During academic year 2022-23, Bethune College launched a successful new speaker series called "Coffee with Profs," which wrapped up in March. Professors and instructors from the Faculty of Science and Lassonde School of Engineering were invited to share their insights and experiences on a range of academic and professional topics with students.

In the fall term, Bethune College Head Paula Wilson kicked off the series by hosting first-year Professors Stephanie Gora (Civil Engineering), Chris Jang (Biology) and Andrew Skelton (Mathematics & Statistics) to talk with students about preparing for midterms and exams. Students had the opportunity to connect with instructors, learn about their own study strategies, and share tips for navigating the pressure that accompanies the first round of midterms. A second session was held later in the term for students who felt the need to reflect and regroup as they headed into exams, with Professors Stephanie Domenikos (Chemistry / Science, Technology & Society/ Natural Science), Nicole Nivillac (Biology) and Pam Sargent (Mathematics & Statistics).

As part of the "Writing Edition" sessions, Kathryn Allyn, director of the Bethune Writing Centre discussed with Professor Tanya Da Sylva (Biology) about paraphrasing and engaging with sources, and with Professor Mark Bayfield (Biology) about strategies for crafting effective narratives and presenting scientific content convincingly.

The start of the winter term featured sessions on research opportunities: Professors Ozzy Mermut (Physics & Astronomy) and Robert Tsushima (Biology) led a session for Science students, and Professors Regina Lee (Earth & Space Science & Engineering) and Suprakash Data (Electrical Engineering & Computer Science) led a session for Lassonde students. In March, Professor Jude Dzevela Kong (Mathematics & Statistics) spoke with students about what it’s like to be a professor and his own path to becoming one. Additionally, Professors Carol Bucking (Biology) and Gloria Orchard (Physics & Astronomy) held sessions to share important insights on lab report structure and writing process. Finally, PhD student Yohana Solomon (Mathematics & Statistics) and Kathryn Allyn discussed editing and the importance of building supportive peer editing networks for strong writing.

Bethune College would like to thank Kathryn Allyn for her lead in conceptualizing this series, Emily Fiorini for conceiving the name, and all of the speakers for generously taking the time to connect with the students.

The initiative will continue for the 2023-24 academic year. If you'd like to take part in a talk or have an idea for a session topic, please contact Paula Wilson (bchead@yorku.ca) or Kathryn Allyn (travis10@yorku.ca).

The post Coffee with Profs: a successful initiative connecting Bethune community members appeared first on Faculty of Science.

It was the first time since 2019 that high school students could visit the campus to learn more about the Faculty of Science. Nearly 200 visitors, including students who received admission offers for 2022-2023 and their family members attended the event.

“We heard from a number of prospects and their families about how grateful and happy they were to come to an in-person event, particularly since very few faculties of science across the country are offering this kind of opportunity at this time,” said Rui Wang, dean of the Faculty of Science. “Thank you to our colleagues who organized the event, including Felicia Mercier and Hannah Stanley, and all of the students and professors who participated and helped make the event such a success.”

The event featured information sessions and meet-and-greets with professors and current students to learn more about the programs and opportunities available at 91��ɫ Science. The open house also featured current student and alumni panels and a session about Bethune College and the resources available to science students, which was presented by Professor and Head of Bethune Paula Wilson.

Visitors also had the opportunity to go on scheduled tours of the campus.

“The feedback from the high school students and their parents attending the Spring Open House was very positive,” said Professor and Department of Biology Chair Robert Tsushima, who participated in the professor meet-and-greet sessions. “For instance, one student mentioned that they found the ability to talk to university students, staff, and professors in person to be very helpful and reduced some of their anxieties.”

The Spring Open House was the second in-person science event for prospective students since the onset of the pandemic. In early April 2022, the Faculty hosted a smaller open house event with a 25-person capacity limit. As well, the Faculty has hosted more than 150 online events since September 2021. In late March, the Faculty also resumed its weekly in-person tours (Thursdays and Fridays) and tours on special request for scholarship recipients and athletes.

Further information about tours with 91��ɫ Science is available on the Faculty’s website.

The post Faculty hosts first in-person open house since start of pandemic appeared first on Faculty of Science.

