Sarah Mardon to Serve in KGS Geoscience Communications Role
Sarah Mardon was recently hired to serve as KGS’s geoscience communications professional. She oversees communications and public outreach and is working with colleagues to further develop KGS’s relationships with state agencies and stakeholders. Mardon will also lead the development of an economic evaluation of geological surveys and expansion of KGS’s role in the field of geoscience communications.
Growing up in Kentucky, Mardon spent much of her time outside collecting rocks, insects, or working in her flower garden. She became particularly interested in geology when a student teacher taught her sixth-grade class about plate tectonics. Family vacations gave her opportunities to view large-scale geology outside of her state during visits to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Peggy’s Cove, and the Grand Canyon.
As an undergraduate student, Mardon studied both geology and economics at the University of Kentucky. She pursued a master’s degree in geology and her thesis evaluated the Western Kentucky Coal Field’s potential for coalbed methane production and carbon sequestration. Mardon is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.
During her career, Mardon has conducted petrographic analysis on coal for mining and coking companies and worked as a development geologist in the oil industry. She managed reclamation projects and issued water quantity permits when she was employed with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. As program coordinator for the UK Center for Applied Energy Research, she worked with communities in western Kentucky, supporting and facilitating outreach opportunities and solving energy-related technical issues. Mardon managed a state-funded research grant program, and as a co-PI of the Small Business Administration’s Federal and State Technology Partnership Program, she facilitated educational opportunities and trainings for federal grant applicants.
Regarding her new role, Mardon says, “I value the work that KGS is doing in the commonwealth and I am honored to have the opportunity to share how our scientists’ work impacts the daily lives of Kentuckians. A few of my goals are to expand our reach in the communities we serve and to improve how we communicate to others about the field of geoscience.”
Mardon is a member of several scientific organizations including the Kentucky Academy of Science, the Geological Society of America, and the Association for Women Geoscientists. She enjoys gardening, hiking with her fox terrier, and visiting coastal areas. She is also interested in historic preservation, enjoys reading historical fiction and English classics, and is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America.