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. 

---

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.

Dr. Erin Cameron co-authors paper on airborne DNA in Nature journal

Dr. Erin Cameron, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science, is a co-author of a recently published paper in the journal Nature. 

Researchers based at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland are using airborne DNA to map biodiversity. Dr. Cameron was part of an international, multidisciplinary team of scientists who used DNA sequencing to identify fungi from air samples collected around the world. 

Dr. Cameron ran the collection site in Alberta along with another researcher, Dr. Tan Bao (MacEwan University). The team’s lead researchers were able to use DNA sequencing to identify fungi in the air samples collected by Dr. Cameron and others around the world.

This new method increases understanding of the climatic and evolutionary factors that influence spatial and seasonal variations of fungi. Mean annual air temperature was the strongest predictor of fungal species diversity, and polar and continental sites (including the site in Alberta) showed greater turnover in species composition across seasons than lower latitude sites. The importance of temperature suggests that warming climates will play a major role in restructuring fungal communities in the future.

For more about this method, read the full article in Nature: Airborne DNA reveals predictable spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi. 

This project is far from the first international collaboration for Dr. Cameron, whose research examines the effects of global change on species distributions, community composition, and ecosystem functioning. She is a key member of research teams that are building a global biodiversity network focusing on soil and the organisms that live in it. The effects of human activities on soil biodiversity and the organisms that live within—a vital part of a functioning ecosystem—are not yet fully understood, and the research conducted by Dr. Cameron and colleagues plays an important role in environmental conservation globally.

Dr. Cameron was recently awarded a grant through the eDNA Innovation Funding program from Genome Atlantic to test the use of eDNA methods as a tool to monitor microbial communities in grazed ecosystems.

Her previous work in this field includes:

•  “Tracking, Targeting, and Conserving Soil Biodiversity (Science Magazine)

• SMU Researcher’s groundbreaking earthworm study on recent cover of Science Magazine (Science, 2019)

Research Award winners enjoy paid summer internships across campus

Undergraduate students are conducting research with faculty members again this summer, thanks to funding from federal grants, generous donors and Saint Mary’s.

The halls and classrooms at Saint Mary’s are a little quieter after the end of the winter term and the excitement of convocation, but students keen to engage in research activities are creating a buzz on campus.

Every summer, a group of students are chosen to receive undergraduate student research awards. These awards allow students to conduct research and scholarly projects with professors in their fields. These paid internships allow students to learn valuable skills that will serve them well in upper-level courses and eventually in their own honours or graduate-level research.

Many of these award positions are funded by federal government agencies, including the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards program and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Others are offered thanks to generous donors, grants, and funding from Saint Mary’s. In most cases, awards are made possible through contributions from professors’ research grants. Those who receive awards are provided funding to undertake 12 to 16 weeks of full-time work between May and August.

A new category of award was introduced for full-time students in the Faculty of Science for summer 2024 to include a wider array of students. Designed for student-professor teams who propose a research project together, the Dean of Science Access to Research Awards focus on the proposed research project; the student's GPA is not a selection criteria as long as the student is in good academic standing. These awards are jointly funded by the Dean of Science Office and various faculty grants.

These summer research award programs are a great opportunity for our students. However, there are many other opportunities for students to work alongside professors. With research taking place year-round in labs and in the field, students are encouraged to connect with professors to discuss additional opportunities!

Benefits

“Summer research placements give students a chance to experience research work that complements their academic studies,” says Dr. Adam Sarty, Associate Vice-President, Research. “This program of Research Awards provides our most engaged and talented students with experiences that not only raise their connection to their studies but also greatly enhance their road to success post-graduation in either the job market or in pursuit of graduate studies. A good number of professors start their academic journey through these kinds of undergraduate research experiences.”

Selecting student researchers

For most positions, students earn their positions based on their academic record, breadth of experience and background, and their application letter—they can apply after their first year of full-time study. If chosen, they are matched with a professor whose work is a fit for their desired research. The Dean of Science Access to Research Award winners are selected based on the prospective value of the experience to both the student and supervisor.

