Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe

Last updated

Francisca E. Oboh Ikuenobe
BornAugust 1962 (age 62)
Nigeria
Alma mater University of Cambridge
AwardsWomen's hall of fame Missouri inductee
Scientific career
FieldsGeology, Palynology, Stratigraphy
Institutions Missouri University of Science and Technology

Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe is a geologist from Ubiaja in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State. [1] She was born in August 1962. [2] She specialises in palynology and sedimentology, [3] and is Professor of Geology in the Department of Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering, and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering and Computing, Missouri University of Science and Technology. [4]

Contents

Education and early career

Oboh-Ikuenobe attended St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School Benin-city, Nigeria. [1] She gained a first-class BSc in geology in 1983, after which she worked as a production geologist for Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria in Lagos, and palynologist with Shell at their geological laboratory in Warri Delta State, before returning to graduate school for her MSc in applied geology in 1987, from the University of Ife Nigeria (now Obafemi Awolowo University). [5] Following this she held position as an assistant lecturer at Ife University. She was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Award for her doctorate at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge (New Hall, now Murray Edwards College), which was awarded in 1991 with her thesis 'Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction of the E2.0 Reservoir in the Kolo Creek Field, Niger Delta (Nigeria)'. She joined Missouri S&T, then Department of Geology and Geophysics in 1991 as an assistant professor in geology. [6]

Professional career

In 1997 Oboh-Ikuenobe was appointed associate professor of geology, in 2005 full professor, and program head in geology and geophysics from 2006 to 2014. She was appointed interim department chair from January 2015 until July 2017. [7] She is currently associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering and Computing. In addition to her academic positions she has worked as Shipboard Sedimentologist on the Ocean Drilling Program (Leg 159 Eastern Equatorial Atlantic Transform Margin) January to February 1995. [8] Amongst other offices she was president elect, president and past president of the AASP (The Palynological Society) from 2010 to 2013, [9] member-at-large on the Geological Society of America Diversity in the Geosciences Committee from 2012 to 2015, director of the Association for Women Geoscientists Foundation, 2005–2008, an editorial board member of Palynology journal, 1995 to 2009, and Associate Editor of the Journal of African Earth Sciences since 2019. In 2010 and 2011 she was a workshop leader for 'On the Cutting Edge', [10] a professional development program for current and prospective geoscience faculty members, supported by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers and funded by the National Science Foundation. Since 2013, she has been a member of the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) Scientific Board (Global Change Group), which is under the umbrella of UNESCO/International Union of Geological Sciences. [11] Oboh-Ikuenobe is an elected fellow of the Geological Society of America, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and The Paleontological Society.

In 2024, a newly discovered species of dinoflagellate cyst was named Batiacasphaera obohikuenobeae in recognition of her work in marine sedimentology. [12] [13]

Research

Her research falls under the categories of palynology and sedimentology, with the former including studies of pollen and other palynomorphs within sediments and sedimentary rocks as a proxy for biostratigraphic, palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic reconstructions. [14] She also integrates palynofacies with organic geochemistry. [15] Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe is recognized for her extensive research in palynology, studying microfossils with organic walls such as pollen and dinoflagellate cysts. This research has significant implications for understanding Earth's historical climatic and environmental conditions. Through her work, she has contributed to a deeper understanding of biostratigraphy, paleoecology, and paleoclimatic conditions across various parts of the world, including regions as diverse as the Americas, Australia, western and southern Africa, Egypt, and Iraq. Her academic journey, leading to her current roles at the Missouri University of Science and Technology as Professor of Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, reflects her dedication to advancing geoscience education and research https://www.museumoftheearth.org/daring-to-dig/bio/oboh-ikuenobe https://community.geosociety.org/gbgm/dfg/franciscaoboh-ikuenobe.

One notable aspect of Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe's research is her innovative use of machine learning to study fossil pollen, which represents a significant advancement in the field of palynology. This method combines high-resolution imaging techniques with artificial intelligence, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of identifying fossilized pollen grains. Such advancements are crucial for understanding plant evolution and environmental changes over geological time periods https://news.mst.edu/2020/11/researchers-apply-machine-learning-to-study-fossil-pollen/.

