Audrey Girouard facts for kids
Audrey Girouard is a Canadian computer scientist. She studies how people use computers and technology. She is a professor at Carleton University in Canada. She also leads a special program called CLUE. Audrey was the first woman to become a professor in her department at Carleton University.
Her School Days
Audrey Girouard first studied Software Engineering. She earned her first degree from the École Polytechnique de Montréal. This is like learning how to design and build computer programs.
Later, she continued her studies in the United States. She earned her Master's and PhD degrees in Computer Science. She completed these advanced degrees at Tufts University in Massachusetts.
What She Does
Audrey Girouard is an associate professor at Carleton University. She teaches in the School of Information Technology. She is also the director of the Collaborative Learning of Usability Experiences (CLUE) program. This program helps people learn about how to make technology easy to use.
Her main research area is human–computer interaction. This means she studies how people and computers work together. She wants to make technology more natural and fun to use.
As the first woman professor in her department, Audrey is a big supporter of women in technology. She helps encourage young women to join this exciting field. She also helps with hands-on workshops. She mentors students at the Virtual Ventures summer camp.
Audrey and her team have a special lab called the Creative Interactions lab. They work on new types of materials for computers. They design flexible screens and bendable devices. Their goal is to create new ways for us to interact with technology. This goes beyond just touching flat screens.
Awards and Recognition
Audrey Girouard has received many important awards. She was recognized as one of Canada's top scientists. This was for her excellent work in education. She received an award as part of the Partners in Research National Awards. These awards celebrate achievements in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Biomedicine.
On May 9, 2017, Audrey received the Technology Ambassador Award. This award recognized her important contributions to education. She received it at the Partners in Research National Awards ceremony in Ottawa.
She has also received other notable awards. These include the Ontario Early Researcher Award. She also earned the Carleton University Research Achievement Award. These awards show her dedication to research and teaching.
