Making teaching and learning equitable, inclusive and accessible for all

Our instructors and staff are committed to enhancing teaching excellence and student learning and experience in the Faculty of Science. One of the areas of focus has been ensuring that equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and accessibility are at the core of every classroom and laboratory.  

In 2024, Professor Tamara Kelly, Department of Biology, and Educational Development Specialist Ashley Nahornick continued to update the Faculty of Science EDI syllabus/course outline template based on research and feedback. The EDI syllabus, launched in 2022, provides York Science instructors with a guide to centre diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility in their courses and help make all students feel welcome. By gathering student and instructor perceptions of syllabi and feedback, the team updated the template and guidebook and supported instructors in adopting the template in current and upcoming courses. 

As well, Kelly continued to lead a project to increase accessibility and reduce inequities for students with disabilities in laboratories. Since the project was funded in 2023 through York鈥檚 Academic Innovation Fund, the team has laid important groundwork for improvements in Science labs. In 2024, the team continued to conduct surveys and interviews with students and instructors to gain insights on their experiences.  

Kelly also leads the Canadian Consortium of Science Equity Scholars at 快播视频, a national initiative focused on improving equity in university science courses. The consortium applies critical mixed-methods research to examine classroom climate, student belonging, and systemic barriers. At York, Kelly oversaw the deployment of surveys in 17 foundational science courses; the development of reports for instructors using aggregated student data; and the first meeting at 快播视频 to share and collect feedback and to discuss inclusive teaching practices. 

Our Faculty also provided support to instructors in enhancing teaching and learning practices. For instance, in collaboration with the Faculty鈥檚 Committee on Teaching and Learning, Kelly and Nahornick hosted a monthly book club to discuss innovative assessment practices, and five guest speaker events that provided valuable discussions on inclusive teaching, alternative grading, artificial intelligence in education, and accessibility. They hosted various opportunities for instructors to informally discuss teaching and learning challenges and best practices, such as drop-in and one-on-one sessions. Along with Biology Professors Lisa Robertson and Nicole Nivillac, they also launched teaching assistant training for new Biology graduate students. 

Expanding work-integrated learning opportunities for students

Our Faculty has prioritized increasing opportunities for our students to gain real-world, industry experience before they graduate, maximizing their career potential and success.  

In 2024, in partnership with the Office of the Vice Provost Students and the Career Centre at 快播视频, the Faculty of Science received a grant of more than $100,000 from Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada to launch innovative work-integrated learning (WIL) programming for its undergraduate and graduate students.  

鈥淥ur goals through WIL are to help students learn more about career pathways, increase their connections with industry partners, and build their career confidence,鈥� said Michael Scheid, associate dean of students for the Faculty of Science. 

WIL was successfully embedded into the curriculum of the undergraduate co-op course for Science students (Keele Campus), led by instructor Kathryn Franklin, and a graduate level course in the new Master of Biotechnology Management and Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology programs (Markham Campus), led by Biology Professor Luz Adriana Puentes J谩come. In 2024, 72 students across 21 teams from both courses worked closely with industry mentors to propose innovative solutions to current challenges faced in different sectors of the bioeconomy. All students had the unique opportunity to present their findings to their industry mentors and attend networking events with these professionals; they also received a stipend for their participation. 

Additionally, students in both courses received synchronous online training in bioprocessing from the Canadian Alliance for Skills & Training in the Life Sciences, introducing them to a variety of job opportunities in the biomanufacturing sector. They were also invited to attend the industry-focused MedTech Conference and Canada Synbio Conference in Toronto, providing them with opportunities to meet industry professionals from global companies and meaningfully expand their network.  

"Through our new WIL programming, we are helping students discover their career potential and at the same time training them to be the next generation of professionals for Canada's growing bio-economy," said Scheid. 

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Undergraduate students receive medals for high achievement

Undergraduate students Karina Kofman and Claire Del Zotto from the Department of Biology received the Faculty of Science Gold and Silver Medals at the University鈥檚 Spring Convocation Ceremony in 2024.  

Kofman received a Gold Medal, which is presented to Science students graduating with the highest GPA, and Del Zotto received the Silver Medal, which goes to a Science student who has combined the highest degree of academic achievement with the greatest contribution to undergraduate student life at York. 

Graduate students receive thesis and dissertation prizes, Governor General Gold Medal

PhD graduate Jennifer Porat and MSc graduate Nina Garrett received thesis and dissertation prizes from the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) for their outstanding scholarly work. Porat was also among three 快播视频 graduates who received the 2024 Governor General Gold Medal, which recognizes the outstanding scholastic achievements of graduate students in Canada.