The following projects were funded in the Faculty of Science:

Discussions on Indigenizing the Science Curriculum

Led by Biology Professor Tamara Kelly, this project will be a one-day conference that will explore ways to Indigenize the science curriculum. It will form part of the Faculty’s response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and The Indigenous Framework for 91��ɫ: A Guide to Action. Currently, Indigenization of courses within FSc is low for various reasons. A key outcome of this conference will be to raise awareness of what Indigenizing the curriculum might mean in the context of science programs and courses, and to consider concrete examples. An additional desired outcome is that faculty members, staff, and students will be inspired to reflect on how we might better ensure that our courses and departments are welcoming and supportive to Indigenous community members, and that our programs not only recognize, but also weave Indigenous scholarship and perspectives into our programs.

Improving Student Supports for Indigenous Science Students

Led by Biology Professor Paula Wilson, this project will focus on learning more about the Indigenous student experience within the Faculty of Science, with the long-term goal of improving academic and social supports for Indigenous science and engineering students. Bethune College offers academic support services and leadership opportunities for science and engineering students, with a special focus on first year transition and first year experience. But it is unclear if Indigenous students use the services, if they feel welcome and included in the community, or how they can be better supported. The findings from this project will be used to improve programming in two thematic areas: to explore and/or establish new ways of supporting Indigenous undergraduate students through Bethune programming, share findings with faculty and graduate students, etc.; and to contribute to a more inclusive campus environment that values the plurality of Indigenous knowledge and scholarship.

Exploring the Interplay Between Indigenous Art and Mathematics

Led by Professors Pamela Sargent and Amenda Chow in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, this project will be a series of workshops featuring local Indigenous artists who use mathematics in their artistic works. The workshops will be conducted in collaboration with University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Mathematics and topics will include bead work that requires mathematical concepts such as counting, logic and patterns, or illustration that uses symmetry, geometry and tessellations. There is also mathematics in such forms as indigenous storytelling, language and music. The workshops will be experiential and engaging with hands on fun educational activities. They will provide all participants with concrete connections between the discipline of mathematics and Indigenous knowledge and culture, and examples of how Indigenous knowledge can be incorporated into the mathematics curriculum. The workshops will be open to all members of the 91��ɫ and University of Waterloo community and Indigenous communities.

The post Science professors receive grants for teaching and learning projects with indigenous focus appeared first on Faculty of Science.

The Faculty of Science and Lassonde School of Engineering have appointed Professor Paula Wilson as the new Head of .

Wilson, a professor in the Faculty of Science’s Department of Biology, will assume the role effective July 1, 2021, for a term of five years.

“I’m excited and honoured to embark on this new role as Bethune College Head,” says Wilson, Undergraduate Program Director for the Department of Biology. “91��ɫ is such a vast institution, it’s easy to feel lost. One of the foundational goals of Bethune College and its leadership is to help our students develop a sense of belonging within the larger 91��ɫ community. The Bethune community is also known for supporting first year students as they transition to university. I’m very much looking forward to helping provide our students with an enriching and successful university experience.”

The Head of Bethune is a tenured faculty member who provides leadership and mentoring to the intellectual community of students, faculty and Fellows at Bethune College. The college head is committed to enhancing the experience of 91��ɫ’s students, especially first-year students.

In 2020, Wilson was the recipient of a President’s University-Wide Teaching Award in the category of full-time tenured faculty with 10 or more years of full-time teaching experience. Her nominators highlighted her dedication to students and her support of teaching and learning innovation, including the creation of a biomedical science stream and resources to assist first-year students with the transition to university.

Bethune College is affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Lassonde School of Engineering and their related programs. Students in these faculties and those that are in the Bethune Residence are automatically members of the college.

The College offers students an array of extracurricular activities, clubs, athletics, off-campus events, seminars, and lectures. Its academic program includes credit courses on a variety of topics, along with peer mentoring and tutoring, PASS Study Groups, Wednesday Workshops, a Writing Centre, and academic and career advising. The Bethune College building provides a comfortable place to drop in, relax, have a meal, study, and meet other students, faculty, and staff. The College is also home to the Kinesiology and Health Science department.

Wilson succeeds current Bethune head John Amanatides, Associate Professor in Lassonde’s Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science.

The post Faculty of Science Professor Paula Wilson Appointed as Head of Bethune College appeared first on Faculty of Science.