Field Notes

The Faculty of Science delivered 23 webinars, workshops and training sessions about accessibility to faculty, staff and students on a range of topics from presentation techniques to Word and PowerPoint documents, course outlines and social media.

The Dr. Douglas Davidson Technology Training Fund was established by his family to support graduate students in the Department of Biology. Dr. Davidson joined the department in 1969 and served as Chair from 1974 to 1977, then Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science from 1980 to 1981. A world traveler, Dr. Davidson donated his extensive art collection to the McMaster Museum of Art. While Dr. Davidson retired in 1988, he remained actively involved in the department until his passing in 2019.

The Origins Institute and Consulat Général de France à Toronto brought together leading astrobiologists for a two-day trans-Atlantic public symposium. The all-women panel of experts included University Scholar Laura Parker and Canada Research Chair in Extragalactic Star Formation Christine Wilson from the Department of Physics & Astronomy, along with PhD candidates, graduate and undergraduate students.

The Physics and Astronomy Research Experience Award will open doors for racialized, Black and/or Indigenous, and other students who identify as people of color to conduct research with faculty members. The award also creates additional opportunities for historically marginalized students to forge meaningful peer and professional networks that will help advance their research interests and career aspirations. The Dean’s Office matched a contribution from an anonymous donor to provide initial funding for the award.

Established by her family and friends, the Philippa Heritage Scholarship supports female undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science who identify as racialized, Black or Indigenous. Philippa, who was an accomplished scientist, a proud two-time McMaster graduate, and dedicated yogi, passed away in 2020. Her daughter, Samantha Heritage, and close friend Marilyn McDermott led the fundraising campaign for the scholarship.

When the pandemic restricted in-person lab time, Kinesiology assistant professors Trevor King, Jeremy Walsh and Baraa Al-Khazraji established a virtual, interactive training series for graduate students. “The students really brought the magic,” says Baraa. “They fully engaged with the material and generously shared their thoughts and perspectives.” The trio plans to introduce more sessions on cardiovascular physiology critical thinking and communication to boost proficiency in engaging with scientific literature.

Science Career and Cooperative Education launched a program to connect seasoned co-op students  with students just starting their co-op work terms. The co-op ambassadors answer questions and share their experiences working with employers.  Students connect with the ambassadors at events and can reach out directly for one-on-one advice.

To meet the growing need for affordable and reliable access to essential lab supplies and chemicals, the Faculties of Science and Engineering, together with the Provost’s Office, opened the new Lab Stores on campus. Available to all McMaster faculty and student researchers, the facility buys supplies in bulk to help lower costs while eliminating delivery wait times for researchers and freeing up space in labs where supplies were previously stockpiled.

Juliet Daniel with the Department of Biology together with Katherine Bujold and Sarah Styler with the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology were among nine McMaster researchers to receive New Frontiers Research Fund Exploration Awards. The fund was created by the Government of Canada to support world-leading interdisciplinary, international, high-risk/high-reward, transformative and rapid-response Canadian-led research, with awards of up to $250,000 over two years.