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

Dal Science Spotlight: Dr. Nicanor Gonzalez-Morales

This week’s Dal Science Spotlight subject is Dr. Nicanor Gonzalez-Morales, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology. Dr. Gonzalez-Morales was nominated by a student. “Dr. Nicanor deserves recognition for his exceptional dedication and teaching skills in the field of cell biology,” the student says. “His commitment to organizing course materials in a clear and effective manner demonstrates his commitment to his students' success. Moreover, his efforts to simplify complex concepts and explain them comprehensively have helped students overcome the initial challenges they faced with the subject. His passion for making cell biology more engaging and approachable is evident, transforming what was once a daunting course into an accessible and enjoyable learning experience for many. Dr. Nicanor's positive impact on students by instilling a love for the subject is commendable. His exceptional teaching and support make him truly deserving of recognition and gratitude for his contributions to education.”

This type of student feedback brightens our day! Thank you for your commitment to our students and your efforts to engage and inspire a passion for science, Dr. Gonzalez-Morales!

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.

In Memoriam: Dr. Gordon Beanlands

The School for Resource and Environmental Studies (SRES) is saddened by the passing of former faculty member and director Dr. Gordon Beanlands earlier this month. Born in Halifax in 1940, Dr. Beanlands earned a PhD in ecology from Dalhousie University in 1971 and began teaching at what was then the Institute for Resource and Environmental Studies in 1973. Following his retirement from Dal in 1998, he continued his career in the private sector through his environmental consulting firm. Please read this In Memoriam notice for more on his life and work.

A Celebration of Life is being held this Saturday, January 27 at 1 p.m. at the Atlantic Room of the Westin Nova Scotia. All are welcome to attend.  

Science tops list of Academic All-Canadians

Dalhousie's U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians were recognized at the university's annual Academic All-Canadian Celebration on Thursday. The Faculty of Science's 51 Academic All-Canadians were more than any other Faculty, and represent one-third of the 150 student-athletes honoured from across the university.

To achieve Academic All-Canadian status, student-athletes must achieve a GPA of 3.50 or higher while playing a varsity sport. Read a recap of yesterday's event in Dal News and see the complete list of Academic All-Canadians for the 2022-23 season.

Dalhousie Job & Career Fair

The Dalhousie Job and Career Fair for students and recent alumni will take place on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second floor of the Student Union Building. 

The fair’s exhibitors offer full-time, co-op, internship, summer, part-time, and volunteer positions, as well as other opportunities. Attendance is free. For more information, including a list of exhibitors, and to register, please visit myCareer.   

Ocean of Data Challenge

How does the seafood industry impact Canadians? Students from post-secondary institutions across Atlantic Canada are invited to use ocean data to examine how we can explore seafood data in the Ocean of Data Challenge from SEATEC, the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship, and DeepSense. The challenge kicks of Monday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m. with a presentation from a panel experts. Participants can work individually or in teams of up to five to submit their final idea by February 19. The Ocean of Data Challenge is open to students in any program. Learn more and register today. 

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. 

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:

Parth Parihar (European University Institute)
Title: When Incumbency Limits Public Good Provision
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Room 2198, Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building

Nicholas Lawson (Universite du Quebec a Montreal)
Title: The Minimum Wage in Firms' Organizations: Productivity Implications
Date: Thursday, February 1
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Room 2184, 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.