Patrick Power Library gets bookable

Starting next week, the Library is open for bookings for individual study space- including computer terminals, tables, carrels and study rooms- from 2-5pm, Monday-Friday. Local students can book space at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/PatrickPowerLibrary1@smuhalifax.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

The Paging Service continues, in which members of the Saint Mary’s community (students, faculty and staff) can put a hold on a book through the online catalogue, and make an appointment for curbside pick-up. Pick-up appointments are available between 12-5 pm, Monday to Friday.

The University Archives is also open for appointments only. Appointments are limited to 2 hours and are available between 10 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday, based on staff availability. Material to be viewed must be requested in advance, so library staff can retrieve the items. A minimum of 24 hours of notice is required for appointments.

At this time, appointments are limited to faculty, staff, and students of Saint Mary’s University.

On-site Archives staff may be able to provide remote research/reference services and limited scanning of certain materials; contact hansel.cook@smu.ca for details.

New To SMU virtual events are a success!

This years’ New To SMU events have operated differently than they have in the past. With virtual events, Student Affairs & Services and SMUSA were able to provide students with more than two solid weeks of activities. New To SMU started in July and will continue until the end of September. Turnout has been steady throughout and students have been engaging with facilitators and building relationships with their peers.

“To make the New To SMU engaging and successful virtually, we had to create a new approach,” says Lyndsay Anderson, Chair of the Welcome Activities Planning Group. “We thought about what the main goals were to benefit the students and came up with new online activities that would still meet those goals.”

The Santamarian ceremony was especially successful as a virtual event. On Zoom, new students were wearing their Saint Mary’s colours and added a campus background to their screens. Each student was asked to virtually sign the university registry which will be added to the physical book at a later date. As their official welcome into Saint Mary’s, to operate this event online was very important to the students.

Another ongoing event that has received a lot of great feedback is the Trivia events. Students are able to engage with each other on a social level to create those important peer relationships.

A new program for new students this year is the peer coach program. This program provides each student with a peer coach who they can have direct contact with if they have any questions or concerns. Students are facing new challenges by entering into a virtual university, and the peer coach program provides students with the support they need.

New To SMU events are still taking place and students are encouraged to check out the schedule at www.smu.ca/NewToSMU.

If you have any questions, please email welcome@smu.ca.

Summer research projects enhance education for Arts students

One of the many benefits of attending an institution such as Saint Mary’s is the research opportunities afforded to undergraduate students. This summer, five students from various departments in the Faculty of Arts were able to gain skills, knowledge and experience in their chosen fields of study – two will even end the summer with publications in their name.

Yingjun Chen, a fourth-year Honours French student, jumped at the chance to work with Dr. Rohini Bannerjee translating “Coupeuses d’azur,” a feature poem by Mauritian artist Khal Torabully, from French to English. “I’m finding it really enjoyable, because I’m doing something I love,” says Chen. She’s discovering many intricacies involved in translation, including appreciating the challenges of word choice, and whether to keep a rhyme or focus on the meaning. The goal is to send the 35-page poem to a publisher and use this experience as the basis for her Honours thesis. 

Fourth-year Honours Psychology student Le Khoi Anh Pham spent his summer conducting research alongside Dr. Nicolas Roulin and two graduate students, on asynchronous virtual interviews and cross-cultural personnel selection. “Contributing ideas to the research gave me confidence and insight into what post-graduate-level research and academic work are like.” He will be named as a third author in an upcoming article using the research, and has already been hired to complete another project with Dr. Roulin.

Bethany Leal just finished her first year of university, but that didn’t stop her from applying to work with Dr. Alexandra Dobrowolsky on a project critically examining Canada’s image of being a diverse, multicultural, welcoming nation. The project began with the Trudeau blackface scandal but expanded from there, considering this summer’s events. “Learning and self-reflection is a lifelong journey,” says Leal. “It can’t really be condensed into one summer or one research project, but it really helps to have had this opportunity.” This experience helped to solidify her future goals. Now majoring in Political Science, she hopes to specialize in systemic reform and holding governments to account – especially around issues of race and culture.

Fifth-year IDS and Political Science student Katheryn Lewis has been busy this summer on projects, also with Dr. Dobrowolsky. She is helping round out research on the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program, legislative responses to COVID-19 among the provinces, territories and national government overall, and feminist governance with regards to COVID-19, comparing and contrasting feminist institutions in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Minoring in Film Studies, third-year student Andrés Guardia is researching Nova Scotia film director Margaret Perry, with Dr. Jennifer VanderBurgh. He has been working to create a more in-depth picture of Perry’s life and work – to show she is an auteur, not simply a director of industrial (tourism) films. “Now that I have watched them, I am really seeing the artistic elements to the films and Ms. Perry’s authorship. It’s very powerful and, as art, I can appreciate it,” says Guardia of the unexpected outcome of his work. He wants to create music once he finishes his degree – and this experience has given him a good base and understanding of the principles to apply to his own creations.

