Alumnus brings local holiday tradition to life through 3D printing

Woody the Talking Christmas Tree (Paul Hollingsworth/CTV Atlantic)

It's that time of year again when the mall fills with holiday shoppers, dazzling lights and a magical talking tree from the North Pole. Woody, the talking Christmas tree, returned to the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth in 2021, after a 15-year hibernation. Woody has a fresh new look, and it's not just because he's been getting plenty of beauty sleep.

Mohammed Issa BComm’16

Mohammed Issa BComm'16, the founder of Eureka Technologies Inc., has restored life to Woody's face through 3D printing. Woody also owes his magical abilities to Eureka Technologies Inc., who designed and built all the mechanical elements that bring Woody to life.

Although Rome was not built in a day, Woody was constructed in just two weeks. The mall had initially contacted Eureka Technologies Inc. in March of 2021 to inquire if they could take on the Woody project but then decided to move forward at the end of October.

"Woody arrives at the mall the day before Remembrance Day and wakes up the day after (November 12). So, we only had two weeks to construct and assemble Woody," says Mohammed.

No stranger to challenges, he was confident that his team would deliver.

Mohammed was a mature student studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Saint Mary's. With three small children at the time, he enrolled in the business program to gain the knowledge required to start a completely different business venture he had in mind.

"I purchased my first 3D printer intending to create a prototype for my new business idea. However, I realized I could also generate extra income by providing 3D printing services using Kijiji." This led to the birth of Eureka Technologies Inc. in 2015. As a full-time student, Mohammed utilized his entrepreneurial spirit to support his family with his printer, which ultimately led to the success of his business today.

Today, Mohammed is passionate about growing the entrepreneur in others, and he does so by collaborating with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. Together, they offer a robotics class where Eureka Technologies Inc. provides each student with 3D-printed robot kits. The students get to build and program their robots in this class.

"Learning entrepreneurship through this class is expanding the mindset of our students from diverse backgrounds across different faculties," says Mohammed.

Mohammed's dedication to Saint Mary's students and his entrepreneurial mindset is evident through his active participation in the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. The Saint Mary's University Alumni Association has recognized his exceptional work with Eureka Technologies Inc. and his unwavering support for young entrepreneurs by awarding him the Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year for 2023.

"I plan to continue giving back to the community and supporting students the way that I was helped as a student," said Mohammed, expressing his gratitude for the recognition of his efforts.

To learn more about Eureka Technologies Inc., visit www.eurekatec.ca/about.

Check out Woody's Twitter account to join in on the magic!

Accessibility Week at Saint Mary’s

Please join the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility as we celebrate Accessibility Week at Saint Mary's from November 27-December 1, leading up to the United Nations’ International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3. 

During the week, the Fred Smithers Centre will offer virtual and in-person events for students, faculty and staff, including events highlighting stress management, mental health and wellness, workshops for faculty on creating accessible coursework, guest speakers, a faculty open house and tour of the Fred Smithers Centre, a blind hockey exhibition game and a student trivia night. Read below for a full list of events.

The Fred Smithers Centre strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Events will have sign language interpreting and real-time transcription. Please email fredsmithers.centre@smu.ca for other accessibility requests and specific accommodations.

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Accessibility Week Events  

Patrick Power Library Book Display
November 27 – December 11, 2023  

A collection of literature relating to disability and accessibility, featuring staff picks from the Fred Smithers Centre team. See library hours here.

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Keynote Speaker: Vicky Levack

Monday, November 27  
Noon – 1:30 p.m. | CLARI, 3rd floor Atrium  

Vicky Levack is a disability advocate and educator who lives in Halifax N.S. Her story and her work have been featured in many news and media reports including CBC and Global News and the Halifax Examiner.  She is a former SMU student and hosts the “Disability Debunked” podcast.  Vicky is known for her candid and genuine take on all things disability.   

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More Accessible Word and PowerPoint Document Workshop

Monday, November 27  
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Sobey Building (SB) Room 159  

The Studio for Teaching and Learning provides an opportunity to learn how to create more accessible Word and PowerPoint documents. During the workshop participants will have an opportunity to work on their own document(s) and ask questions.  

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Accessibility Week Trivia Night  

Monday, November 27  
6:00 p.m. | The Gorsebrook Lounge, Student Centre main level  

Join Accessibility Wellness ambassador, Zoe, for a night of neuro-spicy trivia covering topics on accessibility, diversity and social justice. This will be an accessible and welcoming event that highlights important issues and fosters great discussions through a fun, trivia format with chances to win prizes.  

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Tune-sy Tuesday Accessibility Week Edition  

Tuesday, November 28  
Noon – 1 p.m. | Lobby Couches, O’Donnell Hennessey Student Centre  

Bring an instrument or borrow one of ours and come jam out for a midday musical mood boost and explore the roles that music can play in accessibility and wellness! Students, staff, faculty and alumni are welcome.   

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Therapy Dog Drop-in  

Wednesday, November 29  
11:30 – 1 p.m. | The Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (SC 309)  

Get ready for a paw-sitively amazing event! Join Meri, the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog for a barking good time. Meri will be here to show us the importance of self-care and emotional support during a stressful time! Don’t miss out on this furry-tale event!  

