Dr. Chimira Nicole Olaño Andres  

  About  Me  

Hello and welcome!

My name is Chimira Andres (pronounced like Shakira but with an “m”). I am a Postdoctoral Researcher with the ICE Lab at the University of Victoria, Canada.

I completed my Ph.D. at York University in the Lassonde School of Engineering (as a NSERC Canada Graduate Scholar) and l’Université de Nantes in the Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences (as a Bourse Eiffel Scholar). My work focused on  planetary radar  and  geomorphology  of debris-covered glaciers on Mars and future mission planning.

Since I was young, I have dreamt of becoming a scientist, an astronaut, and/or a professional ballet dancer. Now, as a scientist AND a dance artist, I can confirm that you can pursue both... it just takes time. Early on, I discovered my passion for teaching, learning, and blending science with the arts, STE(A)M education.

My path in  Earth and planetary science  began in the final year of my undergraduate degree at McMaster University, where I earned my H.B.Sc. in Integrated Science (iSci) specializing in Earth and Environmental Science, studying  glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. As an undergrad, I had the chance to do fieldwork and research across glaciology, remote sensing, planetary exploration, and STEM didactics. 

I completed my M.Sc. in Geophysics with a collaborative specialization in Planetary Science at Western University, focusing on  periglacial landscape evolution  and  ground penetrating radar  at Devon and Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian High Arctic Archipelago. Before starting my Ph.D., I had the incredible opportunity to work as a Young Graduate Trainee (YGT) with the European Space Agency (ESA) Education in Earth Observation at ESTEC in the Netherlands.

When I’m not studying space glaciers, I’m usually teaching at pre-professional dance studios, dancing/training, or spending time outdoors. I was part of the teaching faculty at the School of Cadence Ballet and now currently involved at Girls* on Ice Canada as the Vice President. When I’m not in the dance studio or mountains, you’ll find me baking, sipping tea, or cuddling my cat, Riley.