The robust research experience gained by all five students this summer has already greatly impacted their future careers and aspirations, thanks to funding through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). These examples of undergraduate involvement in hands-on learning showcase the benefits and power of putting the motto “do what you do” into practice.

Keeping students informed: Getting ready for fall

As we prepare for September, and with classes being delivered remotely and online, the university is being proactive in connecting with students to make sure they have the information they need to have a successful fall term.

With a vast amount of information to share, Saint Mary’s is making strategic use of email, web, and social media to share important information in a timely and coordinated way.

The university has developed a schedule of communications that reflects input from across the campus, to ensure the frequency and flow of information is timely, relevant and helpful to students as they get ready to being a new term.

Below are examples of upcoming fall 2020 communications:

EMAIL

Getting Ready for Fall Email Series Sent to all undergraduate and graduate students

Each week leading up to September students will receive an email to assist them with their preparation for fall. Topics will include:

·      Student finances- view the email here
·      Tips for studying online, using technology & student success
·      Information for on & off-campus living
·      Travel, self-isolation & quarantine
·      Health, safety & hygiene
·      Mental health & wellness

Faculty & Academic Advising Emails Sent to all undergraduate students 

Students have been receiving email outreach from their Academic Advising office over the summer. These emails will continue throughout the academic year and help students understand their academic requirements, identify areas of academic support and assistance and help students build connections within their program.

For graduate students, staff and faculty from each program will contact students to provide program specific information related to virtual operations and course delivery.

New to SMU Sent to new students beginning their studies in fall 2020

Our newest Santamarians will receive information about events, workshops, webinars and resources to help them feel apart of the Saint Mary’s community, make new friends, and have a successful start to their academic journey.

New students will receive outreach from the New to SMU welcome team, their Peer-coaches and other departments such as Housing and Residence, International Student Centre, and Academic Advisors. The university will also share information about safety, hygiene, preparation for fall and the university’s COVID-19 response.

On-campus Housing Sent to all students living on-campus during fall 2020

Any student living on-campus this fall, will receive an email from the Housing and Residence office providing information on:

·      Move-in dates and procedures
·      Self-isolation (if required)
·      Services and supports for students living on-campus
·      University cleaning and hygiene practices
·      Residence Life community building opportunities and experiences

International student information Sent to international students registered in fall 2020

International students will receive information from both the university and the International Student Centre related to:

• Study permits for online study

• Government regulations and laws for travelling to Canada

• Self-isolation in Canada/Nova Scotia

• Airport pick-up program

• Services and supports offered to international students

SOCIAL MEDIA

The university will share information through its social media channels to amplify and reach the greatest number of people. The use of social media will help deliver information to internal and external audiences such as parents and student supporters.

By following university social media accounts, you will receive real time updates for everything that’s happening at Saint Mary’s. It is recommended that students follow these social media channels:

• Saint Mary’s University Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

• Student Life Facebook | Twitter

Your Faculty:

• Faculty of Arts Facebook | Twitter

• Faculty of Science Facebook | Twitter

• Sobey School of Business Facebook | Twitter

• Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA) Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

WEB

There are a number of ways our website can be helpful to students.

Virtual University smu.ca/virtualuniversity

A web environment has been created to provide information about the university’s transition to virtual learning for fall 2020. This site will provide information about virtual operations as well as the university’s response and protocols related to COVID-19.

smu.ca

The university website provides a wealth of information related to all aspect of being a student at Saint Mary’s.

Students can use the Search Tool to type key words, and find relevant webpages. Another web feature are the links at the top of the homepage to help users access the content they are looking for.

On the smu.ca homepage students can use the quick access bar to:

• Login to SMUport, Brightspace and Self-Service Banner

• Use the People Finder tool to search for professor, staff and departmental contact information

Events and university news are also posted on the smu.ca homepage. In the event of a university closure or disruption due to weather or emergency, a notification bar will appear on the smu.ca homepage. 

Have a communications question or issue?

If you are having issues receiving or accessing student communications please contact our student communications officer.

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Library expands access to books and other physical materials

The Library’s been busy working to safely expand our services!

If you need books and other physical material, you can now place a hold on SMU or other Novanet materials through our Novanet Catalogue. You can choose to pick up the material at SMU, or select a participating Novanet Library.

