Sciographies Podcast

In this episode of Sciographies, we chat with Tina Simpkin, a two-time Dal alum in physics and meteorology. Now a familiar voice across Nova Scotia as a meteorologist with CBC, Tina shares her journey from growing up in Spryfield to forecasting the province's ever-changing weather. She reflects on the influence of her grandparents, her adventures chasing storms, what drew her back to Halifax, and...

In this episode of  Sciographies , we chat with Dr. Leanne Stevens (MSc'09, PhD'13), educator, university teaching fellow in Dalhousie's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and Associate Dean, Academic in the Faculty of Science.   Dr. Stevens shares her journey from growing up in Springhill, Nova Scotia, to becoming a leader in science education. She also reflects on the moment she discover...

In this episode of Sciographies, we talk to Maxine Westhead — marine biologist, educator, marine spatial planner, and director of Dalhousie's Marine Affairs Program (MAP). After 25 years with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Westhead is now leading the growth of MAP and developing a new program in fisheries science. Westhead also shares insights on marine protected areas like "The Gully" and reflects...

In this episode of  Sciographies , we talk with  Dr. Simon Gadbois (PhD'02) , a canid specialist and professor in Dalhousie's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. Gadbois reflects on his journey from graduate student at Dalhousie to professor, and shares insights from his long-standing research on coyotes in Cape Breton. He also offers a glimpse inside his Wildlife Ethology and Canine Olfact...

In this episode of  Sciographies , we talk with Dr. Sarah Chisholm (BSc'06), educator, mathematician and current Chair of Dalhousie's Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Dr. Chisholm reflects on growing in Sackville Nova Scotia and how an early love of math shaped a very bright future, including teaching at Harvard's Department of Mathematics. Her love for the classroom, combined with her un...

In this episode of Sciographies , we talk to Dina Rogers (BSc'23), a PhD candidate and biochemist at Dalhousie University. Rogers shares how a childhood split between cultures, years as a competitive swimmer, and an unexpected love of biochemistry shaped her journey as a scientist. From Halifax to the southern tip of Greece, Dina's path has been anything but linear. Today, she's exploring innovati...

In this episode of Sciographies , we talk to Dr. Rob Lennox, scientific director of the Ocean Tracking Network in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From childhood days exploring rivers and lakes to tracking Atlantic salmon on Norway, Lennox shares how curiosity and a bit of serendipity shaped his path into global aquatic research. Listeners will hear how cutting-edge tracking technology helps scientists under...

In this episode, John Batt recalls his early years of growing up on the water in Prince Edward Island and how it ignited a passion for marine life. Today, he and his team at the Aquatron are leading the animal care of many species including the endangered Atlantic Whitefish. He has also been instrumental in the care of the animals at the new the Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity, a first-of-its...

In this episode of  Sciographies , we talk to Karen Hudson (MES'02), an educator and principal of Auburn Drive High School and founder of the Africentric Math Cohort in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.   A Dalhousie alum and nationally recognized educator, Hudson has redefined education by integrating Afrocentric perspectives into the curriculum to inspire students of African ancestry to excel in advanced...

In this episode of  Sciographies , we talk to Dr. Shannon Johnson and Dr. Alissa Pencer, psychologists and co-directors of the Dalhousie Centre for Psychological Health, a community-based clinic delivering vital psychological services to low-income Nova Scotians.   With a shared commitment to making mental health care more accessible, Drs. Johnson and Pencer discuss their unique journeys in psycho...

In this episode of  Sciographies , we talk to Dr. Alex Veinot—chemist, Vanier Scholar, and assistant professor at Dalhousie University. Growing up in Middleton, Nova Scotia, Dr. Veinot developed a love for hands-on learning, exploring how things worked in his dad's workshop. An eye-opening conversation with his uncle about law enforcement vests sparked his passion for chemistry, setting him on a p...

In this episode of  Sciographies , we talk to Dr. Sian Kou-Giesbrecht, a biogeochemist and assistant professor at Dalhousie University. She reflects on how her early experiences growing up in a science-focused family in Waterloo, Ontario, shaped her passion for ecology and environmental science.    Dr. Kou-Giesbrecht discusses her research on nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and its impa...

In this episode of  Sciographies , we talk to Dr. Michael Metzger and Dr. Chongyin Yang, two physicists at Dalhousie University leading advancements in battery research.   Dr. Metzger details his journey from studying physics in Germany to becoming a trailblazer in lithium-ion battery technology, while Dr. Yang shares his academic path from China to his current role as Tesla's Research Chair at Da...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Saurabh Chitnis, a synthetic chemist at Dalhousie University. Dr. Chitnis reflects on his upbringing in Libya, India, and Canada, offering insights into his early fascination with the creative nature of chemistry. We delve into how fundamental principles, such as relativity, influence the color of metals like gold and contribute to molecular stability. We also explo...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Aaron MacNeil, a biologist and professor at Dalhousie University. Dr. MacNeil reflects on his formative experiences growing up in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where summers spent at Rissers Beach ignited his early fascination with biology. He also shares how the mentorship of an influential high school biology teacher shaped his academic path, leading him to become a res...

Sciographies is back for season 6! This season, listeners can expect even more compelling conversations, with two double-feature episodes diving into subjects like electric vehicles, solutions to climate change, shark conservation, access to mental health and learning about innovative programs like the Africentric Math Cohort, which is paving the way for African Nova Scotians in STEM fields. Tune...

In this episode we talk to Will Burt, a chemical oceanographer and Dalhousie alum (PhD'15). Dr. Burt is the Chief Ocean Scientist at Planetary Technologies, a carbon dioxide removal company headquartered in Nova Scotia. The company partners with Dal researchers to study the efficacy and safety of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), a mitigation approach that harnesses the ocean's natural ability t...

Meet Dr. Will Burt, the Chief Ocean Scientist at Planetary Technologies and a Dalhousie alum (PhD'15, Oceanography). Full episode drops Thursday, November 2, 2023.

In this episode, we talk to Kevin Hewitt, a physicist. Dr. Hewitt is a professor and the Associate Dean, Equity and Inclusion in Dalhousie University's Faculty of Science. His research involves designing optical diagnostic tools for disease detection. Outside of his scientific endeavours, he's passionate about increasing the representation of Black professionals in STEM fields. He was a graduate s...

Meet Dr. Kevin Hewitt, a physicist at Dalhousie University. Full episode drops Thursday, October 26, 2023.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Michael Freund, a materials scientist. Dr. Freund is a professor and the Harry Shirreff Chair of Chemical Research at Dalhousie University. He uses his training in analytical chemistry to do research that informs the design of sensors, electrical devices, and energy storage technologies. He's also the Director of Dalhousie's Clean Technologies Research Institute, wh...

Meet Dr. Michael Freund, a materials scientist at Dalhousie University. Full episode drops Thursday, October 19, 2023.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Erin Bertrand, a marine biogeochemist. Dr. Bertrand is an associate professor at Dalhousie University and her research examines the relationship between marine microbes and ocean metabolism. To do this, she travels to challenging environments like the Antarctic to collect samples of ocean water. She's also a Canadian ambassador for the BioGeoSCAPES project, an inter...

Meet Erin Bertrand, a marine biogeochemist at Dalhousie University. Full episode drops Thursday, October 12.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Aaron Newman, a cognitive neuroscientist. Dr. Newman developed an early curiosity for computers in the '80s. While at university, he found a way to combine his interest in technology with his studies in psychology and carved a path for himself in the field of cognitive neuroscience. Today Dr. Newman is a professor and department chair at Dalhousie University. He use...