WEBVTT NOTE Drew Speech 00:00.500 --> 00:08.500 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ 00:08.500 --> 00:10.500 Welcome to the Earth and Space Sciences 00:10.500 --> 00:12.500 Graduation Celebration. 00:12.500 --> 00:15.500 My name is Drew Gorman-Lewis and I'm faculty in the 00:15.500 --> 00:17.500 Earth and Space Sciences Department. 00:17.500 --> 00:20.500 I'd like to get this Graduation Celebration started 00:20.500 --> 00:23.500 with a couple of statements. The Department of Earth and 00:23.500 --> 00:25.500 Space Sciences at the University of Washington 00:25.500 --> 00:29.500 acknowledges the Coast Salish peoples of this land, 00:29.500 --> 00:31.500 the land which touches the shared waters 00:31.500 --> 00:34.500 of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, 00:34.500 --> 00:36.500 Tulalip, and Muckleshoot Nations. 00:36.500 --> 00:39.500 The Earth and Space Sciences Department at the University 00:39.500 --> 00:42.500 of Washington condemns racism. 00:42.500 --> 00:45.000 We believe that Black Lives Matter. 00:45.000 --> 00:47.500 Racism has been an interwoven and insidious 00:47.500 --> 00:50.500 part of our society and our culture. 00:50.500 --> 00:52.500 And we will no longer tolerate it. 00:52.500 --> 00:56.500 Science, including the Geosciences has participated 00:56.500 --> 00:59.500 in marginalizing and discriminating 00:59.500 --> 01:01.500 against people of color throughout history. 01:02.500 --> 01:05.500 It is the responsibility of all of us to collectively 01:05.500 --> 01:08.500 educate ourselves and do the necessary hard work 01:08.500 --> 01:12.000 to dismantle systems of oppression and to create 01:12.000 --> 01:16.500 an anti-racist and equitable community within our Department 01:16.500 --> 01:18.500 and across our broader society. 01:19.500 --> 01:22.500 Now you may be wondering what the Earth and Space Sciences 01:22.500 --> 01:24.500 Department is all about. 01:24.500 --> 01:28.000 Well, we study the center of the Earth to the rim of the 01:28.000 --> 01:32.500 solar system. The research of our faculty and students 01:32.500 --> 01:34.500 cuts across traditional disciplines of physics, 01:34.500 --> 01:38.500 chemistry, biology, geology and mathematics 01:38.500 --> 01:42.500 to further our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, 01:42.500 --> 01:44.500 and their histories. 01:44.500 --> 01:47.500 So we challenge our students to not only be well-versed 01:47.500 --> 01:51.500 in one discipline, but to be well-versed in many disciplines. 01:51.500 --> 01:55.500 So to the families and friends of the graduates 01:55.500 --> 01:58.500 today is a day to be proud. 01:58.500 --> 02:01.000 Be proud of our graduates who have met that challenge 02:01.000 --> 02:04.500 and are taking that knowledge with them on the next steps 02:04.500 --> 02:07.500 of their journeys. So to all of our graduates 02:07.500 --> 02:10.500 congratulations. Your hard work has paid off 02:10.500 --> 02:12.500 and now it's time to celebrate. 02:12.500 --> 02:51.500 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ NOTE Eric Speech 02:54.000 --> 02:58.000 Hello and welcome to graduation day 2021! 02:58.000 --> 03:02.000 It's a little strange to be here in my dining room again 03:02.000 --> 03:05.000 a year later, recording yet another graduation video. 03:05.000 --> 03:08.000 That wasn't what I expected when I signed up to be chair 03:08.000 --> 03:11.000 of the department a little over a year ago. 03:11.000 --> 03:14.000 But things are looking up. Because of the wonders of 03:14.000 --> 03:18.000 science I've now had two shots in the arm so I'm fully 03:18.000 --> 03:20.000 vaccindated against COVID 19. 03:20.000 --> 03:23.000 Of course your degree in Earth and Space Sciences 03:23.000 --> 03:25.000 didn't train you to develop vaccines. 03:25.000 --> 03:28.000 But you have equally important scientific training that gives you skills 03:28.000 --> 03:32.000 to face other huge challenges - environmental degradation, 03:32.000 --> 03:35.000 climate change, and the challenge of finding and responsibly 03:35.000 --> 03:37.000 using earth's resources. 03:38.000 --> 03:40.000 You know it is thanks to the earth scientists that we have 03:40.000 --> 03:44.000 the ability to keep the lights on in the hospitals, 03:44.000 --> 03:47.000 to keep the lights on in our schools, to build the 03:47.000 --> 03:49.000 infrastructure that makes all of this possible. 03:51.000 --> 03:54.000 We have the ability not only to study earthquakes, 03:54.000 --> 03:56.000 which can damage that infrastructure, 03:56.000 --> 04:00.000 but to anticipate them in real time. Just a matter of seconds 04:00.000 --> 04:04.000 but that can be enough warning time to save countless lives. 04:06.000 --> 04:09.000 Without earth scientists we might be aware that climate 04:09.000 --> 04:12.000 change is happening but we'd have no idea what to do about it. 04:12.000 --> 04:15.000 Contrary to what you might have heard elsewhere 04:15.000 --> 04:18.000 the solution to environmental challenges depends on knowing 04:18.000 --> 04:22.000 the cause. This kind of knowledge 04:22.000 --> 04:25.000 is not just power, to use an old cliche, 04:25.000 --> 04:28.000 it is a marketable skill; it's what employers want. 04:28.000 --> 04:31.000 And those employers are not just in academia. 04:31.000 --> 04:34.000 Many of our graduates have gone on to unexpected careers like 04:34.000 --> 04:36.000 medical imaging, data science, 04:36.000 --> 04:38.000 and even the insurance industry. 