Ann Timmermans

Courses

• ESCI1041: Introduction to Environmental Science
• ESCI1046: Introductory Environmental Earth Sciences Lab
• ESCI1057: Introduction to Geology Laboratory
• ESCI1012: Environmental Earth Science
• ESCI1017: Introductory Environmental Earth Science Laboratory
• ESCI1001: The Earth: Its Origin, Evolution and Age
• ESCI1006: Introductory to Geology Laboratory
• ESCI1026/GE1026: Geology Laboratory for Engineers
• ESCI1703: Field School
• ESCI1911: Climate Change Science
• SCI1002: Science in Context

Education

• BSc Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo
• MSc Earth Sciences, Carleton University
• PhD Doctorate of Philosophy, Carleton University

About

Dr. Ann C. Timmermans (she/her) is a geologist and Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), as well as Curator of the Quartermain Earth Science Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Originally from Ontario, Dr. Timmermans developed an early passion for science and spent much of her youth volunteering and working in natural history museums across Canada. She earned her BSc in Earth Science from the University of Waterloo in 1995, followed by several months of international travel. She then spent five years in geophysical exploration, conducting airborne surveys in remote regions of North America and Africa.

Her academic interests in igneous petrology, volcanology, and geochemistry led her back to graduate studies, where she completed both her MSc and PhD at Carleton University. She joined UNB in 2014 as a Teaching Professor and Curator, and is a licensed Professional Geoscientist with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick (APEGNB).

Since joining UNB, Dr. Timmermans has expanded her interdisciplinary focus to include geoscience communication and Earth science literacy, with an emphasis on topics related to Earth Systems Science, climate change and sustainability.

Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs,), she has worked to foster partnerships with schools, museums, and science outreach organizations. Her efforts aim to make geoscience accessible and meaningful to K–12 students, teachers, and the broader public, especially in relation to complex and often contested environmental issues.

Dr. Timmermans has been recognized for her contributions to geoscience education and outreach. Her honours include the UNB Merit Award (2019), Carleton University’s Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, the Donald R. Wiles Prize for Laboratory Demonstrators, and multiple nominations for UNB’s Allan P. Stuart Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Teachng philosophy

As an educator, my goal is to foster deep, transformative learning that equips students with the confidence and skills to engage with science for life. I strive to create learning environments where students not only grasp core concepts, but also think critically, apply knowledge meaningfully, and understand the broader context of scientific discovery.

I focus on helping students explore not just what we know in science, but how and why we know it. By drawing connections to the Big Ideas in Earth Science, historic discoveries and the individuals behind them, I encourage students to strengthen systems thinking, and see science as a dynamic human pursuit. I also guide students in navigating peer-reviewed literature and public science communication to help them engage with data in analytical and creative ways.

Experiential learning is central to my teaching practice. I believe geology is best understood through direct observation, so I regularly integrate field-based learning opportunities (from urban landscapes to remote wilderness settings), and museum volunteer opportunities into my courses.

My approach to assessment emphasizes fairness, access to regular and timely feedback, and student motivation. I support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and 360-degree evaluation approaches, which include a mix of formative and summative assessments, peer discussions and collaboration, and reflective practices. I am committed to responsive teaching that acknowledges and addresses a range of barriers—cognitive, affective, structural, and motivational—students may encounter in their learning journeys.

To promote student success, I foster an inclusive and supportive classroom culture through open dialogue, prompt communication, regular check-ins (including “minute papers” and “muddy point” reflections), informal study workshops and review sessions, and active solicitation of feedback throughout the term. I maintain an open-door policy and make myself available both in person and online.

My passion for teaching is deeply connected to my work as Curator of the Quartermain Earth Science Centre. I am committed to advancing Earth, environmental, and space science literacy for all. Through my work in collections care, public outreach, and science communication, I aim to inspire learners of all ages to become informed, curious, and engaged stewards of our planet.

Curation

Collections care: At the heart of the Quartermain Earth Science Centre are its natural history collections, which include historically significant minerals, rocks, and fossils. Dr. Ann Timmermans actively curates and manages these collections, ensuring their proper storage, conservation, documentation, and accessibility for research, education, and exhibition.