Previous wins aren’t considered in the selection process; however, students with top academic records can earn positions in multiple years. Many Saint Mary’s students have gone on to pursue graduate studies, thanks in part to the experience gained during their summer work on campus.

Learn about this year’s student researchers

Learn about student research opportunities at Saint Mary’s.

Taylor Adams

• Fourth year, Honours Biology

• Supervisor: Dr. Laura Weir

• Research: Conducting research on Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) evolution by sexual selection. I will be constructing a pedigree to link reproductive success of lineages with different morphological and behavioural characteristics.

Molly Carruthers 

• Fourth year, Psychology

• Supervisor: Meg Ternes

• Research: I will be working with Meg on research relating to deception detection

Sarah Chiasson

• Third year, Environmental Science

• Supervisor: Dr. Colleen Barber

• Research: This summer I’ll be studying European Starlings with Dr. Colleen Barber’s lab, studying the birds’ behaviour, including mate choices and parental investment. To do so, we survey the European Starling population on campus, tracking the individuals through their life cycle.

Claire Cullinan

• Third year, Biology with a certificate in forensic science

• Supervisor: Dr. Christa Brosseau

• Research: I will be doing biochemistry research on the development of diagnostic sensors for healthcare applications. I will be using plasmonic metal nanoparticles to develop nanoparticle-based sensors.

Noha Jereen Hoque

• Fourth year, Honours Physics

• Supervisor: Vincent Hénault-Brunet

• Research: Our research group aims to explore the content, formation, and evolution of black holes in globular star clusters, which are spherical, tightly bound clusters of tens of thousands to millions of old stars around the Milky Way. We need to understand how black holes form, stay and change within these clusters to explore our universe at very large distances.

Abby Jolly

• Third year, Social Justice and Community Studies

• Supervisor: Dr. Val Marie Johnson 

• Research: This summer I will be partnering with the Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia, doing research on access to healthcare for seasonal agricultural workers in Nova Scotia. 

Alicia MacDonald 

• Third year, Psychology 

• Supervisor: Dr. Nicole Conrad

• Research: We will be doing a pilot study on a measure of reading comprehension in grades three and four children. We will also be writing a paper on orthographic knowledge and spelling outcomes.

Mimi MacNeily BSc’24

• Major: Psychology 

• Supervisor’s name: Dr. Tiffany Vu

• Research: Assisting in the development and testing of theories grounded in marketing, psychology, and behavioural economics pertaining to charitable giving, sustainability, and consumer well-being. 

Jillian Marks

• Second year, Engineering

• Supervisor: Dr. Jane Ferguson

• Research: Using innovative methods to measure key properties of molten salt mixtures for the development of clean energy sources.

Tehya Mohammed

• Second year, Chemistry and Physics

• Supervisor: Dr. Robert Singer

• Research: We are optimizing the N‑Demethylation process of alkaloids to make it greener. This is an important step in the synthesis of compounds like naltrexone and naloxone. 

Katherine Myers BSc’24

• Major: Honours Astrophysics

• Supervisor: Dr. Marcin Sawicki

• Research: Studying star formation and substructure trends in distance galaxy mergers using data from the James Webb Space Telescope. 

Keegan Riggs

• Astrophysics

• Supervisor: Dr. Luigi Gallo

• Research: Using data from an x-ray space telescope to analyze blackholes

Madhur Sharma

• First Year, Computing Science and Business Administration

• Supervisor: Dr. Ethan Pancer

• Research: Marketing and AI. We will be analysing the speed of spread and work closely with how virality works to understand the algorithm of different socials.

Daniel Wilson

• Third year, Biology and Geography

• Supervisor: Dr. Erin Cameron

• Research: I'm working on mapping in ArcGIS related to Indigenous knowledge of berry crops in the Northwest Territories and the spread of invasive earthworms in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon. In addition, there's also fieldwork sampling invasive earthworms in North Alberta with the goal of identifying species and determining their rate of spread.

Clara Wrightman-Dillon

• Second year, Astrophysics

• Supervisor: Marcin Sawicki

• Research: I will be analyzing photos from the JWST of the Sparkler Galaxy.