Porat received an FGS Doctoral Dissertation Prize for her thesis, 鈥淩NA methyltransferases Influence Noncoding RNA Biogenesis and Function Through Catalytic-Independent Activities.鈥� Her study encompassed various aspects of ribonucleic acid (RNA) biology 鈥� a molecule essential for most biological functions 鈥� while focusing on the lesser-studied functions of a set of eukaryotic RNA modification enzymes. Her dissertation provided evidence supporting the multifaceted nature of these enzymes and underscored their importance in many fundamental biological processes.

Garrett received an FGS Master鈥檚 Thesis Prize for her thesis, 鈥淢easuring neotropical bat diversity using airborne eDNA.鈥� Her thesis developed the novel technique of capturing airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) for the detection of tropical bat species. She successfully demonstrated that airborne eDNA can accurately characterize a mixed-species community with varying abundances and that the type of sampler does not impact DNA concentration or read count.

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Fostering a passion for the sciences among youth

Our Science Engagement Programs (SEP) office delivers innovative and engaging programs for youth in grades three to 12 to explore topics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Our programs take place within the Faculty of Science at the Keele Campus of 快播视频, as well in the community through schools, community centres, and other educational institutions. 

In 2024, SEP made significant strides in fostering a passion for STEM among youth. Our diverse range of programs, including march break and summer camps, as well as workshops in community centers and schools, reached over 6,300 students and teachers. 

• 1,200+ students participated in engaging activities at Keele Campus, including camps and school visits. 

• 1,280+ students participated in our outreach initiatives in libraries, schools, and virtual settings. 

• 3,875+ students participated in Strategic Science Fund workshops, a fully-subsidized program offered in partnership with the Government of Canada and Actua. 

Additionally, our ongoing partnership with the Skills for Change - Black Community Access Program empowered Black high school youth in underserved Toronto communities. Through a series of online and in-person workshops, students explored exciting topics, such as genetics, biomedical science, and space engineering, preparing them for future careers in STEM.  

This is the first time sending my child to the 快播视频 program. My child was fascinated by what he learned from the neuroscience program 鈥� and shared that there were many hands-on activities, which he really appreciated. I really appreciated all the efforts put into giving the children a very positive learning experience.

- Parent, Neuroscience 2.0 (2024) 

Our projects have been very interesting and we have gotten a lot of hands-on experience in labs working with different equipment we would never have access to at school. The lab work was easily my favorite part of the camp. Using the VR headsets has been especially memorable, as I've never been able to interact with 3D models in such an environment, and I don't think I would be able to get this experience anywhere else.

- Student, Pharmaceutical Chemistry (2024) 

快播视频's Top 30 Alumni Under 30

Science alumni Katrina Carver (BSc 鈥�22), Pablo Gonzalez (BSc 鈥�22), Adrian Leva (BSc 鈥�16), and Brian Serapio (BSc 鈥�18) were named among 快播视频鈥檚 2024 Top 30 Alumni Under 30, a program that highlights the success and diversity of the University鈥檚 young alumni. 

xplain Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease. Her research aims to guide drug development, improve diagnosis and enhance patient care. Carver was awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarship and a Medical Biophysics Excellence Award for her work. 

Gonzalez, a medical student at the University of Toronto, is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion. He founded the Canadian Association of Latin Medical Students to empower marginalized Latin American youth to pursue healthcare careers. As a keynote speaker at provincial interfaith events, he fosters empathetic dialogues, and is passionate about supporting underserved and marginalized groups through his academic endeavours.

Leva is the COO and co-founder of Nu-Rise Construction Management. Previously, he founded New Mission Investments, a real estate company focused on building generational wealth through multifamily properties and increasing access to housing in Ontario. He has also participated as a humanitarian volunteer to help build homes for at-risk families in the Dominican Republic.

Serapio is a resident physician in psychiatry based in Toronto with a strong interest in the care of older adults and adults with complex health needs. He has been involved in geriatrics interest groups that raise awareness about the health challenges older adults face and promote careers in geriatrics. He is also passionate about rectifying the underrepresentation of minorities in medicine.

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Scott D. Tanner receives 快播视频 Alumni Award

Scott D. Tanner (BSc 鈥�76, PhD 鈥�80) received a 2024 快播视频 Alumni Award in the Outstanding Achievement category. The 快播视频 Alumni Awards recognize alumni who have achieved the extraordinary by creating positive change in their fields.  

After completing his doctoral work in York鈥檚 Faculty of Science, Tanner became principal scientist at Sciex, inventing successful mass spectrometry instruments. In 2005, he joined the University of Toronto, and was subsequently named 2011 Inventor of the Year in Biomedical and Life Sciences and co-founded the biotech company DVS Sciences. 
 
Tanner is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Plasma Spectrochemistry, the Human Proteome Organization Award for Science and Technology, the Manning Innovation Award of Distinction and the WAE McBryde Medal from the Canadian Society for Chemistry.

