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

Social events for undergraduate student researchers

Calling all summer research students! The Faculty of Science, led by Dr. Ryan MacDonell in the Department of Chemistry, will be hosting a series of monthly social events aimed at bringing undergraduate student researchers together to get to know each other and build a community.

We have over 80 students who received undergraduate research awards this summer, as well as other students funded by research grants. At our first event, we will be joined by Dean's Office representatives who will highlight some of the awards and mention other related opportunities happening throughout the summer.

Please join us for free coffee, cookies, muffins, and other snacks at our first event on Monday, May 6 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Student Union Building, room 303 (at the top of the stairs and on the left). Advance registration is not required.

The events will be monthly on the first non-holiday Monday of each month, so save the dates! They will all be held from 12 to 1:00 p.m. in Student Union Building room 303:

• May 6
• June 3
• July 8
• August 12

Meet Dal's honourary degree recipients

During Spring Convocation ceremonies, six individuals will be awarded honourary degrees, the university's highest honour. Learn more about this year's honourary degree recipients in Dal News, including Dr. Austin Mardon and Dr. Estella Atekwana, who will be presented with their degrees during the Faculty of Science's May 31 Convocation ceremonies. 

Aquatron Community Day: May 11

As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the Aquatron is hosting a free, family-friendly Community Day on Saturday, May 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. Attendees can enjoy touch tanks, face painting, ocean glider demos and tours of the Aquatron, while meeting some of Dal's ocean researchers and learning about the work they do. Visit the Aquatron's website to learn more. 

Announcing the Inclusive STEM Community of Practice 

Course instructors are invited to join the Inclusive STEM Community of Practice (CoP). This is jointly hosted between the Faculties of Computer Science and Science, and is a facilitated, hybrid Community of Practice running between early May and the end of June.

Our goal with this CoP is to discuss and learn from shared resources and each other on aspects related to inclusive teaching, in an attempt to promote equity and inclusion in our institution. This CoP will draw from resources shared by the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project (an NSF program), the READI Recommendations, and other resources.

Co-ordinated by:

• Computer Science: Raghav Sampangi, Gabriella Mosquera, Stephanie Bernier
• Science: Susan Gass, Sarah Chisholm

Meeting schedule:

• Tuesdays, 1:00pm
• Dates: May 7, May 21, June 4, June 18, June 25

Please sign up using this form by Friday, May 3: https://forms.office.com/r/rY34uN7bPq

Participants will be added to a CoP Teams space following registration (we will begin adding individuals mid-next week). Further communication about the meetings, agendas, etc., will be shared on the CoP’s Teams space.

Lab2Market Validate Atlantic Fall 2024

Lab2Market Validate gives researchers the opportunity to critically test and evaluate their ideas in the entrepreneurial landscape. This carefully curated 16-week experience is complemented by funding, exercises, workshops, and mentorship from industry experts – all with exploration at its core. This cohort is open to master's, PhD, postdocs and faculty within Atlantic Canada, with $15,000 in funding. Applicants must be eligible for Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) program. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2024 - learn more and register for an upcoming information session on the Lab2Market website.

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.