Dr. Grace Anne Stewart

The Speaker Series is named after Dr. Grace Anne Stewart, the first female geology major to graduate from the University of Alberta. After obtaining her BA in 1918, Stewart went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Alberta in 1920 and a PhD from the University of Chicago in 1922. Dr. Stewart had a successful career in geology during which she worked at the Research Council of Alberta, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the Office of Strategic Services in Washington D.C. Stewart eventually joined the faculty at Ohio State University in Columbus, where she remained until her retirement. Grace Anne Stewart devoted her academic career to studying Devonian and Silurian fossils, focussing in particular on microfossils and invertebrates from Ohio and several fossils are named after her. During her tenure at Ohio State she was active in the Faculty Women's Group. She was a fellow of the Geological Society of America, as well as the Paleontological Society of America and the Ohio Academy of Science.

Spieker, Edmund M. "Memorial to Grace Anne Stewart 1893-1970." Geological Society of America Memorials 2 (1973): 110-114.
ftp://rock.geosociety.org/pub/Memorials/v02/Stewart-GA.pdf

Founding of the G.A. Stewart Speaker Series

The G.A. Stewart Speaker Series was created by a group of graduate students in 2015 in response to the imbalanced gender ratio of EAS faculty and Atlas talk series speakers. At that time, only about 3% (i.e., one professor) of the (non-geography) faculty were female whereas 40% of the undergraduate and graduate students in EAS were women.


Founding members of the Grace Anne Stewart Speaker Series: Danielle Simkus, Morgan Snyder, Merilie Reynolds, Lauren Eggleston, Shawna White, Janina Czas & Stephen Johnston (from left)

Organizing Committee

Co-President: Jordan Koop (he/him)

jmkoop@ualberta.ca
Hello! I’m Jordan and I’m entering the final year of my MSc in geology (looking at platform-edge rocks in western Newfoundland), and I’m excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the Grace Anne Stewart Speaker Series again this year! I think that having a speaker series which focuses on increasing the visibility of underrepresented groups is needed to address the tendency within the sciences to ignore the human aspects of research, and helps in building a more collaborative space for people to participate!

Co-President: Sophie Benaroya (she/her)

benaroya@ualberta.ca

Hi, I'm Sophie, one of the Co-Presidents. I'm a Ph.D. candidate studying redox processes inside Mars. I joined GASI because I believe in the power of EDI initiatives to drive meaningful change within the scientific community. I look forward to starting the mentorship program in 2025 and hosting exciting geoscience speakers.

Panel Event Organizers:

Arzu Açikelli (she/her)

Hello! I'm Arzu, currently pursuing my PhD in geology with a specialization in trace fossils. This year, I'm excited to collaborate with GASI to organize panels that delve into important topics. My goal is to facilitate meaningful discussions on equity, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that we bring forward perspectives that contribute to a more inclusive and supportive environment. I look forward to engaging with the community and creating a platform for insightful conversations that drive positive change.

Ciara Stewart (she/her)

Ciara Stewart is a Panel Event Organizer for GASI, driven by a passion for fostering inclusivity in the scientific community. As a woman navigating academia with ADHD and dyslexia, she has experienced the challenges of feeling out of place in traditional academic spaces. Inspired by GASI’s dedication to celebrating diversity and supporting underrepresented groups, she is committed to creating events that make others feel valued and included. She strongly believes in the importance of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive, breaking down barriers and enriching the scientific community with diverse perspectives and ideas.

Mentorship Event Organizers:

Daniela Gutierrez Rueda

I'm Dani and I am part of the Mentorship Team! My PhD focuses on REE concentrations in the chert layers of Banded Iron Formations. I am very excited to be a part of this team and can't wait to see what we achieve this year!

Kidus Woldemedehn

Speaker Series Organizer:

Verônica Rosa (she/her)

I'm Verônica Rosa, Speaker Series organizer and my pronouns are she/her. I believe that GASSS plays a crucial role in bringing diversity of ideas and people into the EAS department. I also believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are a prerequisite for the construction of any respectful, fair work environment. That being said, I'm very excited to contribute to the 2023/24 committee, bringing continuity to such an important and socially committed group.

Marketing:

Eamon Findlay (he/him)

Hello! My name is Eamon and I am in my final year of my Bachelors as an EAS student. Throughout my undergrad I have participated in GASI (formerly GASS) and especially enjoyed the mentorship program with the information and people it introduced me to. I am most excited to be on the team this year and to be managing the marketing!

Faculty Contact

Stephen Johnston

Email: stjohnst@ualberta.ca

Friends of Grace Anne Stewart

 

Dr. Willem Langenberg
Adjunct Professor EAS Department