Exhibit development: Dr. Timmermans leads the design and development of museum exhibits both within the Quartermain Centre and in external venues. These projects aim to share the stories behind Earth’s history and natural processes in creative, engaging, and scientifically accurate ways.

Current and past exhibit projects include:

• Ediacaran Display
• Smartphone and Earth Materials Display
• Palaeontology: From Geo to Bio Exhibit(in progress)
• Smallman Mineral Collection Display
• Dimetrodon Exhibit
• Digital Map Exhibit
• Optical Mineralogy Exhibit
• World of Minerals Exhibit
• Projector and Screen Installation
• Donor Recognition Wall

Outreach and education: The Quartermain Earth Science Centre(QESC) is proud to support a wide range of outreach and educational initiatives designed to enhance Earth, Environmental, and Space Science literacy. Programs are tailored for K–12 students, university classes, educators, camps, community groups, and the general public.

We offer:

• Hands-on STEM activities
• Curriculum-linked classroom visits
• Interactive workshops and teacher PD
• Geoscience-themed hikes and public events

These programs at UNB along with UNB Science and Let’s Talk Science, and are designed to spark curiosity, foster inquiry, and make science fun, relevant, and accessible.

We also offer a variety of resources and support for educators who wish to integrate Earth Science into their teaching, including classroom visits, teaching materials, and professional development workshops.

For more information or to book a visit:
506-458-7205
quartermain@unb.ca | scioutreach@unb.ca |< unbf@outreach.letstalkscience.ca

Publications and presentations

Stoffers, A.J., Clarke, C.A., Cousens, B.L., Henry, C.D., & Timmermans, A.C. (2025). Geochemical transition from Miocene–Pliocene to Quaternary arc volcanism in the northern Sierra Nevada, California.

Timmermans, A.C. (Fall 2023) Welcoming Back New Brunswick Mining Week, ENGEO Actions Magazine.

Stoffers, A., Christopher, C., Cousens, B.L., Christopher, H, Timmermans, A.C (2023) Geochemical Transition from Miocene - Pliocene to Quaternary Arc Volcanism in the northern Sierra Nevada, California, GSA Books.

Cousens, B., Stoffers, A., Clarke, C., Henry, C., Timmermans, A.C. (2022) Geochemical Transition From Miocene-Pliocene To Quaternary Arc Volcanism In The Northern Sierra Nevada, Northern California, Presentation, GSA Conference.

Timmermans, A.C. (2022) a Mini-Geoheritage Walking Tour of the Building Stones in Downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick, The Officer’s Quarters Magazine.

Timmermans, A.C. (2022) A Revised Physical Geography 110 Course: Increasing Earth Science Literacy for New Brunswick High School Learners, Presentation, GAC MAC 2022.

Cousens, B.L., Henry, C.D., Timmermans, A.C., Chan, S., Sullivan J. (2022) The radiogenic isotope record of Cenozoic continental arc magmatism across the Phanerozoic-Precambrian terrane boundary in northern Nevada, Presentation, GAC MAC 2022.

Timmermans, A.C. and Jones, R. (2022) Physical Geography 110: A new course for New Brunswick high school learners, presentation: AGS Colloquium 2022.

Jackson, G., McDonald, E., Timmermans, A.C. (2022) A new exhibit at the Quartermain Earth Science Centre: bridging geology with biology celebrating paleontology and ornithology of Atlantic Canada. Honouring the work of paleontologist Dr. Ronald Pickerill, presentation: AGS Colloquium 2022.

Cousens, B., Henry, C.D., Stevens, C., Varve, S., & Timmermans, A.C. (2021). The Record of Eocene to Oligocene Continental Arc Volcanism and Plutonism in the Fish Creek Mountains Region, Northern Nevada. In Geological Society of America Abstracts (Vol. 53, p. 363198).

Timmermans, A. C., Cousens, B. L., & Henry, C. D. (2020) Geochemical study of Cenozoic mafic volcanism in the west-central Great Basin, western Nevada, and the Ancestral Cascades Arc, California. Geosphere, 16(5), 1179-1207.

