Saint Mary’s enhances entrepreneurship and innovation through new centre

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To celebrate more than 25 years of cultivating entrepreneurship at Saint Mary’s, the school is today introducing the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre.

Meet the disruptive entrepreneurs from Saint Mary's

“Although Saint Mary’s has always aimed to instill an entrepreneurial mindset within our students across all academic disciplines, we’re now taking our focus on entrepreneurship to the next level,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray.To launch the new entrepreneurship centre, more than 200 Saint Mary’s alumni, business partners, and government representatives are gathering tonight at a special venture showcase. In conjunction with the centre’s launch, the university is also kicking off a creative campaign celebrating graduates’ entrepreneurial successes.

“We created this campaign to highlight the immense number of inspiring stories that started in the hallways of Saint Mary’s University,” says Dr. Patricia Bradshaw, Dean of the Sobey School of Business. “Today, and over the coming months, we’re celebrating the success of our alumni by showcasing the great entrepreneurial careers launched by graduates in Arts, Business, and Science.”

The Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre, formerly known as the Sobey School Business Development Centre (BDC), has played a key role in building workforce skills, creating employment, supporting start-ups, and growing companies. It has also offered undergraduate and graduate students hands-on business research and consulting experience.

“Approaching the BDC’s 30-year mark, we’ve helped thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of graduates,” says Michael Sanderson, the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneur Centre’s Acting Director. “As a bridge to the community, we’re pleased to see the repositioning of our role through the launch of the Saint Mary’s Entrepreneurship Centre; we’re ready for growth.”

“Saint Mary’s has been developing and mentoring entrepreneurs for decades,” says
Dr. Summerby-Murray. “We’re proud to play a key part in the ongoing growth of Atlantic Canada. And I hope that when our federal, provincial, and industry partners look to Saint Mary’s, they see eager learners and doers who spark innovation within our region, across Canada, and around the world.”

The Saint Mary's Entrepreneurship Centre

Saint Mary’s archaeological expedition to share the story of people enslaved at coffee plantation in Cuba

Students unearthing artificacts at the Angerona Plantation archaeology site. 

A group of Canadian university students are about to depart on an archeological expedition to Cuba, spearheaded by Saint Mary’s University. The students will be excavating historical artifacts and investigating the cemetery at Angerona, a Cuban national historic site and former slave plantation, 80 kilometres east of Havana.

Interested in applying to join the expedition or looking for more information?

Email Professor Taylor at c.aarontaylor@gmail.com. The fee to join the expedition is $1600 (this includes accommodations, meals and transportation within Cuba) plus airfare and tuition (2 credits). The deadline to apply is May 4th.

“This expedition offers an opportunity to work with our partners in Cuba to uncover more of the lost history of the Angerona Coffee Plantation,” said Aaron Taylor, a Professor of Archaeology at Saint Mary’s and the program’s instructor.  “This plantation has a big historical significance in Cuba, and we want to help tell the stories of the people who were enslaved there.”

During the 19th century, Angerona was one of the largest slave plantations in the Americas—yet little is known about the day-to-day lives of the people who lived there.

A collection of some of the artifacts found in the first year of the excavation.

From June 10 to July 1, students from Canada and Cuba will be working together on excavating, identifying and interpreting the artifacts they find.

In addition to continued exploration of the site’s barracks, this expedition will include an investigation of the plantation's cemetery and the recovery of skeletal remains. This will provide a clearer story of life on the plantation. The team will be able to learn more about the people on the plantation, such as their general health, diet, age of death, and burial customs. This will include further research into the possibility that Nova Scotia supplied large quantities of codfish to Cuba during the period of the plantation system.

This trip marks the second year of what will be at least a five-year partnership between Saint Mary’s University, Havana’s Cabinet of Archeology and the College of San Geronimo.

 For more information about the expedition and to apply to join the team, visit http://www.smu.ca/academics/departments/cuba-archaeology.

Saint Mary’s biologists receive federal funding for Fish Behaviour and Physiology (FiBP) Lab

Dr. Laura Weir and Dr. Anne Dalziel

Two Saint Mary’s biologists have received funding to investigate how environmental variation influences fish populations in Atlantic Canada, which should help predict how fish will fare with continued changes in climate. Drs. Laura Weir and Anne Dalziel will use their $200,000 John R. Evans Leaders Fund award from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to develop a Fish Behaviour and Physiology (FiBP) Lab at Saint Mary’s University.

