The Dean's Office Dispatch is the Faculty of Science's weekly e-newsletter for students, faculty and staff. 

Dal Science Spotlight: Dr. Julie Blais

This week’s Dal Science Spotlight subject is Dr. Julie Blais, associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. Dr. Blais was nominated by a staff member and recent Dal alum. “Dr. Blais is one of the best professors Dal has,” the alum says. “She is so engaged with the material she teaches that as a student, you can't help but be focused during each lecture. She has an incredible ability to take sensitive topics and make them not as intense, while still providing so much information. Her classes are the most fascinating I've ever taken and she is truly someone who students can learn so much from. She is incredibly approachable outside of class as well, which is something I have not felt about other professors. Julie deserves this recognition and more!"

It's great to kick off the new term by celebrating another of our outstanding course instructors - Dr. Blais, we appreciate your dedication to your students and are delighted that you're part of the Faculty of Science team!

The Dal Science Spotlight highlights the contributions of instructors and advisors in the Faculty of Science. Recognize an outstanding instructor or advisor by filling out our nomination form. A new submission will be featured weekly in the Dean’s Office Dispatch.

Snoozing seal stars on Science as Art calendar cover

During a research expedition to Sable Island last year, marine ecology master's student Nicole Harrington captured a photo of a grey seal pup sleeping peacefully, seemingly oblivious to the windstorm going on around them. Nicole's photo appears on the cover of the 2024 Science as Art calendar, which was mailed to over 8,000 alumni. Read our Dal News story for more on Nicole's seal research and what inspired her to take the photo. 

A limited number of calendars are available for sale, with all proceeds supporting the Faculty of Science Experiential Learning and Equipment Fund. Please contact science@dal.ca if you would like to make a purchase.

Active Learning Implementation Support Workshop

Faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to attend a workshop on classroom design, syllabus design, and active learning from the Centre for Learning and Teaching on Wednesday, January 24. The workshop will be held in-person, and seats are limited to 30 attendees. Learn more and register to attend on the CLT website. 

Date: Wednesday, January 24
Time: 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. AST
Location: Room 2017, Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building

Lunch and Learn: Science Co-op session

Are you a first- or second-year Science student who is curious about work-integrated learning opportunities at Dalhousie? Would you like to test drive your career, grow your network, earn an income, and graduate with experience? If so, join the Work-Integrated Learning & Co-operative Education office to learn about how co-operative education can add value to your academic journey.

The next virtual information session will be held on Friday, January 26 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Registration is not required - join the Microsoft Teams meeting at this link.

Upcoming deadline: 2024 summer research awards 

Interested in working in a lab for the summer? Applications are due by January 26 for the 2024 summer research awards, which provide funding for dozens of undergraduate students to spend the summer months working as paid, full-time members of a Dalhousie research lab alongside faculty members and graduate students.

Please visit the summer research awards page (login required) on the Faculty of Science myDal site for complete details and a list of departmental contacts who can answer questions about the application process.

Impact Awards

Nominations are open for the 2023-2024 Impact Awards, which are given to Dalhousie students and societies who demonstrate leadership, civic engagement, and contributions to the community. Staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to submit nominations, and self-nominations are welcome. The full list of award categories and the nomination form can be found online. Nominations close on Monday, February 8.

Board of Governors Awards

Recognize outstanding students for their achievements in the classroom and beyond by nominating them for the 2024 Board of Governors' Awards. Nominations close on Sunday, February 4. Visit dal.ca/governorsawards for details and the nomination form. 

Dalhousie researchers invited to Bright Club Halifax

Dal faculty members interested in performing stand-up comedy about their research are invited to explore Bright Club Halifax and its upcoming event on April 9 at the Oxford Taproom. Bright Club started in London, England in 2009, and Bright Club Halifax is the first of its kind in Canada. Interested researchers can read this week's Today@Dal notice to learn more and apply to attend.

Winter 2024 seminars: Department of Economics

All interested students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend winter term seminars from the Department of Economics. Seminars will be held in-person and virtually - please email economics@dal.ca for the link. See the full schedule on the Economics website. Upcoming seminars include:

Jeff Hicks (University of Toronto)
Title: The Effect of Reducing Welfare Access on Employment, Health, and Children's Long-Run Outcomes & Cash Welfare and Health Spending
Date: Friday, January 19
Time: 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Room 2198, Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building

Yuki Tamura (NYU Abu Dhabi)
Title: Obviously Strategy-Proof Rules for Object Reallocation
Date: Tuesday, January 23
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Room 2016, Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building

Would you like to make a submission to the Dean's Office Dispatch? Email communications.science@dal.ca with a brief summary of your notice, a supporting link or email address, and a photo/image if you have one.