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

Dr. Joseph Bielawski earns Dal community growth award

In recognition of his efforts in creating the Dalhousie Science Scholars and Leaders Program (DSSLP), Dr. Joseph Bielawski has been named the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Anne Marie Ryan Community Growth Award.

Introduced last year in honour of the late Earth and Environmental Sciences faculty member, the award recognizes individuals or groups at Dal who are dedicated to building a community through education, learning, and outreach. A formal award presentation will be made at November's Dal Legacy Awards.

Read our Dal News story for more on what Dr. Bielawski and the students involved with the DSSLP have achieved in the two years since the program was established.

Students looking to get involved can find out more by visiting the DSSLP's website and Instagram page. 

Dean's Office announcement: Acting Director of Strategic Engagement & Communications

We are pleased to announce that Jocelyn Adams Moss has been appointed as the Acting Director of Strategic Engagement & Communications for the Faculty of Science.

Jocelyn brings 13 years of experience at Dalhousie, having led communications and alumni roles in the Faculties of Medicine, Health, Science, and the Office of Advancement. She possesses a wealth of expertise in strategic engagement, communications, and digital marketing.

This role will lead our engagement and communications team, overseeing the development of innovative programs and events, building strong partnerships, and managing our digital and written communications efforts. Her leadership will be instrumental in advancing the Faculty's strategic priorities and enhancing our community and stakeholder relationships.

Please join us in welcoming Jocelyn to this role.

Summer Institute Series: Advising - Introductions & Instructions

Date: Wednesday, August 28
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Format: Milligan Room, 8th floor, Life Sciences Centre (Biology wing)

This session is aimed at faculty and staff currently in a student advising role (either formally or informally – everyone is welcome). We’ll spend the first hour hearing from advisors at the Indigenous Student Centre, Black Student Advising Centre, Co-op, Bissett Student Advising, and the 2SLGBTQI+ advisor. They’ll share information about the types of support they provide and help to provide a better understanding of when and how students should be referred to them. Following introductions, Registrar’s Office staff will be on hand to walk through many of the tools advisors work with on a regular basis when advising students (e.g. course registration, DARS, waivers, etc.)

Registration is not required. Lunch will be provided.

Where Ideas Meet Impact: Coloursmith

Halifax-based Coloursmith, founded by chemistry alum Gabrielle Masone (BSc’18), helps colourblind people see colour more clearly with contact lenses that incorporate its innovative optical filtering technology. The company is now working with the vision care industry to commercialize its technology. 

Masone and her company were recently profiled in the latest edition of the “Where Ideas Meet Impact” series.

Teaching Assistant Professional Development Days: Sept. 4 and 5

New and experienced teaching assistants are invited to participate in Teaching Assistant Professional Development Days from the Centre for Learning and Teaching. In-person sessions will be held on September 4, with online sessions taking place on September 5. Visit the CLT website to see the full schedule and register to attend.

Survey: Inclusive STEM Teaching Joint Community of Practice

The Faculties of Science and Computer Science recently hosted the first Inclusive STEM Teaching Joint Community of Practice at Dal, which aimed to foster a supportive environment for faculty, staff, and students to discuss and develop inclusive teaching practices in STEM education. 

This community of practice will be held again next year and the organizers would greatly appreciate your feedback, even if you were unable to attend or were not interested. Please share your experiences and ideas through this survey.

Call for applications: Flight 302 Legacy Award

42 non-renewable scholarships valued at $10,000 each are available through the Flight 302 Legacy Award, which commemorates the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 tragedy on March 10, 2019. Current students can visit the Universities Canada website to learn more about eligibility and apply online for the award. Applications are due on August 20, 2024.

Sept.1 deadline: 2025 QES program applications

Applications for winter/spring 2025 placements as part of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarships (QES) program will close on 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.