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Astronomical Observatory engages community for solar eclipse, launches first podcast

The solar eclipse in April 2024 was a moment that people across North America reveled in. And although 快播视频 was not in the path of totality, the Allan I. Carswell Observatory, directed by Professor Elaina Hyde, Department of Physics & Astronomy, hosted events and educated our community on how to safely engage in the occasion. 

Leading up to the eclipse, the Observatory hosted a solar viewing event for the community to learn about viewing the sun safely and how to make pinhole cameras; about 150 people attended. At the event, astronomers from the Observatory answered frequently-asked questions about the eclipse and discussed how to enjoy the partial eclipse from Toronto. The team also distributed solar viewing glasses at multiple sites across the Keele Campus. On the day of the eclipse, York staff, faculty and students were invited to observe the partial eclipse atop the Arboretum Lane Parking Garage, near the Allan I. Carswell Observatory atrium. A total of 350 people participated in the eclipse viewing event at York. 

In 2024, Hyde also launched York鈥檚 first-ever podcast dedicated to astronomy. Taking the Observatory鈥檚 existing Monday night audio program, 鈥溈觳ナ悠祅iverse,鈥� she expanded the program鈥檚 reach and impact by making it available on all podcast streaming platforms. With a team of seven regular hosts and 10 repeating guests, the podcast covers topics including what the Observatory is up to, current research at 快播视频, and life on other planets.  

鈥淪ince most of the hosts, cohosts and organizers of 鈥樋觳ナ悠祅iverse鈥� are current York students and Observatory alumni, it is a great chance for the community to share in the accomplishments of some of our most accomplished grads 鈥� and undergrads,鈥� said Hyde. 鈥淭he student perspective and knowledge included in the broadcasts offers a chance for everyone to join in the exciting Observatory discoveries and observations.鈥� 

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Markham Campus opens with new Science programs for career success

The 快播视频 Markham Campus officially opened in fall 2024, and with that, Science students arrived to begin their studies in new, innovative programs featuring state-of-the-art teaching and learning spaces, industry-informed curricula and enhanced experiential education opportunities.

Graduate-level Biotechnology programs

The Faculty of Science鈥檚 Master of Biotechnology Management and Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology programs welcomed their first cohort of students eager to undergo practical, interdisciplinary training for jobs in the biotechnology industry.

Professor Jade Atallah, graduate program director of biotechnology at Markham and Professor Luz Puentes J谩come, both based in the Department of Biology, developed the curricula and pedagogical approaches of the biotechnology programs after consulting with industry partners. Both programs incorporate immersive and multimodal experiential learning, such as industry workshops, participation in biotechnology conferences, industry challenge questions, interdisciplinary capstone projects and industry internships.

Micro-credential in Vaccine Production and Quality Assurance

The Faculty of Science opened registration for a new micro-credential in Vaccine Production and Quality Assurance, starting January 2025 at the Markham Campus. Spearheaded by Hovig Kouyoumdjian, associate dean of curriculum and pedagogy at the time, and Atallah and Puentes J谩come, the micro-credential is an eight-week blended program that provides accelerated, experiential and industry-centred training on the fundamentals of vaccine production, including emerging technologies.

First Year Science at Markham

With the opening of the new campus, undergraduate Science students in the life sciences and chemical sciences programs were also able to choose to complete their first-year studies in Markham, benefitting from innovative course designs, flexible learning formats, and smaller class sizes that promote networking and collaborative learning. In their second year, students transition to the Keele Campus to complete their degree requirements.

New Chair of Dean鈥檚 Special Advisory Board

In May 2024, the Faculty of Science Dean鈥檚 Special Advisory Board held its third annual meeting to discuss and advise on pressing issues relevant to science education, including industry demand for science programs; equity, diversity, and inclusion; challenges and opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship, and the successful community integration of the Faculty. 

During the meeting, Dean Rui Wang also announced that current Board Member Mark Lievonen will take on the role of Chair from Reza Moridi, who served as Chair since the Board鈥檚 inception in February 2021. 

鈥淲e are thrilled to have Dr. Lievonen moving into the role of Chair of our Advisory Board,鈥� said Wang. 鈥淢ark is a passionate supporter of Canadian science, innovation, and economic development, having served as President of Sanofi Pasteur Limited, Co-Chair of Canada鈥檚 COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, and within numerous high profile industry boards and organizations.  

I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Reza Moridi for his service to this Board over the past three years. His insightful and forward-thinking guidance has been deeply valuable to our Faculty.鈥� 

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$1.6M donation from Dr. Taihua Wang funds New Student Success Centre  

In 2024, the Faculty of Science embarked on construction of its new Taihua Wang Science Student Success Centre, thanks to a generous $1.6 million donation from Dr. Taihua Wang, CEO of Cell Biotechnology Co. Ltd.  
 
