Patricia Corcoran was recruited to the Department of Earth Sciences at Western University in January 2003 for her expertise in Sedimentary Petrology: the study of chemical and mineralogical compositions and textures of sedimentary deposits.
Patricia’s research focuses on natural and anthropogenic sedimentary deposits in order to gain an understanding of Earth’s changing surface and atmospheric processes through time. One significant element of her research concerns the distribution, accumulation and degradation of plastic debris in shoreline and nearshore benthic sediment of lakes, rivers and oceans.
Patricia and her research group are investigating the potential for this plastic debris to become part of the future rock record, thereby representing a symbol of humankind’s global effect on Earth’s environment.
Life Outside the Lab
When she isn’t busy with work (!), Patricia enjoys hiking, throwing discus and hammer, playing racket sports, spending time with family and friends, and making artworks. She has two sons; Owen who is at the University of Windsor and is on the varsity football team, and Liam, who is in high school and on the track and field team. Patricia’s step-son Andreas, is an environmental technician living in Sherbrooke. She also has a snazzy tuxedo cat named Hogan.
