Science, Technology and Society Archives - Faculty of Science

Imagination and astronomy collide in new book co-written, illustrated by 91��ɫ Science members

abanerj7 — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:10:18 +0000

^{Jesse Rogerson}

Science Professor Jesse Rogerson has published a new book, Daydreaming in the Solar System (MIT Press), with co-author John Moores, a professor at Lassonde, that takes readers on adventures to distant planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. Each chapter is a tale about a unique escapade, with accurate descriptions rooted in science and watercolour illustrations by 91��ɫ Biology student Michelle Parsons.

“In this book we tried to transport people to real places in space and give them a sense of what it would be like to be there,” explained Rogerson, who is a professor in the Division of Natural Science in the Department of Science, Technology & Society. “What would you see, hear, smell, feel and taste? The stories are science fiction in a sense, but also as real and accurate as it can get based on what we know as scientists.”

For instance, one of the chapters is about cave diving through one of Saturn’s moons, which would be made of ice and very porous. Another chapter takes the reader surfing on Saturn’s rings, “which would be like floating through a fog,” Rogerson described. In another story, the reader takes a hot air balloon trip around Venus, which has very fast winds and a similar atmospheric pressure to Earth at 60-70 km above the surface; apparently, no space suit would be required.

“The goal was to make it an accessible and exciting reading experience for a lay audience, and for readers to be able to imagine themselves being there. Space is everyone’s space, and it is still nature, so I see the book as a creative way of helping people appreciate and respect the wonders that are out there.”

The book sparks imagination through not just the stories, but also the watercolour illustrations in each chapter that are “real and surreal at the same time,” said Rogerson. They depict the reality of environments that people have never been to before.

^{Watercolour painting of a hot air balloon trip around Venus, by Michelle Parsons in Daydreaming in the Solar system}

The illustrations were done by Michelle Parsons, who previously worked as an engineer and is now a science illustrator (see ) and an undergraduate student in the Biology program at 91��ɫ.

“I have always loved art, and my passion for science illustration grew from trying to recreate the natural world accurately. Studying biology is helping me to expand my toolbox as an artist.”

Parsons worked in parallel with Rogerson and Moores, taking drafts of the chapters and developing rough sketches that were then turned into detailed paintings as the stories were finalized.

Daydreaming in the Solar System is available at the , , and other .

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Rare disease drug initiative led by 91��ɫ researcher offers hope for millions

abanerj7 — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:14:32 +0000

A 91��ɫ researcher is advancing a drug initiative to give hope to millions of people around the world suffering from rare diseases for which drug therapies have not yet been developed.

Professor Conor Douglas is leading a global initiative to uncover the economic, political and regulatory barriers that prevent costly research into drugs that could treat rare diseases. The goal is to advance new approaches to drug development that could open the door to a broader range of treatments for rare diseases, not just those for more common ailments.

^{Conor Douglas}

“The majority of rare disease patients have no kind of pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical treatment option,” said Douglas, an associate professor in 91��ɫ’s Department of Science, Technology & Society. “The science is in prime time; it’s ready to go. But you can have the fanciest science and technology and it’s not going anywhere unless these other issues are being addressed.”

Through the project, Douglas is working with researchers around the world to find and advocate for changes he hopes will diversify a system that has been driven in part by profit motive and regulation.

“As a society, we’re choosing not to develop certain kinds of treatments because they might not be profitable enough,” Douglas said. “Our notion of social pharmaceutical innovation is trying to understand initiatives that are tackling these problems of availability, accessibility and affordability in a way that ensures health system sustainability, supports a private insurance system that can afford to cover cutting-edge treatments and where people don’t have to pay for them out of pocket.”

Although individually they are uncommon, rare diseases as a whole are quite common, with more than 7,000 identified today, and more being discovered as science progresses. It’s estimated that up to six per cent of people around the world suffer from rare diseases. There are up to two million sufferers in Canada alone, contributing to five to 10 per cent of the country’s hospitalization costs, according to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Last year, Canada announced a and an investment of $1.5 billion to increase access to and affordability of drugs. As part of the strategy, provinces and territories are expected to cost share through their bilateral purchasing agreements for rare disease treatments with Health Canada.

