Master's theses round-up: African Heritage Month

Exploring themes of Black and African heritage, identity and justice

February is African Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of people of Black and African descent. To mark this month, the Patrick Power Library is highlighting the work of Saint Mary’s graduate students whose research explores themes related to Black and African heritage, history, identity and social justice.

A Master’s thesis represents years of dedication, inquiry and original scholarship, and we’re excited to showcase these contributions to academic knowledge. This collection of graduate student theses offers valuable insights into a diverse range of subjects studied by Saint Mary’s students. More student theses can be discovered in the University Archives’ online Institutional Repository.

Read on to discover the work of our student scholars!

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"Entering the workforce in Halifax: Strategies and coping mechanisms among the African migrant community"
by Priscilla Armah, Master of Arts in Geography, 2021

This study examines the job market experiences of Sub-Saharan African migrants in Halifax, using Bourdieu’s habitus and Labour Market Segmentation theory. It explores strategies, barriers like racism and systemic discrimination, and coping mechanisms, highlighting how interconnected individual, group and systemic factors shape labour market integration.

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"Forced/coerced sterilization of HIV-positive women in the Southern African region in the context of reproductive justice and intersectional gender-based violence"
by Ogechukwu Chinenye Chukwudozie, Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies, 2024

This study examines the forced sterilization of HIV-positive women through the lenses of reproductive justice, the intersectionality framework and feminist content analysis, highlighting how poverty, age, education and racism increase vulnerability. The author amplifies victims' voices and expands intersectional scholarship in Africa, emphasizing overlooked factors in the oppression of HIV-positive women.

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"Whose revolution is televised?: Young African Nova Scotian women respond to sexual politics in hip hop culture & everyday life"
by Alecia Green, Master of Arts in the Joint Women’s Studies Programme, 2007

This qualitative study explores how young African Nova Scotian women interpret Black female body representations in hip-hop videos. Using a Black socio-feminist lens, interviews with university students reveal critical media literacy, counter-hegemonic views shaped by academics, divinity, and community, and a belief that Black female beauty comes from within.

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"Presence and perseverance: Blacks in Hants County, Nova Scotia, 1871-1914"
by David Wayne States, Masters of Arts in Atlantic Canada Studies, 2002

In the early 19th century, Black refugees from the U.S. settled in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, facing harsh conditions and discrimination. This thesis traces the efforts of Black families in Hants County to adapt to these circumstances and improve conditions for their offspring's future success. States argues the agency shown by these people would result in the generations following them achieving a level of competency not thought attainable by the immigrant generation.

"The experiences and challenges of Black entrepreneurs in Halifax, Nova Scotia"
by Gabriel Nimoh, Master of Arts in Geography, 2022

Using the mixed embeddedness model and intersectionality theoretical framework, this study explores the experiences, motivations, barriers and coping strategies of Black entrepreneurs in Halifax. Findings highlight market opportunities, financial constraints, racial discrimination, and the role of mindset and social support in overcoming challenges. This study seeks to assist policymakers and practitioners in developing informed decisions that promote inclusion in the Canadian business environment.

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"In vivo facial tissue depth measurements of African Nova Scotian children for 3-D forensic facial reconstruction"
by Meaghan Alexandria Huculak, Master of Science in Applied Science, 2021

Partnering with the African Nova Scotian community, this student researcher collaboratively created the first African Canadian facial tissue depth database for identifying missing children. Using ultrasound technology on 54 participants (ages 3–18) showed age, sex, and nutrition contributed to tissue depth. This student’s thesis discusses the application of the findings in multiple forensic contexts.

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"Performing diversity: Black bodies in Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions"
by Itai Ashley Kuwodza, Master of Arts in Atlantic Canadian Studies, 2024

Kuwodza argues that the Black student experience in Atlantic Canada is explicitly limited by racist practices. The thesis traces the historical roots of exploitation and analyzes how colonial legacies, racial biases and economic disparities have contributed to the marginalization of Black individuals in Atlantic Canadian education and sport.

