Dr. Marianne Mader
Managing Director, Earth & Space/Fossils & Evolution, Royal Ontario Museum | Co-Founder & Board Member, STEAMLabs Community Makerspace
Toronto, ON, CANADA
Cultivating curiosity. Inspiring passion for exploration. Empowering people to engage with science & tech. www.mariannemader.com
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Biography
Marianne Mader has dedicated her career to sharing her love for space exploration through innovative public engagement, participatory education, planetary science research, and science communication. Currently the Managing Director of Earth & Space / Fossils & Evolution at the Royal Ontario Museum, she strives to foster curiosity through learning experiences for all ages. As part of her mission to make education accessible and engaging, Marianne co-founded STEAMLabs, a non-profit community makerspace. STEAMLabs is located in Toronto's Centre for Social Innovation, and acts as a creative hub where people of different ages and abilities come together to learn and create using digital fabrication, coding, and more.
A leader in the space industry with over 13 years of research and field experience, Marianne has worked with the Canadian Space Agency, NASA, and MDA (Canada's largest space company). She has been a Visiting Lecturer at the International Space University, and her education includes a PhD in Planetary Science, MSc in Space Studies, and an MSc in Earth Sciences. A talented connector of networks, Marianne has the rare experience of managing teams and collaborating at the intersection of space agency, academic, industrial, and community stakeholders.
Industry Expertise (4)
Museums and Institutions
Aerospace
Education/Learning
Program Development
Areas of Expertise (17)
Space Exploration
Planetary Science
Science Communication
Maker Culture
Leadership
STEAM Education
Science Outreach to the Public
Makerspace
21st Century Learning
Citizen Science
Museums
STEM Education
Participatory Engagement
Hackathons
Innovation
Innovating Learning
Geology
Accomplishments (4)
Advisory Board Member, Space Apps Challenge (professional)
Every year over one weekend, developers, makers, engineers and entrepreneurs take on NASA-designed challenges, creating solutions that range from silly to serious, fantastical to feasible. See: http://spaceappstoronto.com
Visiting Lecturer International Space University (professional)
The International Space University is an educational organization located in France that develops future leaders of the global space community. Marianne was a Visiting Lecturer for the graduate level professional development Space Studies Program in 2014 and 2015.
US Antarctic Service Medal (professional)
Awarded in 2013 for research contributions to the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET). Marianne is one of only 3 Canadians selected for this intensive research program since in began in 1976.
NSERC Scholarships (professional)
2012: PhD Fellowship, NSERC CREATE Technologies and Techniques for Earth & Space Exploration 2009: Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS-D) 2002: Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS-M)
Education (3)
Western University: PhD, Planetary Science & Exploration 2015
International Space University: MSc, Space Studies 2007
Memorial University: MSc, Geology 2005
Affiliations (1)
- Co-Founder & Board Member, STEAMLabs
Links (3)
Media Appearances (7)
Trek Talks: Bridging Science and the Arts | TIFF Live
TIFF online
2016-10-13
TIFF's 2016 Trek Talks included a roundtable discussion on Star Trek, and how science can inspire art and art can inspire science. Marianne was a featured Guest Speaker on the Bridging Science & the Arts roundtable, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and Sonny Kohli, co-founder of Cloud DX.
Planetary Scientist Dr. Marianne Mader - What She Said Tech
The Jewel Radio Network. radio
What's it like performing with Chris Hadfield? What's the difference between a Meteorite and a Meteor-wrong? Dr. Marianne Mader, Managing Director for the Centres for Earth & Space and Fossils & Evolution at the Royal Ontario Museum joins us to discuss all things space.
ROMCast (Podcast): Dr. Marianne Mader
Royal Ontario Museum online
2016-01-12
Managing Director of ROM Earth & Space and ROM Fossils & Evolution, Marianne is a Planetary Scientist with a love of science communication and working with researchers to excite people about space, the earth and science.
Profile: New on the Ground (and in Space)
ROM Magazine print
2016-04-01
New on the Ground (and in Space) The ROM’s Dr. Marianne Mader discusses her inspirations and what’s next for her.
#SciComm100: Marianne Mader
Science Borealis online
2016-10-04
Featured as part of 100 Voices for Canadian Science Communication. Quote: “Discovery lies at the heart of science and maker culture – both are fueled by our natural curiosity. Combining science and maker concepts creates the perfect storm for science communication by empowering learning by doing, motivation through tackling interest-driven problems, and having creative fun!” – Marianne Mader, geologist and planetary scientist, cofounder of STEAMLabs.
Marianne Mader, geologist-planetary scientist-tinkerer
Kickass Canadians online
2015-11-25
Marianne Mader, geologist-planetary scientist-tinkerer Written by Amanda Sage on November 25, 2015 “What I love about the field of space is the concept of pushing boundaries and technologies.”
Article: Women around the world prove science isn't just for 'boys with toys'
Mashable online
2015-05-17
Female scientists have joined together to disprove one astronomer's thesis: science is just "boys with toys."
Event Appearances (6)
Speaker: STEAMLabs' Motivation
Chris Hadfield's Generator Show Massey Hall
2015-10-28
Keynote Presentation: Punching above our weight: Increasing space outreach impact
2017 SEDS Ascension Conference University of Toronto, ON
Invited Speaker: Hunting Meteorites at the End of the World
2017 & 2016, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Monthly Meeting Mississauga & Toronto, ON
Presenter: Museums & Planetary Missions
2017 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference The Woodlands, TX
Keynote Presentation: Millennial Engagement - 21st Century Science Outreach
2016 Students for the Exploration of Space & Development Conference Western University, London, ON
Presenter: The Maker Movement (in Museums)
2016 Toronto Maker Festival Toronto Reference Library, Toronto, ON
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