As an environmental bio-geochemist and mineralogist I take a strong interdisciplinary approach to study low temperature environmental terrestrial and aquatic processes by combining experimental and field approaches. The aim of my research is to elucidate how the geosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere interact to shape the Earth’s terrestrial surface, now often termed the Critical Zone (CZ). This Critical Zone can be thought of as the skin of the earth: the terrestrial surface spans from the top of the canopy down to the bedrock - including ground water - and provides us with water, nutrients and many other ecosystem services.