 “Saint Mary’s is delighted that Drs. Weir and Dalziel have received a prestigious CFI research award,” says Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice-President Academic and Research. “This investment supports not only the world-class research taking place at Saint Mary’s, but also our students access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and technologies.”

Integrative studies that combine the genetic, biochemical, physiological, and behavioural mechanisms are needed to understand how fish populations adapt to environmental change. The FiBP Lab will investigate how these mechanisms contribute to differences in environmental tolerance, physiological performance, and reproductive behaviour among populations and species of fish common to Atlantic Canada, including salmon, trout, stickleback, killifish, alewife, and herring.

“Fish are a valuable natural resource,” says Dr. Laura Weir, assistant professor in the Department of Biology. “Our research will provide important baseline knowledge and inform policy and conservation efforts for our local fish populations.”

Research in the FiBP Lab will also help scientists and the public understand how biodiversity in aquatic environments is affected by coastal development.

“Canada has the longest coastline in the world, and understanding how changes to coastal waters will impact the animals living there is essential,” says Dr. Anne Dalziel, assistant professor in the Department of Biology.

The FiBP Lab formalizes an existing research collaboration between Dr. Anne Dalziel, an expert in fish physiology and evolutionary biology, and Dr. Laura Weir, whose expertise lies in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. Currently, the pair are working together to discover the physiological and behavioural mechanisms that lead to the unique breeding coloration of the white stickleback, an endemic Nova Scotian fish.

About the John R. Evans Leaders Fund

The John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) supports Canadian researchers by providing them with the research tools and infrastructure required to become leaders in their field. It also helps Canadian institutions attract and retain world-class researchers by remaining internationally competitive in areas of research and technology development aligned with their strategic priorities.

Research journal honours Saint Mary's University geologist

Dr. Jaroslav (Jarda) Dostal, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Geology

A special issue of the International Journal of Earth Sciences is dedicated to Dr. Jaroslav (Jarda) Dostal, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Geology. Dr. Dostal is internationally recognized as a scientific leader and a pioneer in lithogeochemistry, the study of the chemical composition of rocks and minerals from the Earth, and its application to ancient tectonic processes, which control the structure and properties of the Earth’s crust and its evolution through time.

The issue is comprised of papers submitted by Dr. Dostal’s colleagues in celebration of his remarkable contribution to the fields of geochemistry and tectonics. It developed from the Montreal 2015 joint assembly of the American Geophysical Union, Canadian Geophysical Union, Geological Association of Canada, and Mineralogical Association of Canada, which included a special session held in Dr. Dostal’s honour.  

“I am deeply grateful for this honour. I have been so fortunate over the course of my career to have such an esteemed group of researchers from around the world with whom to collaborate on my research, “says Dr. Dostal. “I am also appreciative of Saint Mary’s University and their continued support over the course of my career that enabled me to pursue the areas of research reflected in this publication.”

A Long and Distinguished Research Career

Dr. Dostal joined the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s University in 1975, after completing his undergraduate degree at Charles University in Prague and his Ph.D. at McMaster University. He became Professor Emeritus in 2006.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Dostal contributed to a number of landmark studies that deepened scientists’ understanding of tectonic environments. Early in his career, he was internationally recognized as an expert in both igneous and metamorphic rocks, including the wide variety of petrological processes associated with their creation. Igneous rocks form through the cooling and solidification of hot, molten materials; metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock types, either through heat or pressure.

“Over the past fifty years, Dr. Dostal has made a remarkable contribution to the field of geochemistry and to Saint Mary’s University,” says Dr. Adam Sarty, Associate Vice-President, Research, and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. “The depth and breadth of his scholarship is outstanding.”

As Professor Emeritus, Dr. Dostal maintains an active research practice. His current work is focused on Precambrian complexes in Mexico, granites of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt in Mongolia, and the formation of a rare metal deposit at the Bokan Mountain Complex in Alaska.

A Legacy of Excellence at Saint Mary’s and Beyond

 Over the course of his tenure at Saint Mary’s University, Dr. Dostal has made significant contributions to the Department of Geology and the university as a whole. In addition to supervising dozens of undergraduate and graduate research students, he served as Chair of the Department of Geology for twelve years and as a member of the university’s Academic Senate and the Board of Governors. Dr. Dostal was also instrumental in establishing the Regional Analytical Facility (previously known as the Regional Geochemical Centre).

