The Dean's Office Dispatch is the Faculty of Science's weekly e-newsletter for students, faculty and staff.
International Women's Day message from the Dean of Science
Saturday, March 8 is International Women’s Day, a global day to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women and girls. The Government of Canada’s theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is Strength in every story. Here are a few examples highlighting the inspiring women in our Dal Science community:
Dr. Maryam Abdollahi, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Chemistry, became a mother during her PhD studies after immigrating to Canada from Iran. Read about Maryam's journey as a woman in STEM, and discover some of the exciting innovations she is working on in Dr. Saurabh Chitnis’ research group.
The Loran Scholarships have brought some of Canada’s most promising young leaders to Dal for 35 years. Read about two former Loran Scholars and Dal Science students, Laura O’Connor and Jessica Telizyn, and how their time at Dal helped shape their future careers.
The sixth season of our podcast series, Sciographies, aired last fall and featured episodes with faculty members Drs. Shannon Johnson & Alissa Pencer, Dr. Sian Kou-Giesbrecht, and alum Karen Hudson (MES’02), an educator and principal of Auburn Drive High School and founder of the Africentric Math Cohort. Find Sciographies on your podcast platform of choice and listen to six seasons of episodes featuring researchers and alumni sharing their journeys in science.
For more, please follow the Faculty of Science on LinkedIn and Instagram, and keep an eye on Dal News for stories from across the university.
There are many faculty, students, staff, and alumni who continue to make a difference inside and outside of the Faculty of Science community. On International Women’s Day, we celebrate you and all that you do.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chuck Macdonald
Dean of Science
Dal team makes waves at global pitch competition
A team of mostly Dal students and alumni earned one of three top prizes of $10,000 USD at a global pitch competition for carbon dioxide removal solutions held last week in Norway. The Faculty of Science was represented on the five-member team by:
Isaac Bahler, an undergraduate student in Earth Sciences and Physics
Caliyena Brown (BSc'24 Honours in Marine Biology and Sustainability), a current MSc student
Cameron Richardson (BSc'23 Honours Ocean Sciences), now a grad student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
Read our Dal News story for more on the team's success and their future plans for Equlantic Aquatic Monitoring Inc., the startup founded by the quintet.
Nova Scotia Engagement Days: Call for participation from departments and units
The Faculty of Science is looking for participation from departments and units for upcoming Nova Scotia Engagement Days events being held throughout the province starting later this month. Visit our myDal site (login required) to learn more about Nova Scotia Engagement Days and how you can volunteer to take part. If you're ready to express your interest in participating, please fill out this form.
2025 Faculty of Science Black & African Nova Scotian Engagement Event
The Faculty of Science is hosting the 2025 Black & African Nova Scotian Engagement Event from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the McInnes Room (DSU) on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. At this event, Black and African Nova Scotian high school students from Auburn Drive, Cole Harbour, Woodlawn, and Citadel will be exploring our various programs, labs, and campus life spaces in the Faculty of Science and Dalhousie University at large. There will also be a keynote speech during lunch by Paul Ash, the executive director of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Members of the Science community (faculty, staff, and students) are welcome to attend the full day event, host a booth or a lab tour, and volunteer at the event. Lunch will be provided. To participate, please register online via Eventbrite.
A few spaces remain in the Certificate in Inclusive Leadership for faculty, staff, and administration that begins in April 2025. The program was developed by the Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development (OLCD), in partnership with the department of People and Culture. To learn more about the Certificate in Inclusive Leadership and apply, please visit the OLCD myDal site (login required).
Queen Elizabeth Scholars: Fall 2025 applications due March 26
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.
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences: Scholarships for summer and fall programs
The Dalhousie – BIOS Experiential Learning Fund provides scholarships for marine biology and ocean sciences students interested in taking courses this summer and fall at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS).
Scholarships are available for eligible students who self-identify as being in need of financial support. Learn more by visiting the travel and experiential learning opportunities page on our internal myDal site (login required). Applications for the BIOS summer course scholarships and fall semester program are due March 31, 2025.
Department of Oceanography: Gordon A. Riley Memorial Lecture (March 11)
The Department of Oceanography is holding its 20th Gordon A. Riley Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, March 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in LSC Room C242. The featured speaker is acoustical oceanographer Dr. Andone Lavery of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. All are invited to attend. Learn more on the department's event calendar.
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience: Goddard Lecture (March 20)
Everyone is welcome to attend the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience's Graham Goddard Lecture on March 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in LSC Room P4260.
Guest speaker Dr. Veronica Whitford from the University of New Brunswick will give a talk entitled Neurocognitive Crossroads: Exploring Shared Impairments in Schizophrenia and Dyslexia. The lecture is hosted by the Undergraduate Neuroscience Society, the NeuroCognitive Imaging Lab, and the Languages & Literacy Lab. Learn more on the Dal events calendar.
Winter 2025 seminars: Department of Economics
All interested students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend the Department of Economics’ winter term seminars. Seminars will be held in-person. See the full schedule on the Economics website. Upcoming seminars include:
Santiago Camara (McGill University)
Title: Global Banks' Net Worth & Emerging Market Fluctuations: Macro Impact & Micro Transmission
Date: Friday, March 7
Time: 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building, Room 2198
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
March 19 Registration opens for undergraduate programs at 6:00 am, 8:00 am, and 10:00 am for Fall/Winter 2025/26 terms (returning Dal & transfer students only).
March 22
Deadline for students to submit Final Exam Accommodation Request
International Women's Day message from the Dean of Science