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Accessibility Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Wednesday, November 29  
Noon – 1 p.m. | Online via zoom (registration required)  

Hosted by the Fred Smithers Centre, the Studio for Teaching and Learning and the Software and Application Support teams, this Q&A event will be an opportunity to discuss and explore accessibility within the scope of institutional learning and working. Participants will learn about resources, supports, software and tools, and will have an opportunity to ask questions.  

Register for the Accessibility Q&A.  

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 Blind Hockey Exhibition

Wednesday, November 29  
7 p.m. | The Dauphinee Centre (Arena)   

The parasport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes whose level of vision ranges from legally blind – which is approximately 10% vision – to completely blind, using an adapted puck that makes noise and is bigger than a traditional puck. Players will take the ice during the SMU v. UPEI hockey game for an intermission exhibition.  

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Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility Open House

Thursday, November 30  
Noon – 2 p.m. | Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (SC 309)  

Faculty and staff are invited to visit the Fred Smithers Centre, meet the team, explore the testing and accommodation spaces, and have a chance to explore some of the assistive technologies. This is an opportunity to learn what services and supports the Fred Smithers Centre offers, ask questions and learn how to incorporate accessibility and accommodation into the classroom and workplace.  

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Man, Oh Man! A Conversation About Masculinity and Mental Health

Thursday, November 30  
7 – 8:30 p.m. | Gorsebrook Lounge  

What does masculinity mean to you? Why are men less likely to access mental health supports? How do we show up for ourselves and the men around us? Join us for a panel discussion about men’s mental health! We’ll be discussing what masculinity is and isn’t, the importance of social support, and how we can reduce the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. Our panelists include private counsellors, community social workers, other special guests you’ll recognize from campus.  

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Accessible PDF Workshop

Friday, December 1  
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.  

Join the Studio for Teaching and Learning to explore creating more accessible PDFs using various software. Learn how PDFs are processed for various neuro-diverse experiences, explore accessibility check tools and get templates to build off accessible-ready documents. This hands-on workshop will allow participants to develop or work on their own documents, get help and ask questions.  

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Keynote Speaker: Jay Dolmage on Academic Ableism

Friday, December 1  
Noon | Online  

Faculty and staff are invited to tune in with Jay Dolmage, disability rights author and educator, for a discussion on academic ableism in higher education. Jay will discuss and explore possibilities for building a more accessible classroom and campus and welcomes audience participation in discussions, questions and explorations of disability rights.  

Register for this event.

Women in Business event highlights networking and sustainability

Chantal Brine BA’09 discusses the importance of forming meaningful connections through strategic networking techniques and how it can empower your future.

Co-Chairs of the Women in Business Committee and hosts of the “Sobey School of Business - Elevating Women in Business: Blazing Trails”, Manar Salem and Meredith Drost, welcoming our panelists and speakers.

(Left to Right) Moderator AVP, Diversity Excellence, Rohini Bannerjee and panelists Marley MacDonald MA’14, Rebecca de Condé BComm’15, Sara Shabnam BComm’15, and Dr. Denise Daley discussing their personal experiences with environmental sustainability and its positive impact.

Committee and Volunteers: (Left to Right) Luke McOnie, Tiffany Delaney, Rhonda Harrington, Mohosina Afrin Chowdhury, Nimrah Mujeeb, Manar Salem, Meredith Drost, Hallie Wedge, Stephanie Letemplier, Shrilakshmi Subramanian, Tabassum Fatima, Areej Zara.

Dr. Mark Raymond, Interim Dean of the Sobey School of Business opening remarks for the Elevating Women in Business: Blazing Trails event. 

Attendees practicing the networking skills that keynote Chantal Brine BA’09 presented on.

Dr Robert Summerby-Murray President at Saint Mary’s delivering the closing remarks.

On October 17, the Sobey School of Business celebrated women in business, with the Elevating Women in Business: Blazing Trails event. Now in its 5th year, the annual event shines a light on women business leaders and this year, brought a special focus on how to create a more sustainable world.

Keynote speaker Chantal Brine BA’09, who is the CEO and Founder of EnPoint, spoke to a crowd of more than 80 attendees about the importance of mentorship and strategic networking techniques. Another highlight was a panel discussion with Dr. Denise Daley, Executive Director of the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank; Sara Shabnam BComm’15, Founder & CEO of Better Day Vintage; Rebecca de Condé BComm’15, Owner of Effex Curated Vintage; and Marley MacDonald MA’14, Director of Responsibility and Sustainability at the NSLC, who came together to discuss sustainability among their respective professions.

During this event, Dr. Rohini Bannerjee, AVP Diversity Excellence, moderated the discussion which explored how these accomplished professionals seamlessly integrated sustainability into their careers and discovered the art of building meaningful connections through networking.

This thought-provoking and inspirational gathering not only fostered a sense of unity within the Saint Mary’s community but also set a precedent, illuminating the path toward a brighter and more sustainable future.

