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11th January: Messages from Meteorites / People First: Activism for Science Culture and Policy
January 11, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Messages from Meteorites / People First: Activism for Science Culture and Policy
Amy Riches, Planetary Scientist and Geochemist, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh / SETI Institute
Wed 11th January, 13:00 – 14:00, LTA5 and streamed on Teams
This seminar is open to all staff, students and affiliates of the University of Stirling. The seminar is hosted by Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES).
Who this may appeal to: The themes of the two-part presentation should be of broad appeal across staff and students in BES.
Abstract:
Part I: Messages from Meteorites
Together, geology, the wider natural sciences, and astronomy show that Earth remains the only planet for which a multitude of complex biota is a certainty. For this reason, our home world is a critical reference for understanding the conditions and complicated series of – sometimes violent – events that could result in habitable worlds and sentient life elsewhere in the cosmos. Are we alone?
Understanding the birth and history of Earth and other objects in our Solar System is of fundamental importance. This talk introduces how we tackle this important topic via the powerful, but sometimes cryptic, clues among rocks from space and their relationship(s) to information from space missions.
Part II: People First – Activism for Science Culture and Policy
The scientific community, city, and region, are inspiring to be part of. Our collection of students and professionals are highly-educated human beings with identities, life events, and needs ranging as widely as our combined areas of study. Yet, persisting challenges can lead to marginalisation and differential loss of valuable talent and diversity of thought.
This interactive presentation draws on questions to explore pathways to influence decision makers and government policy:
- Is science’s sustained excellence and impact best judged via diversity and inclusion results?
- How are reforms best invested in at every educational stage and career level to improve representation and belonging of all people of the public that we serve?
In what ways can we get involved and share in helping to prompt progress?
Bio: Amy originally trained in geological sciences – earning a first class MSci – and over the years has gained from international and diverse career experiences to now be a dedicated planetary scientist. Websites: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/amy-riches and https://amyriches.org/
Amy is a Visitor with the Earth and Planetary Sciences Institute of the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh, and an Affiliate Scientist with the SETI Institute, USA. She recently Chaired the hybrid interdisciplinary and Inaugural Forming and Exploring Habitable Worlds International Meeting in Edinburgh (over 150 total delegates from across the globe; www.habitableworlds.co.uk), and is deeply thankful to Stirling’s Christian Schröder for bringing his energies to the team! Publication projects are in progress and the next meeting in this series will be Chaired by Megha Bhatt and Neeraj Srivastava, hosting at India’s Physical Research Laboratory.
Amy was among the top 10 % of applicants selected for the weeklong 2022 Royal Society [Westminster] Pairing Scheme partnering with Ian Murray MP and team. Recently, Amy participated in Holyrood’s Science in Parliament event and engages with policy groups among learned societies. As a Founding Member and Co-Chair to the European Association of Geochemistry’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, she played a key role in guiding the team responsible for driving meaningful change in international geochemistry award criteria, journal editorial board practices and other lasting initiatives to benefitting the community.
All activities that are welcoming to everyone and for which she is keen to encourage others to join in!
Contact Information
Personal Website
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