Located on the main floor of the Life Sciences Building (LSB), the 3,843 square foot centre, opened in early 2025, creates a welcoming, accessible and more functional hub for student advising and support, along with bookable study spaces.  

Wang is a medical doctor who is considered to be a pioneer of the clinical application of stem cells in China. His company has advanced research and technology in the fields of regenerative medicine, stem cell-based cancer prevention, and stem cell storage. Wang is also president of the Interventional Hospital of Shandong Red Cross Society, and president of Shandong New Medicine Integrated Institute of Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

鈥淭his incredible gift by Dr. Wang, a Chinese Canadian business leader and stem cell scientist, will benefit all Faculty of Science students, said Rui Wang, Dean of the Faculty of Science.  

鈥淚t will help us to continue strengthening our advising and counselling supports to create an accessible environment where students can flourish academically and socially. In doing so, it will help accelerate our mission of educating our students to become active members of our global scientific community, who will tackle the pressing challenges of our time.鈥� 

Open house events attract future Science students and families  

Future students and their families were invited to the Faculty of Science for on-campus events to get a firsthand look at the vibrant community and cutting-edge facilities at 快播视频. 

The Faculty hosted "Brunch at York Science" in April 2024 for admitted students, and a larger open house event for prospective students as part of 快播视频鈥檚 Fall Campus Day in November 2024. For the latter event, the Faculty of Science had the highest number of registrants amongst all Faculties at York, with more than 1,200 RSVPs.  

Both events featured sessions to meet York Science professors and current students and learn about the variety of programs offered through the Faculty. Attendees were also invited to go on tours of our laboratories to learn more about undergraduate lab courses, experience our leading-edge facilities, and watch lab demonstrations. As well, the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory hosted tours of its facility, which is home to the biggest telescope on a Canadian university campus. 

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Pioneering York physicist honoured with memorial fund

In 2024, York Science alumni Itay and Mina Yavin donated $200,000 to the Department of Physics & Astronomy in honour of late Professor Helen Freedhoff, a pioneering theoretical physicist at York. The gift created the Helen Freedhoff Memorial Fund, with a focus on supporting student mentorship and research at the undergraduate level.

The donation was celebrated with a plaque-unveiling ceremony and a dedication of the Helen Freedhoff Meeting Room in the Petrie Science & Engineering Building.  

鈥淲e are thrilled to give back to 快播视频, where we spent formative years, and to collaborate with the Faculty of Science to memorialize Professor Freedhoff鈥檚 life and work,鈥� said Itay Yavin, who was personally mentored and supervised by Freedhoff. 鈥淲e hope the funds will foster excellence in students鈥� research at the physics and astronomy department. We are excited that the funds will also support the lab of Professor Anantharaman Kumarakrishnan, whose devotion to students鈥� research and development over the past two decades truly exemplifies Professor Freedhoff鈥檚 legacy.鈥�  

When she joined 快播视频 in 1967, Freedhoff was the first woman physics faculty member on a Canadian University campus. She worked to develop a new theory to describe novel physical phenomena in strongly coupled light-plus-atom systems. Her research focused on the areas of co-operative atomic effects, intense field resonance fluorescence and two-photon transitions. These remain important contributions to the field today. 

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Newton tree descendants continue their legacy at York 

Sir Isaac Newton鈥檚 theory of gravity was inspired by watching apples fall from a tree in his garden in England in 1666. More than three centuries later, a descendant of Newton鈥檚 apple tree was planted at 快播视频 in 2000, and was the first in Ontario to take root and blossom. It has birthed offspring donated to another research institution and its seeds have travelled into space. 

In 2024, two more descendants were planted in the courtyard outside the physics building from grafted cuttings. Professor Cody Storry, Department of Physics & Astronomy, who was a PhD student at the University around the time of the first descendant planting, spearheaded the grafting and planting of the new additions. It will take a few years to see if the new plantings, or scions, will also bear fruit like York鈥檚 first tree, which produces a rare, old variety of cooking apple, Flower of Kent, like Newton鈥檚 original tree.

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The Excellence in Educational Leadership Awards, Excellence in Teaching Awards, and Excellence in Research Awards were announced at the event, which was emceed by Gerald Audette, associate dean, Faculty Affairs, and included welcome remarks by Rui Wang, dean of the Faculty of Science and a keynote speech by Scott Tanner, winner of a 2024 快播视频 Alumni Award.

More than 300 students were also invited and honoured at the event for the awards and scholarships they received in 2023-2024.