Impact and inspiration: students attend Michelle Obama talk

Students attend the Michelle Obama pre-event at Saint Mary’s

Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray welcomes students

Nick Booth speaks with students at the pre-event

Inspiration and encouragement was the goal behind three generous Saint Mary's University alumni donors this term. On October 18, 200 Saint Mary's University students had the opportunity to attend A Conversation with Michelle Obama thanks to tickets provided by Chancellor Michael J. Durland BComm'87 DComm'10, former Chancellor Robert P. Kelly BComm'75 DComm'97 and Daniel J. McCarthy BComm'76 DComm'11.

A diverse group of student attendees was selected based on nominations from academic Deans, Athletics, Student Affairs and Services, the President's office, the Students' Association and other university departments.

"It was a real honour to be chosen for this event. But I think the bigger impact was the nomination itself...to be nominated for an event as big as this was something else," says Ken Cornell, a fifth-year student in the Faculty of Arts.  

Before picking up their tickets, the students had a chance to hear from guest speaker Nick Booth, CEO of the True Patriot Love Foundation. Booth spoke about his professional journey as a leader in the non-profit industry. His inspirational words and advice sparked insightful questions from the student audience. The pre-event was an excellent kick-off for a night of inspiration. 

“It was one of the most empowering and inspiring experiences I have ever encountered,” says Shiray Tan, fourth-year student in the Sobey School of Business and President of the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association. “Michelle Obama made me realize that I can do anything and everything in this world as long as if I put my mind into it and work hard.” 

Homecoming 2023

1973 Champion Teams Reunion 

Honouring the 1973 Men's Football before the Homecoming Huskies Football game vs Acadia

Two alumni at Homecoming Brunch in celebration of the classes of 1998 and 2013

Alumni enjoying Flashback Friday pub night

Class of 1973 at the Gold Grad Luncheon

Golden Grad Luncheon

Golden Grad Luncheon

1973 Men's Football Team Reunion 

ADM Dwayne Provo BEd'95 addresses the 1973 Men's Football team

MLA Barbara Adams, Minister for Seniors and Long-Term Care, presents the 1973 Men's Football team with certificates from the province.

Homecoming Brunch 

Back to the Classroom panelist Jennifer LaPlante MSc’21 (Computing & Data Analytics), Chief Growth & Investment Officer, OSC 

Back to the Classroom panelist Greg Kirczenow, Senior Director, AI Model Risk Management at RBC 

Alumni sparked discussion at the Artificial Intelligence panel event.

At Homecoming 2023 on October 12-15, more than 2,300 alumni, friends, and community members came together on campus and online to celebrate milestones, reconnect and cheer on the Huskies. A heartwarming Golden Grad class of 1973 reception saw more than 145 people gather, some for the first time in 50 years. "We really enjoyed our Golden Grads Luncheon—51 years ago for me already—how did that happen in the blink of an eye…" said Bob Bissett, Golden Grad.  

This year, Homecoming kicked off with the panel discussion Pathways to Success: From Saint Mary's to International Diplomacy—an opportunity for the Department of Philosophy to introduce the new major, "Law and Ethics," at Saint Mary's. Each speaker shared their journey, discussed challenges and successes, and helped students and young alumni explore the possibilities after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. 

Later that evening, our alums and community attended an eye-opening panel discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Computer Science Program. This event brought together science and business alumni and students to connect, network, and discuss AI. Discussions included how AI is advancing business, research and technology, as well as the importance of ethics in academic integrity, finance and government.

2023 was a big year for celebrating milestones at the university. Fifty years ago, the 1973 Huskies Basketball, Football, and Hockey teams took home championships. Almost 100 alumni gathered in the O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre for a 1973 champion teams reunion, where they celebrated and swapped stories from their big year.  

The 1973 Men's Football team gathered for a reunion reception in the Gorsebrook Lounge. MLA Barbara Adams, Minister for Seniors and Long-Term Care, presented the team with certificates from the province. ADM Dwayne Provo BEd'95 addressed the team to celebrate their success in '73. There was a buzz of stories—from on and off the field—as if no time had passed.  

Despite the rain on Friday evening, more than 900 former Huskies, fellow alumni and Saint Mary's community members cheered on the Huskies Football team. The Huskies won (33-18) against Acadia, sending them into the playoffs. Later that night, alums and friends gathered in the Gorsebrook Lounge for a Flashback Friday Pub night celebration following the football game—an opportunity to reconnect with friends and dance the night away with Halifax DJs PINEO & LOEB.  

Homecoming also celebrated the classes of 1998 and 2013 with a brunch in the Gorsebrook Lounge on Saturday. The morning was full of laughs, tasty food and many graduates catching up with old classmates. The weekend was packed with sporting events and reunions with alumni cheering on the men's and women's hockey and soccer teams on the Huskies field.

Saint Mary's Alumni sends a huge thank you to all who came out to make another successful Homecoming weekend. Our alumni, friends and community were able to reconnect and celebrate monumental milestones for themselves and the university. 

