Tremaine Visiting Speaker Series for Women in Science

2025 Tremaine Speaker Series featuring Dr. Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, Research and International, and Professor in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.

Please join us for the below 2025 Tremaine Speaker Series events. Please register for events you plan to attend.

Tuesday, October 21 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | SSC 1511 | Power of Collaboration: The Interdisciplinary Nature of Statistics

This public research talk highlights the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of statistical sciences. Dr. Dean will discuss how statisticians work across fields to tackle complex problems, focusing on concepts and ideas accessible to a broad audience. The presentation will also briefly touch on technical aspects for those interested, while keeping the main emphasis on the power of collaboration in advancing research. This talk is open to the U of G community.

Tuesday, October 21 | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | SSC 1511 | Forests, Fisheries, and Formulas: Canada’s Role in Environmetrics

Dr. Dean explores Canadian contributions to the field of environmetrics, with a focus on forestry and fisheries. This lecture will share how statistical sciences support critical work in environmental research and resource management. This talk is open to the U of G community. While more technical in nature, the talk will appeal to audiences across departments and disciplines interested in Canada’s leadership in this area.

Tuesday, October 21 | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | SSC 1511 | Graduate Journeys: A Conversation with Dr. Dean

An informal, fireside-style conversation designed for graduate students. Join Dr. Dean for an engaging discussion about academic journeys, challenges, and opportunities. This interactive session is an opportunity for students to ask questions and gain perspective from the experience of a senior academic leader. This talk is especially geared for U of G graduate students.

Wednesday, October 22 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | MacKinnon 317 | Women in Academic Leadership: Pathways and Perspectives

Dr. Dean leads a discussion on women in academic leadership, exploring pathways, challenges, and perspectives on taking on leadership roles in higher education. Open to U of G women faculty, staff and students, this session provides an opportunity to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and consider the opportunities of leadership in academia.

About Dr. Charmaine Dean

Dr. Charmaine Dean (Ph.D., University of Waterloo) is Vice-President, Research and International at the University of Waterloo. In this role, she provides strategic leadership in the areas of research and innovation, commercialization, and internationalization. She is also responsible for building strategic alliances and partnerships with other academic institutions, governments, businesses, and industries at the regional, national, federal, and international levels.

Several key collaboration portfolios are managed by her office, including the university-level Centres and Institutes and several major industrial partnerships spanning various units in the university. She has drawn a focus to ethics and social impact related to technology developments through various initiatives and is a key driver for equity and diversity in the context of research and internationalization.

Prior to joining the University of Waterloo, Dr. Dean served as the Dean of Science at Western University from 2011 to 2017. She also played a major role in establishing the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, as the Associate Dean of that Faculty, and was the founding Chair of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Simon Fraser University.

Dr. Dean has been awarded numerous honours for her work including Fellowships with the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the Fields Institute, the American Statistical Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2023, she was awarded the Statistical Society of Canada Gold Medal. In 2024, she was bestowed the rank of Chevalier in the prestigious Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French government for her work advancing research connections between Canada and France.

Additionally, Dr. Dean has held several editorships and served in numerous leadership roles internationally and nationally, related to equity and inclusion, statistics and data science, research, and computing infrastructure. In Canada, she served as President of the Statistical Society of Canada and serves on several Boards of Directors. She is currently Chair of Council for NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada).

Women Leaders in Science the Focus of Lecture Series

The Tremaine Visiting Speaker for Women in Science was created by a generous donation from the Tremaine family. The purpose is to bring the world’s brightest scientific women scholars and policy makers, such as:

Female scientists pursuing innovative research.
A researcher or professor who has pushed the boundaries for women in science.
An individual with experience in setting public policy which serves to remove barriers for women pursuing higher education and careers in STEM.

The series launched in October of 2023 and will continue annually with a new department from the College of Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences (CCMPS) hosting.

Past Speakers

Dr. Joanna McGrenere, 2024 speaker.
Dr. Jennifer Heemstra, 2023 speaker.

Tremaine Speaker Series annual rotation:

Department of Chemistry 2023
School of Computer Science 2024
Department of Mathematics & Statistics 2025
Department of Physics 2026
Department of Chemistry 2027
School of Computer Science 2028
Department of Mathematics & Statistics 2029
Department of Physics 2030