The recipients of this year鈥檚 Faculty of Science Excellence Awards are:

Excellence in Educational Leadership Award (Faculty category)

• Professor Tamara Kelly, Department of Biology

Excellence in Educational Leadership Award (Graduate category)

• MSc student Milong Wang, Faculty of Health

Excellence in Teaching Award (Junior Tenure Stream Faculty category)

• Assistant Professor Jade Atallah, Department of Biology
• Associate Professor Robin Marushia, Department of Science, Technology and Society

Excellence in Teaching Award (Senior Tenure Stream Faculty category)

• Associate Professor Hovig Kouyoumdjian, Department of Chemistry
• Associate Professor Nicole Nivillac, Department of Biology

Excellence in Teaching Award (Contract Faculty category)

• Contract Faculty Angela Cope, Department of Science, Technology and Society

Richard Jarrell Award of Excellence for Teaching Assistants

• PhD student Britney Picinic, Department of Biology
• PhD student Emily Anacleto, Department of Chemistry

Early Career Research Award

• Associate Professor Trevor VandenBoer, Department of Chemistry

Established Research Award

• Distinguished Research Professor Sergey Krylov, Department of Chemistry
• Professor Wendy Taylor, Department of Physics & Astronomy

Read the full story in YFile.

For more details about the awards and a full list of recipients honoured at the event, view the ceremony program booklet.

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Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Faculty of Science rises to the 快播视频-wide challenge to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as outlined in the University Academic Plan 2020-2025. Below are highlights of initiatives and projects taking place in the Faculty that tackle key societal challenges aligned with the UN SDGs:

• SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being: Professor Jude Kong, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, is leading the Global South Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness and Response Network (AI4PEP). The project will help strengthen capacity and support prevention, early detection, preparedness, mitigation, and control of emerging or re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

• SDG 4, Quality Education: We provided five summer module courses in the sciences for incoming students and other students at York to improve transition to first year programs. 150 completed these programs, with significant positive impacts on student success and retention.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 10, Reduced Inequality; and SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities: Our Science Engagement Programs offered STEM programming to thousands of elementary and high school students in the GTA. This included fully-subsidized programming for youth in marginalized communities, our partnership program with Skills for Change for Black Youth in STEM, and workshops for girls and gender diverse students.

• SDG 13, Climate Action; and SDG 14, Life Below Water: Professor Sapna Sharma, Department of Biology, was appointed as a Tier 2 York Research Chair (YRC) in Global Change Biology. Her research as YRC will seek to gain a deeper understanding of the ecological impacts of climate change on freshwater availability and quality. The research program will collaborate with researchers across disciplines to develop technological, natural, health and social solutions to water security.

• SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals: In 2023, we launched dozens of research partnerships worldwide, amplifying our academic and research impact and facilitating knowledge exchange on a global scale. We also launched our Globally Networked Learning (GNL) program, enabling students and faculty around the world to share knowledge and collaborate on projects.

New programming meets the demands of industry

As times change, so do the needs of industry, and the Faculty of Science is eager to ensure that people working in science-related positions have the best possible education to meet these new demands.

In fall 2023, our Faculty successfully launched a new undergraduate program in Data Science to train students in the statistical methods, computation skills, and data analysis techniques needed to succeed as a data scientist in their chosen field.

We also worked on developing new biotechnology programs that will launch in fall 2024 at the Markham Campus: a Master鈥檚 in Biotechnology Management and a Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology, as well as a new micro-credential in Vaccine Production and Quality Control that is aligned with these programs. Furthermore, we developed our first micro-credential to teach skills in NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) Spectroscopy for Industry, which launched in winter 2024 at the Keele Campus.

The biotechnology programs slated for the Markham Campus were designed and developed by Professor Mark Bayfield, Department of Biology, and Associate Deans Hovig Kouyoumdjian and Michael Scheid. Professors Jade Atallah and Luz Adriana Puentes J谩come, Department of Biology, will be overseeing the two programs.

鈥淏oth programs are rooted in industry needs,鈥� Atallah said. 鈥淥ur colleagues did extensive research to ensure industry alignment; an evidence-based approach is driving them.鈥�

The two programs will share biotechnology courses for the first year, but the master鈥檚 students will also take management courses through the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies that will allow them to graduate with both a Master鈥檚 in Biotechnology Management and a Graduate Diploma in Management in under two years. The integrative program also includes a capstone course and a paid internship component with industry. The diploma program requires only two semesters of coursework.

鈥淲e want these students to be very versatile,鈥� said Puentes J谩come. 鈥淭hey need the professional biotechnology knowledge, but the business background will be very useful in the startup economy, while in established companies, it will give them the skills to move around.鈥�

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Connecting and Celebrating our Community

The Faculty of Science continued its Community 2022 initiative into the fall/winter and summer 2023 semesters. Created in consultation with our community and launched in fall 2022, the initiative helped faculty, staff, and students reconnect in person and supported the return to a more robust on-campus presence.