Re-cap: Fall Convocation 2023

The university community celebrated more than 300 graduates at Fall Convocation on September 22 and 23. Among the graduates were several award winners and an inspiring speech by the honorary degree recipient, Dr. Kim Thúy.

Thúy shared stories of her family’s arrival to Canada, and the kindness that has helped shape her success, to an auditorium of Arts and Science graduates on Saturday afternoon where she was awarded a Doctor of Letters, honoris causa. The Vietnamese author has made a significant impact on Canadian literature, earning the Governor General’s Literary Award in 2010 for her novel about her experience as a refugee.

Read more about Kim Thúy

Representing fall graduates were Valedictorians Myles Davidson, Ammar Shakoor and Stephanie Kansiime.

“Let us always continue to do the things we love, and fight for the things we believe in. Let us give back to our community by sowing seeds of kindess and compassion,” said Shakoor as he addressed an eager group of Bachelor of Commerce graduates. Each valedictorian received the John BA’81 DCL’17 and Heather Fitzpatrick Valedictorian Award.

Other award winners included Richard Abbass and Christopher Fanning, who received Master of Finance Gold Medals, and Stephen Gill, who received the Pobihuschy Medal for the Master of Management - Co-operatives and Credit Unions, a program which celebrated its’ 20th anniversary over the weekend. PhD graduates Abdlmutaleb Boshanna and Kerry Ann Watson were recognized with the Durland Family Doctoral Convocation Award.

Two faculty members, Dr. Bruce Anderson and Dr. Cathy Driscoll, were granted the status of Professor Emeritus at convocation.

Dr. Bruce Anderson began teaching at Saint Mary’s in 2001, during which time he taught political science courses and then business law to over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students in the Sobey School of Business. He served as Chair of the Department of Accounting, the Bachelor of Commerce Program Coordinator and a member of Saint Mary’s Faculty Union’s Grievance Committee. He received the SMUSA Teaching Excellence Award in 2007. Bruce’s research is interdisciplinary and includes work in legal theory/legal philosophy, economics, ethics and visual art. He is one of the leaders in investigating legal reasoning. His scholarship includes three books, forty book chapters and scholarly articles, review articles, magazine articles, book reviews for publishers, conference and seminar presentations and sculpture installations.

Dr. Cathy Driscoll developed and taught the first business ethics courses in the BComm and MBA programs and has integrated community-based service learning into her MBA courses since 1994. Beginning in 1996, she initiated, developed, and managed the MBA Internal Case Competition, which later became the annual Bob Shaw Case Competition. In 2017, she received the Atlantic Schools of Business Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service to Business Scholarship. Cathy has an international reputation as a scholar who has bridged business studies with religion and spirituality. Her recent work has focused on institutional moral disengagement in the context of clergy sex abuse. Cathy has also been an active contributor to many university, school, and departmental committees over the past 30 years and has been committed to outreach in the business community through board memberships, speaking engagements, and training seminars.

Recordings of the convocation ceremonies are available to watch at smu.ca/graduation. See the full photo album on the SMU Halifax Facebook page.

Fall Valedictorian: Myles Davidson, Master of Applied Psychology

Myles Davidson BA’21, Valedictorian for the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

Myles is an emerging research professional who was raised in St. Peter’s on the island of Cape Breton. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology (Honours) and Psychology from Saint Mary’s University in 2021. Having a strong passion for both research and academia, Myles chose to stay at Saint Mary’s and enroll in the Master of Applied Psychology program. In his seven years at Saint Mary’s, Myles has been involved in various research projects centered on the prevention of sexual abuse, child sexual abuse and substance abuse.

With ten publications to his credit, Myles’ research contributions have led to real-world changes, most notably as a member of the research team that informed the current vaping legislation in Nova Scotia.

Myles has participated in several academic conferences to date, with his presentation at the 2023 Canadian Psychological Association conference winning second place amongst all graduate presentations. In addition to his research, Myles has been a teaching assistant at Saint Mary’s for the last five years specializing in research methods and statistics. For this work, he was recognized with an excellence in teaching award from the Council of Canadian Departments of Psychology in 2022. During his master’s degree, Myles received research funding from several notable organizations including Research Nova Scotia and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Aside from his education, Myles is an accomplished professional musician. To date, he has released two studio albums and has performed extensively throughout the Maritimes. Some of the highlights of his career include performing at the Celtic Colours International Festival and the East Coast Music Awards, as well as having one of his songs featured in a museum in Barra, Scotland. Despite the demands of school, Myles has ensured that music continues to be a central focus in his life. In the future, Myles intends to pursue a doctorate in forensic psychology and carve out his own path in academia by conducting impactful research.

Q&A with Myles

Hometown: St. Peter’s, N.S.

Thesis title: Consent in vanilla and BDSM sexual encounters: conceptualization, violations, and repercussions

Thesis description: This thesis sought to understand how consent is negotiated in BDSM encounters, whether practicing in an organized BDSM community is protective against consent violations, and whether having an interest in sexual sadism is a reliable predictor of consent violation perpetration.

