Gail Ashley
Gail Ashley,néeMowry, (born 29 January 1941) is an Americansedimentologist.She is known for her studies of theOlduvai Gorgesediments, focused on the water supplies available to hominids and the paleoclimate of the region. She has participated in multi-disciplinary projects that includemeteorology,oceanography,paleoanthropology,andarchaeology.She has served in professional organizations in the fields of sedimentology andgeology,including the presidency of theGeological Society of America,the second woman to hold that post.
Early life and education
[edit]Ashley was born Gail Mowry inLeominster, Massachusetts,on January 29, 1941. Her interest in geology developed at a young age under the tutelage of a neighbor and professor of geology. She earned abachelor's degreein 1963 and amaster's degreein 1972,[1]both in geology, from theUniversity of Massachusetts, Amherst.In 1977 Ashley received a Ph.D. from theUniversity of British Columbiafor research on sediment transport intidal rivers.[2]
Research career
[edit]In 1977, Ashley was hired atRutgers University,where she currently serves as a full professor.[2][3]She has served as editor for several journals, including as the first female editor of theJournal of Sedimentary Researchand theGeological Society of America Bulletin.[2]She presented a lecture on "The Paleoclimate Framework of Human Evolution, Lessons from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania" at Rutgers, publicized by WISE (Women in Scientific Education) in 2014.[4]
Ashley's research career has focused onglaciationandpaleoecology.[2][5]
In 1998, she first introduced the termCritical Zonein Earth sciences to describe this thin zone of complex interactions involving rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms.
Honors and awards
[edit]From 1991 to 1992, Ashley was the president of theSociety of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogistsand chaired the Northeast Section of theGeological Society of America(GSA). She is active in theAssociation for Women Geoscientiststo bring more women into scientific fields. From 1998 to 1999, she presided over the GSA and was the second female president in its history. From 1998 to 2002 she served as vice president of theInternational Association of Sedimentologists.[2]
In 2012, Ashley was the recipient of the GSA'sLaurence L. Sloss Awardfor lifetime achievements.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Ashley has two children with her first husband, Stuart Ashley.[6]She is currently married to Jeremy Delaney.[2]
References
[edit]- ^Ashley, Gail Mowry (1972).Rhythmic sedimentation in glacial lake Hitchcok, Massachusetts-Connecticut(Thesis).OCLC15031715.
- ^abcdefGates, Alexander E. (2003).A to Z of Earth Scientists.Facts on File.ISBN978-0-8160-4580-8.
- ^abDriese, Steven G. (2012)."2012 Laurence L. Sloss Award".Geological Society of America.Retrieved16 March2014.
- ^"Women In Scientific Education (WISE)".wmpeople.wm.edu.Retrieved2016-12-02.
- ^gmashley."Gail M. Ashley - Rutgers University:: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences".geology.rutgers.edu.Retrieved2016-11-01.
- ^Where are the women geoscience professors, 2003.[1],Retrieved December 1, 2016.
External links
[edit]- Rutgers University profile
- "Geological Society of America - Honors & Awards".geosociety.org.
- "Gail M. Ashley - Rutgers University:: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences".geology.rutgers.edu.
- "2023 SEPM Awards - William H. Twenhofel Medal - Dr. Gail Ashley".YouTube.11 October 2023.
- 1941 births
- Living people
- American women geologists
- University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Natural Sciences alumni
- University of British Columbia Faculty of Science alumni
- Rutgers University faculty
- 20th-century American geologists
- 21st-century American geologists
- 20th-century American women scientists
- 21st-century American women scientists
- Presidents of the Geological Society of America
- American academic journal editors
- 20th-century American women academics