Announcements and events

With heavy hearts, we share the recent news that the remains of 215 children were found in an unmarked, mass grave on the site of the former Kamloops Residential School. All of us from the Dean’s office want to express our profound feelings of grief and anger at this injustice, and to send our love and support to all Indigenous people as they grapple with this news.

Peter Loock, Dean of Science, updates the alumni community on how the faculty has adapted to COVID-related changes.

Lydia Toorenburgh is our inaugural, tri-faculty appointed Indigenous Resurgence Coordinator. Read about her background, journey, and plans.

Checking in with Science’s inaugural Associate Dean Research Dr. Laura Cowen, an ecological statistician with a biology background. Read about her path to the Dean’s office and plans to promote research.

UVic Science alum Victoria McDonald talks about returning to school for a career pivot back in 2016. McDonald, now pursuing her PhD in a prestigious climate science program at the University of Washington.

For the past 10 years Honours Fest winners have received monetary prizes thanks to the generosity of Fritz Boehm. Boehm chats about his life-long love of science and desire to encourage future generations.

The pandemic couldn’t stop our annual celebration of undergraduate science research! Our 10th annual Honours Fest pivoted online with poster presentation videos and video-conference awards ceremony.

University of Victoria physicist Art Olin is part of the first team to trap antimatter atoms using lasers.

On Dec 10, 2020 at 6:30pm, the Departments of Biochemistry & Microbiology and Chemistry held a virtual information session for prospective undergraduate students.

Last month, UVic students Tristan Zaborniak and Sam Tomkins both presented their Honours thesis research at the prestigious IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing & Engineering (QCE20).

On Nov 26, 2020 at 6:30pm, the Departments of Mathematics & Statistics and Physics & Astronomy held a virtual information session for prospective undergraduate students.

On Nov 12, 2020 at 6:30pm, the Department of Biology and School of Earth and Ocean Sciences held a virtual information session for prospective undergraduate students.

On Oct 29, 2020 at 6:30pm, the Faculty of Science held a virtual information session for prospective undergraduate students. The recording is now available.

Physical sciences at the University of Victoria have been ranked 5th in Canada and 151-175 globally in Times Higher Education (THE) 2021 rankings!

The Faculty of Science is pleased to release the 2019-2020 Dean's List. The list recognizes the top 10% of current undergraduate students by year based on sessional GPA and of graduating students based on their graduating GPA. Congratulations!

Physics and Astronomy researcher Julio F. Navarro has been selected as a 2020 Citation Laureate by the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate, for his work on fundamental studies of galaxy formation and evolution, cosmic structure, and dark matter halos.

On August 18, 2020, the Faculty of Science hosted it's second virtual forum with incoming undergraduate students. Find resources and contacts mentioned here.

This Fall most of our undergraduate classes will be online. We're ensuring that you'll get the best possible remote teaching experience possible. On July 29, we hosted a meeting with our returning undergraduate students to answer some of their questions and provide them with resources to prepare for the fall term.

Follow-up information from the graduate student virtual forum held on July 29, 2020.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020 from Peter Loock, Dean of Science and video message from Paul Nicklen (BSc ‘90, Hon. D. Sc. ‘17), acclaimed photographer, film-maker, marine biologist and co-founder of SeaLegacy.

This Fall most of our undergraduate classes will be online. We're ensuring that you'll get the best possible remote teaching experience possible. On June 30, we hosted a meeting with our first-year incoming undergraduate to answer some of their questions and provide them with resources to prepare for the fall term.

We are proud to announce the Faculty of Science recipients for this year's Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Delivery of Fall 2020 Courses

This year, New Frontiers in Research Funds (NFRF) in Exploration will support three innovative and interdisciplinary research projects in the Faculty of Science. Projects include a novel approach to generating the entangled photons necessary for quantum technology, a pharmaceutical lab-on-a-chip that mimics the blood-brain barrier and the development of artificial intelligence capable of synthesizing new materials.

UVic Biology alumni James Tyrwhitt-Drake is playing a key role in a UVic effort to protect frontline health workers, by manufacturing medical-grade face shields for Island Health.

Mathematics PhD Mark Piraino, is the recipient of the 2019 Governor General's Gold Medal

In response to the current extraordinary circumstances, courses available through the Faculty of Science for the summer 2020 term have been updated and all courses will be taught online.

Alumna Julie Angus, MSc Biology 2001, has been named the 2020 BC Business Women of the Year – Innovator award. A scientist, adventurer, boat designer, and entrepreneur, Angus cofounded Open Ocean Robotics, a cleantech business that collects ocean data using wind and solar powered autonomous boats, providing real time information to protect oceans and offer solutions to maritime challenges.