In 2023, these events, including our York Science Social, monthly Lunch with the Dean, guided faculty tours, and summer barbeque, were attended by hundreds of community members. Community 2022 built on our Faculty鈥檚 strong sense of belonging, togetherness, and commitment to support one another. A Faculty-wide survey concluded that the majority of respondents found the programming effective in increasing their connection to our Faculty of Science community, assisting with the transition to on campus work or study, and improving their feeling of well-being.

Making Decolonization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion a part of our fabric

Decolonization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI) principles are central to the way our Faculty is teaching, conducting research, and operating.

We are working to diversify our faculty complement with targeted searches for Black and Indigenous faculty members and by recruiting more women; our Faculty increased its women faculty complement by about three percent to 31.5%, from 2020 to 2023. As well, our staff composition in 2023 reached 60.4% women, 2% Indigenous, 4% persons with a disability, 45.5% racialized, and 5% Black.

Furthermore, our instructors have been implementing a syllabus/course outline template that centres on equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcomes students into their courses. And, they have been incorporating DEDI into their teaching; for instance, a History of Astronomy course introduced Indigenous knowledge to students with a guest lecture by an Indigenous knowledge keeper, and new courses in Science, Technology & Society explore gender and racial social justice in STEM.

DEDI has also been a focus for our community outreach programming. For instance, our Science Engagement Programs office collaborated with Skills for Change to deliver a series of online and in-person STEM workshops for black high school youth (read more here).

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Supporting international skills and knowledge exchange

A fruitful partnership between the Faculty of Science and York鈥檚 Asian Business and Management Program is advancing global engagement by creating meaningful opportunities for students at York and abroad to connect and learn from each other.

One program, Jumpstart Your Future: A Career Bootcamp for Undergrads, hosted 13 students from Shanghai University at the 快播视频 Keele Campus in summer 2023. The program curriculum was shaped by the Faculty of Science and featured opportunities for our students and the students from Shanghai to foster connections, share experiences, and grow their cross-cultural understanding. The students attended sessions on topics such as strategic design and innovative thinking, communication and emotional intelligence, and data science; they also participated in experiential site visits to other institutions and companies, and completed a capstone project. Another initiative, the Global Perspectives program, delivered a series of online, non-credit courses in the areas of visual analytics and modeling, and communication in corporate and scientific settings to about 120 students from 28 Chinese universities in 2023.

Faculty of Science hosts science deans from across Canada

Our Faculty hosted the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Council of Deans of Science (CCDS) to share knowledge and strengthen pan-Canadian advocacy for science education.

The three-day event was attended by 30 science deans and associate deans from universities across Canada and featured talks by experts on topics including research data storage and security; the impact of artificial intelligence on academic integrity; student and employee mental health and well-being; equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in science education; an update on the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada funding mechanisms; and internationalization strategy. Senior leaders from 快播视频 also attended and spoke at the event, including Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps and Vice-President Research and Innovation Amir Asif.

鈥淲e were successful in our objectives: to learn from each other, share knowledge about pressing issues and challenges in science education, and further our collective voice to help drive positive change by advocating for science education and research as a national priority,鈥� said Dean Rui Wang, who is also CCDS president.

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York Professor Emeritus Allan Carswell, a renowned physicist and changemaking philanthropist, was recently named the Philanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

The AFP award, which was presented to Carswell in November 2022, recognizes 鈥渁n individual or family that has demonstrated outstanding civic and philanthropic leadership through a proven record of exceptional generosity and financial support.鈥�

鈥淒r. Carswell鈥檚 support for student scholarships, research, community outreach and groundbreaking technology has had a lasting and transformational impact at 快播视频 and beyond. Congratulations and thank you, Allan, for your many acts of generosity,鈥� said 快播视频 President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton.

More than 50 years ago, Carswell joined 快播视频 as a professor of physics. He is credited as a pioneering researcher in the use of laser radar or LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology, which maps the physical features of Earth and other planets. This development also has numerous applications in remote sensing and environmental diagnostics.

His research at York led Carswell and his late wife, Helen Carswell, to found Optech Incorporated in 1974, which would enable more practical applications of LiDAR systems. For the first several years of business, the couple operated Optech out of their family home. Helen oversaw the company that would evolve into an organization of more than 300 employees, which became a world leader in the provision of lasers for airborne surveying, 3D-imaging, atmospheric measurements, process control applications and space systems.

After 30 years at York, numerous senior leadership and research roles, and founding his own company, Carswell retired to run the Carswell Family Foundation, which funds education and health-care causes. Carswell and Helen contributed to numerous initiatives at York and beyond. The Carswells have funded three Research Chair positions in the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD), Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Health, along with the Allan I. Carswell Observatory.

