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

Dalhousie University will be closed on Monday, February 19 for Nova Scotia Heritage Day.

Dal Science Spotlight: Dr. Derek Tittensor

This week’s Dal Science Spotlight subject is Dr. Derek Tittensor, professor and Jarislowsky Chair in Marine Ecosystem Forecasting in the Department of Biology. Dr. Tittensor was nominated by a grad student. “Derek deserves recognition because of his outstanding and genuine care for all his students to succeed, whether it is in their course, honour’s project, or graduate school,” the student says. “He devotes an extensive amount of time helping students with coding. While humble, he demonstrates great enthusiasm towards science, education, outreach, and marine conservation. He constantly looks out for his students’ health and well-being and encourages a supportive and inclusive lab. His kindness and compassion towards all his students makes him an outstanding person and professor.”

Thank you, Dr. Tittensor, for your commitment to both our graduate and undergraduate programs. Your efforts to connect and support your students do not go unnoticed!

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.

Science co-op information session

Science co-op applications are now open for first- and second-year students with a cumulative CGPA of at least 3.0 (3.3 for Microbiology & Immunology). The deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Learn more about eligibility requirements, instructions, and a list of available programs. 

On Friday, February 23, the Work-Integrated Learning & Co-operative Education office is holding a virtual information session where you can learn about how co-operative education can add value to your academic journey. The session will be held on Microsoft Teams from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Registration is not required - join the meeting at this link.

Where Ideas Meet Impact: 3DBioFibR

Three and a half years ago, Dr. John Frampton of Dal's School for Biomedical Engineering recruited then-grad student Gurkaran Chowdhry (MSc'21) and Dr. Laurent Kreplak to pursue his idea for a new technique for manufacturing protein fibres. The result was the creation of 3DBioFibR, a startup whose new approach to tissue engineering makes its products in high demand in the medical research sector. Chowdhry is now the company's Director of Business Development with Dr. Kreplak involved as technical advisor. Read more about the company's journey in the latest edition of the Where Ideas Meet Impact series.

Grad students: 3 Minute Thesis competition

Research-based master's and doctoral students are invited to register for the 2024 3 Minute Thesis competition. Organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), 3MT challenges grad students to present their research to a non-specialist audience in three minutes or less. The 3MT preliminary heats will be held on March 12, with the finals taking place on March 19.

Visit the FGS website for complete details about 3MT, including preparation workshops to help participants develop their presentation and speaking skills. There is even a dedicated workshop for Faculty of Science students on Thursday, February 29 from 2 to 3:00 p.m. in room 3089 of the Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building.

2024 Discovery Awards: Call for nominations

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Discovery Awards, which honour individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation, and impact in their professional pursuits. The deadline for 2024 nominations is May 31. Visit the Discovery Awards website for complete details and the nomination form.

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.