Katherine (Katie) Zinck

• Third year, Chemistry

• Supervisor: Dr. Danielle Tokarz

• Research: I will be using polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscopy and birefringence to investigate the degradation of otoconia (inner ear crystals that maintain balance) and the structure of teeth.

Megan Barkhouse

• Second year, Biology

• Supervisor: Dr. Anne Dalziel

• Research: I will be involved in the collection, care, and research of stickleback and killifish.

Sydney Blackmore

• Third year, Astrophysics 

• Supervisor: Dr. Greg Christian 

• Research: As per the description found on the SMU research opportunities webpage: the “… project will consist of analysis of recoil singles data from an experiment measuring the 22Ne(alpha, n)25Mg reaction. This reaction is important as a neutron source for the slow neutron capture process, which creates around half of the elements heavier than hydrogen." 

Rachel Crawford

• Fifth year, Biology & Psychology double major, with a certificate in Health, Wellness, and Sport in Society.

• Supervisor: Dr. Nicole Conrad.

• Research: I'll be working with Dr. Conrad to study the effects of orthographic knowledge on reading comprehension in children and to pilot reading comprehension testing materials with elementary school-age students.

Maria Dereje

• Second year, Criminology

• Supervisor: Dr. Veronica Stinson

• Research: A variety of projects and developing research skills

Rebecca ElChater

• Fourth year, Double major in Biology and Psychology, with an Honours in Chemical Biology

• Supervisor: Dr. Clarissa Sit

• Research: I will be studying Fictibacillus enclensis, which is a bacteria that can promote plant growth and act as a natural fertilizer. I will perform extractions and sample analyses to determine its mechanism of action on plants.

Yacklin Huang

• First year, undetermined major.

• Supervisor: Dr. Mengjun Hu

• Research: Discuss Data Analytics topics with supervisor weekly; read classic textbooks of relevant directions to gain important insights.

Zéa Jones

• Fourth year, Anthropology and Religious Studies

• Supervisor: Dr. Sveva Savelli

• Research: Reviewing field notes and aiding in excavations at Incoronata greca, in Italy. 

Zoe MacDonald

• Third year, Psychology 

• Supervisor: Dr. Jim Cameron 

• Research: Very broadly- exploring the psychology of astronomy, as in feelings of awe (often induced via astronomical events) and how it can increase social cohesion/global citizenship identification and prosocial behaviour, as well as more general attitudes and beliefs surrounding astronomy, life in the universe, etc. 

• Baxter Madore

• Fourth year, Honours Computer Science

• Supervisor: Dr. Stavros Konstantinidis

• Research: I am currently modernizing and adding features to the I-LaSer formal language web server at SMU.

 Lindsey McNamara

• Fourth year, Honours Mathematics

• Supervisor: Dr. Mitja Mastnak

• Research: I will be studying the simultaneous triangularization of collections of matrices and further topics in linear algebra/abstract algebra.

Janine Mombourquette

• Fourth year, Honours Biology

• Supervisor: Dr. Laura Weir

• Research: Conducting research with Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Lucy Pothier-Bogoslowski

• Fourth year, Honours Astrophysics

• Supervisor: Dr. Luigi Gallo

• Research: I am working on observational high energy astrophysics with X-ray data taken of active galactic nuclei. This work probes the extreme regions around supermassive black holes.

Sarina Scoville

• Fourth year, Biology

• Supervisor: Dr. David Chiasson

• Research: My research project will encompass molecular and synthetic biology, as well as microbiology. Under the supervision and support of Dr. Chiasson, my research will focus on the identification of genes related to nitrogen-fixation and the symbiotic relationship between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes. 

Connor Smith

• Third year, Chemistry

• Supervisor: Jane Ferguson

• Research: My research this summer is to help design and start construction of an Archimedean density apparatus to measure the density of molten salt systems.