Why did this type of research appeal to you? A lot of my undergraduate and graduate work was in sexual abuse prevention, specifically, the role that sexual sadism plays in sexual abuse perpetration. I believe it is critical to understand what causes sexual abuse and what researchers can do to prevent it. Additionally, since there has been very little research conducted on BDSM, I was motivated to contribute in this area.

Why did you choose Saint Mary’s for your graduate studies? I completed my undergraduate degree at SMU and loved every minute of it. The community at SMU is supportive, collaborative and welcoming no matter who you are and what your interests are. When I chose to pursue a master's degree in forensic psychology, I knew there was no better place for me.

Any other successes you’d like to share, or difficulties you were able to overcome? In terms of successes, SMU not only allowed me to conduct research that led to publications, but it also allowed me to work on projects that had a positive impact on the lives of others. In terms of difficulties, I spent the end of my undergraduate degree and the start of my graduate degree in the height of the pandemic. I commend SMU for how they went above and beyond to ensure that no student was left behind.

Future plans? I plan to pursue my PhD in forensic psychology, followed by a career in academia.

Any advice for new students?

• Build strong connections with your professors. A seemingly inconsequential conversation can lead to the opportunity of a lifetime.

• Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

• Most importantly, have fun with your degree. If you do what you love, you'll love what you do.

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Fall Convocation takes place on September 22 and 23, 2023. Watch the ceremonies live at smu.ca/graduation or on our Facebook page.

Remembering Dr. David Sobey, C.M., DComm'91, Chancellor Emeritus

Dr. David Sobey, CM, DComm’91, Chancellor Emeritus
1931-2023

The Saint Mary’s University community mourns the passing of Dr. David Sobey, C.M., DComm’91, Chancellor Emeritus of Saint Mary’s University. We join with his family, friends and colleagues in sharing their grief and honouring the life of this steadfast Nova Scotian and exemplary Canadian.

David has left an indelible mark on the lives of students, faculty and staff at Saint Mary's University. His unwavering generosity and guidance over the years have transformed the university and the Sobey School of Business. His legacy will continue to shine through the countless students he has empowered to pursue their dreams and through the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services established through David’s generosity and vision.          

David Sobey had a long and warm association with the university and in particular with the Sobey School of Business named in honour of his father, Frank H. Sobey. David received an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce in 1991 and cut the ribbon for the new Sobey Building in 1998.  Along with his wife, Faye, he was a strong supporter of Saint Mary’s for more than three decades, beginning in 1986 with his service on the Board of Governors. From 1991 to 1998, he chaired the Building on Strength Capital Campaign, helping to raise $24 million. When the Sobey School of Business Advisory Committee met for the first time in 2002, David was a member. From 2008 to 2010, he served as Saint Mary’s first lay chancellor, conferring degrees to thousands of students at convocation.

In 2019, David announced the $18 million gift from the Sobey family, The Sobey Foundation, Sobeys Inc. and Empire Company Limited. As part of that gift, the Sobeys Inspiration Hub is opening this fall, another stellar tribute to the legacy of David Sobey, the Sobey family, The Sobey Foundation, Sobeys Inc. and Empire Company Limited.

“We are very saddened to hear the news of David’s passing,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “We are honoured to count David Sobey as a friend and guide over many years. He visited campus not only for important events and meetings but often came to watch the progress of the latest building project or meet with faculty, staff and students and hear about their achievements. I will miss his presence and thoughtful leadership that have touched the lives of so many.”

We invite the campus community to sign a book of condolences that will be in the lobby of the Sobey School of Business.

David with members of the Sobey family

A Saint Mary’s Times article from 1992

Dr. Sobey at Convocation in 2010

David Sobey and honorary degree recipient Bob Kelly

David Sobey at convocation

L-R: David Sobey, Rob Dexter, Fred Smithers, Paul Sobey

David Sobey with Myra and Larry Freeman

David Sobey announcing the $18 million Sobey gift in 2019

Saint Mary's researcher part of international astronomy mission XRISM

Source: www.mhi.com

Source: JAXA

Source: NASA

High-energy astronomy mission will further understanding of the extreme universe

Saint Mary’s professor Dr. Luigi Gallo is one of two Canadians involved in an exciting new three-year mission, a collaboration led by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) with important contributions from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and the European Space Agency.

On Wednesday, September 6 at 8:42:11 p.m. ADT, a powerful satellite called XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) was launched on a rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.

Watch the launch video (via SciNews):

Source: YouTube via SciNews

This new space observatory will contain two scientific instruments: Resolve, an X-ray spectrometer contributed by NASA; and Xtend, an X-ray imager. Some filter calibration for Resolve was carried out by NASA at the Canadian Light Source, a synchrotron facility in Saskatoon, SK.

XRISM is eight meters long, with the telescopes mounted at one end focusing X-ray light onto the detectors at the other end. To study X-ray sources in the universe, the XRISM satellite must be launched into space above the atmosphere, as X-rays cannot penetrate Earth’s atmosphere. XRISM was launched into space on the JAXA HII-A rocket; it will take several months to get it tested and calibrated before science data starts flowing.

