The Association of Graduate Students in Earth Sciences (aka AGESS) is our resident graduate student organization. We represent the interests of the grad student body within higher levels of the department and coordinate a variety of social and academic events throughout the year. Our goals are to build community amongst grad students and to provide support at all stages of degree completion.
Summer Camping Trip
In the summer, AGESS organizes a canoe camping weekend to Algonquin Park, where grad students can take a break from work to enjoy Ontario lakes, summer weather, and the great outdoors.
Department Gatherings
Throughout the year AGESS hosts a departmental Halloween Party, Holiday Potluck, a Semiformal, and weekly lunchtime BBQs in the summer months.
AGESS Events
Rockfest
Rockfest is a weekly seminar that features presentations by grad students, highlighting the variety of research activities in the department and providing a supportive environment for grad students to practice their presentation skills. All grad students are expected to give at least one Rockfest presentation during their time in the Earth Sciences Department.
A schedule of this semester’s presenters can be found here.
Guidelines for presenters can be found here.
If you have any questions or would like to present, email sarah.mount@mail.utoronto.ca.
AGESS Programs
Writing Group
A dedicated three-hour block of time where we bring our laptops to work on our current writing projects (ex, thesis, grant applications, manuscripts). Students are welcome to pop-in and out as needed.
Writing Group takes place Tuesdays from 9am-12pm in ES1067.
~The Café~
Grad students gather in the third floor lounge to eat treats, drink coffee, and hang out. Stop by and say hi!
~The Café~ takes place Tuesdays from 12pm-1pm.
Mentorship
Navigating the first year of graduate studies is both exciting and daunting! Through the Mentorship Program, AGESS aims to make it easier for incoming grad students to navigate the program, make the most of U of T services, and balance work with some much-needed fun. Mentees (1st year graduate students) will be paired with returning graduate students in the department based on their subject of study, academic interests and personal interests.
How to Contact Us
AGESS calendar here.
To add events to the calendar, email i.ma@mail.utoronto.ca.
AGESS is currently looking to fill the following positions. If you are interested, please email kayla.simpson@mail.utoronto.ca.
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BBQ Coordinator
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Social Coordinator
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Communications Lead
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lead
To join the Grads+ ESUofT Whatsapp group (for current grad students), email sarah.mount@mail.utoronto.ca.
Fall Field Trip
With the help of faculty members, AGESS organizes an annual department field trip, spending a weekend at a nearby location of geologic/scientific interest. The cost of this event is subsidized for incoming students. Recent trip locations include Haliburton, Killarney, and Algonquin.
Please direct questions to the AGESS email.
AGESS Executive:
President- Kayla Simpson (kayla.simpson@mail.utoronto.ca)
Vice President- Sheila Ballantyne (sheila.ballantyne@utoronto.ca)
Treasurer- Silvia Castilla (silvia.castillamontagut@mail.utoronto.ca)
Rockfest Coordinator- Sarah Mount (sarah.mount@mail.utoronto.ca)
Social Coordinator- Sam Nichols (sam.nichols@mail.utoronto.ca) & Milagros Gutierrez Seia (milagros.gutierrezseia@mail.utoronto.ca)
Wellness Coordinators- Irene Ma (i.ma@mail.utoronto.ca) and Natalie Minda (natalier.minda@mail.utoronto.ca)
CUPE Representative- Juan David Bello (jd.bellorodriguez@mail.utoronto.ca)
Secretary- Josephine DiMaurizio (josie.dimaurizio@mail.utoronto.ca)
Our department has an active and vibrant student community that organizes a range of social events for students including a weekly Café, pub nights, the annual Holiday Potluck, camping and field trips.
AGESS has a graduate student Mentorship program where an incoming earth sciences graduate student can be paired with a more senior student. Details on this program are shared withing the graduate student community at the beginning of the fall semester.
Other information on mentorship can be found at the SGS Centre for Mentorship and Graduate Supervision.
The annual Fall Field Trip is organised by graduate students as a way for incoming students to get to know each other and current students as well as faculty and staff. The trip is usually a weekend long excursion to the Georgian Bay area where students can hike to look at geological features and gather at the end of the day for a campfire. The cost to incoming students is subsidised by the department and it is a great opportunity to get to know everyone.
Graduate students in the department lead the way with many outreach activities including:
- Science Rendezvous, a campus wide event where departments showcase some exciting science concepts with hands-on activities for all ages. Often student will volunteer for other events happening throughout the year that can include
- Pursue STEM program — a program that encourages Black youth in the greater Toronto area to study in STEM programs,
- Science Unlimited Summer Camp — a camp for Grade 11 students where they spend a week on campus participating in Math and Physical Science programs
- Educational tours and activities for elementary and high school classes
Calls for volunteers can be found through email communication and the weekly departmental e-news.