04:38.000 --> 04:41.000 You should be proud of what you have learned 04:41.000 --> 04:43.000 and confident it will serve you well. 04:46.000 --> 04:49.000 As I walk around the beautiful campus of the University of 04:49.000 --> 04:52.000 Washington, which I can now do, without a mask because of the 04:52.000 --> 04:57.000 COVID 19 vaccine, I think about the graduating seniors 04:57.000 --> 05:01.000 that I've gotten to know, far fewer of you than I would have liked 05:01.000 --> 05:05.000 thanks to the pandemic. And how absolutely 05:05.000 --> 05:08.000 brilliant, passionate, smart, funny, creative, and interesting 05:08.000 --> 05:12.000 all of you are. I think about how some of you have changed 05:12.000 --> 05:16.000 from a shy student, who might have found the professors intimidating 05:16.000 --> 05:20.000 to confident scientist maybe heading off to graduate school 05:20.000 --> 05:22.000 and showing up the professors a bit with the depth of your 05:22.000 --> 05:27.000 knowledge. That's great. An old UW graduate student, a 05:27.000 --> 05:30.000 friend of mine, once said "You know your a good teacher 05:30.000 --> 05:34.000 if the students are smarter than you are okay with it." 05:34.000 --> 05:37.000 We're not just okay with it, we're proud of it. 05:38.000 --> 05:43.000 I've also thought a lot over the last year about how many of you have spoken up 05:43.000 --> 05:46.000 about the challenges and violence that many people across our 05:46.000 --> 05:48.000 country including some of you face 05:48.000 --> 05:52.000 just because the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, 05:52.000 --> 05:57.000 their parent ethnicity, their disability, or their economic status. 05:58.000 --> 06:02.000 I firmly believe that universities are a force for good 06:02.000 --> 06:05.000 but I also know that not everyone benefits equally 06:05.000 --> 06:06.000 and we have a lot more to do. 06:07.000 --> 06:10.000 The earth sciences are one of the least diverse fields in science, 06:10.000 --> 06:11.000 which is something we are not proud of, 06:11.000 --> 06:14.000 and that lack of diversity does not reflect lack of interest. 06:14.000 --> 06:18.000 It reflects a lack of access, lack of opportunity, 06:18.000 --> 06:21.000 and lack of sufficent role models. 06:21.000 --> 06:23.000 We are working hard to change that. 06:23.000 --> 06:25.000 The way that happens is by talking about that with one 06:25.000 --> 06:28.000 another and even more importantly 06:28.000 --> 06:30.000 listening to one another. 06:30.000 --> 06:33.000 Speaking of communication earth sciences 06:33.000 --> 06:37.000 is not just solving equations or identifying rocks and minerals; 06:37.000 --> 06:40.000 it's about communication. I hope that everyone of you 06:40.000 --> 06:44.000 will become a teacher. Use your Earth and Space Sciences degree 06:44.000 --> 06:47.000 to teach others. Not necessarily in a school setting or a 06:47.000 --> 06:50.000 university setting, but I hope some of you will do that, 06:50.000 --> 06:53.000 but more generally become a teacher of your community. 06:53.000 --> 06:57.000 Bring the facts, knowledge, skills, and most importantly 06:57.000 --> 07:00.000 in the words of Carl Sagan your "baloney detection kit" with you 07:00.000 --> 07:03.000 whever you go. Teach others how to use that kit. 07:03.000 --> 07:06.000 You might feel like you are just one small person 07:06.000 --> 07:10.000 and can't make a difference. And that's true in a certain way. 07:11.000 --> 07:14.000 But think about it; your in a place of incredible privilege. 07:14.000 --> 07:17.000 How many people in the US have a science or engineering degree? 07:17.000 --> 07:21.000 The answer is only about 5%, so your in that top 5%. 07:21.000 --> 07:25.000 That's a good place to be. Use it to enrich yourself 07:25.000 --> 07:29.000 but especially the community around you, 07:29.000 --> 07:32.000 the people you know, and the people you don't know. 07:32.000 --> 07:35.000 So here we are, gathered in front of our computer screens 07:35.000 --> 07:37.000 to celebrate your accomplishments. 07:37.000 --> 07:39.000 We're also here to thank all of those of you 07:39.000 --> 07:41.000 who have supported the graduates. 07:41.000 --> 07:45.000 The family, the friends, the faculty, graduate students, 07:45.000 --> 07:48.000 fellow undergraduate students, and the great staff in our 07:48.000 --> 07:51.000 department without whom a lot of this wouldn't 07:51.000 --> 07:52.000 happen including this video. 07:52.000 --> 07:55.000 Please stick around and watch the rest of the video 07:55.000 --> 07:58.000 we have great talks from a distinguished alumna, 07:58.000 --> 08:01.000 from a graduating senior, and a graduating graduate student. 08:01.000 --> 08:06.000 Congratulations to all of our graduates of 2021. Thank you. 08:06.000 --> 08:15.000 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ NOTE Lisa Speech 08:19.000 --> 08:23.000 Hello class of 2021. 08:23.000 --> 08:27.000 It is my distinct honor to be one of the first to congratulate you 08:27.000 --> 08:30.500 on your graduation from the University of Washington 08:30.500 --> 08:35.000 This is indeed an accomplishment for which you should all be proud 08:35.000 --> 08:39.000 and thank you for allowing me to be part of this special occassion. 08:39.000 --> 08:43.000 It is hard to not be able to shake your hand and congratulate 08:43.000 --> 08:46.000 you in-person. And certainly walking across your livingroom 08:46.000 --> 08:50.000 is a little different from crossing the stage at Husky Stadium. 08:51.000 --> 08:55.000 We come together in recognition of your accomplishments, 08:55.000 --> 08:59.250 big and small, from completing your very first midterm 08:59.250 --> 09:02.000 in your introductory 100 level class to 09:02.000 --> 09:05.000 finishing the last sentance of your thesis. 09:05.000 --> 09:09.000 The lessons that test us the most as students 09:09.000 --> 09:14.000 are often not taught in the classroom, the lab, or even in the field 09:14.000 --> 09:18.000 Nor are they measured in exams, assessments, or papers. 09:18.000 --> 09:22.250 They are instead learned in the unpredictable, the unforeseen 09:22.250 --> 09:26.000 challenges and how we rise to meet them. 09:26.000 --> 09:30.000 Any typical year of learning is peppered with obstacles and 09:30.000 --> 09:35.000 you all have demostrated tremendous grit and determination. 09:35.000 --> 09:39.000 Especially since the shift to virtual learning. 