Need assistance finding books or other material, or placing holds? Contact us at research@smu.ca

Pick-up times at SMU are:

Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am- 2 pm

Fridays 10 am- 5 pm

Need materials from libraries beyond Novanet? Contact ill@smu.ca for more information.

Laptop Lending

The Library has a limited number of laptops for lending to local students in need. Students can place a hold here. Pick up is onsite.

Saint Mary’s University invests in online learning

Saint Mary's University is investing strategically to create an exceptional online learning environment for Fall 2020.  

Saint Mary's is providing $300,000 in additional funds for its Studio for Teaching and Learning to create more supports for faculty, students, and staff. These include a new program for students, Jump Start, the addition of staff to the Digital Learning Team to support faculty in their online instruction, and new Digital Teaching Assistants to support the university's existing teaching assistants transition to a virtual environment.

The university has also introduced a Peer Coaching program. Now every new student is paired with a student-coach who they can connect with throughout their first year of studies.  

"We are very fortunate that the Studio for Teaching and Learning has proven expertise in curricular innovation, accessibility and digital tools for learning," said Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "Over two decades, The Studio has developed an ecosystem for teaching and learning. Now we will adapt the technology and expertise to excel in this new virtual world." 

Professors have been working with specialists in digital learning and digital teaching assistants since March to adapt courses and teaching strategies. This work is continuing through the summer to ensure that the more than 1000 courses in Arts, Science and Business and graduate and professional degrees are designed to offer exceptional online academic experiences for Fall 2020.  

"I want to reassure students and parents that Saint Mary's is committed to providing an engaging, high-quality, and meaningful academic experience, whether students are studying in Bangladesh or Bras d'Or," said President Summerby-Murray. 

"We are actively working now and throughout the summer to make sure that faculty are ready for remote teaching,  and that all the necessary academic support services, co-curricular activities and community-building opportunities are available to students who will be studying online," said Dr. Esther E. Enns, Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning.   

"We have seen a strong interest in our online summer workshops in Jump Start," said Enns. "This as an encouraging sign that the activities and supports are resonating with students, and we will continue to provide and expand these offerings into the fall."  

The Jump Start program is available to all incoming and returning Saint Mary's students free of charge. It is a five-day program delivered in a virtual, online environment, matching university academic life and learning. The five days are split between two modules: How to be an Online Student and Summer Writing Workshop. Students learn by doing, participating, and meeting and making new friends. They will develop new academic skills while building on those they already have. 

Among the activities covered are:  

• practising the steps required to plan and write a variety of undergraduate assignments; 

• experiencing an online classroom lecture with a professor;

• opportunities to meet other students;

• learning about SMU’s academic and technology supports; 

• meeting and working with professional academic writing tutors; and 

• a roundtable discussion with SMU professors. 
  

More information about support for students and their online learning

• Learn more about Jump Start

• Information for future students (Fall 2020)

• Saint Mary’s moving online, increasing student supports

Saint Mary’s students among the finalists of the Atlantic AquaHacking Challenge

Six Saint Mary's students are among the finalists in a competition taking place across the Atlantic region, committed to solving freshwater issues through technology and entrepreneurship. Congratulations to SMU students Alexandra Embree, Robel Berhane, Kati van Zutphen, Guillermo Villareal de Lara, Matthew Mizzi and Robert Afari for making it to the finals of the Atlantic AquaHacking Challenge!

Source: AquaHacking Challenge Atlantic

The AquaHacking Challenge brings students, developers, designers, scientists, programmers, engineers, technology enthusiasts and entrepreneurs together to form interdisciplinary teams to tackle five different water challenges.   The competition began in February with 117 participants, and now only 22 remain across the five finalist teams.

Here is a list of the teams in the final and their solution:

• Clean Catch Baits
  
  Water Issue: Microplastics from Fishing Gear
  Team members: Robel Berhane, Kati van Zutphen and Guillermo Villareal De Lara
  
  How they describe their solution: We are the first to manufacture a 100% biodegradable, PVC Free, soft-bait fishing lure used for recreational fishing, developed through a unique organic biopolymer solution. Our baits biodegradation process starts just after 48 hours of submersion in the water, and best of all - they're edible! This technology allows anglers to fish worry free and contributes to the safety of fish, and all aquatic life.
  
  

• ExTech MIP
  
  Water Issue: Private Well Safety
  Team members: Aliasghar Golbabanezhadazizi and Fereshteh Shahhoseini
  
  How they describe their solution: We’re introducing a novel technology and devices for testing organic contaminants in water resources. This technology offers a reliable, fast, portable, and convenient measurement of organic contaminants in water resources. Our solution provides an easy method for onsite sampling of well water or any other freshwater resources using a field deployable and inexpensive device. Well-owners can easily perform the sampling and send this device by regular mail to the lab where instrumental analysis provides appropriate data for safety of the water resources.
  

