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

Rhodes Scholarship information session: March 25

An information session for students interested in applying for Rhodes Scholarships will be held on Tuesday, March 25 at 4:00 p.m. in room 430 of the Goldberg Computer Science Building. A livestream of the session is also available for students unable to attend in person. Please see this Today@Dal notice for more details on the session and visit dal.ca/Rhodes for more information on applying for Rhodes Scholarships.

Undergraduate Research Prize: Student applications due April 11

Eligible students graduating this spring are invited to apply for the Faculty of Science Undergraduate Research Prize, which is awarded annually upon graduation to students who have made a substantial commitment and contribution to research during their undergraduate programs. There are two steps to the application process:

• Students should submit a completed application form and letters of support from supervising faculty members to their designated department contact by April 11.
• Department contacts should then forward application forms and letters of support to the Dean’s Office contact (Nirali.Patel@dal.ca) by April 18. 

Complete eligibility details, frequently-asked-questions, and the application form can be found on the Faculty of Science myDal site (login required).

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 this spring. 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. 

Department of Psychology and Neuroscience: Donald O. Hebb Memorial Lecture (March 27)

Everyone is welcome to attend the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience's Donald O. Hebb Memorial Lecture on Thursday, March 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in LSC Room P4260.

Guest speaker Dr. Douglas Munoz, a Professor in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences and the Director of the Centre for Neuroscience Studies at Queen’s University, will give a talk entitled “Using eye tracking to investigate brain function and dysfunction.” The lecture is hosted by Dr. Raymond Klein. Light refreshments will be served in the 2nd Floor Lounge following the lecture. Learn more on the Dal events calendar.

Queen Elizabeth Scholars: Fall 2025 applications due March 26

Applications for fall 2025 internships as part of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarships (QES) program are due on March 26, 2025.

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.

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:

Hai Nguyen (Memorial University)
Title: Is it Really a 'Safer' Bet? Effects of Safer Opioids Supply Policy and Drug Decriminalization in British Columbia
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building, Room 2198

Faculty Innovation Fellows Training Program

Canada’s world class research can have transformative impact on our most pressing challenges, such as curing/treating disease, the clean energy transition, environmental clean-up, and sustainable agriculture. 

Translational innovation skills and mindset will help researchers in taking research to impact and will increase Canada’s innovation capacity. To achieve this vision, the transformational Invention to Innovation (i2I) Faculty Innovation Fellows program has been designed based on world-class research and experience specific to science-based translation, and linked to national networks of academic and industrial mentors, helping researchers unleash their entrepreneurial mindset along three complementary paths: translational scientists, industry innovation champions, and venture founders. 

The intensive, in-person Faculty Innovation Fellows Program, will allow faculty members to become better translational researchers and trusted boundary spanners within the National i2I Network while fostering a deeper innovation culture change within their own institutions. Faculty member participants graduating from the program will be equipped to foster entrepreneurial mindset and innovation skills in their own research groups, and in their classrooms. Learning outcomes from FIFP include a significant strengthening in ability to: identify and begin shaping an opportunity using one’s own inventions, prepare and deliver succinct pitches for different audiences (e.g., investors, customers), identify IP and funding strategies, acquire translational vocabulary, and propose next steps for de-risking and advancing the readiness level of technologies. 

Two cohorts are coming up: 

• Simon Fraser University: April 28-May 2
• Queen’s University: May 4-8

Full-time faculty and researchers at Canadian universities and research institutes are eligible to participate. 

Fees: For successful applicants, Program and Conference Centre Fees, including meals, will be covered for the duration of the program. For out-of-town participants, overnight accommodation will also be provided at The Simon Hotel. 

You can apply using this form.

If you have questions, please contact Aaron Newman, i2I co-lead, Atlantic Canada: Aaron.Newman@dal.ca

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.