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"Where are the black female faculty?: Employment equity policy failures and the overrepresentation of whiteness"
by Isalean Phillip, Master of Arts in Women & Gender Studies, 2018

Philip’s thesis critiques employment equity and diversity practices at two Atlantic Canadian universities, using intersectionality and critical race feminism as theoretical frameworks. Through critical race feminist discourse analysis and interviews with Black women scholars, Philips analyzes the persistence of systemic racism and sexism, highlighting how the institutionalization of liberal feminist equity policies, diversity discourses and white patriarchal hegemony all sustain institutional practices of racialized gendered omission, erasure and misrepresentation.

SMU research supports right whale conservation

Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919

Dr. Timothy Frasier

Saint Mary’s biology professor, Dr. Timothy Frasier, is the principal investigator of a research team that is working to update a DNA database of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. CBC reports that the researchers have received funding through a contract with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which will allow the team to reanalyse the current DNA samples and expand to hundreds of more regions. The DNA samples collected help to identify individual right whales.

The funding contract includes an annual payment of up to $33,960 and can be extended each year from March 2025 to 2028. "It's a big jump," said Frasier in an interview with CBC. "Not only is that going to give us a higher resolution [of the genome], but the technology is going to make that much more efficient and less error-prone."

Learn more about the research and conservation efforts at CBC.ca.
Reported by CBC News and written by Giuliana Grillo de Lambarri.

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Related reading:

• Researchers study effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales

• Helping the North Atlantic Right Whale rebound

Jacob Hanley: 2024 winner of President’s Award for Excellence in Research

Dr. Jacob Hanley, recipient of the 2024 winner of President’s Award for Excellence in Research at Saint Mary’s.

As a global leader in the field of geochemistry and mineral resource geology, Dr. Jacob Hanley’s research conducted on campus at Saint Mary’s and nationally and internationally has been an influential force for faculty, students, industry partners and the scientific community.

Always happy to mentor the next generation of researchers, Dr. Hanley has supervised more than 50 BSc honours theses and graduate theses at SMU, with alumni moving on to successful careers in industry, government and academia. His lab’s active, varied research scope includes considerable student involvement, many industry and government funding sources, and spans a continent and centuries of data.

In a partnership with the Nova Scotia Museum, Dr. Hanley is currently engaged in an interdisciplinary collaboration with archaeologists, geochemists, and community members that may rewrite the understanding of pre-contact copper trade across North America. Using the chemical composition of copper from protohistoric sites in Nova Scotia, this research group is also tracking copper from its place of origin in 16th and 17th century Swedish mines to the Maritimes Basin of Canada, where it was repurposed by Indigenous peoples.

Another major research theme focuses on the geochemical origin of deposits of critical metals such as tin, tungsten, cobalt and lithium. Dr. Hanley’s team has developed ways of measuring concentrations of these metals at their source, deep in the Earth’s crust, by analyzing microscopic samples of trapped magma in crystals that are transported to surface during eruption. The supply of these metals is threatened, a concern that Canada has recognized as they are essential to national economic security and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Recognized for his research excellence, Dr. Hanley has won national awards, contributed to dozens of peer-reviewed publications and has received significant research funding, including $2.6 million as Principal Investigator from industry and government sources.

His career has already been exceptionally productive, creative, and influential, and we anticipate even more interesting work from him as it progresses.

Dr. Hanley earned his PhD in Geology from the University of Toronto, where he also earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in Mining Engineering and a Master of Science (Geology). Now a full-tenured professor, he has held increasingly senior faculty roles in the Department of Geology at Saint Mary’s since 2007.

The President's Award for Excellence in Research honours continued exceptional contributions to research and scholarship conducted by a full-time Saint Mary's University faculty member. More information can be found atsmu.ca/fgsr/presidents-award.

Meet your Valedictorians: Fall Convocation 2024

Three students will address their graduating classes at the upcoming Fall Convocation ceremonies at Saint Mary’s University. These graduates, recipients of the John and Heather Fitzpatrick Valedictorian Awards, were selected for their academic determination, involvement on campus and in their communities, and their unique journeys to the graduation podium.