Earlier this month, fifty-five Honours students throughout the Faculty of Science presented their research at the ninth annual Honours Fest, a conference-style poster session that showcases outstanding undergraduate research.

UVic chemist and Canada Research Chair Katherine Elvira comments on a new microfluidic device in c&en (chemical & engineering news), noting the potential impacts of the new technique.

UVic biochemist and microbiologist John Burke is featured in Science World's monthly series 'Hypothesize This' for his promising work in a new area of cancer research, recently funded by a CIHR grant.

Seymour Schulich's $200 million scholarship fund will help create the next pioneers of global scientific research and innovation, at UVic and across Canada.

Congratulations to this year's REACH Award recipients from the Science community.

Marine Biologist and Canada Research Chair in Deep Ocean Research Verena Tunnicliffe had the honour of being chosen as the civilian sponsor for the Canadian Coast Guard's newest vessel, the CCGS Sir John Franklin.

The Faculty of Science is excited to welcome Dr. Peter Loock as Dean of Science.

Important notice on TMT

Mathematics and Statistics PhD candidate Joseph Horan has won a President's Fellowship in Research-Enriched Teaching for his proposed reinvention of the upper-level undergraduate math class, MATH 365.

Congratulations to the UVic Science 2019 spring graduates. We’re thrilled at everything you have learned and accomplished during your time studying in the Faculty of Science.

Congratulations to Biochemistry PhD graduate Gillian Dornan who has received a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship to continue her research in Germany at the Leibniz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP).

Taylor Josephy, a student of the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, is off to Zambia as part of his Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives internship.

Congratulations to astrophysicist Nienke van der Marel who has received a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to strengthen our understanding of planet formation.

Congratulations to Mathematics & Statistics student Tyra Cockney-Goose who has won the prestigious national STEAM Horizon award.

Congratulations to Leah Gajecki who has won the 2019 Andy Farquharson Award for Teaching Excellence from the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The Faculty of Science extends its deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Doreen Betty Kennedy, a great friend and patron of the Faculty of Science.

Caroline Cameron (Biochemistry & Microbiology) has received the Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence, as part of the 2019 LifeSciences BC Awards, for her work using advanced technologies to study the pathogen that causes syphilis. Cameron is one of the world’s leading experts on this sexually- and vertically-transmitted infection that has seen an alarming global resurgence in recent years, including within B.C.

Last month, thirty-six Honours students throughout the Faculty of Science presented their research at the eighth annual Honours Fest, a conference-style poster session that showcases outstanding undergraduate research. Honours Fest is the culmination of two semesters of grueling research, and an opportunity for students to show what has been occupying their time and brainpower.

For nine years local sculptor Maarten Schaddelee’s work has been on display on the first floor of the Bob Wright Building, providing intrigue and inspiration to the UVic community. That is until last year when one of the two pieces was accidentally bumped and damaged. Now reinforced and restored, both are back on display in the Bob Wright Centre - a building dedicated to the ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences thanks to the artist.

The President's Extraordinary Service Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of our people. This year, 15 nominations—representing 38 people (10 individuals and five teams)—were received from across campus in the five award categories. Two winners were from the Faculty of Science.

A team of researchers from institutions including University of Victoria, the National Research Council of Canada, Dalhousie University, and the Flatiron Institute, have discovered a cluster of galaxies assembling very differently and more quickly than current models would predict. Calculations indicate that the astronomers are witnessing the assembly of one of the most massive structures in the present-day universe.

The Canadian Mathematical Society has announced that Mathematics Professor Gary MacGillivray is the recipient of the 2018 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Celebrate outstanding undergraduate Science research at the 7th annual Honours Fest.

We are sad to announce the passing of our friend and colleague, Dr. Florin Diacu.

The university and the Faculty of Science is deeply saddened by the loss of a member of our community. On the weekend, it was reported that a young man died while surfing in Tofino. Friends and relatives identified him as Nijin John, a UVic graduate student in chemistry. Our hearts go out to the family of Nijin John and friends at this very difficult time.

Dr. Daryll Harrison, UVic Chemistry Alumni and 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient for the Faculty of Science, joins us to discuss life after University.

Biology professor Julia Baum and PhD student Danielle Claar contributed to a paper published in Science on the mass bleaching of corals around the world, finding that the average interval between bleaching events has reduced by more than half.

As an undergraduate student athlete in Biology, Christopher Lee is almost always on the go. If he’s not training or at a game, he’s often studying on the 3rd floor of ECS.