Picnic Day 2019 parade marshal: Sarah Stewart - Davis Enterprise

April 13, 2019 at 02:15AM

By Molly Burke
Enterprise correspondent

UC Davis professor Sarah Stewart will have more duties than watching the Doxie Derby during this year's Picnic Day. Stewart, who recently won a MacArthur "Genius" grant, was chosen to be the Picnic Day parade marshal.

"I'm like a cheerleader of the day," said Stewart, who was chosen by the Picnic Day planning committee. This year's theme for the completely student-run event is a good match for the professor: "Adventure Awaits."

Stewart believes that the topic of adventure is perfect for her field of study. As a professor and researcher in the department of Earth and planetary sciences at UCD, Stewart explores the formation of planets and the moon.

"The way my science goes, there is always a daily adventure of discovering something new, and at Picnic Day you can show up and discover something new every year," Stewart said.

Some of the theories that she plans to explore may be controversial, she believes, so she may use part of the grant to fund it — the $625,000 award will be split between funding professional and personal expenses.

One of these recently published theories details the concept that the moon may have been formed from the Earth.

"My main research area of planet formation and understanding extreme events, like giant impacts, through laboratory experiments, is a very small area, meaning that there aren't very many people in the world that do these kinds of experiments," she said.

Stewart was chosen for the prestigious grant — one of the highest awards offered in her field as there is no Nobel prize — after lengthy consideration and interviews with many people in her life.

The grant is unique in its lack of restrictions and reporting that is generally required to receive funding. Stewart is excited to have such freedom to explore and experiment in her field.

As for Picnic Day, Stewart looks forward to leading the parade, bringing her daughter with her. She is excited to finally see the Doxie Derby, as she has never been early enough to see it, but she managed to secure a seat this year.

Stewart will also be stopping by the chemistry show and her lab, which will be open to the public, showing off the two cannons that allow them to perform impact experiments.

Related

By Molly Burke
Enterprise correspondent

UC Davis professor Sarah Stewart will have more duties than watching the Doxie Derby during this year's Picnic Day. Stewart, who recently won a MacArthur "Genius" grant, was chosen to be the Picnic Day parade marshal.

"I'm like a cheerleader of the day," said Stewart, who was chosen by the Picnic Day planning committee. This year's theme for the completely student-run event is a good match for the professor: "Adventure Awaits."

Stewart believes that the topic of adventure is perfect for her field of study. As a professor and researcher in the department of Earth and planetary sciences at UCD, Stewart explores the formation of planets and the moon.

"The way my science goes, there is always a daily adventure of discovering something new, and at Picnic Day you can show up and discover something new every year," Stewart said.

Some of the theories that she plans to explore may be controversial, she believes, so she may use part of the grant to fund it — the $625,000 award will be split between funding professional and personal expenses.

One of these recently published theories details the concept that the moon may have been formed from the Earth.

"My main research area of planet formation and understanding extreme events, like giant impacts, through laboratory experiments, is a very small area, meaning that there aren't very many people in the world that do these kinds of experiments," she said.

Stewart was chosen for the prestigious grant — one of the highest awards offered in her field as there is no Nobel prize — after lengthy consideration and interviews with many people in her life.

The grant is unique in its lack of restrictions and reporting that is generally required to receive funding. Stewart is excited to have such freedom to explore and experiment in her field.

As for Picnic Day, Stewart looks forward to leading the parade, bringing her daughter with her. She is excited to finally see the Doxie Derby, as she has never been early enough to see it, but she managed to secure a seat this year.

Stewart will also be stopping by the chemistry show and her lab, which will be open to the public, showing off the two cannons that allow them to perform impact experiments.

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