All graduation ceremonies will be live-streamed at smu.ca/graduation on November 14 and 15. Congratulations, graduates!

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Krystal Lowe

Master of Science, Applied Psychology
Faculty of Graduate Studies | Thursday, November 14 at 2 p.m.

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Krystal Lowe relocated to Halifax in 2013 with a dream of building a more meaningful life. She will graduate with a Master of Science in Applied Psychology (Forensic Stream) from Saint Mary’s University as a mature, first-generation student. Krystal’s academic journey began at 23 when she completed her high school diploma at the Nova Scotia Community College before enrolling at Saint Mary’s, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Psychology in 2022.  

Krystal’s master’s research, Suicidality Among Individuals with a History of Criminal Behavior – A Test of the Three Step Theory of Suicide, earned her both the SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s, and Scotia Scholar’s Master’s Award. During her time at SMU, she has worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant in the Department of Psychology, focusing on topics at the intersection of psychology and law. She also assisted with research on sexual violence on Canadian campuses in the Department of Criminology and served as the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative Coordinator, where she facilitated programs and workshops for the SMU community. Simultaneously, Krystal worked with Public Safety Canada as a research analyst in the Corrections Research Unit, where she assisted with files related to risk profiling, sexual violence and coercion in federal custody, and best practices in reducing recidivism. Her publications include work on domestic violence disclosure schemes and correctional psychology, and she remains an active researcher.  

When she isn’t working, Krystal enjoys writing, yoga, and hiking with her fiancé and two dogs. After graduation, Krystal will continue her work as the Education and Prevention Coordinator with the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia, where she is deeply passionate about developing training and education to support the well-being of those working in the violence-against-women sector, as well as public education to reduce domestic and intimate partner violence.  

Krystal expresses deep gratitude to those who have supported and empowered her throughout her academic journey, particularly Dr. Marguerite Ternes, Dr. Veronica Stinson, Dr. Diane Crocker, and soon-to-be Dr. Dee Dooley, for their mentorship and guidance.

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Anubhav Gupta

Bachelor of Commerce
Sobey School of Business (undergraduate) | Friday, November 15 at 10 a.m.

Born and raised in Chandigarh, India, Anubhav graduates from the Sobey School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce, summa cum laude, achieving a GPA of 4.29 with a double major in Finance and Computing & Information Systems.  

Anubhav began his on-campus involvement as the Financial Director for the Commerce Society and a presenter for Enactus Saint Mary’s, where he secured first place in the national Scotiabank Climate Action challenge. He was also a Teaching Assistant with the Finance Department, a Global Skills Opportunity Ambassador, a Residence Assistant, and the Co-Curricular Record Engagement Facilitator. Anubhav served as the Vice-President (Advocacy) for SMUSA where he sat on the university’s Board of Governors, served as the primary spokesperson to the government, championed the student voice on several EDIA issues, and successfully spearheaded initiatives like the Zero Textbook Cost Course List and the Final Exam Weightage Regulation. During his time at SMU, he also received several awards, including the Academic Achievement Award, Chrysler Canada Scholarship, SMUFU Gold Scholarship for Academic Excellence, and the Student Leadership Recognition Award. 

Passionate about making a difference, Anubhav aspires to take the lessons learnt at SMU and contribute to the community. He wants to study further and is presently trying to unravel what career path to embark upon – while the future is uncertain, Anubhav is excited about the endless opportunities to continue to learn and grow as an individual. He credits the wonderful friends he made at SMU, his professors, the mentors he has found here, and his family for their unwavering support that has made his achievements possible.   

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Magnolia Lillian Rice

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Faculty of Arts & Faculty of Science (undergraduate) | Friday, November 15 at 2 p.m.

Born and raised in Vermont, USA, Magnolia Rice is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, with Honours in Criminology and a minor in Anthropology. 