“There’s definitely a policy window right now,” said Douglas, whose innovation project is looking at more ways to ensure drugs for rare diseases are brought to market.

Ideas include involving patients in research and development, teaming them with clinicians to collect data on how drugs are working outside of clinical trials in an effort to move drugs through trials more quickly. In another example, companies trying to bring a treatment to market and provincial health-care systems could enter into risk-sharing agreements as a drug is tested. One such collaboration has already resulted in approval by Health Canada for enzyme replacement therapies to treat Fabry disease, a rare genetic condition caused by a missing enzyme that can attack vital organs.

Douglas said he hopes the examples of winning approaches he and his colleagues are uncovering will offer hope to those who suffer from rare diseases, many of whom struggle to get a diagnosis and then feel hopeless when they learn there is no treatment.

“Almost all of the cases that we come up against are full of often painful stories of suffering,” he said, adding that the solution doesn’t lie only with the medical scientists.

“They need help from people looking at regulatory changes. We need the patients’ input. We need collaboration from industry, and certainly we need buy-in from Health Canada and the provincial health-care systems and pharmaceutical plans. Change is underway; a different way of doing things is possible.”

Courtesy of YFile

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Best of YU 2023

aburtin — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:53:54 +0000

We are proud to spotlight some of our Faculty’s top moments from 2023.

New faculty members further 91��ɫ’s scientific innovation, impact

The Faculty of Science welcomed 12 new high-calibre researchers and instructors to its five departments and one division. By recruiting talented faculty members with diverse backgrounds, world views and expertise, we are ensuring the best learning experience for our students and cultivating integrity and principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.

Record growth in experiential education opportunities

Experiential education allows students to deepen their learning and apply theories learned in the classroom to hands-on, paid work experiences. Over 2022-23, the Faculty of Science’s experiential education program saw record growth, with co-op applications increasing by 180 per cent and internship applications increasing nearly 140 per cent over the previous year. As well, this past summer, 110 student opportunities were posted by 21 employers.

Leading pharmaceutical technology innovation

Our chemists are leading a team of researchers and industrial leaders in training the next generation of technologically advanced graduates for the pharmaceutical industry. Supported by a new NSERC CREATE grant worth $1.65 million, the Technology-Enhance Pharmaceutical Discovery (TEPD) program will train Master’s and PhD students with the technical and managerial skills to capitalize on disruptive technologies that aim to impact Canada’s research and development in the pharmaceutical industry.

Strengthening community engagement

The Faculty of Science’s sense of community and its ability to tackle challenges have been bolstered by our community member’s willingness to engage with each other and with our university partners centrally, through various initiatives including our year-long Community 2022 initiative; these events were attended by hundreds of faculty and staff through to the program’s conclusion in Summer 2023. More.

Canada Research Chairs position FSc at the forefront of future-defining research

The national Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program recognizes world-leading researchers in a variety of fields. The Faculty of Science gained one new and two renewed Canada Research Chairs (CRC): Kohitij Kar received a new CRC Tier II in Visual Neuroscience; Christopher Caputo received a renewed CRC Tier II in Main-Group Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry; and Raymond Kwong received a renewed CRC Tier II in Environmental Toxicology.

$4M in NSERC Discovery Grants support scientific innovation at 91��ɫ

More than 20 faculty members from the Faculty of Science were collectively awarded over $4 million in NSERC Discovery Grants to continue advancing scientific innovation. The funding is enabling our researchers to independently pursue long-term research programs, innovative research activities, diverse partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Science Explorations Summer Camp offers expanded opportunities for youth

Our Science Explorations Summer Camp for Grades 3 to 8 featured curricula with a greater emphasis on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including a new week-long program called Sustainable Science. Overall, our summer youth programming welcomed more than 500 students who engaged in 27 unique camp themes in the areas of environmental chemistry, space adventures, forensic chemistry, structural engineering, and more.

