Smiling headshot of Kristy Erickson

Kristy Erickson

Instructor

Biography

Dr. Kristy M. Erickson specializes in physical chemistry, specifically chemical thermodynamics. Her research focus has been on measuring thermodynamic properties and ionization equilibria of aqueous species in light and heavy water, under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure.  

As part of her education and research, Dr. Erickson has worked alongside multiple academics at the University of Lethbridge, the University of Calgary, the University of Guelph and Bloomsburg University. She has also worked alongside various industry executives, specifically those involved with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL), Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation (OPG). 

Currently, Dr. Erickson is conducting research in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), specifically science education at the post-secondary level. Dr. Erickson, in collaboration with other chemistry instructors at Red Deer Polytechnic, is currently devising new strategies to interactively teach and assess students in first-year chemistry courses.  She is also currently exploring the process of self-reflection, using narrative inquiry to explore successes in academics and education. 

Dr. Erickson is also a trained public speaker, actively involved with Toastmasters International (the world's largest not-for-profit public speaking and leadership organization). 

Awards and Honours:

  • Red Deer Polytechnic Excellence in Teaching and Learning (ETaL) certificate, 2015 
  • Toastmasters International: Advanced Leadership, Bronze (ALB), 2015
  • University of Guelph Commitment to Student Learning and Teaching Excellence, 2011
  • Toastmasters International: Advanced Communicator, Silver (ACS), 2011
  • Toastmasters International: Competent Leadership (CL), 2011
  • Toastmasters International: Advanced Communicator, Bronze (ACB), 2009
  • Toastmasters International: Competent Toastmaster (CTM), 2005 

Education

  • Ph.D. (Physical Chemistry), University of Guelph
  • M.Sc. (Physical Chemistry), University of Lethbridge
  • B.Sc./Co-op (Chemistry), University of Lethbridge