09:40.000 --> 09:43.000 The academic journey is not just about grades 09:43.000 --> 09:47.000 it's about learning how to juggle, to prioritize, 09:47.000 --> 09:53.000 and to preservere. And to be here today you have proven 09:53.000 --> 09:58.000 you have those skills and that adaptability will serve you well. 09:58.000 --> 10:01.000 You take with you not just a degree 10:01.000 --> 10:07.000 but a wellspring of life experience to draw upon as you move on 10:07.000 --> 10:11.000 in your life. Here, at the University of Washington, 10:11.000 --> 10:15.000 you learn to question and to think more critcially. 10:15.000 --> 10:18.500 You learn the essential value of teamwork and how to build 10:18.500 --> 10:21.000 something together with your classmates, 10:21.000 --> 10:25.000 whether their interests aligned with yours or were entirely different. 10:25.000 --> 10:29.000 You immersed yourself in your chosen disclipine and at the end of the day 10:29.000 --> 10:33.000 you became a leader. And I can tell you that as Dean 10:33.000 --> 10:39.000 it's been enlightening and inspiring to watch you grow. 10:39.000 --> 10:42.000 Thank you for giving me this front row seat. 10:42.000 --> 10:48.000 As our next leaders you will make this world a more livable, 10:48.000 --> 10:50.000 sustainable place for all of us. 10:50.000 --> 10:54.000 And I couldn't be more proud and hopeful about the future 10:54.000 --> 10:57.500 knowing that you will be the people leading the charge. 10:58.000 --> 11:02.000 So what's next? For some of you it may be an internship 11:02.000 --> 11:06.000 or your first job, for others the academic journey 11:06.000 --> 11:09.000 continues with grad school or professional training. 11:09.000 --> 11:13.000 For many the job hunt is on and it can be scary out there 11:13.000 --> 11:17.000 but one thing I know for sure you are now all equipped 11:17.000 --> 11:20.000 with the knowledge, the skills, and the outlook 11:20.000 --> 11:23.000 that employers all over the world need right now. 11:23.000 --> 11:29.000 But beyond the skills and the knowledge, now more than ever, 11:29.000 --> 11:33.000 our world needs kind, smart graduates. 11:33.000 --> 11:38.000 We need you to be voices for equatity and balance 11:38.000 --> 11:40.000 and crucially for our planet. 11:41.000 --> 11:45.000 So in appreciation of your efforts and talents this year 11:45.000 --> 11:50.000 the College of the Environment is partnering with the Campus 11:50.000 --> 11:54.000 Sustainability Fund to help fund the Native Gardents 11:54.000 --> 11:59.000 at the UW Farm Project to design and plant a garden 11:59.000 --> 12:04.000 of indigenous plants with significance in Native food traditions. 12:04.000 --> 12:10.000 This project is in partnership with wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Intellectual House 12:10.000 --> 12:14.000 The project is a step towards food sovergnity on campus 12:14.000 --> 12:16.000 and will allow students, staff, faculty, and the community 12:16.000 --> 12:21.000 to learn about, grow, and consume traditional foods. 12:21.000 --> 12:24.000 The project was chosen based on a recommendation 12:24.000 --> 12:27.500 from our student advisory council and then voted on by 12:27.500 --> 12:31.000 our graduating class and we believe that this 12:31.000 --> 12:35.000 is a contribution that showcases our collective committment to 12:35.000 --> 12:38.000 sustainability and the wellbeing of our campus, 12:38.000 --> 12:41.000 our community, and our planet. 12:41.000 --> 12:45.000 Wherever you go next I want you to embrace 12:45.000 --> 12:48.000 that the world needs you, that the unique set of skills 12:48.000 --> 12:50.000 will help you stand out among the crowd. 12:50.000 --> 12:56.000 Stay curious. Be adventuresome. Stretch your limits. 12:56.000 --> 13:00.000 Be kind to yourself, you have what it takes. 13:00.000 --> 13:05.000 And know I'll still be in the front row cheering you on always. 13:05.000 --> 13:08.500 Please stay in touch, I would love hear about each and every of 13:08.500 --> 13:12.000 adventures and congratulations. 13:15.000 --> 14:00.000 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ NOTE Ginny Speech 14:02.500 --> 14:08.500 When Eric asked me to give this speech I immediately thought "Oh My God, I'm Officially Old" 14:08.500 --> 14:11.000 And then after I agreed to do it I thought "What am I gonna say?" 14:11.000 --> 14:15.500 And somewhere between those moments and now I decided to write this to my former self 14:15.500 --> 14:19.500 the woman who got her PhD at UW in 2004 and wondered "What Now?" 14:19.500 --> 14:23.500 Truthfully she had no idea what she was doing and where she would end up 14:23.500 --> 14:28.500 and to be honest I sometimes still feel that way. But along the path I've learned 14:28.500 --> 14:31.500 a few things that I want to share with you because that's kinda what commencement speeches 14:31.500 --> 14:37.000 are all about, right? Some of these lessons were much harder to learn than others but I 14:37.000 --> 14:40.500 think they've all been helpful to me and I hope they're helpful to you too. 14:40.500 --> 14:46.500 First, life is not always happy. I was pretty lucky up until I got 14:46.500 --> 14:48.500 married with kids well beyond my time at UW 14:48.500 --> 14:52.500 I hadn't really faced any of the difficulties that come with living a life 14:52.500 --> 14:55.000 including illness, loss, and failure. 14:55.000 --> 14:58.500 And then my husband died when we were on vacation with our 14:58.500 --> 15:01.500 two-year-old twins and I began a new journey of being a single 15:01.500 --> 15:05.500 parent and only parent. And that was not the only challenge 15:05.500 --> 15:08.500 I was faced with. My son then began to have numerous medical 15:08.500 --> 15:13.000 difficulties resulting in multiple hospital stays and ultimately 15:13.000 --> 15:16.500 it revealed neruological issues that make it hard for me to see 15:16.500 --> 15:21.500 him living independently. The days and weeks and months during 15:21.500 --> 15:23.500 this time were the most challenging I've ever faced. 