Kaveh Wornell

• Third year,  Biology

• Supervisor: Dr. Laura Weir

• Research: This project will explore the metabolic costs of courtship behaviour in Japanese medaka. In this species, males perform a characteristic courtship 'dance' to attract females and advertise their fertility. Furthermore, the degree to which fin size may increase or decrease the metabolic demands of the behaviour is not known. This work will entail a physiological study to assess the difference between the metabolic rate of males at rest and while they are performing the courtship behaviour.

Saint Mary's University appoints new Dean of Science

Dr. Sam Veres

Saint Mary's University is delighted to announce that Dr. Sam Veres has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Science, effective July 1, 2024.  

“Dr. Veres brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this pivotal role, and he will continue to build upon the exciting ventures already underway in the Faculty of Science,” says Saint Mary's University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “His thoughtful leadership will ensure the continuing growth and success of the Faculty of Science, known for its research and teaching excellence.”   

Having joined Saint Mary’s in 2013 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Engineering, Dr. Veres has since served as Graduate Program Coordinator for the MSc and PhD in Applied Science programs. In 2019, he assumed the role of Associate Dean, Student Affairs and Supports, and most recently he stepped into the interim Dean of Science role in 2023.   

“The Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s is an exceptional place—a place filled with exceptional people who are extremely dedicated to delivering the best scientific education available while undertaking impactful, internationally recognized, and locally connected research,” says Dr. Sam Veres, Dean of Science. “I am very excited about what lies ahead—about enabling more students to experience Science and Engineering education at SMU and supporting faculty and staff to see their ambitions become reality. We have a tremendous pipeline of new initiatives—it’s really a very exciting time for the Faculty of Science.”   

Originally from East Dover, Nova Scotia, Dr. Veres has a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Dalhousie University and a PhD in Chemical & Materials Engineering from the University of Auckland, followed by a Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship in the School of Biomedical Engineering at Dalhousie University.   

In his research, Dr. Veres investigates structure-function relationships in load-bearing connective tissues like tendons and intervertebral discs, integrating concepts from engineering, chemistry, biology, physics and medicine. His research has provided fundamental insights into healthy tissue performance, as well as tissue development, aging, mechanical damage and disease.

Dr. Veres’ research contributions have been recognized globally. He has received the ISSLS Prize for Lumbar Spine Research three times—one of the top international accolades in spinal research, which is presented annually by the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS). His research has been supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Research Nova Scotia. 

As Dean of Science, Dr. Veres will champion excellence in teaching, learning and research, fostering growth through the development of new programs, facilities and initiatives. 

Spring Convocation 2024

Members of the Saint Mary’s community celebrated for academic achievement and leadership

Hundreds of graduates, alongside their families, friends and SMU supporters, celebrated Spring Convocation from May 15-17, 2024. Proud new members of the SMU alumni community filled the sunny lawn of the McNally building after their ceremonies to enjoy their special day.

Among the graduates were numerous award and medal recipients recognized for their academic distinction. The convocation program lists the recipients of the Governor General’s Gold and Silver medals, along with a list of recipients of faculty, departmental and donated awards.

Meet the Valedictorians

Six valedictorians delivered heartfelt and inspiring speeches to packed auditoriums and online audiences. Read their full biographies in the convocation program and watch their speeches in the ceremony recordings.

Alexia Jo-Ann Bourgeois
Bachelor of Commerce

Born and raised in Dieppe, New Brunswick, Alexia is a proud French-Acadien. Before her time at Saint Mary’s where she majored in marketing, Alexia played varsity soccer, earned her private pilot’s license, and is a longtime member of the Rotary Club. At Saint Mary’s, Alexia founded a club called “GalPal” where a group of student innovators developed a solution to fight against gender-based violence and sexual assault on campuses.

Nyah Sahyoun
Bachelor of Commerce

Nyah was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick, by her Palestinian father and Saint John-native mother. After working hard in her studies and completing three co-op placements, Nyah graduated with a double major in Marketing and Human Resource Management.

Jonathan Cornelius Mansvelt
Bachelor of Science

Jonathan’s time at SMU was spent supporting students as a teaching assistant, chemistry lab demonstrator, tutor at the SNAP Centre and President of the Campus Medical Response Team. He graduated with Honours Psychology, summa cum laude, and was presented with the Governor General’s Silver Medal, given to the top undergraduate student who graduated between September 2023-May 2024. 

