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

Nova Scotia's junior high science stars descend on Dal

Last month, the Atlantic Science Links Association (ASLA) held an awards ceremony for its second junior high science contest that brought some of Nova Scotia's brightest young scientific minds to the Dal campus. Led by Department of Biology professors Arunika Gunawardena (president) and Rajesh Rajaselvam (executive director), ASLA first held a junior high science contest in 2019 to encourage students to take an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects.

Read our Dal News story for a recap of the event, which saw nearly 140 junior high students, family members, and guests attend. Dean of Science Dr. Chuck Macdonald is pictured above presenting one of the top-performing students with a certificate.

Save the date: Summer Institute Series (Wednesday, June 19)

As we move into our summer term, the Faculty of Science is once again offering a series of sessions and workshops focused on teaching and learning. These sessions are open to all faculty, staff, and graduate students interested in connecting with others to share ideas, challenges, and successes related to teaching and learning in science.

We’ll share information about these sessions as we confirm dates, but want to highlight the first session on Wednesday, June 19: Inclusive STEM Showcase: Accessibility in the Classroom.

Join us on Wednesday, June 19 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. in room 1108 of the Mona Campbell Building to hear from faculty and staff who are creating more inclusive learning opportunities for our students. This session will highlight concrete, feasible strategies designed to increase accessibility in the classroom - from assessments, to office hours, to readings, to the classroom itself. We’ll cover a wide range of topics, so no matter your discipline, you’ll likely hear an idea or two that may inspire something new in your teaching.

Future sessions will include Novel Research in the Classroom, Generative-AI for Course Instructors, Aligning Assessments & Outcomes: Addressing Grade Inflation, Academic Integrity in Science, Advising: Introductions & Instructions, and potentially more - stay tuned for updates! Registration is not required, but any questions can be directed to Dr. Leanne Stevens, associate dean academic at ADAScience@dal.ca. 

Math and stats prof recognized for applied and collaborative work

Earlier this month, Dr. Joanna Mills Flemming, a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, received the 2024 Impact of Applied and Collaborative Work Award from the Statistical Society of Canada (SSC). Visit the SSC's website to read more about the award and Dr. Mills Flemming's development of statistical models for use in marine ecology and conservation projects.

LSC power outage: Saturday, June 22

Please be advised that the Life Sciences Centre will be closed on Saturday, June 22 for critical maintenance to upgrade electrical infrastructure. For more information, please see this Today@Dal notice.

Falling Walls 2024 pitch competition: Apply by June 28

Do you have a research-based idea that could change the world for the better? Students and early-career professionals are invited to apply for a chance to pitch their idea in the Dal-hosted Falling Walls Lab regional competition in September. The winners will earn a chance to attend the competition's global finals in Berlin, Germany as part of the Falling Walls Science Summit.

It can be done: last year, then-chemistry PhD student Joe Bedard won the global finals with his presentation on fossil fuel-free sources of plastic production. Watch a video of Joe's winning pitch and see how to enter in this Dal News story.

Impact survey: Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP)

Solutions in Kids in Pain (SKIP), led by Dr. Christine Chambers, is conducting a survey to better understand the impact it has made on children’s pain management over the past five years. If you have heard of or engaged with SKIP in any way, you are invited to complete their short survey, accessible at this link. Anyone completing the survey by June 17 will have the option to enter to win a prize package of SKIP swag and Peace by Chocolate treats.

Winter/spring 2025 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Program applications

Applications for winter/spring 2025 placements as part of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarships (QES) program are now open until September 1.

The QES program offers undergraduate students the chance to complete a funded internship for credit at the Cape Eleuthera Institute in The Bahamas. Applicants should have an interest and academic background in environmental science, sustainability, marine science or a related field, and be in at least their third year of studies at the time of the internship placement. Visit Dal’s QES website for complete details on the three types of internships that can be applied for (marine research and conservation, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable systems). Any questions can be directed to Dr. Tarah Wright (tarah.wright@dal.ca), coordinator of the QES Program at Dal.

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.