15:23.500 --> 15:27.500 But in those dark moments there were also smiles and giggles 15:27.500 --> 15:30.500 with my kids as they played oblivious to the loss around them. 15:30.500 --> 15:33.500 And there was the love and companionship from close friends 15:33.500 --> 15:36.500 and family who supported me when I needed them most 15:36.500 --> 15:40.500 And I realized then that life is this frustratingly wonderful 15:40.500 --> 15:44.500 mix of happiness, love, joy, sorrow, grief, and loss 15:44.500 --> 15:48.500 And I learned that in appreciating both sides of this coin 15:48.500 --> 15:51.500 you can truly begin to relax and enjoy the ride. 15:51.500 --> 15:53.500 Because the idea that "everything happens for a reason" 15:53.500 --> 15:58.500 is just a stupid idea. Bad things happen for the same reason that 15:58.500 --> 16:03.500 that good things happen. They just do. That's life. There is no reason 16:03.500 --> 16:07.500 there's just your response to it. Will you be so consumed that when 16:07.500 --> 16:09.500 the bad stuff happens you can't see the joy and beauty right 16:09.500 --> 16:14.500 in front of you? Or will you use that joy and beauty to propel yourself 16:14.500 --> 16:19.500 through those times of sorrow with grace. Your mindset is everything. 16:19.500 --> 16:23.500 If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. 16:23.500 --> 16:27.500 In my darkest time I made a conscious choice to get through the time by being 16:27.500 --> 16:30.500 more optimistic and from that I grew into someone who 16:30.500 --> 16:35.500 sees the silver lining in everything. People from UW who know me from when I 16:35.500 --> 16:38.500 was in grad school will tell you I wasn't always that way. 16:38.500 --> 16:42.500 But I would not be who I am today if I had not suffered first. 16:42.500 --> 16:45.500 And so find those silver linings in your setbacks and use them to 16:45.500 --> 16:47.500 to grow into a better version of yourself. 16:47.500 --> 16:53.500 Number 2. It's ok to ask for help. Getting your degree undoubtedly 16:53.500 --> 16:57.500 takes grit, tenacity, hard work and dedication. And you're gonna 16:57.500 --> 16:59.500 think like I did that you've accomplished a lot, and you did 16:59.500 --> 17:04.500 but never fool yourself that you've done it alone. Very likely you 17:04.500 --> 17:07.500 are here because of the support of a loving family who gave you the tools 17:07.500 --> 17:11.500 and resources you needed to find success. And if you didn't have 17:11.500 --> 17:14.500 that loving family, then you're here because of friends or 17:14.500 --> 17:17.500 others who were able to help you reach your goals. 17:17.500 --> 17:20.500 None of us are who we are without other people. 17:20.500 --> 17:23.500 And you don't wanna do it alone, that's not the point 17:23.500 --> 17:27.500 We are human. Humanity requires community. 17:27.500 --> 17:32.500 And community is what makes us humble. Understanding that you can't truly take credit 17:32.500 --> 17:36.500 for your successes will humble and it will make you more compassionate 17:36.500 --> 17:40.500 and this is a good thing because it means you won't be as much of an asshole 17:40.500 --> 17:44.500 when you're older. And it means that you can be there to help others 17:44.500 --> 17:47.500 when they need it too. All of us will expereince difficulty 17:47.500 --> 17:51.500 and for many that difficulty will be hidden to you. 17:51.500 --> 17:55.500 Because as a society we generally don't talk about that kind of stuff. 17:55.500 --> 18:01.500 But I encourage you to do just that: be vunerable, expose your weak underbelly 18:01.500 --> 18:04.500 I promise that this will lead to wonderful, long lasting connections 18:04.500 --> 18:09.500 with the people around you. And if you weren't lucky to have that loving family 18:09.500 --> 18:14.500 then this is the key to creating one. Number three: don't forget your privilege 18:14.500 --> 18:17.500 In addition to the hard work and community that brought you 18:17.500 --> 18:21.500 here to graduation, there was also one more thing: luck 18:21.500 --> 18:24.500 For me it was the dumb luck of being born white to a middle 18:24.500 --> 18:29.500 class family that valued education. And while I took that for granted for 18:29.500 --> 18:33.500 a long time, I now understand the privilege of chance that I benefit from 18:33.500 --> 18:39.500 I'm lucky to be here, and the job of the lucky is to lift up the downtrodden 18:39.500 --> 18:42.500 Many of us forget this and we think that if we help someone 18:42.500 --> 18:45.500 it will reduce our power and our resources, and you know 18:45.500 --> 18:50.500 what, it might! But that's the point. You know, being a woman in Glaciology 18:50.500 --> 18:53.500 was not an easy path. I've been called names in the field 18:53.500 --> 18:57.500 I've been told that I only got my funding because of some gendered bean-counting 18:57.500 --> 19:01.500 I've had people undermine me and say to my face that they didn't think I 19:01.500 --> 19:04.500 contributed to a paper that was more theorhetical than I had written before 19:04.500 --> 19:09.500 I'm sure each of you has had or will have similar expereinces 19:09.500 --> 19:14.500 or worse, and I hope not. But you will not always be downtrodden 19:14.500 --> 19:18.500 You will work really hard and you will do a good job and you 19:18.500 --> 19:23.500 will slowly become aware that those waves of self-doubt are becoming more subdued. 19:23.500 --> 19:27.500 Not because of your acheivements but simply because you have learned to 19:27.500 --> 19:31.500 worry about them less. Maybe one day you'll be recognized 19:31.500 --> 19:34.500 for your work and someone will ask you to give a commencement speech 19:34.500 --> 19:37.500 and you'll wonder "Have I made it now?" 19:37.500 --> 19:41.500 Nope! There's still work to do. Because making it means now you're 19:41.500 --> 19:45.500 in a position to really make a difference so that others behind you 19:45.500 --> 19:50.500 face less of these same issues. Remember: you are free to live 19:50.500 --> 19:54.500 without reinventing the hatred of our collective past. 19:54.500 --> 19:57.500 I urge you to become the master of your moral compass 19:57.500 --> 20:00.500 and let that guide you to do the right thing throughout your life 20:00.500 --> 20:06.500 Number four: Take risks. Like many of you, I was drawn to the 20:06.500 --> 20:09.500 earth sciences because I was able to combine three of my great loves: 20:09.500 --> 20:12.500 science, travel to remote locations, and being in nature. 