Itai Kuwodza
Master of Arts, Atlantic Canada Studies

Itai is a two-time Saint Mary’s graduate, having previously completed her Bachelor of Arts degree. Her graduate thesis, titled Performing Diversity: Black Bodies in Atlantic Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions, was driven by a desire to understand how race permeates higher education and racialized learning. As a former SMU Husky, teaching assistant and coach, she is ready to begin her PhD studies at Acadia University.

Holly Kanyamunyu
Bachelor of Arts

Born in London, England, Holly’s family relocated to Halifax when she was four years old, where they lived on campus while her mother pursued her MBA at the Sobey School of Business. Her love for SMU led her to work with the Recruitment team. She also researched in the Dean of Science lab and helped to lead the African Student Society as Creative Director. She graduates with a major in Psychology and a minor in General Business.

Madison Vanderlinden
Bachelor of Arts

From Cole Harbour, NS, Maddie graduated with a double major in French and Intercultural Studies, complemented by a minor in Asian Studies. With a passion for global learning and outreach, Maddie spent her time at Saint Mary’s supporting incoming international and exchage students, volunteering and working with Students Acting for Global Awareness (SAGA) and the Global Learning & Intercultural Support Office.

Teaching excellence

Dr. Margaret McKee

Faculty were among those recognized during Convocation for their service to the Saint Mary’s community and their innovations in teaching and learning. Dr. Margaret McKee, Associate Professor of Management and Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Professional Graduate Programs within the Sobey School of Business, was awarded the Geraldine Thomas Education Leadership Award for her sustained commitment to fostering transformative learning environments grounded in principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical leadership.

Dr. Valerie Creelman

Members of the alumni community acknowledged Dr. Valerie Creelman, Professor of Communication within the Department of Marketing and Communication at the Sobey School of Business, with the Father William A. Stewart, S.J. Medal for Excellence in Teaching. Students consistently praised the active, experiential, and applied learning environment she creates in her classes and her deep respect for diverse student learning needs.

Dr. David Wicks, retired Professor of Management and former Dean of the Sobey School of Business, was awarded Professor Emeritus status at Spring Convocation.

Honorary Degrees

Four people were recognized for their commitment to advocacy, diplomacy, education and community engagement and were granted honorary degrees at Spring Convocation.

Kevin Murphy BComm’92
A self-described “serial entrepreneur,” Kevin Murphy boasts extensive business experience alongside his important work in disability advocacy As the Senior Parliamentary Speaker in Canada, Murphy founded and served as the first Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Network in 2019. Read more.

Donica Pottie BA’85
Her remarkable journey from a Saint Mary’s graduate to a Canadian ambassador exemplifies resilience, dedication and global citizenship. Pottie’s advocacy as a diplomat extends beyond borders in her support of human security, women’s rights and the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, which she has publicly defended in countries where these rights are restricted. Read more.

---

Lawrence (Larry) Freeman, K.C.
As a partner at Stewart McKelvey law firm, Larry Freeman has provided counsel to clients for over 40 years. He has been deeply involved in several community organizations, notably serving as a member of the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors in 2008 and Board Chair from 2019-2022. Read more.

Karen Hudson
Local educator and community leader Karen Hudson brings an innovative approach to her role as Principal of Auburn Drive High School. In 2018, she pioneered the first Africentric Cohort in math and literacy within a public school. This groundbreaking initiative aimed to empower students by infusing Afrocentric concepts into the curriculum. Read more.

---

Congratulations graduates! Visit smu.ca/graduation for more information, links to the convocation program and recorded ceremonies. Browse the full convocation photo album here.

Japanese speech nets national prize for computing science student

Liam Jay

A group photo of contestants and judges at the 35th Canadian National Japanese Speech Contest

Liam Jay had never given a speech in English, let alone in a language he was just learning. Even so, with encouragement from his Japanese Studies professor at Saint Mary’s, he competed in the 35th Canadian National Japanese Speech Contest. He ended up winning the Casio Award, one of the top special prizes at the competition, held at the Japanese Embassy in Ottawa on March 24.