From his first gift in 1986 to honour the life of York student Denise Hobbins, to supporting the Helen Carswell STEAM Program that connects students who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including women, Black and Indigenous high school students, with meaningful research opportunities, the Carswells鈥� legacy at York has become synonymous with positive change.

鈥淚t was actually my wife, Helen who started it all off,鈥� said Carswell, reflecting on how the couple began their first major philanthropic efforts. 鈥淪he trained as a nurse at what was the [Toronto] East General Hospital. When we toured that hospital, she was so taken with it that she decided to award them with $1 million to set up a special program there. I think one of the by-products of that was that it made both Helen and myself feel so good to give away money, especially when you saw the results in terms of people.鈥�

In July of 2022, Helen died after almost 20 years of living with Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease. In her memory and in honor of World Alzheimer鈥檚 Month, the Carswell Family Foundation recently funded a $2.26 million partnership between 快播视频 and the Alzheimer Society of York Region to lead an evaluation research program of Alzheimer鈥檚 and dementia care programs.

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#10 Enhanced opportunities for undergraduate research and success

Fifty-five students from Science and across the University attended our annual Summer Undergraduate Research Conference to present their summer research projects and network with their peers. The Faculty of Science also established the Earle Nestmann Undergraduate Research Award program, thanks to a generous donation from alumnus Earle Nestmann.

#9 New international education experience programs and initiatives

We launched our 2+2/2+3 Undergraduate International Collaboration Education Programs, which allow students from participating institutions to complete their first two years of study at their home university and their last two or three years at York. We also created the York Science Hainan Learning Centre to support some of our international students currently studying online due to COVID-19.

#8 Celebrating new and renewed Chair positions

We welcomed and celebrated new and renewed Chair appointments, including Canada Research Chairs (Professors Chris Caputo, Kohitij Kar and Raymond Kwong), York Research Chairs (Professors Jianhong Wu and Jane Heffernan), the Allan I. Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy (Professor Sarah Rugheimer), the Guy Warwick Rogers Chair in Chemistry (Professor Cora Young), and the Mclaughlin Research Chair (Professor John McDermott).

#7 Three Science professors elected to Royal Society of Canada (RSC)

The elected three York Science faculty members: Professor Jianhong Wu, as Fellow, Academy of Science; and Professors Sandra Rehan and Sapna Sharma, as members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Recognition by the RSC is the highest honour an individual can achieve in the arts, social sciences and sciences.

#6 New professors join Faculty of Science ranks

We welcomed new faculty members Charlotte de Araujo, Kohitij Kar, Allysa Lumley, Daniela Monaldi, Gloria Orchard, Balint Radics, Kelly Ramsay, Sarah Rugheimer, and Jennifer van Wijngaarden. By recruiting talented new researchers and teachers like these individuals, we are building science for the future and making York Science a great place to learn and be a researcher.

#5 Launch of Data Science program

The Department of Mathematics & Statistics launched a new Data Science program, starting fall 2023. The program includes streams in areas of practice such as business and health, together with a capstone course where students work on real-world problems for clients.

#4 Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) for new STS offerings

The Department of Science, Technology & Society (STS) revamped its roster of courses and major and minor options, including two new EDI-focused courses that offer students the opportunity to examine EDI through explorations of past and present issues and controversies in science and technology.

#3 New domes installed at Allan I. Carswell Observatory

Two new state-of-the-art, remote-controlled domes were installed at the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory, replacing the original domes from the 1960s and opening the night sky for better viewing of planets, stars, nebulae and more.

#2 $7.25M for Global South AI4PEP Network

Professor Jude Kong received $7.25 million from the International Development Research Centre to establish the Global South Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness and Response (AI4PEP) Network. The five-year project is aimed at ensuring vulnerable and at-risk populations are included in disease outbreak management and policies.

#1 Launch of Community 2022 initiative

We launched our Community 2022 initiative, aimed at helping faculty, staff and students reconnect in person and support the return to a more robust on-campus presence. Community 2022 includes events for social reconnection, initiatives to welcome new community members, supports for in-person teaching, seminars to support researchers, promotion of health and well-being, and improvements to the Faculty鈥檚 physical environment.

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One of the newest courses, Science, Technology and Racial Social Justice (STS 2333), was created last year, with the first course to be offered in the Winter 2024 term. The course was built following York鈥檚 University Academic Plan (UAP), the Faculty of Science strategic plan and an equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) curriculum, which is an important part of the STS program.