Faculty of Science hosts science deans from across Canada

Our Faculty hosted the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Council of Deans of Science (CCDS) to share knowledge and strengthen pan-Canadian advocacy for science education. The three-day event was attended by 30 science and associate deans from universities across Canada.

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Professor Hélène Mialet leads CIFAR’s new Future Flourishing program

aburtin — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 20:10:30 +0000

Media Release from April 3, 2023

Hélène Mialet

A new program proposed by Professor Hélène Mialet of the Department of Science, Technology & Society was one of three winners of the international “Future of Being Human” competition held by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). Mialet (principal investigator) will serve as co-director of CIFAR’s new program, which also includes Professor Kristin Andrews (LAPS, Department of Philosophy) as a new Fellow.

Mialet, along with co-directors Tarek Elhaik (University of California, Davis) and Christopher Kelty (University of California, Los Angeles), has assembled a network of 16 exceptional scholars and practitioners, including philosophers, historians, curators, conservators, artists and anthropologists from around the world to participate in the program.

Her longstanding research aims to set out an innovative methodological and empirical trajectory for the study of the human as a distributed centred-subject. This work has been foundational to the inception of the Future Flourishing program, which will explore how human exceptionalism can be reconfigured by extending the boundary and definition of the human to the living and non-living beings that make us who we are.

“The fundamental question at the core of the Future Flourishing program,” explains Mialet, “is how can we live well without human exceptionalism. How can we live well and flourish with those upon whom we depend or with whom we share a common world? The establishment of a new definition of the human will have tremendous implications for how we think about and ‘do’ politics, ethics, knowledge and morality.” In addition, she points out that “this is an important award for 91��ɫ. It has the potential to make profound change in how we engage with our complex world.”

Read the press release from 91��ɫ.

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Best of YU 2022

aburtin — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:28:55 +0000

As we wrap up the year, we highlight our standout moments of positive change in 2022.

#10 Enhanced opportunities for undergraduate research and success

Fifty-five students from Science and across the University attended our annual Summer Undergraduate Research Conference to present their summer research projects and network with their peers. The Faculty of Science also established the Earle Nestmann Undergraduate Research Award program, thanks to a generous donation from alumnus Earle Nestmann.

#9 New international education experience programs and initiatives

We launched our 2+2/2+3 Undergraduate International Collaboration Education Programs, which allow students from participating institutions to complete their first two years of study at their home university and their last two or three years at 91��ɫ. We also created the 91��ɫ Science Hainan Learning Centre to support some of our international students currently studying online due to COVID-19.

#8 Celebrating new and renewed Chair positions

We welcomed and celebrated new and renewed Chair appointments, including Canada Research Chairs (Professors Chris Caputo, Kohitij Kar and Raymond Kwong), 91��ɫ Research Chairs (Professors Jianhong Wu and Jane Heffernan), the Allan I. Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy (Professor Sarah Rugheimer), the Guy Warwick Rogers Chair in Chemistry (Professor Cora Young), and the Mclaughlin Research Chair (Professor John McDermott).

#7 Three Science professors elected to Royal Society of Canada (RSC)

The elected three 91��ɫ Science faculty members: Professor Jianhong Wu, as Fellow, Academy of Science; and Professors Sandra Rehan and Sapna Sharma, as members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Recognition by the RSC is the highest honour an individual can achieve in the arts, social sciences and sciences.

#6 New professors join Faculty of Science ranks

We welcomed new faculty members Charlotte de Araujo, Kohitij Kar, Allysa Lumley, Daniela Monaldi, Gloria Orchard, Balint Radics, Kelly Ramsay, Sarah Rugheimer, and Jennifer van Wijngaarden. By recruiting talented new researchers and teachers like these individuals, we are building science for the future and making 91��ɫ Science a great place to learn and be a researcher.

#5 Launch of Data Science program

The Department of Mathematics & Statistics launched a new Data Science program, starting fall 2023. The program includes streams in areas of practice such as business and health, together with a capstone course where students work on real-world problems for clients.

#4 Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) for new STS offerings

The Department of Science, Technology & Society (STS) revamped its roster of courses and major and minor options, including two new EDI-focused courses that offer students the opportunity to examine EDI through explorations of past and present issues and controversies in science and technology.

