Dare to dream big

"No, you cannot major in geology. You should be learning how to cook," the American explorer and scientist Ursula Marvin (1921-2018), now known as one of the women who has reshaped science, was told by her professor at the start of her academic journey.

"No, you cannot major in geology. You should be learning how to cook," the American explorer and scientist Ursula Marvin (1921-2018), now known as one of the women who has reshaped science, was told by her professor at the start of her academic journey.

Fast-forward a few decades, and Ursula Marvin had cooked up an incredible career for herself as a pioneering planetary geologist, traveling to Antarctica to tease solar system secrets from meteorites. What made this extra badass: she was first woman on an American research team in that location. “To search for Antarctic meteorites is an exhilarating adventure,” Ursula wrote.

She described riding a snowmobile over blue ice and drifting snow: “The glimpse of a dark object starts the heart pounding. Racing toward it, the excitement grows as one sees it is not a shadow, not a glacial cobble, but a meteorite — a piece of rock from another planet.” What allowed Ursula to overcome huge personal and professional obstacles and become - quite literally - a geology rockstar? Well, she was bright and brave, but more importantly, Ursula always followed her inner compass, fueled by her endless curiosity. "Geology lit a fire in me," she once said. Her adventures fanned the flames. I wonder if Ursula could have imagined that one day, both an asteroid and a glacier mountain would be named after her. One thing is certain: Ursula dared to dream big.

We are all born naturally curious, but as 'life happens to us' - the growing pressure to fit in; the fear of getting hurt - we dim our inquisitive sparkle. Explorers like Ursula never lose their state of wonder. They dwell in it, approaching each day as an adventure, opening themselves up to the sublime. Are you ready to start exploring the endless possibilities of your wild and wonderful life? Then start right now, by asking yourself the most important question: What if?