During her time at SMU, Magnolia was heavily involved in the community both on and off campus, acting as President of the Anthropology Society, Vice-President of the Criminology Society, a Pack Leader, a member of the Art’s Societies Gala Planning Committee, and a volunteer for multiple open-houses and campus events. She was also involved in the 7th Step Society of Nova Scotia, where she volunteered and wrote grants with people who have had conflict with the law, and she is currently involved in their Youth Justice program as a grant researcher. These experiences bolstered her sense of community, and she currently works as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Common Good Vermont, working to strengthen Vermont’s nonprofit sector. 

During her final year at SMU, Magnolia was a Teaching Assistant for the Criminology Department. She wrote her Honours Thesis on the motivations behind alcohol consumption in Vermont and was awarded the McMullan & Rege Honours in Criminology Convocation Award. 

Magnolia is very grateful for the people she met at Saint Mary’s and would like to specifically thank her parents and family, her incredible friends, and her professors for supporting her throughout her degree. She could not have done this without them. 

Saint Mary's team has impressive finish at Enactus World Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan

Enactus Saint Mary’s team and faculty advisers from Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

Presenters pitching at the top 16 round of competition

Co-Presidents: Paige Bigelow BComm’24, Susan MacInnis, Courtney Dingle and Gabe Martin

Accesstructure team: Hannah Meagher, Ashish Ganapathy and Aneesa Hussain

Early Stage competition presenters: Maya Campbell, Lydia Lee, Vaishali Sachdeva and Rebecca Sullivan

The Saint Mary’s University Enactus team has returned home, buoyed by the thrill of placing in the top 16 in the world, with an exceptional performance at the prestigious Enactus World Cup, held October 2-4 in Astana, Kazakhstan.  

The team's journey to the World Cup began in May 2024, when the Enactus Saint Mary’s team secured the Enactus National Championship title against 49 Canadian post-secondary institutions. This victory propelled them, for the first time in SMU history, to the world's premier stage for student-led business innovation and social impact.  

Facing fierce competition with pioneering solutions 

This year, the Cup brought together teams from 29 countries. The competition was fierce, with talented teams from Germany, Morocco, Republic of Korea and Tunisia, vying for the top prize. While Tunisia ultimately secured the top spot, Enactus Saint Mary's distinguished themselves with their innovative projects, Plastarch and Square Roots, and dedication to social good. Square Roots tackles the twin issues of food waste and food insecurity by rescuing "imperfect" produce that would otherwise be discarded and offering it at affordable prices, and Plastarch is a pioneering enterprise to develop a sustainable bioplastic alternative for food packaging and utensils crafted from an unlikely source—discarded potatoes.  

Co-Presidents of Enactus Saint Mary's, Courtney Dingle and Gabe Martin say," To highlight a specific moment from the 2024 Enactus World Cup that was impactful to our team we would point to the cultural fair that happened before the opening ceremonies. Getting to share local snacks, play field hockey sticks with the other teams, and share our Canadian pride was an amazing experience. Being at an Enactus competition is always such a collaborative experience and that was equally true at the 2024 Enactus World Cup. Meeting teams from across the world and feeling supported by them meant so much to everyone on our team, and it was magical to be able to support students from other countries as well. The 2024 Enactus World Cup was an amazing experience for our team, to get to showcase our work on the global stage and get feedback from such diverse perspectives is something we really value. We are so grateful for all of the support we have had to get to this point and are so proud of every member of our team for their dedication and for the work they have put in to reach this level." 

Courtney Dingle

Gabe Martin

In addition to placing in the top 16 in the World Cup, a team of two Enactus Saint Mary’s team members, Aneesa Hussain and Ashish Ganapathy, and Hannah Meagher from Dalhousie placed second in the Bentley—iTwin4Good Challenge held at the Enactus World Cup with a $2,000 USD prize. Their innovative project, Accesstructure, showcased their commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Accesstructure is platform that automates accessibility audits of campus facilities, identifying non-compliance issues across various legislation and standards. The groundbreaking tool ensures that campus environments are inclusive and welcoming for all students, staff and visitors.  