#3 New domes installed at Allan I. Carswell Observatory

Two new state-of-the-art, remote-controlled domes were installed at the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory, replacing the original domes from the 1960s and opening the night sky for better viewing of planets, stars, nebulae and more.

#2 $7.25M for Global South AI4PEP Network

Professor Jude Kong received $7.25 million from the International Development Research Centre to establish the Global South Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness and Response (AI4PEP) Network. The five-year project is aimed at ensuring vulnerable and at-risk populations are included in disease outbreak management and policies.

#1 Launch of Community 2022 initiative

We launched our Community 2022 initiative, aimed at helping faculty, staff and students reconnect in person and support the return to a more robust on-campus presence. Community 2022 includes events for social reconnection, initiatives to welcome new community members, supports for in-person teaching, seminars to support researchers, promotion of health and well-being, and improvements to the Faculty’s physical environment.

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Course for non-science majors focuses on understanding how everyday materials work

aburtin — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 21:55:03 +0000

Mysteries of Everyday Materials is an intriguing course offered by the Faculty of Science that teaches students about materials such as sunscreen and non-stick coatings.

Stephanie Domenikos

Ever since Ravinder Singh took the Faculty of Science course Mysteries of Everyday Materials (NATS1830), taught by Stephanie Domenikos, he has been a strong believer in wearing sunscreen.

“I was never big on sunscreen, but we looked at different brands with different SPF levels under ultraviolet lamps in the lab,” said Singh, a recent 91��ɫ graduate who works for BDO Canada as a tax accountant. “It really opened my eyes; I realized it actually mattered to my skin.”

That’s exactly the impact Domenikos, an assistant professor and environmental chemist, hopes to have on the students in her course.

“This is a science course for non-science majors and it teaches the students how everyday materials work,” said Domenikos. “I try to give my students enough of a science background to allow them to answer life’s simpler questions. It’s also a great opportunity to get non-science students into a lab setting.”

The course, which was previously delivered solely as a lecture, hadn’t been offered for a while, but when Domenikos joined 91��ɫ in 2018, she overhauled it to include lab experiments. Then came the pandemic, and she was reduced to doing demonstrations on Zoom for her students, which “is not the same experience.” This year, students are back in the laboratory.

“At first, students were intimidated by the word ‘lab,’” Domenikos noted. “Many of them actively avoided science in high school and found it daunting to have labs, but they realized that it isn’t complicated; it’s just an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in lecture and to use their hands. They began to enjoy it, said they felt like scientists and were proud of themselves.”

Singh was initially intimidated by the prospect, but quickly changed his mind.

“I had just transferred to 91��ɫ from Sheridan College and this was my first class,” he said. “I took it just because there was a science requirement. I didn’t remember anything about chemistry from high school, but Stephanie told us she would teach us everything from scratch. I’m so lucky, because she was a great professor.”

There are 10 lab periods in the two-semester course and the students work with the same partner throughout. The experiments they conduct complement the lectures Domenikos delivers in class. The lectures explore questions such as how batteries work, how fireworks get their colours, how soap cleans hands and how gasoline engines work.

The battery lecture, for example, is followed by a lab where students create their own batteries from wire and various solutions. They also test the conductivity of various foods, such as tomatoes and lemons, to see if these items allow electricity to pass through them.

Singh fondly remembers measuring the amount of fat in potato chips, causing him to realize that “I really shouldn’t be eating these things.

“We discussed Advil and ibuprofen and what they actually do to stop pain; how non-stick cooking pans work; and how microwaves operate – little things you never think about.”

Domenikos says the labs allow them to see the application of the lectures and the experience “stays with them. It worked really well to change their mindset. A lot of my students come into the course with a ‘hate science’ mentality.” She believes science knowledge is important no matter what career path her students are pursuing.

“This is our next generation. They will be our voters and our policymakers. An understanding of science will help them make more informed decisions. 91��ɫ wants to produce well-rounded students who can be active participants in society.”

