Double impact: Legacy gifts from two-time Dal alum support science students

Dalhousie was a special place for Mary Werner (1935 - 2017) whose science career spanned over 30 years and across several provinces. Her husband, Douglas Werner established an undergraduate scholarship in her name to support aspiring scientists. Now he’s expanding that commitment to create opportunities for graduate students.

Posted: November 14, 2024

By: Kenneth Conrad

A woman is seated in a comfortable chair holding a small dog on her lap while a man leans in beside her, smiling.

Douglas and Mary Werner.

Mary and Douglas Werner always wanted to give back to Dalhousie University, a special place for Mary (BSc’57, MSc’60), a two-time Dal alum. While family obligations meant she wouldn’t be able to complete her PhD, it was important to her – and to Douglas – that they help to support students keen to pursue theirs.

After Mary passed away in 2017, Douglas established the Mary Margaret MacNutt Undergraduate Scholarship to support aspiring scientists in undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Science.

Several years later, Douglas decided to expand his support to graduate students, and in 2024, the first Mary Margaret Werner Graduate Scholarships were awarded to students in master’s and doctoral programs who demonstrate high academic achievement helping to create opportunities for science students of all levels.

Two master’s and two PhD students were selected earlier this year as the scholarship’s inaugural recipients – get to know them later in this story.

Creating opportunities in science

Born in Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, Mary worked at her alma mater as a senior laboratory demonstrator before becoming a technician with the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s Chalk River Laboratory in Deep River, Ontario. There, she met and eventually married Douglas Werner, a sold-state science technician.

“Mary and I had always hoped to endow both undergraduate and graduate scholarships in science at Dalhousie,” Douglas says. “Since she completed two degrees here, it’s fitting that her legacy gifts can support students who are in the early stages of their studies as well as those who are pursuing advanced degrees in their field.”

Introducing the recipients

Meet the four inaugural recipients of the Mary Margaret Werner Graduate Scholarship:

Kyle Bryenton

Program: PhD, Physics & Atmospheric Science

A first-generation student from the rural community of Kingston, PEI, Kyle began his academic journey locally at UPEI, where he completed a double major in physics and mathematics. He then earned his MSc in materials physics from the Guelph-Waterloo Physics Institute before returning to UPEI as a research fellow in the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences. Now pursuing his PhD at Dalhousie University, he studies chemical physics and computational chemistry under Dr. Erin Johnson, with a focus on improving the accuracy of dispersion models in density-functional theory.

Outside of the lab, Kyle enjoys kayaking and swimming – especially when the first doesn’t lead to the second. After completing his PhD, he aims to find an academic or industrial position that allows him to stay in Atlantic Canada. He is deeply grateful for the support and opportunities that have brought him to this point and looks forward to contributing meaningfully to the scientific community.

A man dressed casually in a plaid coat smiles at the entrance of a university building.

Samantha Chu

Program: Master of Environmental Studies

Samantha is an aspiring young environmental scholar and advocate enrolled in the Master of Environmental Studies program from the School for Resource and Environmental Studies. Having also completed her Bachelor of Management with a major in Sustainability at Dalhousie, she feels strongly connected to the Dal community. Her master’s thesis aims to enhance Canadian forest management by improving knowledge exchange practices and bridging the communication gap between forest practitioners and researchers. Samantha is eager to contribute to the advancement of environmental and sustainability initiatives, both locally and globally, and make a meaningful impact on the world.

A woman dressed casually is standing at the oceanside on a pier in fine weather.

Jennifer McArthur

Program: PhD, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

A third- year PhD student in the experimental psychology program, Jennifer is a dedicated life-longer learner who completed three separate undergraduate degrees before advancing to graduate studies in forensic psychology. She has a passion for research and is currently focused on studying the causes and consequences of technology-facilitated sexual violence. Her dissertation examines young adults’ sexual consent practices in the digital age. After completing her doctoral studies, Jen plans to pursue a faculty position where she aspires to instill a passion for learning in the next generation. Outside the lab, you can find her reading a good book, horseback-riding, and diving with sharks.

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair smiling wearing sunglasses outdoors in fine weather.

Ruth Riley

Program: Master of Marine Management

Ruth was born in Lake Loon, one of the 52 historical Black communities in Nova Scotia. Ever since she was young, Ruth learned from the elders in her community about the importance of conserving the land and the water. This inspired Ruth to pursue her Bachelor of Science degree at Dalhousie University, graduating in 2022 with a major in Biology. She is currently a Master of Marine Management student in the Marine Affairs Program, where her graduate research focuses on whale conservation in the Gully Marine Protected Area and how conservation efforts can be enhanced. Ruth has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Halifax Regional Municipality Volunteer Award for her outstanding volunteer work and hosts workshops to encourage Black youth to pursue STEM-related careers.