The Dean's Office Dispatch is the Faculty of Science's weekly e-newsletter for students, faculty and staff.
Science faculty among Dal's 2024 Highly Cited Researchers
Dr. Eric Oliver of the Department of Oceanography and Dr. Tony Walker of the School for Resource and Environmental Studies have made the prestigious list of 2024 Highly Cited Researchers compiled by data analytics company Clarivate. They join Dr. Noni MacDonald of the Faculty of Medicine as Dal researchers named to the annual list, which was announced in November. Read our Dal News story for more on the rankings and to discover an influential paper from each researcher.
Undergraduate summer research awards (USRA) applications open
The application portal for 2025 undergraduate summer research awards (USRA) is now open. Summer research awards provide an opportunity for students to work full-time in a Dal research lab from May through August. These are paid positions that should be considered the same as a summer job. Students interested in applying for a USRA should visit our myDal site (login required) for complete details on the application process, contact info for departmental awards coordinators, the slide deck from an information session last month, and more.
The deadline to apply is January 24, 2025, but don’t delay: interested students should contact potential supervisors well in advance.
OpenThink 2025 applications for PhD students: Dec. 10 deadline
Applications for the 2025 OpenThink cohort from the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) are closing soon! PhD students with an interest in sharing their knowledge beyond Dalhousie are encouraged to apply. OpenThinkers receive a scholarship of $1,500 and are equipped with the communication skills and platform to reach public audiences and inform discourse. The application deadline is Tuesday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m. Learn more and apply by visiting the FGS website.
2025 Aurum Award nominations
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Aurum Awards, Dalhousie's flagship alumni awards that honour community-minded innovators and visionaries who are making a difference here and around the world. Nominations are welcome for a classmate, colleague, someone you admire, or yourself. Visit dal.ca/Aurum for more details and to make a nomination. The deadline for 2025 nominations is January 16, 2025.
Call for honorary degree nominations: Jan. 31, 2025 deadline
The Senate Honorary Degrees Committee (SHDC) invites nominations for honorary degrees for future convocations. Visit the SHDC website for complete details on who is eligible to receive an honorary degree and to request a nomination form. Completed nomination forms are due by January 31, 2025.
2024-2025 Student Science & Technology Communication Competition
The Nova Scotia Institute of Science (NSIS) is holding its annual Student Science and Technology Communication Competition for students enrolled at a Nova Scotia university or college in 2024-2025. The competition has separate categories for undergraduate/college and postgraduate entrants, with a minimum cash prize of $600 awarded to the best essay prepared by a student in each category.
Complete details can be found on the NSIS website. Participants need to register by December 16, 2024, with final submissions due January 17, 2025.
United Way Campaign update for faculty and staff
The amount raised for Dal's United Way Campaign as of Friday, November 29 was $77,434.80! We’re not at our goal yet, but that’s still an incredible contribution to our communities, and the campaign isn’t quite over, either! Our links are still active until the end of 2024, we can still organize events, and the 50/50 draw is open until December 12! Visit the United Way Campaign myDal site for more details on how to get involved.
We made the draws for the early bird prizes, and it was so gratifying to see so many familiar names among the winners - particularly those who have served on the committee or as ECCs in the past - maybe you’ll be next! The winners who gave permission for their names and departments to be shared are as follows:
A 1-year parking pass at the Dunn lot on the Studley campus (donated by Security Services) - Heather Fraser, ITS
Bookstore gift card (donated by Ancillary Services) - Dianne Landry, Dalhousie Libraries
2 prizes of $50 and 2 prizes of $25 DalDollars applied to the winners’ DalCards (donated by Ancillary Services) - Dolene Lapointe, Faculty of Management; Marika Warren, Department of Bioethics; Mike McAllister, Faculty of Computer Science; Erin Stewart-Reid, President's Office
Lunch for 10 (gourmet sandwiches and wrap platters and a mix of drinks) from Food Services (donated by Ancillary Services) - Jennifer Hann, Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development
Dalplex swag bag (donated by Athletics) - Mary Anne Dib, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Thank you to everyone who donated during the active campaign period, and congratulations to our winners!
If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please reach out to Sinmi Ayantoye (SinmisadeAyantoye@dal.ca).
Crowdmark training sessions for the Faculty of Science
Recordings from Crowdmark training sessions for Faculty of Science staff and faculty this fall can be found below.
Dalhousie's Faculty of Science is now on LinkedIn. Please give us a follow to stay up-to-date on the latest news, events and announcements.
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.
IMPORTANT DATES
December 6-17 Exam period
December 15
Final day for graduate students to submit their thesis for those planning to graduate in May without winter course enrolment.
December 16
DSU health insurance plan enrollment opens
December 18
Residences close at noon (Halifax campus)
December 24
Grades due for courses with formal exams
December 24-31
University closed as of 12 pm December 24