The Accesstructure team reflects the experience saying, “Our biggest takeaway from the competition was the cultural exchange that took place not only during the cultural exhibition but throughout the remainder of the competition and afterward too. Meeting people from different continents, and sharing food, games, and music amongst ourselves helped us broaden our horizons and gain a richer perspective. Another highlight was participating in the iTwin4Good challenge at the Enactus World Cup, where we had the opportunity to present innovative solutions that address social and environmental issues through technology. This challenge reinforced the importance of creating lasting impact and reminded us that, regardless of the differences in our cultures or backgrounds, we all share a common goal: to build a better, more inclusive future. The connections we made and the ideas exchanged throughout the competition will continue to inspire us as we work towards making a meaningful difference in our communities.” 

“We are so proud of the hard work and everything that the teams have accomplished this year. Square Roots, Plastarch and Accesstructure are leading examples of Enactus project success, the impact students can have on the UN SDG goals, and how a social enterprise can continue to grow, evolve and support sustainability in the community and beyond,” said Catherine Fowler, President and CEO of Enactus Canada. 

Team visiting Canadian Embassy in Astana

Nathaniel Collier, Tyler Hutchinson and Gabe Martin in front of Astana Opera

A student shopping at a souvenir shop

Hanging out at a park in Astana, Kazakhstan

Tyler Hutchinson, Sara Wheeler, Maya Campbell, Gabe Marting in the Astana Grand Mosque

Aneesa Hussain and Mya MacDonald at the shopping mall

Iconic Future Energy Museum Nur Alem

From Halifax to Astana: a once-in-a-lifetime journey  

The journey to the Enactus World Cup was an adventure in itself. Astana, with its futuristic architecture and vibrant culture, provided a stunning backdrop for the competition. 

The team ventured beyond the competition, immersing themselves in Kazakh culture. They engaged with local people, visited iconic architectures, savoured traditional cuisine such as beshbarmak and shashlyk. This cultural exchange fostered understanding and appreciation. 

A visit to the Canadian Embassy in Astana further strengthened their connection with the global Canadian community. They met with embassy officials, discussing the importance of their work and the opportunities and challenges faced by Canadians abroad. 

Almost recovered from intense preparation and competition, a long transcontinental journey and significant time change, the Enactus Saint Mary’s team is already talking about the path to the next National and International championships. 

Join the Enactus Saint Mary's Team! 

Are you a passionate student looking to make a difference? The Enactus Saint Mary's team is comprised of 80 dedicated students from diverse backgrounds, all united by a passion for creating positive change, and is always looking for new members to join its ranks.  If you are interested in joining a dynamic team that tackles real-world challenges, visit their website to learn more about getting involved. 

About Enactus 

Enactus is a global nonprofit organization that empowers students to use entrepreneurial action to address social and environmental challenges. Enactus chapters around the world work together to develop and implement innovative projects that create positive change. Through Enactus, students gain valuable skills in leadership, teamwork and entrepreneurship, while also making a meaningful impact on their communities. 

Enactus can be followed @enactus. To learn more, visit enactus.org.

Saint Mary’s student recognized for academic achievements & deaf community contributions

Emi Morse, a first-year student, received the Honourable David C. Onley Scholarship Award from Canadian Hearing Services

Emi Morse may only be a few weeks into her academic career at Saint Mary’s, but she’s already making a name for herself. Entering the first year of her undergraduate program, Emi arrived at Saint Mary’s with big ambitions that begin with the Bachelor of Science program, focusing in Psychology, and will conclude with her eventually gaining a Masters in Audiology and becoming a Cochlear Implant Audiologist.

It's a very specific career path that stems from Emi’s own experience as a deaf individual with bilateral cochlear implants. Born without hair cells in her cochlea due to a genetic condition called Pendred Syndrome, Emi experienced total deafness from birth. Hair cells are essential for hearing, as they respond to sound frequencies and send electrical signals through the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound. Without these hair cells, Emi was unable to hear naturally. As a toddler, it was challenging for Emi to get a proper diagnosis as doctors chalked her symptoms up to slow development.

With her mom advocating for her, Emi was finally able to get a proper diagnosis and had implants surgically inserted into both cochlea. These implants stimulate the auditory nerve, mimicking cochlear hair cells with electrodes. This allows some auditory receptions to transmit to her brain through her external processor, which captures sound through a microphone and transmits it to the electrodes implanted on the cochlea.

