Although her career started in the oil and gas industry and then took a turn toward physics and astronomy, Gianna Smith has brought her passion for electronics engineering to SAIT, teaching students for the last 22 years.
After a decade of working in the oilfield developing off-road tracked vehicles, Smith earned her master of physics degree from the University of Lethbridge, specializing in infrared detection. Her work on radiotelescopes proved — for the first time in history — that early universe features can be observed using ground-based equipment.
Outside of the classroom, Smith has been developing a tactile interface for the purpose of ‘feeling sound’ — turning audio signals, like speech, into vibrations on the skin — creating a prototype in her basement lab.
As a guitar player and singer, she also brings her love of music to school, teaching her students about audio amplifiers and signal processing.
Awards and achievements: SAIT Instructional Excellence award
When I retire: I don’t plan on retiring!
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Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.