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Department of Science, Technology & Society new courses foster discovery, expand career pathways

aburtin — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 20:44:11 +0000

Courses in the Department of Science, Technology & Society (STS) have always been popular among science and non-science students. Now STS is offering a more diverse roster of courses and major and minor options, opening the world of science to more students from other disciplines.

One of the newest courses, Science, Technology and Racial Social Justice (STS 2333), was created last year, with the first course to be offered in the Winter 2024 term. The course was built following 91��ɫ’s University Academic Plan (UAP), the Faculty of Science strategic plan and an equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) curriculum, which is an important part of the STS program.

Vera Pavri

“We are such a uniquely situated department, with an opportunity to speak about the relationships between science, technology and society in the Faculty of Science,” said Chair of the Department of STS Vera Pavri. “We’re also the only program in Canada housed in a science Faculty able to do so.”

There has been growing enthusiasm for this type of STS program because it’s not only accessible to both science and non-science students, but it also tackles critical social issues, including themes of ethics, sustainability and EDI, among other topics. There are two EDI courses currently offered: Exploring Gender in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and Science, Technology and Racial Social Justice (STS 2222 and STS 2333). Both courses highlight EDI, science and technology content to science and non-science majors. Covering topics such as EDI in science enhances a student’s learning experience, especially for science students unfamiliar with these topics.

“Students studying science might be interested in these issues but might not have had the opportunity to explore them before,” Pavri noted. “Now they can minor or even major in STS and be exposed to this type of curriculum, so it’s exciting.”

A part of the program reform was to offer interesting content that would be relevant to students’ degrees. While STS courses are pertinent to science students, they are also advantageous to students in other disciplines from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, who are studying in science- or technology-related fields. The STS program helps students distinguish their degrees.

“Rather than graduating with just a degree in science, students are enhancing their critical thinking and communication skills, which are highly valued by employers. STS courses such as Introduction to Science, Technology and Society (STS 1411) also provide important content and experiential education opportunities,” said Pavri.

Introduction to Science, Technology and Society shows students the reasons why STS matters, before introducing them to the theories of STS. In reforming the program, one of the department’s main goals was to help its students see the connection of STS to their real-life activities. This relevance is also emphasized through the STS website and in promotional materials, highlighting the different study and career pathways students can take.

The STS program also allows for a uniquely tailored learning experience. A student can combine their minor with another discipline or switch to a major in STS. In this way, the program is also a great pathway for individuals without a background in science or technology, who may be hesitant to explore scientific and technological issues. Bringing together non-STEM and STEM students creates “a diverse and interesting classroom in which people can draw on knowledge – not just from the professors but from each other,” Pavri said.

The , housed within the Department of STS, but distinct from the STS program, allows non-science students to explore the sciences. Their first field course, Plants in the City (NATS 1665) will be offered in Summer 2023 term, and will provide students with an experiential education opportunity as they discover urban ecosystems at 91��ɫ.

Robin Marushia

“Plants in the City is intended to help reduce plant blindness. We’re moving around in a green world and yet people on average can identify far fewer organisms, particularly plants, than in previous generations,” said Robin Marushia, the creator of the course and an assistant professor (teaching stream) in the Division of Natural Science. She adds there is also a strong need among city dwellers to know more about ecology.

Marushia said, “The Keele Campus offers opportunities in identifying common plant species, looking at different types of ecosystems and learning about the ecosystem functions, which green spaces provide in urban landscapes.” Like STS, natural science also aims to increase public knowledge about science, creating more active and engaged citizens.

The STS program furthers the study of science with many career possibilities. Individuals interested in computer or program design taking STS courses will become more aware of issues such as persuasive technologies or technology addiction. For those interested in pursuing government or public health, this program also helps in understanding topics like policy frameworks, pharmaceutical regulation and consulting. Non-traditional pathways, such as social and green entrepreneurship are emerging as well.

“As an example, a biology student who wants to get into medical school can distinguish their degree by minoring in STS. In interviews with universities, this gives them an opportunity to speak about the communication skills they’ve developed,” said Pavri. “Their ability to communicate with individuals who are skeptical or afraid of science is especially important in a post-COVID world.”