“Dr. Dostal has spent his career addressing fundamental “big picture” questions, and his research has had a far-reaching impact within the global geoscience community,” says Jacob Hanley, Chair of the Department of Geology at Saint Mary’s University.  “A widely-recognized authority in his field, Dr. Dostal is also a remarkable mentor to students and a selfless colleague, creating and facilitating research collaborations at SMU and around the world.”

From the classroom to the community, Service Learning approach takes hold at Saint Mary’s

An exciting pilot project this winter semester has turned a third-year management course in the Sobey School of Business into an experiential opportunity for students who are applying their learning out of the classroom and in the community.

The first meeting of the Community of Practice for Service Learning will take place on Thursday, April 19 from 12-1 pm in Atrium 216. Lunch will be provided.

RSVP to service.learning@smu.ca

Ninety students in Dr. Xiaoyu Liu’s course “Ethical Responsibilities of Organizations” have been partnered with one of ten community organizations—including Adsum for Women & Children, the Parker Street Food Bank, Fairview’s Mobile Food Market, the SMU Community Food Room and the Saint Mary’s Spark Zone, which ran a “food hack” during the semester—in a pilot project to expand community-based service learning.

So, what is service learning?

“It’s intended to take students out of their comfort zones and get them to put theory to practice,” says Sarah Bray, the university's newly hired service learning coordinator. “Aligning course concepts and academic knowledge with real-world experience. In this case, working in teams of five, each student group was paired with an organization and completed 15 hours of service over the course of the semester.”

Service learning students at the Saint Mary’s Spark Zone Food Hack: (l–r) Ryan Carmichael, Diyaa Al Hamad, Rohan Avirah Paul, Ryan MacDonald, Carmen D'Intino, Garry Russell Jr.

Unlike volunteerism, or work-experience placements, service learning involves an explicit connection between the service performed and the course’s academic content, and the work performed by students is related to needs identified by the community partners. The focus is usually on non-profit organizations, publically funded institutions, and social enterprises.

The theme of food security connected closely to Dr. Liu’s course—all of the community partners were connected to the larger theme of food security, which is one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, aimed in part at the business community.

Daniel Keays, a 23-year-old honours students in Economics, was part of a team that worked with The Spark Zone on Food Hack Nova Scotia. The Spark Zone is a partnership between Saint Mary’s and other local post-secondary institutions, creating a space for collaboration and creative thinking across institutions. The Food Hack is an attempt to address problems in food safety, sustainability, and security.

“With Nova Scotia having a relatively high degree of food insecurity, the connection back to business ethics was pretty clear to us.”

— Daniel Keays

“Our idea was to take lobster waste out of landfill and out of the ocean—which is a financial burden for companies and an environmental issue—and instead collect that shell waste, process it, and turn it into fertilizer.” Over two days, Keays’ team competed to eventually take home the top prize. They’re now looking at local seafood companies they can reach out to with the idea.

“With Nova Scotia having a relatively high degree of food insecurity, the connection back to business ethics was pretty clear to us,” says Keays. “Any food business operating in Nova Scotia ought to consider that a part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.”

Another partner was Adsum for Women & Children, where a team of five cooked meals at Adsum House, a temporary shelter for women and children. Kathy McNab, Fund Development Officer, says that the experience made the reality of food insecurity in the community very real for students, and introduced some to ethical issues they may not have previously encountered or considered: “Some of the male students, especially, had to stay a bit more contained in the kitchen, as many of our residents have recent trauma related to domestic abuse. So they had to negotiate ethical territory in this workspace they may never have had to before.”

Service learning students working with the Square Roots Bundle Program: (l-r) Joseph Henry, Hongwoo Kim, Stephanie Ibrahim, Gavin Grant

Nearly half the service-learning students worked on campus with the Saint Mary’s Food Room. Nishka Rajesh is a fourth-year Psychology major, and President of the Saint Mary’s University Community Food Room society. She oversaw the teams that worked with the Food Room.

“We had a group working on social media strategy, one did a mobile food room, four did food drives and fundraising—one in each faculty and off campus—and another did scheduling. So it was really a coordinated, business-like effort, and we’ve really seen a great result. Before this semester we could only be open two hours a day, and now we’re open 10 am to 5 pm every weekday, except for deliveries on Monday morning.”

Rajesh says more people are using the room, and awareness has increased. “It’s made a big difference to us, and I think demonstrated to students the community need.”

Service Learning at Saint Mary’s is not a brand-new concept. Among other examples, since September 2014, Criminology professor Dr. Stephen Schneider has spearheaded a remarkable partnership with Corrections Nova Scotia, in which Saint Mary’s student mentor and otherwise work with young offenders in a local youth detention facility.

