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

SEASIDE applications open Monday

Applications for the SEASIDE program open Monday, January 27 at 9:00 a.m. SEASIDE courses are 3-credit-hour courses (mostly BIOL and MARI) that occur over a condensed period (2-3 weeks) between the end of April and August. These courses complement those offered in the fall and winter semesters, and provide hands-on learning in the field and lab, practical research skills, and a wide range of amazing experiences. Please visit dal.ca/seaside for more information on which courses are offered this summer and how to apply. 

Guest Lecture - Talking Your Language: Decoding Medical Terminology

All interested faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend an upcoming guest lecture from Dr. Stephen Russell, Professor of Medical Language at McMaster University. Dr. Russell works to demystify the languages of medical sciences and teaches future healthcare professionals various methods to translate the specialized vocabulary they will encounter working in healthcare. Registration is not required. 

Date: Wednesday, January 29
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, Room 1020

Innovation Rx: Why Innovation is the Skill You Need in Healthcare

Are you a student interested in healthcare and wondering how innovation will shape your future career? Join the Pulse Health Innovation Sandbox for an engaging fireside chat with Dr. Mike Dunbar and Emily Johnston, PharmD, and discover why innovation is one of the most important skills you’ll need in today’s healthcare landscape. From leveraging new technologies to rethinking how care is delivered, innovation opens the door to solving real-world healthcare challenges. Light food and beverages will be offered. Register to attend via Eventbrite.

Date: Wednesday, January 29
Time: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Theatre C, Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building 

Graduate and Professional Program Fair: Feb. 5

Dalhousie University's first ever Graduate and Professional Program Fair is happening on Wednesday, February 5 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. in the McInnes Room of the Student Union Building. Come explore Dal’s 100+ graduate programs, from professional programs to course-based and thesis-based master’s. Drop in and chat with graduate coordinators, learn about applications and fees, and discover the academic supports available.

Learn more and register to attend at dal.ca/grad-fair. Have a question? Contact togethergrad@dal.ca. As well, a number of virtual information sessions will be held throughout February highlighting individual programs and how to prepare for graduate studies - see the full list.

Note for advisors: Updates to Banner 9 student photo access issue

During the most recent Banner Upgrade, infrastructure changes were required that impacted the display of student photos on Dal Online Banner 8 pages. Due to these changes, student photos will no longer be available on Dal Online Banner 8 pages. This includes the Class List Query form.

The functionality of the Banner 8 Class List Query form is still available, but the student photo will not be displayed.

Please use the Banner 9 Class Lists form under the Class Management Menu to view student photos or the Student Information for Faculty and Advisor pages. It is also recommeneded to use either Chrome or Firefox when accessing Banner. Anyone experiencing issues is asked to submit a support ticket through JIRA.

Call for abstracts: SDG Expo 

Are you conducting research or working on a project that aligns with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Dal’s SDG Expo 2025 on March 10 invites students, faculty, staff, and societies to share their work as part of the Research Poster Showcase.

Learn more and submit your abstact on the SDG Expo SharePoint site (login required). Submissions are due January 31, 2025.

Call for science fair judges and mentors

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. The team needs judges who can commit to full days on either or both of June 2 and 3 in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Additionally, each year Youth Science Canada sends a delegation of 8 finalists to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). They are seeking mentors for students in grades 9 through 12 who are developing projects for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio, May 10–16, 2025. 

Students benefit from mentorship from STEM professionals or trainees. You may serve as an online mentor regardless of where you are in the country. We also seek to connect students to mentors in their region where possible to allow direct support for infrastructure or equipment needs. Mentors can be either subject matter experts or science communication specialists.

To express your interest in serving as a judge or mentor, please fill out this short form. If you have any questions about science fairs, please reach out to ScienceOutreach@dal.ca.

Psychology and Neuroscience: Bruce Earhard Memorial Lecture

Guest speaker and Dal PhD alum Dr. Peter Chipman of the University of California, San Francisco will be delivering the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience's Bruce Earhard Memorial Lecture on Thursday, January 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room P4260 of the Life Sciences Centre. The department's undergraduate awards will also be presented prior to the lecture. All are invited to attend. Find out more on the Dal Events calendar.

Call for honorary degree nominations: Jan. 31 deadline

The Senate Honorary Degrees Committee (SHDC) invites nominations for honorary degrees for future convocations. Visit the SHDC website for complete details on who is eligible to receive an honorary degree and to request a nomination form. Completed nomination forms are due by January 31, 2025.

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.