The mission itself is essentially going to look at X-ray spectra with very high resolution—analogous to seeing very fine differences in the colours of optical light we can see with our eyes, explains Dr. Gallo. X-rays are a high-energy form of light that is undetectable to the human eye. The regions around black holes, as well as massive stars, supernovae and clusters of galaxies all emit X-rays.

Dr. Luigi Gallo

“The X-rays are basically produced in the hottest and most volatile environments in the universe,” says Dr. Gallo. “We’re studying extreme events like black holes, neutron stars, supernovas, and giant galaxy clusters. I’m looking at the black holes. That's what I study, and I'm looking at the X-rays coming from the regions closest to the black hole—basically, the material just before it disappears and falls beyond the black hole event horizon.”

Because these extreme events can’t be replicated in laboratories on Earth, these missions are crucial to furthering our understanding of the universe.

“We’re looking at extreme gravity, extreme temperatures, and huge magnetic fields—you can't produce those kinds of environments on Earth,” explains Dr. Gallo. “You can't study the physics and understand what happens to matter under those extreme conditions. The only way we can do that is by looking out into space.”

This work done by scientists on this mission, the previous 2016 Hitomi (ASTRO-H) satellite mission and others, pushes the limits of our understanding, and it’s important for generations to come.

“In science, we are always building on our current understanding,” says Dr. Gallo. “What we're doing today is building on the successes, and failures, of previous work over the past centuries, and we're just taking one relatively small step forward. As revolutionary as XRISM will be, ultimately, it’s one step forward that future generations will build on. There are always bigger things to come.”

Dr. Gallo completed his PhD at the prestigious Max Planck Institute in Garching, Germany, followed by postdoctoral research in Japan. He later joined the Saint Mary’s faculty and works with the Canadian Space Agency. He has been a professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s University since 2007. As part of the XRISM program at Saint Mary’s, graduate student Margaret Buhariwalla and postdoc Dr. Adam Gonzalez have also been able to participate in this research with Dr. Gallo.  

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Related links:

• Canadian scientists to get a glimpse of the hot universe (via Canadian Space Agency)

• Saint Mary’s University professor goes above and beyond with astronomy research and teaching

Sobey School undergrad contributes to COVID research for Scientific Reports

Kyle Morton BComm’23

Kyle Morton had yet to complete his undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s University when he used machine learning in a ground-breaking study of the COVID-19 virus for Scientific Reports. To contribute to an article in the world’s largest scientific journal would be an accomplishment for more experienced researchers. For Morton, it was a miracle.

 “I remember when my economics professor, Yigit Aydede, told me the article had been accepted,” said Morton. “I jumped out of my seat and clapped my hands. It was another fantastic experience that Saint Mary’s made possible.”

Morton participated in the research project over six months during 2022, when he linked two large data sets, one from Statistics Canada and the other from Nova Scotia’s 811 system that recorded influenza symptoms during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Yigit Aydede and Kyle Morton work together examine data for their research

The resulting article by Saint Mary’s University’s Dr. Yigit Aydede, and Jan Ditzen, Free University of Bolzano, Italy, Identifying the regional drivers of influenza-like illness in Nova Scotia, Canada, with dominance analysis - Scientific Reports, unveils a new methodology, one that may assist health officials to both predict where viruses will spread and target interventions to halt them. Read more about the study.

“Working with large data sets, it is easy for errors to go unnoticed, because you cannot visually inspect them. The challenge was: How do you make sure there are no mistakes that will end up leading to the wrong conclusions when you actually perform your analysis?”

Morton sees machine learning as a third form of statistics, one that is predictive. Once he had prepared the data, making sure it was clean and free from errors, Professor Aydede and the research team used powerful algorithms to combine both sets. The results revealed the spatial as well as the temporal spread of the virus in real-time, something that was only possible due to the extraordinary and detailed data concerning COVID-19 symptoms, unparalleled access to Nova Scotia’s 811 records and the unique adaptation of algorithms originally designed for the finance industry.

The opportunity to study and work alongside Dr. Aydede in the Sobey School of Business has transformed Morton’s career aspirations, inspiring him to use machine learning to solve problems.

“I chose Saint Mary’s because it had a very good reputation for its business school. I liked the smaller yet international campus and the undergraduate focus. I gained a lot more experience, working with my peers and my professors one-on-one; I would not have had the same opportunity at other, larger institutions.”

While studying in the Bachelor of Commerce program at the Sobey School of Business, Morton was the recipient of two scholarships from donors to Saint Mary’s University: The Chrysler Canada Scholarship and the KPMG Future Leaders Scholarship. He also received the Fred and Ruth Stork German Studies Award from Waterloo University. This Fall, Morton begins his Master’s in Data Science at the London School of Economics, something he describes as “a dream come true.”

Building confidence in chemistry: Dr. Mary Sheppard’s research supports how students learn in her lab

Dr. Mary Sheppard wins the Father William A. Stewart Medal for Excellence in Teaching. Her PhD research focused on how students learn chemistry.

L-R: Alumni Association member Fiona King BComm’93, SMU President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, and Dr. Mary Sheppard at Spring Convocation.