Selected publications

Awards

• ORCiD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2223-9691

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forensic palynology</span> Forensic application of the study of particulate matter

Forensic palynology is a subdiscipline of palynology, that aims to prove or disprove a relationship among objects, people, and places that may pertain to both criminal and civil cases. Pollen can reveal where a person or object has been, because regions of the world, countries, and even different parts of a single garden will have a distinctive pollen assemblage. Pollen evidence can also reveal the season in which a particular object picked up the pollen. Recent research into forensic palynology has seen advancements in DNA barcoding from pollen, to the level of singular pollen molecules, allowing DNA profiles to be created from singular palynomorphs, streamlining the efficiency and accuracy of taxonomic identification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acritarch</span> Microfossils

Acritarchs are organic microfossils, known from approximately 1800 million years ago to the present. The classification is a catch all term used to refer to any organic microfossils that cannot be assigned to other groups. Their diversity reflects major ecological events such as the appearance of predation and the Cambrian explosion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palynology</span> Study of pollen and other acid-resistant microoscopic organic material

Palynology is the study of microorganisms and microscopic fragments of mega-organisms that are composed of acid-resistant organic material and occur in sediments, sedimentary rocks, and even some metasedimentary rocks. Palynomorphs are the microscopic, acid-resistant organic remains and debris produced by a wide variety of plants, animals, and Protista that have existed since the late Proterozoic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micropaleontology</span> Branch of paleontology that studies microfossils

Micropaleontology is the branch of paleontology (palaeontology) that studies microfossils, or fossils that require the use of a microscope to see the organism, its morphology and its characteristic details.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microfossil</span> Fossil that requires the use of a microscope to see it

A microfossil is a fossil that is generally between 0.001 mm and 1 mm in size, the visual study of which requires the use of light or electron microscopy. A fossil which can be studied with the naked eye or low-powered magnification, such as a hand lens, is referred to as a macrofossil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganapathi Thanikaimoni</span> Indian botanist and palynologist (1938–1986)

Ganapathi Thanikaimoni, often referred to as Thanikaimoni was an Indian palynologist.

Dinocysts or dinoflagellate cysts are typically 15 to 100 μm in diameter and produced by dinoflagellates as a dormant, zygotic stage of their lifecycle, which can accumulate in the sediments as microfossils. Organic-walled dinocysts are often resistant and made out of dinosporin. There are also calcareous dinoflagellate cysts and siliceous dinoflagellate cysts.

The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) is an international professional organization which promotes the professional development of its members, provides geoscience outreach to girls, and encourages the participation of girls and women in the geosciences. Membership is open to all who support AWG's goals. Members include professional women and men from industry, government, museums and academia, students from a cross-section of colleges and universities, retirees, and others interested in supporting the society's goals.

Volkan Ş. Ediger is a Turkish scientist, writer and bureaucrat. After graduating from the Middle East Technical University, he earned his PhD from the Pennsylvania State University in 1986. His training is in geology, geochemistry, and palynology.

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Otto Gunnar Elias Erdtman was a Swedish botanist and pioneer in palynology. He introduced methods of pollen analysis through his handbook of playnology and developed the graphical indicator known as the palynogram. He also founded the palynology journal Grana Palynologica in 1954.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe". Voices of Edo Women. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Francisca Ikuenobe Phone Number, Address, Age, Contact Info, Public Records ᐈ Radaris". radaris.com. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe". LinkedIn . Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Francisca E. Oboh-Ikuenobe". Missouri University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Lifeboat Foundation Bios: Professor Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe". lifeboat.com. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Lifeboat Foundation Bios: Professor Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe". lifeboat.com. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "Oboh-Ikuenobe, Francisca". Missouri University of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "LEG 159—SCIENTIFIC RESULTS Côte D'Ivoire-Ghana Transform Margin Sites 959–962". Ocean Drilling Program. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Officers of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists". The American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "Career Profile: Francisca E. Oboh-Ikuenobe". Carleton College. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  11. ↑ Technology, Missouri University of Science and. "Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe - Geosciences&Geological&Pet Eng". Missouri S&T. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Sluijis, Brinkhuis, Appy, Henk (2024). "High Arctic late Paleocene and early Eocene dinoflagellate cysts". Journal of Micropalaeontology. 43: 441–474.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Introducing 'Batiacasphaera obohikuenobeae': A species named to honor S&T professor". Missouri University of Science and Technology. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe: Person DB Profile". THE CARBON CAPTURE REPORT. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  15. ↑ "Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe". Academia.edu . Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Fulbright Specialist Conducts Workshop at Alexandria University, 4/22/2012". The Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe". Elite American Educators. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "Lifeboat Foundation Bios: Professor Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe". lifeboat.com. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF VISITORS, 2005–2007" (PDF). National Science Foundation . Retrieved 29 May 2014.
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