A holiday treat for Dal’s research community

On Thursday night, close to 100 of Dal’s top researchers took a break from their busy December to attend a reception in their honour at the University Club’s Great Hall.

With wine, treats and hors d’oeuvres throughout the room, the reception celebrated Dal faculty with major research awards over the past two years: chair holders, endowed chair holders, major national award winners and research-based major professional award recipients.

“Each and every one of you is important to the fabric of research at Dal,” said Martha Crago, vice-president research, who noted the diversity of research interests in the room, with faculty from all corners of the university.

“Tonight is simply to celebrate you and tell you how much we appreciate the contribution you make to Dalhousie.”

President Tom Traves hosted the event with Dr. Crago, with support from the President's Office and Dalhousie Research Services. In addition to the Christmas lights and seasonal music, the room was decorated with displays featuring the recent “DalPower” series of ads, which highlight just a few of Dal’s research award winners.

Dr. Traves noted that in the past two decades, Dalhousie’s external research funding has increased almost four-fold, from a mere $30 million in 1995 to $149 million last year.

“Our ability to earn and maintain this reputation and record rests squarely on the shoulders of all of you,” he said. “It’s your talent and ingenuity, your passion and hard work, your commitment to the ideals of intellectual excellence that make Dalhousie such a wonderful university and make you such outstanding colleagues.”