In fact, addressing anti-science movements was another aim of the STS program. STS courses educate students about misinformation and disinformation surrounding issues in science and technology, whether it be related to vaccines, climate change or artificial intelligence. Pavri thinks of STS students as “future ambassadors, equipped to educate others about why so much misinformation exists while tackling distrust of science through strategic communications, aimed at understanding and engaging with these audiences.”

With the backlash against the scientific community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been noted in the STEM field that sharing only the facts and relevant data is not enough. Data can be misconstrued or manipulated, but strategic communications help those in STEM understand these communities so that they can provide more effective and impactful awareness of science.

Being the only STS program in Canada to offer a major or a minor in the Faculty of Science, it is also distinct in that it focuses on three core areas: seeing science and technology in action; standing for science; and learning about science, technology and social justice.

“One of the elements of our program that appeals to students is that an STS degree allows them to better communicate the real-life impact and social repercussions that science and technology have on groups in society,” said Pavri. “We also talk about the idea of standing up for science and how an STS degree helps students understand anti-STEM movements. Finally, we have a focus on EDI, which offers students the opportunity to examine EDI in a unique way through explorations of past and present issues, and local, national and international controversies in science and technology.”

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New professors join Faculty of Science ranks

aburtin — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 15:34:43 +0000

New faculty members Kohitij Kar, Allysa Lumley, Daniela Monaldi, Gloria Orchard, Balint Radics, Kelly Ramsay, Sarah Rugheimer and Jennifer van Wijngaarden are joining the Faculty of Science.

“It is my pleasure to welcome our new faculty members to the Faculty of Science,” said Dean of Science Rui Wang. “Our Faculty is committed to fostering scientific discovery and tackling global challenges to create positive change in our world. By recruiting talented new researchers and teachers like these individuals, we are building science for the future and making 91��ɫ Science a great place to learn and be a researcher.”

Kohitij Kar

Kohitij Kar is an assistant professor at the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science at 91��ɫ. Kar is also a Canada Research Chair in Visual Neuroscience. Prior to this, Kar was a research scientist at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT working in the lab of James DiCarlo. He completed his PhD in the Department of Behavioral and Neural Sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey in 2015 before joining the DiCarlo Lab. Kar’s research lies at the intersection of neurophysiological investigations of visual intelligence in the non-human primates and artificial intelligent systems. His work has been published in top-tier neuroscience journals like Science, Nature Neuroscience, Neuron and in highly competitive machine learning conference like NeurIPS. Kar has also recently become a SFARI investigator after receiving a Simons Foundation grant to develop a non-human primate model of autism.

Allysa Lumley

Allysa Lumley joins the Faculty of Science as assistant professor (teaching stream) in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics. Lumley received her PhD from 91��ɫ in 2019 in analytic number theory. She went on to do a post doc at the Centre des Recherches Mathematiques in Montreal. She is currently co-organizing a summer school in explicit number theory for mature undergraduates and beginning graduate students. After re-joining 91��ɫ as a teaching faculty, she has begun helping the student chapter for the Association for Women in Mathematics to offer a number of workshops for both graduate students and undergrads alike.

Daniela Monaldi

Daniela Monaldi holds a university degree in physics (Laurea in Fisica) from the University La Sapienza in Rome, Italy and worked as a junior researcher in a high-energy physics experiment at the HERA accelerator in Hamburg, Germany. Her PhD is in the history of science, with a focus on 20th-century physics, from the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology at University of Toronto, Canada. She was a postdoctoral Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin, Germany. Monaldi taught history of science, science and technology studies, and natural science courses at 91��ɫ for many years as a contract instructor, and was appointed as assistant professor in the Science & Technology Studies Department in 2022. Her most recent published works are on the evolving conceptual understanding of quantum statistics, and on the role of food traditions in the transition to sustainable food systems. Her current research is on Laura Chalk, the first woman to obtain a PhD in physics at McGill University and the first researcher to provide experimental evidence for Edwin Schrödinger’s wave mechanics.