“I was really nervous. That was the first speech I’ve written in any language,” says Liam, a computing science major who just finished his first year of studies. His speech focused on his love for books; he has a lot of math books and also enjoys action books, as well as Japanese and Chinese literature.

“English is my first language. Chinese is my second language, though I’m not really fluent. I’m half Chinese, so I hear it a lot at home,” he says, adding he has a better comprehension of Chinese text.  

Having grown up in Nova Scotia and PEI, Liam initially became interested in Japanese culture through music and anime films. His interest in the language soon followed as he wanted to be able to communicate better with a friend in Japan. For an elective, he signed up for the Introductory Japanese (JPNS 1100) course, designed for students beginning the study of Japanese culture and language, both written and spoken.

Dr. Alexandre Avdulov encouraged students to compete in the 26th Annual Atlantic Canada Japanese Language Speech Competition, co-organized by the Department of Languages and Cultures at Saint Mary’s and the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal, with support from the Japan Foundation and Mitsui Canada.

Students at the 26th Annual Atlantic Canada Japanese Language Speech Competition, held in early March at Saint Mary’s

“Participation in the contest is an important language learning and teaching tool, as well as the very first true achievement of a learner,” says Dr. Avdulov. “Besides language excellence and creativity, it requires discipline, diligence, bravery—all the qualities that will be so useful to our students in Japan and anywhere else all through their lives.” 

Saint Mary’s students Liam Jay, Liam Selfridge and Jacky Chiu  at the national contest

Liam and two other Saint Mary’s students, Liam Selfridge and Jacky Chiu , advanced to the national competition, which is organized each year by the Embassy of Japan, the Canadian National Japanese Speech Contest Organizing Committee, and the Canadian Association for Japanese Language Education (CAJLE). Ambassador Yamanouchi Kanji gave the opening remarks and hosted a reception for the 23 contestants at his official residence.

“It is very nice to see a Saint Mary’s student among the winners along with students from the universities with much larger Japanese programs, such as UBC, UFT, York, Western, University of Alberta, etc.,” says Dr. Avdulov. “But to me, our participants are already winners the moment they take the podium, and I am very proud of all of them. What clearly sets our students aside from other schools is not only language excellence but also the content of their speeches. They speak on the importance of culture and cultural exchanges, the value of education, social justice, racism, homelessness and so on. I can only hope they will continue to raise their voices on these subjects in any language beyond the university gates.”

Liam expresses his appreciation to Dr. Avdulov, teaching assistant Miyuki Embree, and Miyuki Arai of the Global Learning & Intercultural Support office for their ongoing encouragement and support in helping him improve and practise his speech. The experience has given him much more confidence in speaking Japanese, which will be helpful this fall. Liam will be taking part in a bilateral exchange program at Hiroshima University, a partner institution of Saint Mary’s since 2005.

“I’ve never travelled beyond North America!” he says. “When I come back, I’d like to take more Japanese Studies courses at SMU – and maybe even try another speech competition.”  

Saint Mary’s is the only academic institution in Atlantic Canada that has a Certificate in Japanese Studies. Offered through the Department of Languages and Cultures, it’s open to students from all faculties and programs across the university. Bachelor of Arts students at Saint Mary’s can do majors and honours programs in Intercultural Studies or Asian Studies, also unique in the region. These are both available as a minor to students across the university who can also pursue a minor or certificate in Chinese Studies or Japanese Studies. In collaboration with the Global Learning & Intercultural Support office, these interdisciplinary programs support student travel to the region, particularly to China, Japan and South Korea.

“It’s wonderful that Liam is pursuing a student exchange program in Japan," says Ms. Arai, Director of Global Learning Services. "I’m even more delighted that Liam will receive a Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) Award to support his study in Japan.

The GSO Program at Saint Mary's is funded by the Government of Canada through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It's exactly for students like Liam who want to develop intercultural skills while expanding horizons and making global connections.

---

Related:

• Certificate of Japanese Studies

• Global Learning & Intercultural Support