Faculty of Science students News Archive

February 28, 2025 — 
Curiosity is at the heart of science and if the questions you ask yourself are about the laws of the universe, the colour of the sky, or those mysterious boomerangs that always come back when you throw them away, then physics and astronomy is the place to be. At the Faculty of Science, the Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a wide range of programs at undergraduate and graduate levels.

February 21, 2025 — 
Kara B. Loudon is an undergraduate student in the department of chemistry and a perennial NSERC URA winner who moved forward with the research published recently in the Royal Society of Chemistry. The study, “Estimating dietary exposure to polycyclic aromatic compounds from food grade plastics” looks at the migration of chemicals from food-storage containers under typical usage conditions and how they might impact human health.

February 13, 2025 — 
February is Black History Month in Canada, a time to reflect and honour the legacy and contributions of Black people and their communities. The theme this year is, “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.” At the Faculty of Science, we take the chance to celebrate the accomplishments of science students in this community and hear about their experiences, hoping to create understanding and opportunities to flourish.

February 11, 2025 — 
February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Faculty of Science is proud to have many brilliant women contributing to our community as curious students, visionary researchers, empowering leaders, innovative instructors, and insightful support staff. This year, we talked with Dr. Katie Mitchell-Koch, associate professor at the Department of Chemistry and Kara Loudon, undergraduate chemistry student about their experience as a woman in science, their proudest achievements, and the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome those.

February 7, 2025 — 
Strep throat, something we’ve all had at some point in our lives, is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. Infection by Streptococcus can be fatal in serious cases and is the leading cause of death among flesh-eating diseases resulting in over half a million deaths annually. That scratchy, sore feeling at the back of your throat is a result of Streptococcus pyogenes infected by viruses called bacteriophages. These “phages” carry the genes for toxins that are responsible for strep throat, and when they invade Streptococcus pyogenes, they transfer these genes, enhancing the bacterium’s ability to cause infection.

January 17, 2025 — 
Dr. Lalonde's recent accomplishment, being among Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women as an Amex Emerging Leader, comes to no one's surprise as she is an extraordinary example of making bold choices and exploring new perspectives.

January 10, 2025 — 
Science Rendezvous 2025 volunteer applications are now open!

December 16, 2024 — 
Welcome to our 2024 journey of innovation and discovery at the Faculty of Science. This was yet another year where we made transformative progress in expanding the frontiers of knowledge, enhancing student experience and fostering an inclusive community. Join us as we take a look back at the highlights of 2024.

December 9, 2024 — 
Although sustainability seems to be the new trend, plastic pollution still remains a great threat to the environment and human health. Turns out those compostable coffee cups and food containers are rarely degraded even in standard composting conditions. The UM Prairie iGEM team strives to solve this problem and received the gold medal for the best new basic part award in the 2024 Grand Jamboree - the world expo of synthetic biology!

November 15, 2024 — 
A day with Dr. Avery Miller - From theoretical computer science to challenges as a 2SLGBTQIA+ researcher