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 in March/April the Committee invites nominations from the School, and a vote is conducted within the School to select the speaker for the following year. The speaker visits in January or February and 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

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.

Program

Monday 24 February
11am-12noon - Lecture Theatre S4, 16 Rainforest Walk - Seminar by Professor Mariana Wolfner
12.15pm - Lunch with ECRs
1.30pm-4.30pm - Biology Students Symposium

Wednesday 26 February
11am-12noon - Lecture Theatre H1, 20 Chancellors Walk - Panel discussion
"Women in Science: Successfully navigating a career in science" 
Panel Members - Professor Mariana Wolfer, Professor Melodie McGeoch, Dr Christen Mirth, Dr Sridevi Sureshkumar, and Professor Moira O'Bryan (Chair)
12.15pm - Lunch
1.30pm-5.00pm - Meet with Academics in School

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