20:12.500 --> 20:16.500 But to be truly successful in any endeavor, you have to do more than just 20:16.500 --> 20:19.500 pursue your dreams. You've got to stick your neck out, too. 20:19.500 --> 20:25.500 I remember, my advisor, Charlie Raymond asking me why I wanted to do a PhD in Glaciology 20:25.500 --> 20:29.500 At the time in the early 2000s nobody outside of universities and research centers 20:29.500 --> 20:33.500 cared much about glaciers and ice sheets I had to explain to everyone, including 20:33.500 --> 20:38.500 my family on multiple occasions what a Glaciologist was. 20:38.500 --> 20:41.500 I told Charlie that I just loved figuring out the puzzles of how 20:41.500 --> 20:45.500 ice sheets worked and he said "Well, you do have some creative ideas" 20:45.500 --> 20:49.500 And it struck me: here was this person, revered in glaciology for the 20:49.500 --> 20:53.500 theories that he put forth in his career and I was scared and 20:53.500 --> 20:56.500 nervous that I would never measure up to his stature and 20:56.500 --> 20:59.500 truthfully, I don't. I could never be a theorist like Charlie 20:59.500 --> 21:04.500 but I do have crazy ideas and it turns out that some of those ideas 21:04.500 --> 21:08.500 were fun for others to think about and that led to a job, which led to more 21:08.500 --> 21:12.500 crazy ideas which led to more adventure and now here I am in front of you 21:12.500 --> 21:16.500 And so, I think the dark secret about success is that many of the most 21:16.500 --> 21:22.500 interesting discoveries often occur because of creative tinkering. And the one surefire way 21:22.500 --> 21:27.500 to be creative is to take risks. Don't keep your ideas to yourself. 21:27.500 --> 21:30.500 Talk to people with ideas that are radically different from your own. 21:30.500 --> 21:35.500 Test your biases. Be intellectually rigorus. Identify your privilege. 21:35.500 --> 21:39.500 Explore the world outside of your comfort zone. Borrow tools 21:39.500 --> 21:44.500 from other fields, including the Liberal Arts, like effective and pursuasive communciation. 21:44.500 --> 21:49.500 The French painter, Paul Gauguin said "stay firmly in your path and dare 21:49.500 --> 21:54.500 be wild for two hours a day." Now that's managable advice, you 21:54.500 --> 21:57.500 don't have to push all your limits all the time, just two hours a day 21:57.500 --> 22:01.500 So yeah, hard work--put in the hours do a good job but for two glorious 22:01.500 --> 22:06.500 hours a day, be wild. Number five: Find your meaning. 22:06.500 --> 22:09.500 I'm so happy for you that you've made it to this day and I'm sure 22:09.500 --> 22:13.500 you and your parents are all so happy that you can now go and make some money 22:13.500 --> 22:18.500 You can enjoy a wonderful career and you can start to reach for those goals 22:18.500 --> 22:21.500 that you dreamed about and I want you to enjoy that. But 22:21.500 --> 22:26.500 don't always focus on happiness. Tim Minchin said that happiness is 22:26.500 --> 22:29.500 like an orgasm: if you think about it too much, it goes away 22:29.500 --> 22:34.500 So, in that pursuit of happiness, don't also forget to find your meaning 22:34.500 --> 22:38.500 This is deeper than the pursuit of a good time or more money or 22:38.500 --> 22:43.500 a new partner. Meaning is the weight of your life. It's what grounds you 22:43.500 --> 22:48.500 It's what makes struggle worthwhile. And a little tip: your meaning is not 22:48.500 --> 22:51.500 likely going to be the work you've accomplished in your career. 22:51.500 --> 22:54.500 But don't panic if you don't know what meaning is for you. 22:54.500 --> 22:57.500 There is no rush. Life is long. 22:57.500 --> 23:02.500 Yes, there's travel, food, wine, beaches, and climbing. 23:02.500 --> 23:06.500 But you know all that stuff already. There is also sharing ideas, 23:06.500 --> 23:10.500 building compassion, connecting with people, expressing your creativity, 23:10.500 --> 23:15.500 taking risks, helping others, and being wild. It is an incredible gift 23:15.500 --> 23:19.500 this one long life you have. I wish you the best of luck on your journey 23:19.500 --> 23:22.500 Congratulations 23:22.500 --> 24:09.000 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ NOTE Manique Speech 24:13.000 --> 24:16.000 What a year. It's fitting 24:16.000 --> 24:18.000 that after months of being glued to our screens, 24:18.000 --> 24:21.000 I come to you now, through your computer, to congratulate you 24:21.000 --> 24:24.000 on an important milestone. You're graduating! 24:24.000 --> 24:27.400 You did it. It wasn't easy. 24:27.400 --> 24:31.400 I'm Manique. I've met some of you but not as many as I'd like. 24:31.400 --> 24:33.800 I just completed the MESSAGe program 24:33.800 --> 24:36.400 and my old love is paleoclimatology 24:36.400 --> 24:38.520 and my new love after my studies here 24:38.519 --> 24:41.599 is geomorphology. I've spent the last six years 24:41.600 --> 24:44.550 working at an environmental consulting company here in Seattle. 24:44.550 --> 24:48.630 I'm originally an upstate New Yorker and so the mountains and the waters 24:48.630 --> 24:51.400 of the Puget Sound region will never cease to amaze me. 24:51.400 --> 24:54.000 I love to hike, read romance novels, 24:54.000 --> 24:57.400 and play Dungeons & Dragons with my friends. 24:57.400 --> 25:01.510 I am very grateful to have the opportunity to address you today. 25:01.510 --> 25:04.600 Thank you to the chair, department staff, 25:04.600 --> 25:05.780 for reaching out to give me this chance. 25:05.780 --> 25:09.610 This speech was incredibly difficult to write. 25:09.610 --> 25:12.790 I want to be upbeat and positive for the future 25:12.790 --> 25:16.750 but it's definitely a challenge given the overwhelming tragedy of this year. 25:16.750 --> 25:20.670 However in lieu of screaming into the void for 5 to 10 minutes 25:20.670 --> 25:23.500 I'll do my feeble best at congratulating you 25:23.500 --> 25:29.570 offering thanks, and sharing some words of advice for fellow early career professionals. 