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School celebrates namesake who stirs passion for science

Thu, 27 Oct, 2016

Parents, students and dignitaries joined staff at Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour School on October 27 to celebrate the building’s official opening and honour its namesake.

The K-9 school, in Edmonton’s southwest Ambleside neighbourhood, is named for renowned chemist Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour, associate dean of diversity in the University of Alberta’s faculty of science and one of the founders of the university’s WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology) Program.

Born in Scotland, Armour attended the University of Edinburgh and later graduated from the U of A with her PhD in organic chemistry. In 1981, Armour worked with a group of 20 leaders to study the number of women in careers that had been dominated by men. She was dismayed by the numbers. Far too few women were pursuing careers in science, engineering and technology.

Armour has been working to change those numbers ever since.

Kindling women’s interest in science

Through the WISEST program, Armour has created and supported many projects that help girls and women nurture their passion for science. She has also worked to increase the number of female faculty members in university science departments.

Armour has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Order of Canada in 2006. She was named one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women in 2010 by the Women’s Executive Network.

Meet the woman who loves to share her joy for learning and has a hope for every student at Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour School: