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

Dal Science Spotlight: Dr. Josef Zwanziger

This week’s Dal Science Spotlight subject is Dr. Josef Zwanziger, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Materials. Dr. Zwanziger was nominated by a graduate student. “I have taken three courses with Dr. Zwanziger during my time at Dalhousie,” the student says. “He is an extremely effective instructor, and he has successfully made a serious impact on my academic direction, including my decision to pursue computational chemistry. Most recently, during a session of his graduate course, he gave the best explanation of reciprocal space I have ever received. This is an extremely abstract concept and I have had no fewer than three people try to explain it to me before Dr. Zwanziger gave his explanation. I believe that this example is representative of Dr. Zwanziger's teaching. He is an outstanding graduate instructor and is highly deserving of this recognition."

To be an outstanding science instructor, it’s essential to be an excellent science communicator - thank you Dr. Zwanziger for your contributions to graduate student teaching!

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.

John Dingle Science Communication Internship deadline reminder

Students interested in applying for the 2024 John Dingle Science Communication Internship program are reminded of the deadline of Monday, March 4 at 9:00 a.m. There are two steps to the application process: filling out an online form and sending in supporting documents, including reference information, by email. For complete details, visit our internal myDal site (login required).

Women in STEM Networking and Panel Event

Presented by the Faculties of Science, Computer Science, and Engineering, the sixth annual Women in STEM Networking and Panel Event will be held on Wednesday, March 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Atlantica Hotel in Halifax. Three Dal alumni, including Leanne Lucas (MSc'13) will serve as guest speakers, with undergraduate science students Harshita Pasumarthi and Lamisa Rahman moderating the discussion. Tickets are free, but space is limited. Register to attend via Eventbrite.

Rhodes Scholarship information session

High-achieving students are invited to attend an upcoming Rhodes Scholarship information session on Monday, March 4 from 3 to 4:00 p.m. in room 430 of the Goldberg Computer Science Building. A livestream of the session is also available for those unable to attend in person. Visit dal.ca/rhodes for complete details. Last November, Medical Sciences student Diana Adamo was announced as Dal's 94th Rhodes Scholar.

McCall MacBain Scholarship information session

Students interested in applying for the 2025 cohort of McCall MacBain Scholars are invited to attend an information session on Monday, March 11 from 12 to 1 p.m. in room 3207 of the Mona Campbell Building. McCall MacBain Scholars receive full funding for a master's or professional degree at McGill University. Learn more and register to attend.

Today: 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.

Grad students: 3 Minute Thesis preparation workshop

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. Faculty of Science students can sign up for a dedicated preparation workshop on Thursday, February 29 from 2 to 3:00 p.m. in room 3089 of the Kenneth C. Rowe Management 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.