Distinguished Women in Science

The School of Biological Sciences Distinguished Women in Science program was established by the School's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee in 2018, with support from the Faculty of Science, to bring high profile female international speakers to our School.

Each year the Committee invites nominations from the School, and a vote is conducted within the School to select the speaker for the following year. During their visit the speaker participates in a range of activities including a school seminar, panel discussion, and ECR and Student symposiums.

For more information or to meet the speakers, please email sci-biol-geic-l@monash.edu

2022 Distinguished Women in Science Speaker

Professor Cynthia Riginos, The University of Queensland
13 October 2022
Can population genomics deliver on identifying locations of high adaptive potential for spatial conservation planning?

2021 Distinguished Women in Science Speaker

No event was held in 2021

2020 Distinguished Women in Science Speaker

Professor Mariana Wolfner, Cornell University, USA
24-26 February 2020

Professor Wolfner is a Goldwin Smith Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Cornell University, USA. Her research focuses on reproductive processes at the time of fertilisation and how these events affect the reproductive physiology and behaviour of female insects.

2019 Inaugural Distinguished Women in Science Speaker

Professor Sarah P. (Sally) Otto, University of British Columbia, Canada
27-28 February 2019

Research Chair in Theoretical and Experimental Evolution, and director of the Biodiversity Research Centre at the University of British Columbia.
Recipient of MacArthur Fellowship and Guggenheim Fellowship in Natural Science