The path to becoming a scientist can be daunting, especially when you’re just starting out as a student. Maybe you’re also facing the pressure of being the first in your family to attend university or don’t see many people that look like you in scientific professions, leading you to question whether you belong.
Wanting to help demystify the culture of science and identify and support students’ capacity for success early on, Dr. Joseph Bielawski, a professor in the Departments of Biology and Mathematics & Statistics, launched the co-curricular Dalhousie Science Scholars and Leaders Program (DSSLP) in fall 2022.
The program has since become a growing ecosystem whose members, many of them students belonging to underrepresented groups, inspire each other to chase their dreams in science.
“Dr. Bielawski creates genuine and meaningful relationships with his students and empowers us to pursue opportunities we otherwise might not have imagined possible,” says Eshan Arora (BScMS’24), who was part of the DSSLP’s inaugural cohort and stayed involved in the final year of his undergraduate degree. “He has created a community in which individuality and leadership can sprout and grow.”
Dr. Bielawski, who engineered the program during a sabbatical, has been honoured for his efforts as the recipient of this year’s Dr. Anne Marie Ryan Community Growth Award. Introduced last year in honour of the late Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences faculty member, the award recognizes individuals and groups at Dal dedicated to building a community through education, learning, and outreach.
A formal presentation will be made at the Dal Legacy Awards in November.
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Creating a program
Though housed in the Department of Biology, the DSSLP attracted students from across the Faculty of Science. Members signed up for a First-Year Interest Group (FIG) called Science for Everyone (FIGS 0021), enrolled in the year-long Becoming a Scientist course (BIOL 2111/2112), and took part in advising sessions, workshops, and social events, all with the goal of building a network focused more on supporting one another rather than competing for the highest grades.
Arora, who went on to co-teach the DSSLP’s First-Year Interest Group, conducted an honours thesis supervised by Dr. Bielawski on the effectiveness of the program in supporting marginalized students in the Faculty of Science.
Dr. Bielawski speaks highly of Arora, who received a Board of Governors’ Award earlier this year and will begin medical school at Dal this fall.
“Eshan transitioned from being a member of the program to my right-hand man,” he says, also acknowledging the important work of Arora and fellow medical sciences students Aaliyah Arab-Smith and April Foote in teaching Science for Everyone and helping recruit participants.
Building a thriving community
While participation may appear modest (12 students formed the group’s first cohort, with 11 in the second year), the DSSLP’s reach has increased thanks to the endeavour of those involved.
Students enrolled in the 2023-24 Science for Everyone FIG formed the Dalhousie Science Scholars and Leaders Society, a Dalhousie Student Union-ratified society that offers a way for members to stay involved as they progress through their undergraduate degree, passing on what they have learned to incoming students.
“I never imagined that I would have the cooperation and support of such a fantastic group of undergraduate students who are passionate, hard-working, and thoughtful,” says Dr. Bielawski. The efforts of students involved with the program have also resulted in the development of a mentorship component, a podcast, and a series of outreach events, elements that represent a substantial expansion of his initial plans.
Collaborations with units from across Dal, such as the Bissett Student Success Centre’s Stay on Track program, the Institute for Comparative Genomics, and the grad student-led Diversity of Nature, have strengthened the DSSLP’s programming and lightened the load on Dr. Bielawski.
It takes a village
While he may be the one receiving formal recognition, Dr. Bielawski is quick to acknowledge the support received from across the university, in particular the Department of Biology and Dr. Leanne Stevens, the Faculty of Science’s associate dean academic. Dr. Kerrianne Ryan, Anne Marie’s daughter and the coordinator of the Certificate in Science Communication and Leadership, was also singled out for recognition.
“Dr. Ryan has aligned her work in the leadership certificate program with our goals,” he says. “It’s been a game-changer to have leadership students teach the Science for Everyone FIG as part of their practicum and contribute to our program.”
While there isn’t much time to relax given that a new academic year will soon be here, Dr. Bielawski can reflect on what the DSSLP has achieved in its first two years.
“We’ve been able to pull together a community that is like-minded, passionate and interested in grassroots work that really wasn’t connected before.”
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