But today, with Bray on board, service learning is moving into a more central role in the university, with greater administrative and logistical support to faculty members. Bray will also help to prepare students for their experiences, and develop new opportunities with community partners.

“With support from the Studio for Teaching and Learning,” she says, “we’re also going to be starting a Community of Practice for Service Learning on campus, where faculty members who have been engaged in service learning for years can connect and share with others who are interested in learning more.”

The first meeting of that group will take place on Thursday, April 19th from 12-1 p.m. in Atrium 216. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to service.learning@smu.ca

Celebrating global connections

Dr. Charles Beaupre, Canadian Co-Director; Maria Pan, Chinese Co-Director; Susan Summerby-Murray, Saint Mary's President Rob Summerby-Murray; Dr. Eric Henry, incoming Canadian Co-Director; Dr. Guo, Zhaoyang incoming Chinese Co-Director

Today was a celebration of global connections between Saint Mary's University and our partner institutions in China, notably Xiamen University. 

Maria Pan receives a gift of appreciation from President Rob Summerby-Murray

The University hosted a fond farewell for outgoing Co-Director of the Confucius Institute at Saint Mary's University, Maria Pan.  It was also a time to welcome her successor, Dr. Guo, Zhaoyang,  who has arrived on campus.  At the luncheon today, hosted by President Rob Summerby-Murray and his wife Susan, members of the Confucius Institute gathered with colleagues from Saint Mary's University, the Chinese Society of Nova Scotia and local business leaders.

"The success of the Confucius Institute at Saint Mary's is a testament to the long-standing connection between Saint Mary's and Xiamen University in China," said Rob Summerby-Murray. "The support from Xiamen and from Hanban has been greatly appreciated. Under the direction of Maria Pan, the Chinese Co-Director, the cultural exchange and community engagement has grown by leaps and bounds. "

President Summerby-Murray went on to note that Maria Pan has been a Co-Director for six and a half years, a demonstration of her strong leadership and the considerable accomplishments under her tenure.

Today also marked another transition as outgoing Canadian Co-Director Dr. Charles Beaupre and the university community welcomed Dr. Eric Henry into the role of Canadian Co-Director.

Staff member chosen as TD Insurance Fellow in Advancement

Susan MacCormack

Susan MacCormack, Calling Program and Outreach Coordinator at Saint Mary’s, has been selected as one of two TD Insurance Fellows in Advancement by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE).

The annual program selects two exceptional emerging professionals and helps provide them practical experience in the field. This is the first time this prestigious position has been awarded to Saint Mary’s.

The TD Insurance Fellowship award funds Susan’s salary for a year. As part of the Advancement team, she will have access to professional development opportunities and gain experience in alumni relations, development, marketing and communications. Susan will be officially inducted as a 2018-2019 Fellow at CCAE’s national conference in June, which is being hosted in Halifax.

“I’m really excited and honoured to receive this fellowship”, says Susan. “I can’t wait to get started on some great projects and help celebrate the success of the Saint Mary’s community.”

To learn more about Susan and her accomplishments, visit the CCAE website:  https://ccaecanada.org/en/awards-fellowships/td-fellowships-in-advancement

Celebrating 20 years of excellence: The Saint Mary's Huskies Super Auction

The Huskies will descend on the new Halifax Convention Centre on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Saint Mary’s University Huskies Super Auction.

For 20 years, Huskies enthusiasts, fans, friends and family have supported athletic excellence at Saint Mary’s University. The auction is an important tradition at Saint Mary’s, a tradition that helps Saint Mary’s high-performance student-athletes to excel at their sport of choice and in their academic endeavours.

Join us this Wednesday for our @smuhuskies 20th Anniversary Super Auction. #dowhatyoudo #gohuskies pic.twitter.com/JqR2T7oXkp

— Rob Summerby-Murray (@smuprez) March 26, 2018

“The fact that we are celebrating the 20th year of this event is in itself a testimony to its success through the widespread support the auction receives from our community at large,” said Dr. John S. Fitzpatrick, Q.C., BA’81, and former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors. “Our student-athletes derive a great benefit from this amazing event.  Not only does it provide financial support to our athletes, but it also provides them with an opportunity to meet many of our alumni.  We are proud of all of our student-athletes, particularly those Academic All Canadian Athletes who somehow find the time to compete at a very high level and also achieve academic excellence.”

