THE (PETRI) DISHF a c u l t y o f S c i e n c e N e w s l e t t e r

NEW FACULTYShyamchand Mayengbam,

BiochemistryAmilar Soares, Computer Science

Vinicius Prado da Fonseca, ComputerScience

David Lowe, Earth Sciences

Juliana Vidal (Chemistry) has been taking part in the 2020 CAS FutureLeaders program. She is one of 30 elite young chemists worldwide to bechosen for this program.The program awards early-career scientists with leadership training andparticipants were selected from hundreds of applicants. They represent 18countries and a wide array of scientific disciplines. Ms. Vidal has been attending weekly webinars and got to present to thegroup herself. She has also recently given a virtual seminar on greenchemistry at the University of Rio de Janeiro.

FUTURE LEADER

RETIREMENTSSharon Deir, Computer Science

Ingrid Verbree-Barnes, Computer ScienceCharles Hurich, Earth SciencesElliott Burden, Earth Sciences

Mike Carrigan, Ocean SciencesBrad de Young, Physics

Jolanta Lagowski, PhysicsBrenda Carew, Psychology

NEW STAFFBarb Hynes, Computer Science

Steph McIntyre, Computer ScienceMary-Beth Smith, Math & StatsAlison Highsted, Dean's Office

President Vianne Timmons, here with Dr. Travis Fridgen, acting dean of Science, and Dr. Garth Fletcher, head ofOcean Sciences, visited the Ocean Science Centre on Sept. 17, 2020.

New issue of

Prescience

N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 0 V o l . 1 , I s s u e 1

This fall, members of the Faculty of Science joined with the Johnson GEOCentre to host The Signal Hill Science Show. The family friendly episodes featured Silvana Rodrigues Pereira(Chemistry), Dr. Mark Berry (Biochemistry), Dr. Mike Morrow (Physics)Dr. Kris Poduska (Physics), Dr. Terrence Tricco (Computer Science), Dr.Scott Harding (Biochemistry) and Dr. Chris Kozak (Chemistry).

SCIENCE ENGAGEMENT

Dr. Paul Snelgrove (Ocean Sciences/Biology) joinsan international group of experts recommendinghow to save nature from extraordinary biodiversityloss. Read

Sixteen Memorial University professors, includingfour from the Faculty of Science, have been accordedthe professor emeritus/emerita designation Read

Dr. Marco Merkli (Math & Stats) teaches a course atCameroon's African Institute for MathematicalSciences. Read

Dr. Bill Montevecchi (Psychology) receives theJamie Smith Memorial Mentoring Award inOrnithology from the Society of CanadianOrnithologists. Read

Cross-campus effort ensures high school students upto speed on math. Read

Devon McGrath (Chemistry) is learning how to takehis passion for entrepreneurship to the next level. Read

Computer Science students take first place inMinecraft competition. Read

New physics grad will dedicate his career to theplanet. Read

N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 0 V o l . 1 , I s s u e 1

Vitamin Sea is an online marine education learning seriescreated by the Department of Ocean Sciences.

The program streamed live this past summer as part ofthe department's public education program. Videosincluded Oil Spills with Dr. Uta Passow, Marine HabitatMapping with Dr. Pat Gagnon, Ocean Biogeochemistrywith Dr. Rachel Sipler, Marine Mammals and OceanNoise with Ashley Noseworthy, Edgewise Environmentaland Live Touch Tank with Dylan Mahon.

Dr. Chris Kozak (Chemistry) talks about what causesthe changing scents of the seasons with DownhomeMagazine and the chemistry behind farting withCBC.

Carter McNelly, founding member of OceanUS, theOcean Sciences undergraduate society receivesfunding to make trash clean-ups safer. Telegram

Dr. Jacqueline Blundell (Psychology), talks aboutfear and why we like being scared. National Post.

Caroline Gini (Earth Sciences) has recently returnedfrom three weeks on the Grand Banks on the AtlanticKingfisher, an offshore supply ship chartered by KrakenRobotics to collect seabed images and test new deep-seamapping sensors and equipment. Ms. Gini is developing data processing workflows forgeological characterization of the seafloor.

Student NewsDavid Bélanger (Biology) successfully defended hisPhD thesis titled Growth controls of Lithothamnionglaciale rhodoliths and relationships betweenstructural complexity and macrofaunal diversity insubarctic rhodolith beds.

Mike Piersiak (CABE) successfully defended histhesis, titled Examining the effects of in-situaquaculture on marine ecosystem structure andfunction.

Nikitha Kendyala (Biochemistry) and her husbandPurvikalyan Pallegar (Biology), won the 2020 MelWoodward Cup with their company NucliqBiologics.

Student AwardsChevron Canada Limited Rising Star Awards: EmilyJohns-Buss, Maya Soukup, Theodore Stanoev, PeiYang, Steven Lethbridge (Earth Sciences)

School of Grad Studies F.A. Aldrich Fellowship: NovaHanson (Earth Sciences)

Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies:Emmanuel Assante, Indrayani Phadtare, TharinduRuchira Senadheera, Madhushika Silva andAlexandria Tobin (Biochemistry), Logan Zeinert,Ignacio Vasquez Solis De Ovando and Zoe Zrini(Ocean Sciences).

MASTER OF SCIENCECOMPLETIONLogan Zeinert, Aquaculture; Robert Gill, Biochemistry;Peter Isesele, Biochemistry; Adrian Young, Biochemistry;Emmanuel Asante, Biochemistry; Alexandria Tobin,Biochemistry; Sarah Nicholas, Biology; Xingtong Yue,Earth Sciences; Euri Papaniculaou, Earth Sciences; JulieJacques, Marine Biology; Cerren Richards, MarineBiology.

In the Gazette

In the News

DEEP-SEA MAPPING

VITAMIN SEA

Have news to share? Email: kfoss@mun.ca