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Harrison, L.N., Armstrong, C., Thistlethwaite, E., Scoates, J.S., Garcia, M.O. Invited Talk: Origin of ‘enriched mantle I’ (EM-I) compositions in Hawai‘i: insights from Ko‘olau-Makapu‘u. Goldschmidt Conference, Chicago, USA, Aug 2024.

Thistlethwaite, E. 2024. Deciphering the Source and Composition of Hawai’i Deep Mantle Source Heterogeneities : The Trace Element Perspective [Undergraduate Thesis - University of British Columbia]. UBC Library Open Collections.

Thistlethwaite, E. Abstract and Poster Presentation: Deciphering the Source and Composition of Deep Mantle Heterogeneities using Trace Element Compositions in Hawai‘i Volcanoes, Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference, Canadian Journal of Undergraduate Research. Vancouver, BC, Mar 2024.