Over the years, the super auction has seen a variety of great items up for auction. From replica Don Cherry suits to custom-made SMU Huskies fireplaces, the best way to find out what’s up for auction is to attend.

“I am coming for the first time now as our family company, Minuteman Press, is now a sponsor of my old stomping grounds. We printed the tickets for the event and other items for the evening,” said super auction newcomer, Chantal Maheux-Webster, BComm'04, General Manager of Minutemen Press. “Being an alumna and after working with the university to help with their printing and signage needs, I became more familiar with the event and what a great event it is. I questioned ‘why I have missed it all these years?’, I am looking forward to it.”

There a still a few tickets left, so don’t miss your opportunity to support our Huskies and have a chance to take home a variety of fantastic items. Click here for more information and to get your tickets.

SMU Astronomer Wins Qilak Award for Astronomy

Dr. Robert Thacker sharing his love of science with an engaged crowd.

Dr. Robert Thacker, Director of the Science Outreach Centre and Professor in the Department of Astronomy & Physics at Saint Mary’s University, is the 2018 recipient of the Canadian Astronomical Society’s (CASCA) Qilak Award for Astronomy Communications, Public Education, and Outreach.

The Qilak Award honours Canadian residents who have made an outstanding contribution either to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy or informal astronomy education in Canada. 

“Dr. Thacker is a passionate science communicator and a tireless advocate for astronomy research, and science in general,” says Dr. Steven Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Science. “Saint Mary’s is very proud of his outreach efforts.”

Thanks to everyone for all the lovely congratulation messages today! I'm greatly honoured to have been awarded the Qilak Award by CASCA. I should also acknowledge Paul Heath who was awarded @RASC Qilak last year! Sharing a celebratory🍾 glass with the amazing @LM_Campbell pic.twitter.com/2qraitqXYc

— Rob Thacker (@DrRob_Thacker) March 26, 2018

In addition to maintaining an internationally recognized research portfolio, Dr. Thacker dedicates his time to science outreach. Since 2009, he has given 68 public lectures and has participated in over 350 media interviews and sciences programs, including a weekly segment on CBC Radio’s Mainstreet NS and 1310 News’s Ottawa Today. In recognition of his commitment to science outreach in Atlantic Canada, he was named Science Champion at the 13th Annual Discovery Award in 2015.

The Science Outreach Centre at Saint Mary’s University was created in 2017 to coordinate and expand the university’s science outreach efforts. As Director, Dr. Thacker chairs the Outreach/Community Engagement Advisory Council, oversees the Marine Mammal and Forensic Science youth summer camps, and supports recruitment initiatives and on-campus events like the Nova Scotia Youth Experience Showcase

“I simply love talking with people about science,” says Dr. Rob Thacker. “But I want to make clear science is vastly more than a body of facts, it's a process and a way of discovering. It tells us as much about ourselves as it does the world and universe around us.”

Dr. Thacker also maintains an active online presence; find him on Twitter @DrRob_Thacker or visit the Sounds of Science podcast page.

New arena with NHL-sized ice surface coming to Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s Huskies Anthony Repaci (3rd year, Psychology), Siobhan Birch (2nd year, Commerce) and Athletics and Recreation Director Scott Gray, share the great news of the new arena coming to campus in 2019. 

Saint Mary’s University has approved construction of a new, state-of-the-art arena. The on-campus facility will feature an NHL-sized ice surface for the Huskies men’s and women’s hockey teams.

“This new arena will not only support our varsity athletes and coaches but will enrich athletics and recreation opportunities for all of our students,” said Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “This facility will benefit the Saint Mary’s community but also Halifax as a whole. As a university, we are community engaged and focused, and our new arena will be available to community sports teams and other groups looking for a place to learn and play.” 

The new arena will continue the tradition of hockey excellence on-campus and will be built on the same location as the arena it will replace. The new arena will have seating for 800 fans with standing room for 200 plus. The planning and design of the arena will incorporate flexibility for future growth should that be needed during the life of the building. Cost and funding details will be announced later in the spring.

The arena is scheduled to open in time for the 2019 hockey season.

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See updates on the progress of the Dauphinee Centre.

Student athletes host Special Olympians for "Motionball" fundraising event

Over 120 student-athletes, 12 teams and 25 Special Olympians competed in the first indoor Motionball - Marathon of Sport hosted by Saint Mary's University.

The event raised over $12,500 for Special Olympics. Thank you to men's basketball coach, Jonah Taussig and his team of volunteers who helped make this event so successful.