Audrey Moores is on a mission.
The newly appointed President of the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada, has only just begun her two-year term and she’s already focused on ambitious goals.
“While it is a real honour to be elected President of the College, this is not simply a ceremonial position,” said the award-winning McGill chemistry professor with a smile. “There is a lot of work ahead.”
Moores has four initiatives that she will focus on as President of the College, the junior body of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) that is comprised of individuals who demonstrate leading scholarly, research or artistic excellence within 15 years of having completed their post-doctoral program or its equivalent.
She plans to start a work study of the state of academia in Canada.
“We want to identify the major societal challenges that academia is trying to help solve, while at the same time understanding the challenges that they face in their day-to-day life as researchers, scholars and citizens,” she said.
Moores and her colleague, Isabelle Archambault of the Université de Montréal, will continue to direct the work of the Francophone caucus of the College, which looks at questions of language of research and publications, and particularly the state of Francophonie in the Canadian research context.
Moores and Archambault co-founded the Francophone caucus.
She will also continue the work initiated by her predecessor Frank Deer to increase engagement with Indigenous communities and she will continue promoting the RSC’s At-Risk and Displaced Academics and Artists (ARDAA) program, a program spearheaded by another past president, Karly Kehoe, to host displaced scholars and scholars at risk from around the world.
Role models for young women
Moores conducts research focused on the development of sustainable materials and green chemistry, with an emphasis on advancing the use of renewable resources. As a female STEM scientist, she understands the importance of role models to young women entering fields traditionally dominated by men.
In addition to the priorities she established, Moores hopes that her tenure as President of the College will have a symbolic impact.
“There is a lack of women in leadership positions. We need to inspire young women to climb the ladders and continue to break through the ceilings they come up against,” said Moores.
“We have a responsibility to give back,” she said. “Throughout my life and career, people have encouraged and helped me. I have a duty to do the same for others. If people are inspired to take their place in the world and be a positive force, we will all benefit.”