Emi and her family learned American Sign Language (ASL) and Emi was connected with the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Association (APSEA), which provided significant support and guidance during her school years. Through APSEA, Emi was able to learn about assistive technology devices that supported her cochlear implants, was connected with ASL interpreters to help translate verbal class materials and was guided on how to navigate school as a deaf individual.

It was her experience with APSEA that compelled Emi to give back to her community, driving her to become a mentor for families and young children going through similar experiences. "Growing up, I experienced a lot of discrimination from hearing individuals, teachers and medical professionals,” recalls Emi. “I didn’t feel supported the way I needed to be and felt like it was just assumed that I wouldn’t be able to achieve certain ideas of success. I wanted to prove that deaf people can be successful and they deserve recognition and respect.” Emi elaborates that her experience with APSEA motivated her to give back to those in similar situations and to raise awareness about deaf culture and the resilience and tenacity of deaf individuals.

Emi was shocked to learn that her passion for giving back had resulted in her being named the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Honourable David C. Onley Scholarship Award from Canadian Hearing Services. “Being a deaf person in a hearing world and being the only deaf person in my small town felt so tough and isolating,” describes Emi. “I had to work harder than everyone else just to get to the same level my peers were at. I’m living in a world that is not accessible, where I was expected not to succeed, but I worked so hard and I am so proud of what I have achieved.” The national scholarship is awarded annually to an individual who demonstrates outstanding academic achievements, resilience and dedication as a leader in accessibility and in the deaf community.

Leaving her small town to move into residence and start her post-secondary education at Saint Mary’s was a world of welcome change for Emi. “It’s been really fun,” signs Emi. “I’ve met so many people here in the dorm and during the Welcome Weeks events like the paint night and BINGO. Everyone is really nice and they’ve been really open to learning how to include me in verbal conversations.”

After facing discrimination throughout her educational journey, Emi was unsure what to expect from a post-secondary institution. “I chose Saint Mary’s because of its appealing support options and interpreting services,” notes Emi. “The Fred Smithers Centre had a lot of great accommodations that I needed, like the Digital Modulation (DM) systems that transmit primary audio directly to my cochlear implants and the GLEAN captioning software to help with notetaking.”

It may only be a few weeks into the Fall Term, but Emi has already settled into the groove at Saint Mary’s. Her excitement builds as she describes how she’ll be learning about the brain, how hearing people perceive the brain, and how things like neurons and receptors are fired. “I love the smaller classroom sizes at SMU,” describes Emi. “The professors have mostly been really nice and accepting of my accommodation requirements, ensuring my interpreters and I have everything needed for class lectures.”

When asked about her advice to future generations of deaf individuals, her ASL interpreters relay her message, while her fiery passion speaks volumes regardless of the language barrier. “Deaf people can do anything,” affirms Emi. “Don’t allow other people to make decisions about you. In those moments when it feels impossible, remember that if you do the work, you can do anything.”

Manage conflict with science: psychologist Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley offers free training

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley, an organisational psychologist with 20 years of practice, has launched a free training program on conflict management. The program helps participants use science-based tools to understand their own conflict management style and effectively resolve conflicts with colleagues.

“People do their best work when they have psychological safety,” says Dr. Lee-Bagley, who has extensive applied experience and research knowledge on burnout, psychological safety in the workplace, behaviour and organisational change, and wellness leadership.

“When I work with executives, I see that friction between coworkers often gets more intense as you rise up the ranks and the stakes get higher. Now, workers at all levels have evidence-based training to help them manage any conflict and move forward with more trust.”

The program is available for free at impactme.app/courses. ImpACT Me is an app that helps people navigate life’s tough challenges. It offers science-based training on burnout and conflict management, and behaviour-based tools to help training stick.

“We are proud to offer this free science-based conflict resolution program. Organisations stand to save millions through better productivity, labour relations and talent retention,” said Will Pate, CEO of ImpACT Me.

Image: impactme.app/

The training program was developed as part of a Saint Mary’s University project to create psychologically safe workplaces.

