Doyon Welcomes Summer Intern
Doyon had the pleasure of working with Frances Olson of Birch Creek as the 2020 summer geologist intern in the Doyon lands and natural resources department. Olson supported geologic efforts related to many projects, including data gathering, materials, mining, and oil and gas.
Olson’s family is from the Yukon Flats community of Birch Creek. Her grandfather is Randall Baalam of Birch Creek, and she grew up in Fairbanks. Frances is a senior in the geology program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and her focus is currently paleontology. She has worked in a variety of fields, including metalsmithing, IT, and in core analysis in Alaska.
She joined the lands department in May, working for both Doyon in the Fairbanks office and Hilcorp Alaska on the Yukon Flats oil and gas exploration project.
During her internship, she analyzed data and core to help understand what rock formations are occurring under the ground. She found various fossils and interesting types of rock across the Doyon region. She also helped build a minerals database.
As part of her weekly activities, Olson met with experienced geologists at companies like DOWL and ConocoPhillips.
Olson’s favorite aspect of her internship has been, “getting the chance to learn more about the land, and to help build future possibilities for all the Doyon communities. Playing with a rock or two has definitely been a major highlight, though.”
“Frances has taught the lands department staff and myself quite a bit more about our vast Doyon land acreages and how our lands formed into what they are today,” said Jamie Marunde, Doyon’s vice president of lands. “Frances is a great asset to the Doyon region with her wealth of geologic knowledge and passion for her field.”