Timmermans, A.C. (Winter 2020) Creative ideas to provide quality engagement opportunities in field geology for first-year university students, Engenuity Magazine.

Timmermans, A.C. (Winter 2018) EdGEO Earth Science Workshops: Helping teachers help students embrace the geosciences in New Brunswick Schools, Engenuity Magazine.

Timmermans, A.C. (2018) How to support the changing ideas in New Brunswick K-12 Earth Science education: combining trusted teaching approaches with tactile educational experiences through hands-on and project-based learning, Vancouver, British Columbia, oral presentation: RFG 2018 Conference.

Timmermans, A.C. (2018) Visiting lost worlds: using fossil collections for education and outreach. An example from the Quartermain Earth Science Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, oral presentation: RFG 2018 Conference.

Timmermans, A.C. (2017) What Small Earth Science Institutions can do for Education: an example from the Quartermain Earth Science Centre, Fredericton, New Brunswick, oral presentation: GAC MAC 2017.

Timmermans, A.C. and Sander, S.M. (2017) The Curation of University Geology Collections: an example from the Quartermain Earth Science Centre, presentation: AGS Colloquium 2017.

Timmermans, A.C., Cousens, B.L. and Henry, C.D. (2017) Why Storytelling is Essential to Effective Communication of the Earth Science: A Tribute to Gwen Martin, oral presentation: AGS Colloquium 2017.

Contributer Publication – poster (2016)  "Medicine from the ground up", Mining Matters, Project Coordinator: Janice Williams

Timmermans, A.C. (Fall 2016) Our Geological Journey, Association Heritage New Brunswick Magazine.

Timmermans, A.C. (2015) Quartermain Earth Science Centre, Geolog, Vol 43, No. 4.

Timmermans, A.C. (2015) A Geochemical Study of Cenozoic Magmatism Along an East-West Transect from Central Great Basin, Nevada to the Ancestral Cascade Arc, California – A Compositional Journey Over Space and Time, [Ph.D Thesis], Carleton University.

Timmermans, A.C., Cousens, B.L. and Henry, C.D. (2013) A Geochemical Study of Mafic Tertiary Volcanism in West-Central Great Basin, Western Nevada and Ancestral Cascade Arc, California, oral presentation: GAC MAC 2013.

Popovici, M. and Timmermans, A.C. (2013)  Effective Engagement Techniques for Undergraduate Students Across Disciplines, oral presentation: CNIE Conference 2013.

Timmermans, A.C. and Bell, K. (2013) Composition of Apatite from the Oka Carbonatite Complex, Quebec: implications for melt evolution, poster presentation: Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference, 2013.

Timmermans, A.C., Cousens, B.L. and Henry, C.D. (2012)  A Geochemical Study of Tertiary Volcanism in West-Central Great Basin, Western Nevada, oral presentation: GAC MAC 2012. 

Timmermans, A.C. and Cousens, B.L. (2012)  A Geochemical Study of Tertiary Volcanism in West-Central Great Basin, Western Nevada, oral presentation: AESRC 2012.

Cousens, B.L., Henry, C.D., Timmermans, A.C., Sylvester, A.G., Wise, W.S., Prytulak, J., Stoffers, A. and Gupta, V. (2009)  Miocene through Holocene arc and post-arc volcanism in the northern Sierra Nevada and western Nevada. EOS, Transactions American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting Supplement 90 Abstract.

Timmermans, A.C. and Cousens, B. (2006) A Geochemical Study of the Ancestral Cascade Arc, Sierra Nevada and Basin and Range, Lake Tahoe region, California and Western Nevada: A Preliminary Report, poster presentation: GAC MAC 2006 (PhD work).

Timmermans, A.C. and Bell, K. (2003) Composition of Apatite from the Oka Carbonatite Complex, Quebec: implications for melt evolution, [M.Sc Thesis], Carleton University.

Timmermans, A.C. and Bell, K. (2003) Composition of Apatite from the Oka Carbonatite Complex, Quebec: implications for melt evolution, poster presentation: IGGRC Conference, 2003.