First-year chemistry classes introduce students to an exciting field of science—with new terminology and research methods, and the opportunity to study in a university laboratory setting for the first time.

Arriving at Saint Mary’s from Halifax or homes around the world, students’ first university classes can be an exciting, eye-opening experience—and a big adjustment.

Luckily, these new students at Saint Mary’s have an award-winning professor who understands the challenges they face. As a first-generation university graduate from Taylor’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Dr. Mary Sheppard still remembers leaving her small community for Memorial University.

“Leaving my family behind and going to the ‘big city’ of St. John’s was huge for me, and I understand what our rural students, and those from close-knit communities, are missing,” said Dr. Sheppard.

Finding the right path in her academic career meant being flexible and open to new paths.

“At first I wanted to be a pharmacist,” explained Dr. Sheppard. “When I was growing up in rural Newfoundland there was no access to career counseling. If you got good grades you were told you should be a pharmacist, nurse or doctor…I didn’t want to be a nurse or doctor—too much blood.”

It was her first-year chemistry professor who suggested that pharmacy might not be the best fit for her, and offered a chance to do a summer project that led to more than two decades studying and teaching chemistry.

“Growing up, I didn’t even know that a career in chemistry was a possibility,” said Dr. Sheppard. “I tell my students to keep an open mind. You don’t have to stick with what you first thought you wanted to be—I wouldn’t have been happy as a pharmacist.” 

Along with teaching first-year classes as a senior lecturer, for the past five years, Dr. Sheppard was also a student, pursuing a PhD at the University of New Hampshire.

Dr. Mary Sheppard

Dr. Sheppard’s PhD research has made her uniquely qualified for her role teaching at the university level. Her interest in how students learn led her to pursue the topic of chemistry education research for her doctoral degree. She explains that during the first few weeks of classes, she intentionally slows the pace to let students adjust to the environment.

“For some students, the lab can be very daunting because they didn't have a lab in high school—coming from a big city high school is not the same as any rural area in the world,” she says. “As part of our student success program, their first experience in that room isn’t an experiment—they go into the space as part of a scavenger hunt around campus…it helps them get oriented first.”

Once the term is underway, students will look forward to performing guided inquiry experiments along with a more traditional curriculum of procedural experiments. Guided inquiry prepares students for real-world work by challenging them to design an experiment to tackle a problem, tweaking it in the lab and submitting their group’s finalized experiment.

“Learning how to approach a problem teaches creative thinking— if the procedures don’t all work out perfectly, they learn more from that,” she says.

In her PhD research, Dr. Sheppard looked at how students learn about pH buffers, a chemistry topic that many find difficult to grasp. “I was trying to figure out why is this so tough for students—what are the roadblocks,” she explained. First, she interviewed students at the University of New Hampshire using a “think out loud” approach, recording them as they worked through problems. A qualitative analysis followed, allowing her to design teaching strategies that matched students’ successes and challenges.

“It was interesting to see that while the American students might have different backgrounds, they have the same or similar challenges that our students have.”

Her last goal for her PhD was to design a teaching strategy that addresses those challenges, setting students up for success. After many years of teaching, the instinct to help students is strong.

“You have to separate yourself from the student, you can’t help them because you want to see what they’re thinking and what the issues are,” she explained. “I think I ground the enamel off my teeth because I kept wanting to jump in and help.”

This research is beneficial to students in the classroom and lab and may lead to changes in how the topic is introduced in textbooks.

“Textbooks come from an expert point of view, but if you’re not an expert yet, that approach can be frustrating,” she explained. “One of the tenets of teaching pedagogy is that it’s not about knowing the topic, it’s about knowing how to teach it.”

Dr. Sheppard explained that like most PhD topics, hers was very narrow in focus. But she says it also exposed her to literature and people at conferences who are talking about different ways to teach.

“Understanding better how students learn at a higher level, it’s easier to transfer that knowledge to other areas of chemistry,” explained Dr. Sheppard.

Dr. Sheppard’s history of successful teaching and her drive to continuously build on that success have been recognized. This spring she won the Father William A. Stewart. S.J. Medal for Excellence in Teaching, the top teaching award at Saint Mary’s. The award is determined by nominations from alumni, students and colleagues and is awarded to a professor who has made significant contributions to the education of Saint Mary's students through excellence in teaching and service.

Father Stewart was known for his strong beliefs in promoting accessible education to marginalized communities and was also very much involved in promoting teaching innovation and excellence on campus. The award honours this legacy.

After receiving the award at the May convocation ceremony, Dr. Sheppard travelled to the U.S. where she received her PhD at the University of New Hampshire.

Congratulations Dr. Sheppard!

Embracing the power of writing with new Kane Award

Trayvone Clayton (center) receives his award at Spring Convocation from (L-R) Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, Stephanie Johnson BComm’93, Dean Mary Ingraham, and Chancellor Michael Durland BComm’86 DComm’10.