25:29.570 --> 25:33.690 There's so much I want to say and I'm hardly capable of expressing it all 25:33.690 --> 25:36.600 but the most important thing is that you're here. 25:36.600 --> 25:38.800 Graduate school is no mean feat. 25:38.800 --> 25:42.640 Even in the best of times grad school can be isolating and lonely 25:42.640 --> 25:45.570 as you puzzle through challenging experiments and questions. 25:45.570 --> 25:49.600 Add a pandemic into the equation and you're even more isolated. 25:49.600 --> 25:54.490 What's more, the events of the last 18 months have only highlighted and reinforced 25:54.490 --> 25:57.710 the deeply entrenched inequality within our institutions. 25:57.710 --> 26:01.580 In addition to your studies many of you have been fighting for your communities 26:01.580 --> 26:03.690 while juggling your academic obligations. 26:03.690 --> 26:07.400 It's inspiring to see you on the frontlines of protests for racial equality 26:07.400 --> 26:09.620 and against police brutality. 26:09.620 --> 26:11.800 I've seen you advocate for the grad student union 26:11.800 --> 26:15.660 you have fought for parity within this department and in academia overall. 26:15.660 --> 26:20.550 You've put your body and soul and more critically your valuable free time 26:20.550 --> 26:22.710 on the line to make this world a better place. 26:22.710 --> 26:26.680 Sometimes it feels like we're fighting an uphill battle. 26:26.680 --> 26:31.570 These are heavy thoughts when you're also attempting to juggle homework and research during a pandemic. 26:31.570 --> 26:36.600 Personally when I get discouraged I try to refocus on the little things that bring me happiness: 26:36.600 --> 26:40.570 Maybe a funny meme posted in our cohort group chat 26:40.570 --> 26:45.500 the smell of flowers in Seattle spring, and the smell of rain during a Seattle winter, 26:45.500 --> 26:49.710 my sweet new pandemic dog and her late night wuffles. 26:49.710 --> 26:54.500 These relationships we've built also help us through difficult times. 26:54.500 --> 26:57.770 In particular, I'll always be grateful for the connections to my fellow graduate students. 26:57.770 --> 27:02.750 To a person, our little MESSAGe cohort is brilliant, hilarious, and incredibly hard working. 27:02.750 --> 27:05.700 I've learned so much from them in the last 20 months 27:05.700 --> 27:08.710 and I'll take those lessons with me through the rest of my career. 27:08.710 --> 27:12.620 The PhD and research Masters students that I've been lucky enough to interact with 27:12.620 --> 27:15.590 are also brilliant scientists, and forces to be reckoned with. 27:15.590 --> 27:17.730 These connections that we've built remain strong 27:17.730 --> 27:21.780 even though we haven't been able to gather in person during the pandemic. 27:21.780 --> 27:27.570 I'd also like to acknowledge how hard our professors and TAs have worked 27:27.570 --> 27:30.690 over these months to keep classes moving at a virtual setting. 27:30.690 --> 27:32.780 We've even had virtual field trips and camps. 27:32.780 --> 27:38.500 Our professors and TAs adapted their lesson plans basically on the fly last spring 27:38.500 --> 27:40.000 to adapt to a virtual setting. 27:40.000 --> 27:42.690 I can speak to personal experience when I say 27:42.690 --> 27:47.510 I am very grateful for the many extensions that were granted by understanding professors 27:47.510 --> 27:50.080 in a challenging virtual learning environment. 27:50.080 --> 27:55.580 Our professors and fellow grad students will continue to be a part of our professional networks 27:55.580 --> 27:57.080 as we move forward with our careers. 27:57.080 --> 28:01.740 I've already gotten valuable advice from my department in ESS 28:01.740 --> 28:04.610 when I've contemplated next steps in my career. 28:04.610 --> 28:06.800 This goes without saying for many of you 28:06.800 --> 28:10.630 but staying in touch with your academic and professional mentors is a great way to continue 28:10.630 --> 28:13.530 learning from them as your own career experience grows. 28:13.530 --> 28:18.530 Whether you go into consulting, academia, or a public sector job 28:18.530 --> 28:22.000 your network will undoubtedly enable you to stay abreast 28:22.000 --> 28:25.730 of exciting new science and job opportunities. 28:25.730 --> 28:31.400 Maybe even more important than maintaining your network is advocating for yourself. 28:31.400 --> 28:34.710 Careers in the private sector statistically await most of us. 28:34.710 --> 28:37.760 In the private sector you may be paid more than other careers 28:37.760 --> 28:41.310 but you also must be a fierce advocate for your skills 28:41.310 --> 28:43.070 to see those gains especially early on. 28:43.070 --> 28:47.550 Just a few years ago I had the mindset that my skills would speak for themselves 28:47.550 --> 28:49.420 and I would be compensated accordingly. 28:49.420 --> 28:52.290 Unfortunately, this is not always the case. 28:52.290 --> 28:56.270 Know your strengths, and shout on them from the mountaintops. 28:56.270 --> 28:57.520 Always negotiate. 28:57.520 --> 29:00.680 If there's one thing I've learned as an early career professional 29:00.680 --> 29:03.410 it's that modesty is overrated. 29:03.410 --> 29:07.320 I'll admit that this advice is overly individualistic 29:07.320 --> 29:10.110 so I offer you another piece of that puzzle: 29:10.110 --> 29:14.080 If you're comfortable enough to do so, talk to your colleagues about their compensation. 29:14.080 --> 29:17.000 Identify any disparities and advocate for each other. 29:17.000 --> 29:20.200 Sing your colleague's praises to your managers. 29:20.200 --> 29:23.720 It feels good to support others and it may benefit you all collectively. 29:23.720 --> 29:28.660 I'll conclude today with an appeal for collective advocacy. 29:28.660 --> 29:31.590 Whether in professional or academic settings, 29:31.590 --> 29:34.070 an individualistic mindset will only take you so far. 29:34.070 --> 29:38.510 I benefited from the collective of my cohort and I've learned 29:38.510 --> 29:41.080 of the importance of a collective in my workplace and community. 