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Support ScienceAlumni Update from the Dean of Science
Dear Science Alumni,
A love for science can last a lifetime. Whether or not you have used your science degree(s) as the basis for a career in science, your appreciation of science has almost certainly enriched your life. Our goal in the Faculty of Science is to nurture that same appreciation in our community, our students and our alumni.
Many of you probably caught the science bug as children. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to explore science. So every year, over 6000 children visit Burnaby Mountain as part of our Science in Action and Starry Nights programs. These events, and others like them, provide an opportunity for the community to do hands-on science with our faculty, staff and students; the excitement at these events is amazing. It’s crucial that we build capacity for these programs so that they can reach even more children, their families and their teachers. In the coming year we will open new facilities specifically designed to house these programs and expand our community outreach. Of course, we hope that many of these curious children will come back to SFU as young adults to study science. We continue to strengthen our scholarship and bursary programs so that all qualified students can study with us.
Simon Fraser University is routinely rated as Canada’s top comprehensive university by Maclean’s due to our excellence in both teaching and research. In the Faculty of Science, we believe that the link between teaching and research should start in our undergraduate programs. To this end, we launched the INSPIRE (INnovative Science Programs Integrating Research and Education) program in early September with the goal of transforming the way we teach science at SFU. This ambitious $2 million project will help faculty and departments pioneer innovative strategies for teaching the next generation of scientists and science aficionados. For information about INSPIRE click here.
Our students are always curious to know what they can do with their science degrees, and our alumni are the best people to tell them. Thus, we are launching a Dean of Science Speakers Series called Inspiring Careers. Please consider joining us for these events. The first one, Entrepreneurship and Taking Charge of Your Career will take place on Thursday, November 29th from 12:00-1:30 at the Halpern Centre on our Burnaby Campus and feature alumni who have founded companies: Jason Bak (Physics) CEO of Finavera Wind Energy, Dr. Len Brownlie (BPK) CEO of Goldrush Resources, Dr. Tania Kastelic (Chemistry) VP Scientific Affairs of Novation Pharma, and David Raffa (Biology) COO of BC Advantage Funds. For more information, please visit here.
Whether you are a recent alumnus/alumna or a member of our original graduating class, we hope you will stay connected with the Faculty of Science at all stages of your life. If you have the means, we would be delighted to have you contribute to some of our programs, or help to support our students. The Faculty of Science’s Associate Director of Development, Amanda Reaume at areaume@sfu.ca or at 778-782-9574 will be pleased to answer your questions. You can also make a contribution by clicking here.
In closing, I would like to thank all alumni who contributed so generously last year to initiatives like the Science in Action program, the Training for Aboriginal Youth in Biomedical Labs Program, the Melanie O’Neill Undergraduate Research Award, and other Faculty of Science student or departmental support. Your help has meant that more students are getting the support that they need to be successful in their education. I have enjoyed meeting many of you, and extend a personal invitation to you to drop by and see us sometime or to visit us at one of our free Café Scientifique events.
Best Wishes, Claire
Faculty of Science Advancement and Alumni Contact Information
For more information about supporting the Faculty of Science, please contact: Tracy London Director, Advancement 778-782-4891
Amanda Reaume Associate Director 778 782 9574
Other Alumni Opportunities:SFU Alumni Association website: www.sfu.ca/alumni
Continuing Studies in Science: http://www.sfu.ca/cs/science/ Engage in thinking about science issues and re-connecting with Science faculty. |
