Charles Lapointe’s curiosity has helped him overcome his share of hard times. Now his geologic research interests are focused on the oceans of our world and beyond.

Where are you from?
I grew up on the south shore of Montreal, Quebec.

Where, and in what area, did you do your undergraduate or previous graduate work?
I earned my B.Sc. in Earth & Planetary Sciences from McGill University in Montreal. It’s a great department with wonderful people.

Why did you choose to pursue a graduate degree?
To be honest, I didn’t seriously consider it as an option until my final year.
I did work hard throughout my degree to keep possibilities open, and grad school was always a logical next step for me. I love learning. Curiosity is what has always gotten me through life’s challenges, and grad school would satisfy that. Of course, a graduate degree will also help with future employment opportunities in the earth sciences.

Why did you choose Memorial for graduate studies?
I didn’t choose Memorial so much as choosing a supervisor, Dr. John Jamieson. I had never imagined I would end up in Newfoundland. In fact, I only really started reading about St. John’s once things were in motion. But I knew I also wanted to move somewhere new, acquire new experiences, travel the world a little.

What is your degree program and area of specialization?
Master of Science in geology, with a focus on economic and marine geology.
I am part of the Jamieson Marine Geology Laboratory.

Why did you choose this area of study?
At McGill, I initially enrolled as a physics and mathematics major, but decided to do a minor in earth and planetary sciences out of curiosity before changing my major. This turned out to be a great decision for me, as the earth sciences are an incredibly multidisciplinary field, requiring the integration of planet-scale and microscopic processes.

Beyond that, I found a dynamic community with a shared love of exploration and the outdoors.

How would you describe your experience as a graduate student at Memorial?
Coming to Memorial has given me many great opportunities for growth as a scientist. The Department of Earth Sciences and my supervisor, John, made me feel welcome and appreciated. The School of Graduate Studies has been nothing but helpful. I’ve also been incredibly fortunate with funding, without which I could not have moved here or had nearly as much success. For that, I have to thank the NSERC (through my supervisor’s Discovery Grant and Canada Research Chair position, the iMAGE-CREATE Marine Geodynamics & Georesources program, and an individual CGS-M award), as well as the department.

What is your research/thesis about? What is the goal of your research? What are the implications of your research project for the province, the country and the world?
Specifically, I study the formation of massive sulfide deposits from hydrothermal venting on the seafloor. That involves going out to sea on research vessels, collecting rock samples, and doing a series of petrological and geochemical analyses on them. In my case, it also means mapping these deposits using remote sensing data. Acquiring these samples and data, often from depths of several kilometers, is a serious challenge that requires technological innovation and new methods. Ultimately, the goal is to better understand complex hydrothermal systems: their role in ocean chemistry and biology; their potential as mineral resources, particularly for metals such as copper, zinc, or even gold; and what their formation can tell us about large-scale deep crustal processes.

In the context of critical metals needed for emerging technologies, there is growing interest and concern about deep-sea mining worldwide. As Canada seeks to develop its own resources and become less dependent on other countries, it is essential to proceed responsibly. For hydrothermal deposits, that means determining whether there is true economic potential, and the impacts that exploitation could have on the oceans and its ecosystems.

Lastly, the idea of applying this knowledge to the search for extraterrestrial life is very fun and exciting to me. We know of many frozen ‘ocean worlds’ within our own solar system. Vast liquid oceans underlie their frozen crusts, and hydrothermal processes are believed to occur there as well. Who knows? Perhaps there are oases of life down there?

Why did you choose this research question/topic?
I wanted a multidisciplinary project that involved remote exploration and cutting-edge research. Seafloor hydrothermal venting was an ideal topic for me.

How do you work with your supervisor? Does your work involve other students?
We meet individually on a regular basis. John is a great help and trusts me to carry out my ideas. As a lab group, we have weekly meetings to discuss papers and help each other with rehearsing presentations.

Are there any difficulties in life that you’ve overcome to pursue graduate studies?
Many. Mainly socioeconomic challenges. I did not receive any support from family after high school, and my home situation was rough before that. Honestly, it took me 11 years from start to finish to earn my undergraduate degree. I had part-time semesters, health issues, personal tragedies. I had to quit university for five years, not knowing whether I would ever have the chance to go back, even though academia was where I felt most ‘myself.’ I did get the opportunity in 2020, at which point I was considered a mature student. I appreciated what a privilege it is to be in university much more at that point. I worked harder and became involved in extracurricular activities for the first time. Within three years, I went from being nearly homeless to moving to St. John’s for graduate studies. There was some luck involved – there always is – but the key thing for me was to stay curious. There is so much beauty out there waiting to be discovered.

What are you planning to do after you complete your degree?
As of now, I am looking for work in the mineral exploration industry. But I would not discount the possibility of further graduate studies sometime in the future.

Do you have any advice for current and/or future graduate students?
Believe in yourself. Focus on learning opportunities and experiences rather than looking at a graduate degree as a technical, dry, and bland requirement for better job opportunity. You don’t want it to be a chore. Contact potential supervisors based on their research and see how you connect with them as a person. The relationship you will have with them will be a huge part of your life. Reach out to some of their previous or current students, get a feel for how the group is run. See if former students have been given opportunities to publish papers as first authors. Ask your potential supervisor about their priorities and expectations.

If you’re interested, discuss opportunities to attend international conferences, do remote field work, request lab equipment, and so on. These can be large investments from a supervisor’s perspective, on top of your regular stipend, so it’s important to be on the same page. It’s also possible that part of your funding will come from an external source, like a corporation or a research funding program (i.e. NSERC’s CREATE program). This can open up further possibilities and specific requirements. For example, being an iMAGE-CREATE trainee has allowed me to go on a field course to Iceland, to pursue specialized training, and to obtain a berth on a research vessel for a month-long campaign at sea. Talk to your current professors/advisors. They may be quite happy to help you, including recommending departments and supervisors.

Once you’re in, make use of the resources available to you as a graduate student, both financial and otherwise (health insurance, various GSU and TAUMUN grants, writing centre, health clinic, etc.). There are many, and they add up. Lastly, aside from work, remember to take care of yourself, and spend some time exploring – Newfoundland is truly an awesome place to visit.

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