29:41.080 --> 29:43.500 Wherever your next steps take you 29:43.500 --> 29:46.500 I hope you continue to grow your community as a scientist, 29:46.500 --> 29:48.500 and everlasting pupil. 29:48.500 --> 29:50.930 Now, ah 29:50.930 --> 29:51.710 let's have a toast! 29:51.680 --> 29:54.400 Grab the nearest vessel of liquid - 29:54.400 --> 29:56.520 and I know it's early in the morning for many of you 29:56.520 --> 29:58.250 but let's do it anyway. 29:58.250 --> 29:59.420 To us! 29:59.420 --> 30:00.510 To you. 30:00.510 --> 30:03.640 Congratulations! 30:06.500 --> 30:22.500 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ 30:23.500 --> 33:03.500 line:0% ♬ 'POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE' BY EDWARD ELGAR ♬ 33:04.500 --> 33:49.500 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ NOTE Surabhi Speech 33:51.660 --> 33:54.690 It is my honor today to be the undergraduate 33:54.690 --> 33:57.520 student speaker for the Earth and Space Sciences 33:57.516 --> 33:59.586 Class of 2021 graduation. 33:59.590 --> 34:01.660 I want to start off with thank yous. 34:01.660 --> 34:03.660 From the Class of 2021 34:03.660 --> 34:05.820 thank you to our families, friends, and partners 34:05.820 --> 34:07.730 for supporting us over the years. 34:07.730 --> 34:11.620 Thank you to our professors, lecturers, and TAs. 34:11.620 --> 34:16.750 Without you, we probably still wouldn't know the difference between granite and granodiorite. 34:16.750 --> 34:19.620 Thank you to our academic advisors and ESS 34:19.620 --> 34:24.650 staff for putting up with multiple emails and those last-minute fundraiser reservations. 34:24.650 --> 34:29.800 With everyone's help and support, we've grown into the students, the scientists, and the 34:29.800 --> 34:32.710 soon-to-be graduates that you see here today. 34:32.710 --> 34:34.620 We can't thank you enough. 34:34.620 --> 34:38.750 Picture this: it's the first day of sophomore year 34:38.750 --> 34:42.570 and I walk into ESS 211 knowing nothing. 34:42.570 --> 34:45.570 I knew I loved the Earth and I wanted to study it, 34:45.570 --> 34:47.750 but I had no clue what a geologic formation is or 34:47.750 --> 34:50.570 why we'd want to measure its strike and dip. 34:50.570 --> 34:54.770 Suddenly I've signed up to go on an overnight field trip with a whole bunch of people 34:54.770 --> 34:56.620 that I don't know. 34:56.620 --> 34:58.670 Honestly, I was pretty nervous. 34:58.670 --> 35:02.710 I didn't know it at the time, but some of the people that I met on that trip 35:02.710 --> 35:05.200 would go on to be my best friends. 35:05.200 --> 35:08.700 That field trip took us out to the middle of Washington, 35:08.700 --> 35:10.800 where we saw fantastic rock formations. 35:10.800 --> 35:15.320 When it got dark, we were amazed by the starry sky above us. 35:15.320 --> 35:18.690 One star, in particular, was moving. 35:18.690 --> 35:22.260 Turns out it was actually the International Space Station. 35:22.260 --> 35:26.620 I will never forget the excitement on Professor John Stone's face 35:26.620 --> 35:29.210 as he told us all about the ISS and its orbit, 35:29.210 --> 35:34.200 and the way we all stood together in awe, eyes fixated on the space station 35:34.200 --> 35:38.070 as it crossed the night sky above us and dipped below the horizon. 35:38.070 --> 35:43.010 That feeling, of being in awe of the world around us, 35:43.010 --> 35:46.000 from the rocky landscapes to the dazzling stars above me 35:46.000 --> 35:49.000 has stayed with me over all these years 35:49.000 --> 35:53.110 and I know that's a sentiment that this entire graduating class can share. 35:53.110 --> 35:56.590 The Earth is incredible, and we came here because we 35:56.590 --> 35:59.000 wanted to learn more about how it works. 35:59.000 --> 36:03.800 And we've done that. We've studied the earth on a micro level, 36:03.800 --> 36:06.620 looking at crystal formation, and a macro level, 36:06.620 --> 36:09.800 looking at plate tectonics and even planet formation. 36:09.800 --> 36:13.580 We've touched rocks that were formed in the deep geologic past, 36:13.580 --> 36:17.930 and we've witnessed erosion carving out the landscapes of our future. 36:17.930 --> 36:20.950 We've done fieldwork and we've completed research projects. 36:20.950 --> 36:24.000 Above all, we've learned that the Earth is resilient. 36:24.000 --> 36:27.710 And like the Earth, we the class of 2021 36:27.710 --> 36:30.220 are resilient. 36:30.220 --> 36:34.220 This past year and a half haven't been easy. 36:34.220 --> 36:35.840 But between zoom classes, zoom labs, 36:35.840 --> 36:37.930 zoom socials, and even zoom field camp, 36:37.930 --> 36:39.550 we have persisted. 36:39.550 --> 36:42.620 We couldn't have done it without the support systems around us, 36:42.620 --> 36:45.020 and we couldn't have done it without each other. 36:45.020 --> 36:49.750 Those post-midterm hallway discussions became rapid-fire text conversations, 36:49.750 --> 36:53.800 those late nights in the computer lab trying to figure out to use ArcGIS 36:53.800 --> 36:56.800 became hours of zoom sessions, and those 36:56.800 --> 36:59.800 random conversations in the Johnson foyer 36:59.800 --> 37:02.020 became our online Geoclub socials. 37:02.020 --> 37:07.020 Speaking of Geoclub, I want to give a huge shoutout to my fellow officers, 37:07.020 --> 37:10.020 Halie, Elizabeth, Francisco, and Anna, for working 37:10.020 --> 37:14.020 so hard to maintain that sense of community, during this time. 37:14.020 --> 37:18.020 As we leave behind our undergraduate careers, 37:18.020 --> 37:18.730 challenges lie ahead. 37:18.730 --> 37:24.020 One of the biggest challenges that our generation faces is anthropogenic climate change. 37:24.020 --> 37:28.020 We know, more than anyone, that the Earth is resilient. 37:28.020 --> 37:31.020 But we also know that our current way of living 37:31.020 --> 37:34.020 and our methods of energy consumption are not sustainable. 