Vida Stout

Vida Stout
Born Vida Mary Stout
(1930-02-20)20 February 1930
Wellington, New Zealand
Died 21 July 2012(2012-07-21) (aged 82)
Christchurch, New Zealand
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

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Obituary". Royal Society of New Zealand, Canterbury Branch. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Meduna, Veronika (26 March 1996). "No slowing down for retiring ecologist". The Press (Christchurch).
  3. ↑ "Seventh Generation". Stamplink.com. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "A tribute to Vida Stout". New Zealand Freshwater Science Society. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Vida Stout: University and course notes". digital-library.canterbury.ac.nz. 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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