• Water Innovators
  
  Water Issue: Treatment of Drinking Water in Rural and Indigenous Communities
  Team members: Rachel Hudson, Nathan McNally, Grace McNally, Waseem Jawad, Sochima Nnama, Patrick Palmer, Lauren Martin, Ben Veysey and Mudiwa Mharapara

  How they describe their solution: Our solution is a containerized distillation water treatment system that integrates off-the-shelf, existing technologies, to provide high quality trusted water to small rural and Indigenous communities in an accessible, sustainable, and culturally appropriate way.
  
  

• Well Warriors
  
  Water Issue: Private Well Safety
  Team members: Alexandra Embree, Jonathan Kan, Adam Fleiger and Liam Hartery

  How the describe their solution: Clarify is a user-friendly, web-based platform that educates, guides, and facilitates the process of treating well water. This will allow well water users to simply test and interpret their water quality. With Clarify, we strive to improve well water quality for all Atlantic Canadians.
  
  

• What the Well

  Water Issue: Private Well Safety
  Team members: Leili Abkar, Matthew Mizzi, Robert Afari and Anita Taylor

  How they describe their solution: We are proposing a service to help bring convenient testing to private well owners. Our solution will streamline the water analysis process using test kits and cloud analysis to reduce known barriers and increase well testing. SIP will provide instant water analysis and treatment consultation.
  

As the challenge has moved to phase 2, the teams will receive a $2,000 bursary courtesy of Canada's Ocean Supercluster. These funds will be used to invest in their solution, participate in a virtual retreat on water leadership and innovation, and continue to work with mentors as they refine their solutions in preparation for the Final on September 18, 2020.

The AquaHacking Challenge is an initiative of Aqua Forum founded by the de Gaspe Beaubien Foundation in 2015 to support technology and business development addressing environmental problems related to freshwater. After five successful years in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, AquaHacking went national for 2020 with regional competitions across Canada.

Saint Mary’s applauds and welcomes support for students

Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray said the announcement today, April 22, by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will help students throughout the country.  

“We know students were worried about their personal finances and their family's finances,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray. “Today, Prime Minister Trudeau provided those worried families support and hope.” 

The federal government’s new programs will provide support for students over the summer months and will increase support for students as they return to study this fall. 

“The best way to have a stronger economy in the future is to invest in students today,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray. “This is an unprecedented investment in students and our sector. This investment will help students this fall, and it will help our economy grow and be more resilient to future shocks.” 

Dr. Summerby-Murray said all levels of government have worked hard to create new supports at record speed while being responsive to the sector and other stakeholders. 

“This crisis is testing our institutions, and they are proving they are up to the challenge,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray.  

He noted Saint Mary’s University has worked with alumni, staff and faculty donors to provide short-term emergency support to its students who need it most, provided PPE to frontline health workers, engaged in rapid response research funded by the federal government, and is providing free mentoring to businesses throughout the region.  

“All sectors of our society are standing together as we combat the pandemic, and we remain committed to being active partners in the fight.”  

Saint Mary’s calling on its alumni and friends to support emergency funding for students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19

The Saint Mary’s community is coming together in support of emergency funding for students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. 

“Our students need our support more than ever,” said Saint Mary’s University President Robert Summerby-Murray. “It is imperative that we join together and help our students during this unprecedented time.”

The goal of the Emergency Student Bursary Fund is to help students with unexpected and urgent expenses in extenuating circumstances. Related to COVID-19, the fund will provide short-term and long-term support for students and cover the basics such as rent, bills, groceries, and other necessities.

Many Saint Mary’s students were employed in the industries hardest hit by COVID-19 closures including hospitality, tourism, and retail. This has resulted in significant job loss and an urgent need for student financial assistance.

“Every day, we are receiving new applications for financial aid from students who are in challenging situations and we are responding as quickly as we can to meet their  needs,” said Erin Sargeant Greenwood, Vice President, Advancement.

The Emergency Student Bursary Fund provides resources to help students complete their studies and finish the academic term.

“The funds will help alleviate financial pressure and keep our students on track towards graduation,” said President Summerby-Murray. “The fund represents our commitment to our students and reminds them that we are always here for them. We are in this together.”

If you are interested in supporting Saint Mary’s University students, please visit our online giving page for the Student Emergency Bursary Fund to make a gift.

