Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
@smuscience.bsky.social
Your future in science starts here.
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
New Student Blog Post! Today's new blog post is by Tin, and they wrote about Huntington's Disease and the role that programmed cell death (apoptosis) has in disease onset and progression. It's an interesting story of a natural cell process that goes wrong later in life.
When Programmed Cell Death Goes Wrong in Huntington’s Disease
This student-written blog post by Tin K. is about a neurodegenerative disease called Huntington’s Disease, and the relationship the disease…
medium.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:12 PM
New Student Blog Post! Today's new blog post is by Tin, and they wrote about Huntington's Disease and the role that programmed cell death (apoptosis) has in disease onset and progression. It's an interesting story of a natural cell process that goes wrong later in life.
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
We have a new Cell Biology class blog post! Larissa K was watching The Handmaid's Tale when they mentioned the discovery of Archaea as playing a role in the human microbiome. Did they get the story right? Find out here! "Archaea and Their Relationship to the Human Body"
Archaea and Their Relationship to the Human Body
Today’s blog post is written by Larissa K, and came from a very popular TV show. Did the producers and writers get it right? Let’s find…
medium.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM
We have a new Cell Biology class blog post! Larissa K was watching The Handmaid's Tale when they mentioned the discovery of Archaea as playing a role in the human microbiome. Did they get the story right? Find out here! "Archaea and Their Relationship to the Human Body"
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
Mahima M. decided to write her first blog post all about one of the specific roles of proteins in cells: enzymes! If you've ever wanted to learn more about the role of enzymes in cells, look no further! "Enzymatic Proteins: Nature’s Catalysts of Life" by Mahima M. Give it a read below!
Enzymatic Proteins: Nature’s Catalysts of Life
This blog post is authored by Mahima M. and is all about how proteins can act as enzymes, a critical function of protein in cells. Take it…
medium.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Mahima M. decided to write her first blog post all about one of the specific roles of proteins in cells: enzymes! If you've ever wanted to learn more about the role of enzymes in cells, look no further! "Enzymatic Proteins: Nature’s Catalysts of Life" by Mahima M. Give it a read below!
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
Rainbow from the Burke-Gaffney Observatory east-facing webcam over Halifax right now
December 11, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Rainbow from the Burke-Gaffney Observatory east-facing webcam over Halifax right now
Interested in graduate programs in Psychology?
Our virtual open house is for students & alumni considering graduate programs in I/O (MSc and PHD) & Forensic (MSc) Applied Psychology. Info session tomorrow via Zoom, details at smu.ca/psychology. See you there!
Our virtual open house is for students & alumni considering graduate programs in I/O (MSc and PHD) & Forensic (MSc) Applied Psychology. Info session tomorrow via Zoom, details at smu.ca/psychology. See you there!
November 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Interested in graduate programs in Psychology?
Our virtual open house is for students & alumni considering graduate programs in I/O (MSc and PHD) & Forensic (MSc) Applied Psychology. Info session tomorrow via Zoom, details at smu.ca/psychology. See you there!
Our virtual open house is for students & alumni considering graduate programs in I/O (MSc and PHD) & Forensic (MSc) Applied Psychology. Info session tomorrow via Zoom, details at smu.ca/psychology. See you there!
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
Wow! The Burke-Gaffney Observatory all-sky camera @smuhalifax.bsky.social captured the brief surge in aurora last night when the sky lit up RED by-eye. The camera is black & white, but we can see the band of aurora start in the north (bottom) and work its way southward, before the clouds took over 🤯
November 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Wow! The Burke-Gaffney Observatory all-sky camera @smuhalifax.bsky.social captured the brief surge in aurora last night when the sky lit up RED by-eye. The camera is black & white, but we can see the band of aurora start in the north (bottom) and work its way southward, before the clouds took over 🤯
The contest is open to all Saint Mary's students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Science is everywhere! We're looking for images from labs & workplaces, nature, scientific visualization and storytelling.
Enter now! smu.ca/photocontest
Science is everywhere! We're looking for images from labs & workplaces, nature, scientific visualization and storytelling.
Enter now! smu.ca/photocontest
November 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
The contest is open to all Saint Mary's students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Science is everywhere! We're looking for images from labs & workplaces, nature, scientific visualization and storytelling.
Enter now! smu.ca/photocontest
Science is everywhere! We're looking for images from labs & workplaces, nature, scientific visualization and storytelling.
Enter now! smu.ca/photocontest
Where will your research take you?
For Claire Singer, her PhD research on changes in plant communities in northern Canada led to travel around the region, a published book titled “Guide the the Berries of the Northwest Territories,” starting an ecological consulting firm — and a dog named Rufus.
For Claire Singer, her PhD research on changes in plant communities in northern Canada led to travel around the region, a published book titled “Guide the the Berries of the Northwest Territories,” starting an ecological consulting firm — and a dog named Rufus.
Student researcher digs into berry research in northern Canada | SMU News and Events
Curiosity about bears’ food sources led to years of research and collaboration with many people across the Northwest Territories in northern Canada Claire Singer had been working at the Northwest Ter...
news.smu.ca
November 5, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Where will your research take you?
