M. Elizabeth Cannon facts for kids

Margaret Elizabeth Cannon is a Canadian engineer. She is an expert in geomatics engineering. This field uses technology to map and measure the Earth. She used to be the president of the University of Calgary. She was the first former student to become president there. She led the university from 2010 to 2018.

Early Life and Education

Margaret Cannon was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. From a young age, she was very interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

She earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mathematics from Acadia University in 1982. After that, she moved to Calgary, Alberta. There, she studied at the University of Calgary. She earned three more degrees: a Bachelor of Science (BSc), a Master of Science (MSc), and a PhD in Geomatics Engineering.

Scientific and Leadership Career

Since 1984, Dr. Cannon has been a leader in Global Positioning Systems (GPS) research. She helped create new GPS technology. This technology has been sold to over 200 groups around the world.

She has also held many important roles. She was on the National Advisory Board for Earth Sciences in Canada. She was also the past president of the U.S. Institute of Navigation. She served as the Chair of Universities Canada. This group represents Canadian universities.

Supporting Women in STEM

From 1997 to 2002, Dr. Cannon held a special position. It was called the NSERC/Petro-Canada Chair for Women in Science and Engineering. In this role, she worked to help more women learn about careers in science and engineering.

She also studied what helps women choose these careers. Dr. Cannon created programs to encourage women in STEM fields. One of her most famous programs was Cybermentor. This was Canada's largest online mentorship program for women in science and engineering.

Leading the University of Calgary

Before becoming president, Dr. Cannon was the dean of the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. She held this position from 2006 to 2010.

In July 2010, she became the president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary. She was the eighth person to hold this top job. She served until December 31, 2018.

During her time as president, the university started a big plan called "Eyes High." They also built many new facilities. These included the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning and the Life Sciences Innovation Hub. The university also started a huge fundraising campaign. It raised $1.3 billion for new projects. After she finished her role, she was given the title of President Emerita. This means she is a retired president who still holds a special honor.

Awards and Honours

Dr. Cannon has received many awards for her work. In 1998, she was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. In 2006, she was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

She also received the Wired Woman Pioneer Award in 2002. In 2001, she got the Betty Vetter Award for Research.

For her important work in geomatics engineering, she received the Johannes Kepler Award in 2001. This award came from the U.S. Institute of Navigation. She also received the Gold Medal Award from Engineers Canada in 2013.

In 2011, she was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was for her new ways of using GPS data. It was also for her pioneering work in the field of geomatics.

Dr. Cannon has received honorary doctorates from several universities. These include the University of Ottawa and Acadia University.

In 2019, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors. It recognized her contributions to education and STEM. In 2022, she was also appointed a Member of the Alberta Order of Excellence.]