鈥淲e are such a uniquely situated department, with an opportunity to speak about the relationships between science, technology and society in the Faculty of Science,鈥� said Chair of the Department of STS Vera Pavri. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also the only program in Canada housed in a science Faculty able to do so.鈥�

There has been growing enthusiasm for this type of STS program because it鈥檚 not only accessible to both science and non-science students, but it also tackles critical social issues, including themes of ethics, sustainability and EDI, among other topics. There are two EDI courses currently offered: Exploring Gender in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and Science, Technology and Racial Social Justice (STS 2222 and STS 2333). Both courses highlight EDI, science and technology content to science and non-science majors. Covering topics such as EDI in science enhances a student鈥檚 learning experience, especially for science students unfamiliar with these topics.

鈥淪tudents studying science might be interested in these issues but might not have had the opportunity to explore them before,鈥� Pavri noted. 鈥淣ow they can minor or even major in STS and be exposed to this type of curriculum, so it鈥檚 exciting.鈥�

A part of the program reform was to offer interesting content that would be relevant to students鈥� degrees. While STS courses are pertinent to science students, they are also advantageous to students in other disciplines from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, who are studying in science- or technology-related fields. The STS program helps students distinguish their degrees.

鈥淩ather than graduating with just a degree in science, students are enhancing their critical thinking and communication skills, which are highly valued by employers. STS courses such as Introduction to Science, Technology and Society (STS 1411) also provide important content and experiential education opportunities,鈥� said Pavri.

Introduction to Science, Technology and Society shows students the reasons why STS matters, before introducing them to the theories of STS. In reforming the program, one of the department鈥檚 main goals was to help its students see the connection of STS to their real-life activities. This relevance is also emphasized through the STS website and in promotional materials, highlighting the different study and career pathways students can take.

The STS program also allows for a uniquely tailored learning experience. A student can combine their minor with another discipline or switch to a major in STS. In this way, the program is also a great pathway for individuals without a background in science or technology, who may be hesitant to explore scientific and technological issues. Bringing together non-STEM and STEM students creates 鈥渁 diverse and interesting classroom in which people can draw on knowledge 鈥� not just from the professors but from each other,鈥� Pavri said.

The , housed within the Department of STS, but distinct from the STS program, allows non-science students to explore the sciences. Their first field course, Plants in the City (NATS 1665) will be offered in Summer 2023 term, and will provide students with an experiential education opportunity as they discover urban ecosystems at York.

鈥淧lants in the City is intended to help reduce plant blindness. We鈥檙e moving around in a green world and yet people on average can identify far fewer organisms, particularly plants, than in previous generations,鈥� said Robin Marushia, the creator of the course and an assistant professor (teaching stream) in the Division of Natural Science. She adds there is also a strong need among city dwellers to know more about ecology.

Marushia said, 鈥淭he Keele Campus offers opportunities in identifying common plant species, looking at different types of ecosystems and learning about the ecosystem functions, which green spaces provide in urban landscapes.鈥� Like STS, natural science also aims to increase public knowledge about science, creating more active and engaged citizens.

The STS program furthers the study of science with many career possibilities. Individuals interested in computer or program design taking STS courses will become more aware of issues such as persuasive technologies or technology addiction. For those interested in pursuing government or public health, this program also helps in understanding topics like policy frameworks, pharmaceutical regulation and consulting. Non-traditional pathways, such as social and green entrepreneurship are emerging as well.

鈥淎s an example, a biology student who wants to get into medical school can distinguish their degree by minoring in STS. In interviews with universities, this gives them an opportunity to speak about the communication skills they鈥檝e developed,鈥� said Pavri. 鈥淭heir ability to communicate with individuals who are skeptical or afraid of science is especially important in a post-COVID world.鈥�

In fact, addressing anti-science movements was another aim of the STS program. STS courses educate students about misinformation and disinformation surrounding issues in science and technology, whether it be related to vaccines, climate change or artificial intelligence. Pavri thinks of STS students as 鈥渇uture ambassadors, equipped to educate others about why so much misinformation exists while tackling distrust of science through strategic communications, aimed at understanding and engaging with these audiences.鈥�

With the backlash against the scientific community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been noted in the STEM field that sharing only the facts and relevant data is not enough. Data can be misconstrued or manipulated, but strategic communications help those in STEM understand these communities so that they can provide more effective and impactful awareness of science.

Being the only STS program in Canada to offer a major or a minor in the Faculty of Science, it is also distinct in that it focuses on three core areas: seeing science and technology in action; standing for science; and learning about science, technology and social justice.

鈥淥ne of the elements of our program that appeals to students is that an STS degree allows them to better communicate the real-life impact and social repercussions that science and technology have on groups in society,鈥� said Pavri. 鈥淲e also talk about the idea of standing up for science and how an STS degree helps students understand anti-STEM movements. Finally, we have a focus on EDI, which offers students the opportunity to examine EDI in a unique way through explorations of past and present issues, and local, national and international controversies in science and technology.鈥�

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