For Claire Singer, her PhD research on changes in plant communities in northern Canada led to travel around the region, a published book titled “Guide the the Berries of the Northwest Territories,” starting an ecological consulting firm — and a dog named Rufus.
For Claire Singer, her PhD research on changes in plant communities in northern Canada led to travel around the region, a published book titled “Guide the the Berries of the Northwest Territories,” starting an ecological consulting firm — and a dog named Rufus.
We’re excited to announce that Dr. Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, University of Toronto, will present the 11th annual Dan MacLennan Memorial Lecture in Astronomy at Saint Mary's! Free tickets available now! www.eventbrite.ca/e/dan-maclen...
Dan MacLennan Memorial Lecture in Astronomy
Solving the Universe: Past, Present and Future
www.eventbrite.ca
November 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
We’re excited to announce that Dr. Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, University of Toronto, will present the 11th annual Dan MacLennan Memorial Lecture in Astronomy at Saint Mary's! Free tickets available now! www.eventbrite.ca/e/dan-maclen...
Dr. Maryanne Fisher, Professor of Psychology at Saint Mary’s, discusses the dangers of romance scams — and how to avoid them—with Bob Murphy on CBC’s Maritime Noon radio.
Click to listen: (Scroll to 15 minutes into the program):
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
Click to listen: (Scroll to 15 minutes into the program):
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
November 4, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Dr. Maryanne Fisher, Professor of Psychology at Saint Mary’s, discusses the dangers of romance scams — and how to avoid them—with Bob Murphy on CBC’s Maritime Noon radio.
Click to listen: (Scroll to 15 minutes into the program):
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
Click to listen: (Scroll to 15 minutes into the program):
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
Dr. Mitch Kerr, Department of Earth Science at Saint Mary’s, explains the potential for lithium mining in Nova Scotia. Watch now. youtu.be/lemZNhquh8Y?...
October 17, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Dr. Mitch Kerr, Department of Earth Science at Saint Mary’s, explains the potential for lithium mining in Nova Scotia. Watch now. youtu.be/lemZNhquh8Y?...
Congratulations Katie Pegg on yet another big win!!
Katie Pegg picks up her 1st Para athletics world medal, setting personal best in shot put | CBC Sports
Katie Pegg of Markham, Ont., delivered a personal best performance in women's shot put Thursday for her first medal at her second Para athletics world championships.
www.cbc.ca
October 2, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Congratulations Katie Pegg on yet another big win!!
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
It was sooo inspiring to meet with many NS science teachers last month! We shared all of the (free!!) astronomy-focused,
hands-on lesson plans we've put together, which can all be found online now, too: observatory.smu.ca/starfinder
hands-on lesson plans we've put together, which can all be found online now, too: observatory.smu.ca/starfinder
We had a great time exploring astronomy eduction with these great teachers last month! @smustarfinder.bsky.social
Star Finder program prepares NS teachers with astronomy lesson plans | SMU News and Events
An enthusiastic group of elementary and junior high educators attended the first Star Finder Teachers’ Workshop in August, and they are now ready to share an appreciation of astronomical understanding...
news.smu.ca
September 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
It was sooo inspiring to meet with many NS science teachers last month! We shared all of the (free!!) astronomy-focused,
hands-on lesson plans we've put together, which can all be found online now, too: observatory.smu.ca/starfinder
hands-on lesson plans we've put together, which can all be found online now, too: observatory.smu.ca/starfinder
Math Seminar: Dr. Dawson will discuss non-regular tetrahedra weighted so that they can only balance on one of their faces & other higher dimensional spaces.
Wednesday, Sept. 17 @ 11:30 a.m. in Atrium 214A
All are welcome!
Wednesday, Sept. 17 @ 11:30 a.m. in Atrium 214A
All are welcome!
September 12, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Math Seminar: Dr. Dawson will discuss non-regular tetrahedra weighted so that they can only balance on one of their faces & other higher dimensional spaces.
Wednesday, Sept. 17 @ 11:30 a.m. in Atrium 214A
All are welcome!
Wednesday, Sept. 17 @ 11:30 a.m. in Atrium 214A
All are welcome!
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
Tobacco plant in bloom! (Nicotiana tabacum). This is a part of our Indigenous medicine plant project in our Environmental Science spaces at @smuscience.bsky.social.
September 8, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Tobacco plant in bloom! (Nicotiana tabacum). This is a part of our Indigenous medicine plant project in our Environmental Science spaces at @smuscience.bsky.social.
We had a great time exploring astronomy eduction with these great teachers last month! @smustarfinder.bsky.social
Star Finder program prepares NS teachers with astronomy lesson plans | SMU News and Events
An enthusiastic group of elementary and junior high educators attended the first Star Finder Teachers’ Workshop in August, and they are now ready to share an appreciation of astronomical understanding...
news.smu.ca
September 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
We had a great time exploring astronomy eduction with these great teachers last month! @smustarfinder.bsky.social
Amazing work—research with real community impact at SMU Science!