“We are excited to be able to apply a vast research literature in civility and conflict in the workplace from our researchers to create a training program that offers practical, real-life strategies that can be used in everyday life,” said Dr. Adam Sarty, Associate Vice-President, Research at Saint Mary’s University. “By pairing our knowledge of workplace psychology with the psychology of behaviour change, we can have a lasting and meaningful impact on workplaces.”

The project is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund, a grants and contributions program that invests in projects aimed at creating safer workplaces for federally regulated employees.

“A safe and respectful workplace is a fundamental right in Canada. Our government is proud to support initiatives like Saint Mary’s University’s that equip workers and employers with the tools they need to drive positive change and build healthier, more respectful workplaces,” said Minister of Labour and Seniors, Steven MacKinnon.

Saint Mary’s introduces Star Finder - The David Lane Astronomy Outreach Program

Saint Mary’s is proud to announce the creation of a new initiative called Star Finder - The David Lane Astronomy Outreach Program.  

Star Finder is a new educational program that will enable teachers from across Nova Scotia to deliver an astronomy-focused curriculum to grade six and nine students. The program will focus on space exploration and astronomy, with a special emphasis on creating opportunities for those teaching in rural and underserved communities. The goal is to foster enthusiasm and understanding of astronomy among schoolchildren. 

David Lane at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory’s 50th anniversary event in September 2022  

The new program is funded by a $250,000 philanthropic gift from the late David and Michelle Lane. It will build on decades of successful outreach at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory, which was driven primarily by David Lane, the former Astronomy Technician in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s and the Director of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory. During his 29-year career at Saint Mary’s, Dave single-handedly automated the observatory, making it available to users worldwide through X (Twitter) and Facebook. Dave also created the Earth Centred Universe, an easy-to-use planetarium and telescope-control program which allowed institutes to operate their own educational astronomy platforms.  

“David and Michelle Lane's gift exemplifies the community outreach that Saint Mary's University is famous for," said Dr. Vincent Hénault-Brunet, Director of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory. “The Star Finder program will give young people in rural and underserved areas access to the type of scientific discovery associated with big cities and major universities. The program enables students and teachers to have hands-on participation in cosmic discovery.” 

Thanks to Dave’s efforts, tens of thousands of children and university students were introduced to astronomy at the Observatory, located at the top of the Loyola building on the Saint Mary’s campus.  

Dave Lane passed away in March 2024 at the age of 60. He is survived by his wife Michelle, who shares Dave’s dream of launching this educational project as a way to keep giving back and share David’s passion for astronomy with a wider community.  

“Dave brought the wonders of the night sky to people of all ages and walks of life; he especially loved sharing his passion with students, fellow astronomers and members of the general public,” said Michelle Lane. “Star Finder will now build on Dave's life's work and greatly expand the circle of people who will benefit from mentorship and outreach in exploring the night sky.”  

The Star Finder project is being developed with Saint Mary’s University alumna Andrea Misner BSc’06. Uniquely suited to this task, she studied astrophysics at Saint Mary’s and later earned a master’s in education degree from the University of Manitoba. Misner teaches high school general sciences, physics and astronomy in Winnipeg, and is a recipient of a 2024 Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.  

Star Finder will build teachers’ astronomy knowledge and skills by remotely using the BGO and mini-robotic observatory (MRO). Teachers and their students will also be provided access to the extensive archive of data and images at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory, strengthening their engagement with and excitement for astronomical understanding and discovery.  

“This is a deeply personal project, one that Dave and I planned together before his death as a way of leaving a legacy that reflects Dave’s lifelong passion for education and astronomical discovery,” said Michelle Lane. 

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To honour Dave’s legacy, members of the Saint Mary’s community and public can make a gift to Star Finder - The Dave Lane Astronomy Outreach Program.

SMU Astronomy researchers release cosmic ‘question mark’ images—revealing clues about how our galaxies evolve

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, V. Estrada-Carpenter (Saint Mary's University).

