Faculty of Science

Welcome from the Dean

Dean's Message - July 2011

Dear Science Students, Faculty, and Staff:

This is an exciting transition time at University of Winnipeg. In midsummer we say farewell to our long-time colleagues who are retiring, but also welcome a new crop of energetic young research scientists. This has been a banner year for the Faculty of Science, with a record 12 new tenure-track hires! There is a sense of energy and renewal in Science. I was fortunate enough to interview many of those now joining the University, and was pleased to have my own excitement mirrored by candidates who have studied at world-renowned schools such as John Hopkins, Cambridge, Toronto and CalTech.

Much of our excitement in Science revolves around the impending opening of the Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex. Construction of this large and visually impressive building kicked off in June of 2009 and is now winding up just in time for the Fall term. The Department of Chemistry is already packed and looking forward to installing itself in its new state-of-the-art laboratories. Biology will follow shortly, after Spring session courses wind up. We are in the middle of tremendous growth in the faculty, and I believe this building symbolically represents this growth and the growing reputation of Science at UWinnipeg.

At UWinnipeg, students enjoy a diverse array of Science programs led by some of the strongest faculty members of any university in Canada. Our many new undergraduate Science programs, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS); Science and Business; Medical Physics; Radiation Health and Safety; Radiation Therapy; Housing and Science, Environment, and Indigenous Knowledge are complemented by fledgling graduate programs in Applied Computer Science and Biology. We are actively working on even more new programming across UWinnipeg Science departments. We believe that our programs offer great opportunities for students to engage with science in new and innovative ways.

UWinnipeg Science is especially notable for its strong commitment to the community. Our faculty members continue to be incredibly active with a wide variety of community outreach activities. These include a varied range of areas including programs at First Nations schools, day camps for children, workshops and lab demonstrations for children, the Kangaroo Mathematics Competition, the Let's Talk Science Program, and our High School Enrichment Program, which reaches hundreds of students each year as they take courses by professors within a university context. All of these activities play a significant role in the President's recent Community Learning initiative. We continue to explore the ways in which the University can participate in the surrounding community.

While we have accomplished much, we still have a busy agenda for Science for the next year. I hope you share in my excitement and enthusiasm for the new school year and for Science at the University of Winnipeg.

Sincerely,

James Currie
Dean of Science