To learn more about Saint Mary’s response to COVID-19 please visit: https://smu.ca/virtualuniversity/covidupdates.html

MTEI alumnus innovating in 3D to help fight virus

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin Gallant MTEI ’16, began making face shields for health professionals and customer service outlets through 3D printing.

Kevin Gallant MTEI ’16 and two of his 3D printed face shields.

Kevin Gallant is a professional engineer, entrepreneur, and an instructor and researcher with NBCC Miramichi.

“I was requested, from a few consultants and companies, to help in this request for PPE or protective gear for hospitals. For some reason, I expected this, based on my 3D printing network requests,” says Kevin. 

He posted about the shields on LinkedIn and was surprised to receive over 13k views, along with comments and requests to help. “This surprised me, that people were empowered to see how something so simple for me made such a large impact. I wanted to share how volunteerism can help support health professionals or people on the front lines that need PPE.”

“I purchased a $25 face shield from a local retail store three weeks ago,” he adds. “Now I can make them for one-fifth the price, but we are trying to price it properly to cover costs, shipping and provide some incentives to volunteer 3D printer shops. Safety is a concern with any product supply chain movement.”  

So how do you start making face shields? For someone who revels in technology, this part was easy: “I knew a company called PRUSA had shared a prototype design that they have perfected through dozens of prints, called the RC3.1 face shield.”

The company had gone through dozens of prototypes and two verifications with the Czech Ministry of Health. The work is shared under a license under a Creative Commons 4.0 International License. 

“I downloaded the 3D print file and imported it into my own 3D printer software for Ditto-pro supported formats. This was a great design, and fit 100 clear shields perfectly.” 

“I have two brands of 3D printers in my own home basement lab. These can print a face shield support in three hours each.”

Kevin used the rope skills he developed lobster fishing to tie the elastic rear backings for a comfortable fit. The backings were supplied from Anne Bracken Formals.

Kevin is now working with a supply chain to maintain over 25 3D printers in a network creating the PPE pieces. The clear shields are currently supplied, but there are plans to stamp out their own rolled sheets once the supply chain is broken. 

Face shields isn’t the end of it though – he’s already working on the next way to help. “Another different COVID-19 project is our NO-touch door knob for senior facilities.  This custom door knob attachment that can allow people only to use their arm or elbow to open and pull.  This will help with a no touch or prevent contamination in high-touch zones.”  

“As an engineer and inventor I promote community projects such as new cedar planters for food banks which have rain gutters to support self-watering leveling tanks,” says Kevin. “I’m always open to explore new projects, including sustainable and renewable technologies. I invite people who are looking for an engineer partner for their social enterprise or sustainability project to check out my video profile.”

Kevin has been teaching 3D and innovation for more than 26 years.

Additional notes:

• Check out Kevin Gallant’s 3D printed face shields in this video

• View an explainer video of the no-touch door knob attachment.

• View Kevin Gallant’s professional video profile.

Commerce and engineering students shine at international competition in Montreal

(l-r) Clifford Isenor, Andrew Herold, Kaitlyn Anderson and Kevin Schwarzer

During February break, Clifford Isenor and Andrew Herold represented Sobey on a cross-faculty elite team that travelled to Montreal to take part in the ENGCOMM Case Competition, billed as "the cross-disciplinary case competition combining both engineering and commerce." The competition was hosted by the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University and aims to collaboratively find solutions to real-world challenges faced by modern industries.

Representing the engineering side of the equation were Kaitlyn Anderson and Kevin Schwarzer, a student who had worked with the David Sobey Centre on their recent retail robot initiative. Team coaches were Sobey's Case Competition Coordinator Breagh Matheson, MBA, and professor Luke MacDonald of the Division of Engineering.

Fourteen schools competed including the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, University of Vermont, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, Western, York, Ryerson, McMaster, the Technological University in Dublin, Ireland, and the American University in Cairo.

Over four days, students completed and prepared case analyses on sponsor companies Global Medic, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and L3 Harris.

Overall: Saint Mary’s University was extremely competitive, with judges applauding their creativity and seamless flow of presentations. The team improved with every presentation, scoring higher with each consecutive day. After the 12-hour final case prep presentations, they were scored only three points behind the leader in their respective pool, making it a very close competition. The students refined their analysis and presentation skills and overall, had an incredible time.

During the opening dinner the team was seated with several executives of L3 Harris, providing our students with incredible networking opportunities.

The team would like to thank the following sponsors: Sobey School of Business, Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice-President Academic and Research, the BComm Advising Centre, the Dean of Science Office/Science Advising, Engineers NS and SMUSA.