About Us

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

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)

avni1@ualberta.ca
Hi everyone, I’m Avni, a third-year PhD candidate studying amorphous carbonate phase transformations for application in carbon capture and storage! Whilst, I love science and research, STEM is not the most inclusive, diverse or equitable space, and these systemic imbalances make the landscape extremely difficult to navigate for those belonging to minority groups. Seeing and hearing the effects of inequity and exclusion on people of different groups over the years has made me passionate about EDI. I’m committed to making EDI a priority for this department, so that we can build a safer and more welcoming workplace, where everyone belongs, has equal access, and feels supported.

My goals this year as the President of the Grace Anne Stewart Speaker Series are to:

1. Continue showcasing the work of minority scientists and allowing people within our department opportunities to network with these individuals

2. Validate common, but difficult struggles faced by those in the university system by creating a platform for people to share their experiences

3. Create better opportunities for mentorship within our department to provide those from minority groups with better resources and support

4. Work with the departmental and faculty of Science EDI groups to create wider, systemic EDI changes for future members of the EAS community (see the outcomes of URGE 2021)

5. Provide the department with new opportunities for developing their knowledge of inequity in science

I am a first year MSc. student and my thesis project aims at understanding the formation and evolution of meteorites from the moon, mars, and an asteroid called 4 Vesta. I received my BSc. degree here in Edmonton from MacEwan University. If I am not "studying", I prioritize spending time with my family and playing with my dog. As a hobby, I love working on DIY projects and would've probably given interior designing a shot if I hadn't figured out my interest in rocks and research within my 2nd year of undergrad.