Gloria Orchard

Gloria Orchard joins the Department of Physics and Astronomy as an assistant professor. Her post-secondary education includes a BSc in applied physics at 91��ɫ followed by an MSc at the University of Toronto in medical physics. During her PhD, also in medical physics, from McMaster University, she was awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Before returning to 91��ɫ, she completed an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship and was a sessional instructor in the field of radiation science at Ontario Tech University (then the University of Ontario Institute of Technology).

During her PhD and postdoctoral fellowships, Orchard’s main research interests were in microdosimetry and radiation detector development. Microdosimetry, an experimental technique, uses a Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) to measure the energy deposition of ionizing radiation in microscopic tissue volumes. The design of this type of detector simulates microscopic tissue sites, such as single cells, and data collected is used to quantify DNA damage due to ionizing radiation. Her main research included designing and developing a thick gas electron multiplier TEPC for microdosimetry and an electron attachment spectrometer using a thick gas electron multiplier.

Following her postdoctoral studies, she joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy at 91��ɫ as a laboratory technologist. In this role she was responsible for developing the undergraduate physics laboratories. As she continues her academic career, Orchard will continue to explore her interests in experimental physics, teaching physics and working in the laboratory.

Balint Radics

Balint Radics is an assistant professor (Contractually Limited Appointment, Research Stream) in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. In his research, he focuses on the experimental determination of the properties of the neutrino particle. He participates in the currently running Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K, Japan) and the upcoming Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE, USA) long-baseline neutrino-beam experiments. T2K recently revealed the first signs of possible Chare-Parity-symmetry (CP-symmetry) violations in the lepton sector of the elementary particles. The upcoming DUNE experiment will measure the value of the CP-symmetry violation with unprecedented precision, along with several other properties of the neutrino particle. To achieve such a level of precision, however, the neutrino beam, neutrino-nucleus interaction modes, all the detectors, and other experimental results will need to be modeled and their uncertainties accounted for. This involves orchestrating hundreds of experimental components correctly and contrasting simulations with data. In his research, he is working on developing the statistical modeling of T2K and DUNE, ensuring scientists extract the best possible information from the experiment.

Kelly Ramsay

Kelly Ramsay was appointed as an assistant professor in July 2022. Ramsey recently completed her PhD in statistics at the University of Waterloo under the supervision of Professor Shoja Chenouri. During her time at Waterloo, her research was recognized with the Sprott Award. Her research is focused mainly on robust and nonparametric statistics. One of her main areas of interest are functional data. She is interested in how outliers affect inference for functional data and how we can quantify variability in functional data samples. Another main area of interest is differential privacy. She is currently interested in how robust statistics connects to differential privacy as well as the theoretical tradeoff between privacy and statistical accuracy. Some of her areas of application are medical imaging, finance, and speech recognition. In the past, she has also worked on data collection and web-scraping. Ramsey is excited to begin exploring these topics with students at 91��ɫ.

Sarah Rugheimer

Associate Professor Sarah Rugheimer is the in the Faculty of Science at 91��ɫ. Rugheimer is an astrophysicist interested in understanding how to detect life on exoplanets by looking for atmospheric biosignatures (i.e., atmospheric evidence for past or present life). Previous to her post as the new Chair, she was a Glasstone Research Fellow and a Hugh Price Fellow at the University of Oxford. She received her PhD in astrophysics from Harvard University and completed a Simons Origins of Life Research Fellowship at the University of St. Andrews, U.K.

Rugheimer’s research interests are in modelling the atmosphere and climate of extrasolar planets with a particular focus on atmospheric biosignatures in Earth-like planets, as well as modelling early Earth conditions. Her interests include many topics in the field of astrobiology, such as the origin of life on Earth and the pursuit of detecting life on other planets and moons in the universe. She says she is excited to start a new exoplanet research group at 91��ɫ to pursue these interests and to share the joy of astronomy to new communities within Canada.

She has also been actively involved with public outreach. She is the author of Searching for Extraterrestrial Life, an astrobiology course for the public on Amazon Audible Originals. Her TED talk has more than 1.6 million views on TED.com. She received the Barrie Jones Award and the BSA Rosalind Franklin Lectureship in 2019, as well as the Caroline Herschel Lectureship Prize in 2018. She has also appeared on NPR and BBC discussing her work on modelling the atmosphere and climate of extrasolar planets.