Dr. Marcin Sawicki, along with a team of astronomers from Saint Mary’s and NASA, have released new research and images with NASA that reveal what our Milky Way galaxy might have looked like… 7 billion years ago.

The images captured are like a time machine, says Dr. Sawicki, explaining that using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers were able to compare other galaxies with our own Milky Way galaxy see what it could have looked like billions of years ago.

“These galaxies, seen billions of years ago when star formation was at its peak, are similar to the mass that the Milky Way galaxy would have been at that time. Webb is allowing us to study what the teenage years of our own galaxy could have been like,” said Sawicki.

Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope as well as JWST, Dr. Sawicki and postdoc researchers Dr. Vicente Estrada-Carpenter and Dr. Guillaume Desprez have released images that show a wavelength of light trapped in cosmic dust—with a uniquely intriguing shape. Read more.

Saint Mary’s University announces Dr. Tony Charles as Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

Dr. Tony Charles

Saint Mary’s University is delighted to announce that Dr. Tony Charles, a distinguished scholar from the School of the Environment and the Sobey School of Business, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. This celebrated honour recognizes Dr. Charles’s exceptional contributions to environmental research and his pioneering work in sustainability and participatory governance.

Dr. Charles is internationally renowned for his leadership in transdisciplinary partnerships that foster people-centred conservation and sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity. His influential fishery systems approach has revolutionized our understanding and management of fisheries, coasts, and oceans by integrating social, cultural, economic, community, and institutional aspects into a holistic framework.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Charles’s achievements and his election to the Royal Society of Canada,” said Dr. Adam Sarty, Associate Vice-President, Research and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. “His interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and helping community responses to the impacts of climate change, and his dedication to sustainability, have made profound impacts on the academic community, on government policies, on coastal communities, and on the broader field of environmental science.”

The Royal Society of Canada Fellowship is one of the highest honours a Canadian scholar can receive, celebrating outstanding achievement in the arts, humanities, and sciences. One hundred and four new Fellows have been elected by their peers for their outstanding scholarly achievements. 

On Friday, November 8, 2024, the RSC will induct the 2024 Fellows and Members of the RSC College at a ceremony as part of the Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Researchers study effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales

Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit 20556

Researchers at Saint Mary's study endangered North American right whales

A collaborative research team led by Saint Mary’s University researchers Carla Crossman, PhD candidate and Dr. Tim Frasier, professor of Biology and Forensic Science, has just published a peer-reviewed paper in the Royal Society Open Science on the effects of inbreeding on reproduction in the endangered North Atlantic right whale.

The population of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) is currently represented by only ~356 individuals. The species faces ongoing threats from human activity (e.g., vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear), but it is also not reproducing as often as would be expected. With extremely low levels of genetic diversity, limited options for mates, and variation in reproductive success between females within the population, researchers wanted to understand if inbreeding is contributing to its poor reproductive performance.

This study quantified reproductive success in female North Atlantic right whales using reproductive history information collected over decades of field observations. Researchers also used genome sequencing to investigate how inbred each female was and assessed if and/or to what degree inbreeding accounted for this variation in reproductive success among females.

Credit: Florida FWC/taken under NOAA 0556-01

The researchers found that inbreeding did not explain the variance in reproductive success currently observed in females. However, combining these results with prior studies suggests that inbreeding impacts which fetuses survive to term and, therefore, is likely limiting the reproductive success of the species as a whole.

This process is likely a double-edged sword. On the negative side, this process is likely lowering the overall reproductive performance of the species, and, therefore limiting recovery. However, on the positive side, it also means that those calves that are born have higher levels of genetic diversity (are less inbred) than expected, which could be key in allowing the species to recover in the long run, if we can reduce mortalities.

Overall research project

This study builds on ongoing long-term research on North Atlantic right whales taking place at Saint Mary’s University and elsewhere. This specific work was partially supported by Genome Canada, Genome Atlantic, and Research Nova Scotia through a Large-Scale Applied Research Project (LSARP) award. The $6-million, four-year international collaboration is managed by Genome Atlantic in partnership with Saint Mary’s University, the New England Aquarium, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Canadian Whale Institute, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Duke University.