Happy Pride Month!

June 17, 2021

To Celebrate Pride Month, we’d like to draw your attention to some of our talented colleagues who identify as part of the LGBTQ2SIA+ Community. Hopefully their stories will help young queer people feel comfortable exploring a future in science. The Pacific Museum of Earth team designed this beautiful geo-Pride Flag using images of rocks and minerals in the museum's collection. Can you name all of the specimens that make up the flag? (answer key is at the bottom of this page)

Professor Kendra Chritz – Geochemist & Paleoecologist

Kendra Chritz is an assistant professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences. She looks at the chemistry of ancient biological material (teeth, bones, soils) to tell what past environments were like. Her particular interest is in the intersecting interactions between people and their ecosystems over time: how the environments we evolved in made us who we are, how prone we are to modifying our environments, what we’re doing to environments now. Because of her particular focus on the ancient evolutionary aspect of her work, I do most of my research in museums around the world and in the field in eastern Africa, where we evolved.

Professor Sara Harris – Climate Science Educator

Sara Harris is a Professor of Teaching in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia. She typically teaches climate science, environmental science, and oceanography, which she will continue after she finishes serving in the Faculty of Science Dean's Office as Associate Dean Academic.

Anthony Di Stefano – Atmospheric Scientist

Anthony Di Stefano is a PhD student in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Anthony is an atmospheric scientist whose work aims to improve the representation of clouds and precipitation in weather forecast models. His goal is to produce higher-accuracy precipitation forecasts in British Columbia. In the new normal brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Anthony is taking time to re-examine his purpose, in research as in everyday life. His aim is to bring social and scientific views of the weather closer together, and to be part of a science community embracing greater standards of inclusion, equity and justice.

Daniel Gowryluk – Museum Educator

Daniel Gowryluk is the Education Outreach Coordinator and Assistant Curator at the Pacific Museum of Earth. Daniel joined the PME team in 2018 following a successful career path through several other science museums—from Manitoba to British Columbia. He has a passion for inspiring curiosity and wonder in all museum visitors and has fundamentally reshaped the museum’s outreach voice through his whimsical and upbeat personality.

Professor Mitch D’Arcy – Geomorphologist

Mitch D’Arcy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Mitch joined the faculty at UBC in March 2020, making him one of the newest faculty members. He is a geomorphologist who studies how climate change influences surface processes on Earth. Originally from London in the U.K., Mitch has been in Germany for the past years prior to his move to Vancouver.

Professor Stuart Sutherland – Micro-Palaeontologist

Stuart Sutherland is a micro-paleontologist and Professor of teaching in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Originally from the U.K., Stuart has been in Vancouver since 2000 when he joined the faculty at UBC. He is an award-winning educator and currently serves as the Chairperson of the Pacific Museum of Earth’s Governing Committee.

 

Geo-Pride Flag answer key:

Bars:

  • Red = Zoisite/ Thulite from Canada
  • Orange = Opalized wood from Nevada
  • Yellow = Sulfur from San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
  • Green = Uvarovite from Russia
  • Blue = Lapis from Afghanistan
  • Purple = Amethyst from Brazil

Chevrons:

  • Black = Hemtatite from Cumberland, UK
  • Brown = Crocidolite from South Africa
  • Pink = Rhodocrosite, No Location Data
  • Blue = Halite/Salt from Saskatchewan
  • White = Opal from Coober Pedy, South Australia