Dr Maggie Williams has been awarded the Geological Society of London’s Distinguished Service award in recognition of her excellent contribution to the UK geoscience education community.
Since its inception in 1998, only two other women have ever received this award and it is excellent recognition of a female geosciences educator by the premier awarding body.
Maggie, a recognised Teacher of Geology at the University since 2003, has run a series of highly successful INSET courses for A-level Geology teachers and has undertaken research on a number of HEA-funded projects in collaboration with Dr Alan Boyle, Dr Graham Potts and her husband Peter. She has been a mainstay of Geology outreach activities for ‘Dangerous Science’ and ‘STEM Masterclass’ sessions as well as supervising work experience students and teaching important skills on a number of University modules.
Dr Alan Boyle, Geology Programme Director said: “I am delighted that Maggie has been recognised. She has shown great commitment to the University for the last 12 years and is always ready to lend a helping hand. In all her activities, she seeks to encourage and build confidence in teachers and students alike. She can rightly be considered a ‘national treasure’ and we are fortunate that she has contributed so much of her time freely to the University of Liverpool. Maggie provides a great role model for women scientists and her award is evidence of our commitment to Athena Swan”.
Maggie, an honorary member of staff from Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, completed a BSc (Hons) Geology degree at the University of Leicester in 1971 and a PGCE at the University of Keele in 1972 before taking up teaching posts at Rock Ferry High School (1974-1988) and Birkenhead Sixth Form College (1988-2002) where she promoted the teaching of Geology before she was forced to retire in 2002 for health reasons.
In 1996 she started a part time PhD on the significance of hiatal surfaces in sedimentary successions under the supervision of Professor Pat Brenchley and Professor Jim Marshall, which she successfully completed in 2003. Rather than retire gracefully, Maggie has fought her illness and thrown herself into local and national activities to promote Geology.
Nationally, Maggie has been a member of the Earth Science Teachers’ Association (ESTA) since 1979, and has acted as treasurer for seven years, Newsletter Editor, Examinations Officer, Advertising Officer, mentor to early career geology teachers, and became its Chair in 2011 at a very difficult time for ESTA. In this continuing role, she has tirelessly engaged in a wide range of support activities for geoscience education nationally and locally.