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

Dr. Kevin Hewitt recognized for research and leadership excellence

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Hewitt, who earlier this month was named one of three recipients of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement's (RCSA) 2025 Holland Awards for research and leadership excellence. With the award, Dr. Hewitt joins RCSA's Cottrell Scholar community of 500 researchers from institutions across Canada and the USA. Read our Dal News story for more on the award and how Dr. Hewitt felt upon finding out he was a winner.

DISP Research Symposium poster fair: April 4

All are invited to attend the 32nd annual Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP) Research Symposium poster session on Friday, April 4 from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the 3rd floor foyer of the LSC (above Tim Hortons). First-year DISP students will share their team research completed through Dalhousie host labs this year, with the projects spanning an exciting range of topics across departments.

Virtual Q&A seminar for girls interested in STEM

On Tuesday, April 8, from 6 to 7 p.m., the Dal-based Atlantic Science Links Association (ASLA) is hosting a virtual STEM Q&A seminar for self-identifying girls in grades 10-12. Panellists from the ASLA Women in STEM Mentorship Network, representing various areas of academia and industry, will answer student questions and discuss what it’s like to enter and succeed in STEM fields.

This event is a great opportunity to learn about STEM careers and network with successful mentors. If you know any female high school students who are interested in STEM (or who you think should consider a STEM field), please encourage them to register and submit a question through our online registration form. Please also feel free to share this event with any teachers, students, parents, or community members that may be interested!

Please visit ALSA’s website and Instagram page to learn more. If you have any questions or comments, please email us at asla@dal.ca.

Chemistry postdoc selected to attend international Nobel Laureate conference

Congratulations to Department of Chemistry postdoctoral fellow Dr. Sarah Martell, who was selected to attend the 74^thLindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Chemistry) later this year. A member of Dr. Mita Dasog’s research group, Dr. Martell will join 600 young scientists from around the world and 35 Nobel Laureates at the gathering in Lindau, Germany from June 29 to July 4.

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).

Judges wanted: Canada-Wide Science Fair & Halifax Sci-Tech Expo

Youth Science Canada is searching for judges (with PhDs or professional qualifications, or master’s degrees and some experience, including PhD candidates) from all STEM disciplines that would like to be involved in the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair from May 31 – June 7 at the University of New Brunswick. Students benefit from mentorship from STEM professionals or trainees.  You can help us to support and inspire the next generation of STEM scholars!

Please fill out this short form to indicate your interest.

Judges are also needed for the Halifax Sci-Tech Expo on Friday, April 4 at Saint Mary’s University. If you’re interested in being a judge, or if you have any questions about science fairs, please contact ScienceOutreach@dal.ca. 

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. 

BIOS scholarships for summer and fall programs due March 31

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:

Szilvia Papai (Concordia University)
Title: Strategyproof Maximum Matching under Dichotomous Agent Preferences (with Haris Aziz and Shahidul Islam)
Date: Friday, March 28
Time: 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building, Room 2198

Patrick Coe (Carleton University)
Title: Who Knew What and When: U.S. National Income 1909 to 1938
Date: Friday, April 4
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.