The legacy of #acidrain still impacts lakes in SW #NovaScotia. Would liming #restoration help or hurt sensitive #Atlantic Coastal Plain lakeshore #flora? MSc Summer C is going to find out! We spent yesterday setting up transects for her field experiment in an acidified #lake @smuscience.bsky.social
July 14, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Amazing work—research with real community impact at SMU Science!
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
Proud of my grad student Rachel Kendall for this #peatland #plant #traits paper! Contrasting responses to climate & geography among shrub, sedge & #moss species. A fun project that connected across provinces & labs @wetland-ghg.bsky.social @wetlandresilienceresearchgroup.com @smuscience.bsky.social
Ever wondered how functional traits of common peatland plants vary among sites? We got you - www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
This was a fun group project with @wetlandresilienceresearchgroup.com and many grad students and post-docs.
This was a fun group project with @wetlandresilienceresearchgroup.com and many grad students and post-docs.
Intraspecific trait variability in four geographically widespread peatland plant species in Canada
Plant traits directly influence ecosystem carbon exchange through photosynthesis and respiration, and indirectly control nutrient cycling through stru…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Proud of my grad student Rachel Kendall for this #peatland #plant #traits paper! Contrasting responses to climate & geography among shrub, sedge & #moss species. A fun project that connected across provinces & labs @wetland-ghg.bsky.social @wetlandresilienceresearchgroup.com @smuscience.bsky.social
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
Mallory is studying plankton for her @smuscience.bsky.social honours thesis this summer. Here's a sneak peek at some of her samples!
(Hastily taken by hand through a microscope using a phone camera. We'll have better images coming soon!)
(Hastily taken by hand through a microscope using a phone camera. We'll have better images coming soon!)
July 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Mallory is studying plankton for her @smuscience.bsky.social honours thesis this summer. Here's a sneak peek at some of her samples!
(Hastily taken by hand through a microscope using a phone camera. We'll have better images coming soon!)
(Hastily taken by hand through a microscope using a phone camera. We'll have better images coming soon!)
A cleaner future for mining: Two @smuhalifax.bsky.social professors are are developing sustainable methods to make metal extraction cleaner and more environmentally responsible. Read more:
news.smu.ca/news/2025/7/...
news.smu.ca/news/2025/7/...
July 3, 2025 at 9:53 PM
A cleaner future for mining: Two @smuhalifax.bsky.social professors are are developing sustainable methods to make metal extraction cleaner and more environmentally responsible. Read more:
news.smu.ca/news/2025/7/...
news.smu.ca/news/2025/7/...
Computing Science Lecture: Open to all!
Hierarchical Transfer Multi-task Learning
and Task Grouping for Scene Classification
Presented by Dr. Reza Khoshkangini, Malmo Univ.
Hierarchical Transfer Multi-task Learning
and Task Grouping for Scene Classification
Presented by Dr. Reza Khoshkangini, Malmo Univ.
July 3, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Computing Science Lecture: Open to all!
Hierarchical Transfer Multi-task Learning
and Task Grouping for Scene Classification
Presented by Dr. Reza Khoshkangini, Malmo Univ.
Hierarchical Transfer Multi-task Learning
and Task Grouping for Scene Classification
Presented by Dr. Reza Khoshkangini, Malmo Univ.
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
Kaitlyn Kerr prepared this Facebook post on request for one of our Waverley community partners, Macdonald Sports Park, so I thought I'd also share this here too! It's about Kaity's @smuscience.bsky.social graduate research project.
www.facebook.com/mcdonaldspor...
www.facebook.com/mcdonaldspor...
June 12, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Kaitlyn Kerr prepared this Facebook post on request for one of our Waverley community partners, Macdonald Sports Park, so I thought I'd also share this here too! It's about Kaity's @smuscience.bsky.social graduate research project.
www.facebook.com/mcdonaldspor...
www.facebook.com/mcdonaldspor...
Reposted by Faculty of Science at Saint Mary's University
Save the date! We’re bringing @researchedcanada.bsky.social to Halifax this fall . @smuhalifax.bsky.social @smuarts.bsky.social @smuscience.bsky.social @msvuhalifax.bsky.social
June 19, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Save the date! We’re bringing @researchedcanada.bsky.social to Halifax this fall . @smuhalifax.bsky.social @smuarts.bsky.social @smuscience.bsky.social @msvuhalifax.bsky.social
Bay View High School students visited a Chemistry lab @smuhalifax.bsky.social to make... worms!
(When sodium alginate is placed in a solution of calcium ions, long polysaccharide molecules clump together and form an even bigger polymer that is too big to stay in the solution which = “worms.”)
(When sodium alginate is placed in a solution of calcium ions, long polysaccharide molecules clump together and form an even bigger polymer that is too big to stay in the solution which = “worms.”)
June 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Bay View High School students visited a Chemistry lab @smuhalifax.bsky.social to make... worms!
(When sodium alginate is placed in a solution of calcium ions, long polysaccharide molecules clump together and form an even bigger polymer that is too big to stay in the solution which = “worms.”)
(When sodium alginate is placed in a solution of calcium ions, long polysaccharide molecules clump together and form an even bigger polymer that is too big to stay in the solution which = “worms.”)