37:34.020 --> 37:38.020 Furthermore, we know that the negative impacts of climate change 37:38.020 --> 37:41.020 disproportionately affect marginalized black and brown communities, 37:41.020 --> 37:44.020 and these communities are currently underrepresented 37:44.020 --> 37:47.020 among those who study the Earth and climate change. 37:47.020 --> 37:51.020 This past year, we've already seen positive change 37:51.020 --> 37:54.020 within the ESS department; with conversation and actions 37:54.020 --> 37:57.020 geared toward increasing access to and equity in research, 37:57.020 --> 38:01.020 fieldwork, and support systems for historically underrepresented groups. 38:01.020 --> 38:05.020 I am excited to see the continuing work of this department 38:05.020 --> 38:08.020 but we, especially as graduates, still have plenty of work to do. 38:08.020 --> 38:12.020 During my next steps of studying climate science in graduate school, 38:12.020 --> 38:17.420 I commit to promoting outreach, communication, and diversity in the geosciences. 38:17.420 --> 38:21.020 As always, the future is uncertain, but as we 38:21.020 --> 38:24.730 set off to graduate school, to jobs, and to explore the rest of the world, 38:24.730 --> 38:28.710 I urge you all to remember that feeling of being in awe of the Earth, 38:28.710 --> 38:31.020 and that drive to understand how it works. 38:31.020 --> 38:35.020 Thank you for a rockin' time, Class of 2021. 38:35.020 --> 38:39.610 And congratulations on graduating. I am so proud of us. 38:39.800 --> 38:50.000 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ 38:50.000 --> 42:39.500 line:0% ♬ 'POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE' BY EDWARD ELGAR ♬ 42:40.000 --> 43:46.000 line:0% ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬ NOTE Community Sendoffs 43:47.000 --> 43:52.000 Congratulations ESS 2021 Graduates! We are so proud of you. 43:52.000 --> 43:56.000 Congratulations Class of 2021! We wish you all the success 43:56.000 --> 44:00.000 as you leave the University of Washington and our department. 44:00.000 --> 44:07.000 As a representative of our faculty I feel very privileged to have had 44:07.000 --> 44:12.000 the opportunity to be a small part of your educational experience here. 44:12.000 --> 44:17.000 And before you go I have a couple extra credit questions and just to 44:17.000 --> 44:21.000 show your parents that your tuition was well worth that investment. 44:21.000 --> 44:27.000 Right here behind me would this be a property that you would purchase? 44:27.000 --> 44:33.000 And if so, why, and if not, why would you not? That's the first and 44:33.000 --> 44:37.000 you might remember in ESS 101 when we traveled these beaches 44:37.000 --> 44:42.000 you may have had a different answer than you have today. But 44:42.000 --> 44:47.000 that's one thing that your clearly your expereince here is both applied 44:47.000 --> 44:52.000 and may save your life, may save you some money. One last thing. 44:52.000 --> 44:57.000 Anyone that's had me in this class we always have one extra credit question; 44:57.000 --> 45:03.000 one bonus point if you can find the rock from the mantle and 45:03.000 --> 45:09.000 here it is--what's the name of this rock, and where did it come from, right? 45:09.000 --> 45:17.000 And if you guessed serpentinized harzburgite and it was transported 45:17.000 --> 45:21.000 from Fidalgo Island by a glacier in the last glaciation you all 45:21.000 --> 45:26.000 get one extra credit point towards your GPA. In all seriousness 45:26.000 --> 45:33.000 I do want to tell you that it is sad for us. We have you here for a 45:33.000 --> 45:38.000 very brief period of time. As I said to many of you that I've 45:38.000 --> 45:42.000 actually had in my class you're like my own children. We want the best for 45:42.000 --> 45:45.000 you. These were trying times especially within the last year 45:45.000 --> 45:50.000 with the COVID-19 pandemic, but as you'll find in life you're 45:50.000 --> 45:56.000 gonna be faced with these challenges. You learn to adapt and remain 45:56.000 --> 46:01.000 to be students, and to be, as you move into your careers, to be people of 46:01.000 --> 46:06.000 "the glass is half full." Whatever direction you go always think of it 46:06.000 --> 46:10.000 that it's a more postive direction than you're just being (gestures). 46:10.000 --> 46:13.000 With these challeges--you're gonna look for the directions that are gonna 46:13.000 --> 46:17.000 take you to your eventual goal and your fulfillment in life and I 46:17.000 --> 46:21.000 do wish you all the best and God bless you all. Thank you. 46:24.000 --> 46:30.000 Congratulations to all the Bachelors, Masters, and PhD graduates from ESS 46:30.000 --> 46:34.000 And best wishes for whatever lies ahead. 46:38.000 --> 46:43.000 Hi everyone, I'm Kate Huntington from ESS Faculty. It is an 46:43.000 --> 46:48.000 honor and joy to celebrate you, our graduates. You've overcome and 46:48.000 --> 46:51.000 accomplished so much to be here today and you've done it with extraordinary 46:51.000 --> 46:55.000 tenacity and grace. I've been inspired by your curiosity 46:55.000 --> 46:59.000 and creativity and by your compassion and leadership in creating an inculsive 46:59.000 --> 47:04.000 learning community at UW. But most of all I'm excited about the impact 47:04.000 --> 47:08.000 you will have on our world. Ours is a vibrant field of discovery that's 47:08.000 --> 47:13.000 more important than ever for society as humanity faces urgent challenges 47:13.000 --> 47:17.000 to the sustainability of civilization and biodiversity on a changing earth. 47:17.000 --> 47:22.000 And your diversity of expertise, identity, and experience is 47:22.000 --> 47:26.000 crucial for meeting these challenges. The scientific knowledge you have earned 47:26.000 --> 47:30.000 is power and with that power comes responsibility to help create a more 47:30.000 --> 47:35.000 just, equitable, and sustainable world. And I look ahead with great hope and 47:35.000 --> 47:41.000 excitement for the difference you will make. Congratulations and best wishes class of 2021 47:41.000 --> 53:12.500 ♬ 'VICTORY CELEBRATION' BY JOHN WILLIAMS ♬