Vida Stout
Vida Stout | |
---|---|
Born | Vida Mary Stout 20 February 1930 Wellington, New Zealand |
Died | 21 July 2012 Christchurch, New Zealand | (aged 82)
Citizenship | New Zealand |
Alma mater | |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Limnology |
Institutions | University of Canterbury |
Vida Mary Stout (20 February 1930 – 21 July 2012) was a New Zealand limnographer and academic administrator.[1] She was the first woman to be Dean of Science at a New Zealand university.[2]
Stout was the daughter of Thomas Duncan MacGregor Stout and granddaughter of Robert Stout.[3] Born and raised in Wellington, Stout was educated at Woodford House School in Hawke's Bay, where she was Dux.[4]
She then studied at Victoria University College, where she completed a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Zoology. Her Masters thesis was on "Hydracarina from the Wellington province". Stout then completed a PhD at Bedford College, University of London, where she studied Daphnia.[4]
She returned to New Zealand after post-doctoral work in Sweden and in 1968 she and Ann Chapman founded the New Zealand Limnological Society (now the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society).[4] Stout was the first president of the society and later was made an honorary life member.[4] She was also a long-term member of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and was the branch president in 1983.[1]
Stout was appointed to the Zoology Department at the University of Canterbury in 1958, where she remained until her retirement in 1996.[4] During her tenure she held the positions of Dean of Science from 1984—1998, Deputy Chair of the university’s Academic Administration Committee from 1992—1995 and played a role in establishing the Masters in Environmental Science Course.[4][1] Her research focused on the biology and chemistry of South Island lakes, including the nature and changes in zooplankton communities over time. She undertook long-term studies on lakes Pearson and Grassmere, near the university's Cass field station.[4]
The University of Canterbury also holds her archives.[5]
Stout died in 2012 after a battle with Parkinson's disease. After retiring in 1996, she continued to go to her office almost every day until the university forbid her access, citing fears for her safety.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Obituary". Royal Society of New Zealand, Canterbury Branch. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ Meduna, Veronika (26 March 1996). "No slowing down for retiring ecologist". The Press (Christchurch).
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(help) - ^ "Seventh Generation". Stamplink.com. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "A tribute to Vida Stout". New Zealand Freshwater Science Society. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ "Vida Stout: University and course notes". digital-library.canterbury.ac.nz. 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- 1930 births
- Deaths from Parkinson's disease
- New Zealand biologists
- 2012 deaths
- People from Wellington City
- Victoria University of Wellington alumni
- University of Canterbury faculty
- New Zealand women academics
- New Zealand academics
- New Zealand women scientists
- Women biologists
- Deans (academic)
- 20th-century women scientists
- New Zealand limnologists