Trayvone Clayton and Edna Kane

Trayvone with Board Vice-Chair Mark Gosine BA’95, Stephanie Johnson BComm’93, Edna Kane and Kirk Johnson

Trayvone Clayton BA’23 is well versed in the power and impact of words as a young leader in his Halifax community of Uniacke Square. During his time as a student at Saint Mary’s University, he also discovered the power of writing as tool for healing, self-reflection and mental health. So it means the world to him to be the first recipient of the university’s new Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award. 

“Writing keeps me balanced,” says Clayton, who carries a notebook around much of the time. “Just writing down daily thoughts and ideas, things that have been on my mind all day. It takes so much pressure off and gets the negative thoughts out of your head. If you ever want to look back, it’s all right there in the book.” 

He got a rousing standing ovation upon receiving the inaugural Kane Writers Award during the spring graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Arts. Valued at $30,000, it’s one of the most substantial student awards in the university’s history. Launched in the fall of 2021, it was created through the generosity of donor Floyd Kane BA’92, a writer, filmmaker, lawyer and TV producer from East Preston. 
 

Stephanie Johnson BComm’93 and Edna Kane

Kane’s mother Edna and his cousin Stephanie Johnson BComm’93 (daughter of his late aunt Velma) were on campus to take part in the May 19 award presentation. Kane was away but watched the graduation live stream. 

“I’m really proud of my son Floyd,” Edna Kane said after the ceremony. “He went through a lot but he’s a super guy, that’s all I can say. He’s a super son.”  

Johnson, a self-described “Husky for life,” added that her cousin is best known for his creative work but his spirit of philanthropy is just as strong. “To be able to give someone in the community this type of opportunity that will help them live their life and pursue their dream, it’s brilliant. So I’m proud to be part of it. It’s a legacy for my mom and my auntie here, and we’re just really proud of Floyd,” she said. 

Trayvone Clayton is the first recipient of the Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award

Clayton hopes to go on to law school for his next chapter, the same path Kane took after Saint Mary’s. A former SMU Huskies basketball player, Clayton majored in Criminology with a minor in Social Justice and Community Studies, themes that reverberate throughout Kane’s hit TV series, Diggstown. Shot largely in Nova Scotia, the legal drama wrapped last year after four seasons. Since then, Kane has been hard at work developing another legal show, shooting two movies and filming a documentary about Black music in Canada.  

The two men had a chance to meet each other for the first time on June 2. In many ways, Clayton is the type of student Kane had in mind with his gift to the university, which aims to remove financial barriers to education for African Nova Scotian students.  

“I identified with a lot of his story,” Kane said after their lunch meeting on campus. “Although I grew up in the country and he grew up in the city, we both grew up with relatively modest economic means. We both grew up in African Nova Scotian communities where there wouldn’t be a lot of Black men going to university and pursuing post-secondary education, mainly because of economic circumstances.” 

Working several jobs to pay his tuition while he was a full-time student, athlete and volunteer, Clayton faced other big hurdles along the way, including learning to live with epilepsy. He was devastated by the 2019 shooting death of his younger cousin Triston Reece, who was also a promising athlete. Processing his grief from that loss prompted Clayton to start carrying the notebook around. 

Said Kane: “We talked about loss, the commonalities of experiencing significant losses early in life. I kind of always reverted to fiction. When I try to write something personal, I have a hard time doing anything autobiographical. But telling a story, that’s way easier for me. Writing got me through some tough times.” 

Another life-changing experience in 2019 cemented Clayton’s commitment to social change and the movement against anti-Black racism and discrimination. He was in Ottawa attending the National Black Canadians Summit, and his group encountered racial profiling by an employee in the Parliament buildings. That’s when he started speaking out; the incident made national headlines and led to a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  

“I guess I always had it in me about doing the right things, and it took off from there,” Clayton says. “With GameChangers902, we’ve built a platform and we’re trying to create opportunities for youth. My whole purpose in wanting to go to law school is to lead by example. I want to build a legacy for other young people. When they see I can do it, they’ll realize they can do it too.”

Clayton in his community of Uniacke Square

Clayton feels a responsibility to be a good role model, coach and mentor. Last December, he helped organize a community Christmas for African Nova Scotian youth, which raised more than $20,000 so that each youngster at the event received a $500 gift card. “It just made me feel like you can do anything you really put your mind to,” he says.  

His community work has seen him honoured with other awards, including the 2019 Peace Medal from the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, and two 2019 Nova Scotia Human Rights Awards. The advocacy work gave Clayton the confidence to work hard at his academic studies, “to show people in my community that we belong here, that we do have something to say and that our voice matters.”  

Read more in our Q&A with Trayvone Clayton.

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Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award

Students planning to graduate in 2024 have until November 30 to apply for the Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award. Kane stressed that the term ‘writer’ can mean everything from poetry or screenwriting to wanting to write a master’s thesis.  
 
“This award keeps ‘writing’ broadly defined because writing is the foundation to so many things,” said Kane. “We’re all writers in some way, it’s a key part of what you do and learn in a Bachelor of Arts degree. I had a great time at law school but Saint Mary’s is where my path was first taken. I had amazing professors who gave me the confidence to embrace the power of writing.”