Additionally, Rugheimer is an advocate for women in science, hosting the podcast with Professor Sarah Ballard (University of Florida). The podcast features wide-ranging conversations around navigating science culture and the importance of self-care for women scientists. Her other passions include dance and high-altitude mountaineering.

Jennifer van Wijngaarden

Jennifer van Wijngaarden is the new Chair of the Department of Chemistry. Van Wijngaarden joins 91��ɫ from the University of Manitoba’s Department of Chemistry. Her research falls in the field of molecular spectroscopy with a focus on techniques in the microwave through infrared regions. Her research group uses modern spectroscopic and computational tools to model the energy landscape of molecules, such as short-lived species that drive chemical processes in the lab and beyond to the stars.

She received her Honours BSc from Western University and her PhD in physical chemistry from University of Alberta. She was a postdoctoral research Fellow at Universität Basel before joining Mount Holyoke College as a visiting assistant professor. In 2006, she joined University of Manitoba as an assistant professor. She is a highly regarded researcher, award-winning instructor, and active contributor to the Canadian chemistry community. She currently serves as board member of the Canadian Society for Chemistry, the Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, and the Canadian Light Source.

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New gifts support student learning in the Faculty of Science

aburtin — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 14:34:23 +0000

The Faculty of Science is pleased to announce more than $137,000 in new gifts from donors to support student scholarships and learning. The gifts will primarily support undergraduate and graduate students during their studies at 91��ɫ.

The following awards and funds have been created:

The Hélène Massam Memorial Prize for Excellence in Statistics, created by a donation ($7,900) from the friends, colleagues and students of Hélène Massam, will be given annually to outstanding full-time PhD students in Statistics prior to the final approval of their thesis. This award is named in honour of the late Professor Hélène Massam in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. She worked at 91��ɫ for 35 years and was deeply appreciated and respected by students as an outstanding mentor and teacher who devoted herself to helping her students achieve her high expectations. Each year, the selected recipient will receive $500.

The King Women in Science Award was established through a donation ($10,000) by alumna Janice King and her sisters Linda King (in memoriam) and Gillian Noel (nee King) who throughout their lives have remained deeply committed to the academic, social and professional advancement of women. The award will benefit an undergraduate female student enrolled in any Natural Science course within the Division of Natural Science. Each year, the selected recipient will receive $2,000.

The Richard A. Jarrell Science, Technology and Society Colloquium Fund, established through a donation ($16,700) from Martha Jarrell, Professor Michael M. De Robertis (Physics & Astronomy), Associate Professor Kenton M. Kroker (LA&PS), Gary Overmyer and Graham Rose, will support the Department of Science, Technology and Society’s (STS) annual colloquium. The late Professor Richard Jarrell was a champion of the History of Science and Science Studies at 91��ɫ for over 50 years. His focus on undergraduate education in STS, which helped shape the STS program in the Faculty of Science, grew out of his decades of work within the Natural Science program.

The Bethune College Council Student Support Bursary, established by a donation ($100,000) from the Bethune College Council (BCC), will create an endowed bursary to benefit full-time continuing students affiliated with Bethune College. BCC is the student government for 91��ɫ's Norman Bethune College and represents all students in the Faculty of Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, and all other Bethune College-affiliated students.

The Pegah Sagar Poor Koloor Memorial Scholarship, created by a donation ($3,000) from Gholamhasan S. Koloor, will benefit an entering international female student in the Biology program within the Faculty of Science. This award is in memory of Pegah Safar Poor Koloor, who was a first-year Faculty of Science student in Biology. Each year, the selected recipient will receive $1,000.

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Faculty hosts first in-person open house since start of pandemic

aburtin — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 18:00:09 +0000

On Saturday, May 14, the Faculty of Science hosted an in-person open house at the Life Sciences Building.

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.”

Prospective students and their families attending an alumni panel session at the Science Open House

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.

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