Western News recently featured an article on the Learning with Head and Heart program, which pairs Indigenous undergraduate students with faculty supervisors to conduct research merging academic and Indigenous methods of understanding. The article drew attention to participant, Natalie Hill, and her work with Physics & Astronomy professor, Robert Cockcroft, who had the following to say about the experience:

“Natalie already had expertise making wampum belts so when she began working with me last summer she was inspired to incorporate astronomy into a new wampum belt.  She saw the Cayuga Celestial Bear story about a magical bear being chased by hunters – a story that can be seen by the motion of the stars in the sky only at a certain time of the year and from specific locations and signifies the start of the hunting season to the Cayuga.  The story incorporated what some would call the Big Dipper so that is what Natalie included in the story.  I really appreciated learning from Natalie and seeing her blend this pattern of stars (that many people will be familiar with) into the wampum belt.  The wampum is significant in storytelling and recording treaties and historical events, so Natalie’s work is especially meaningful as we try to decolonize academia.”

Read the full Western news article.

Learn more about the Learning With Head and Heart Program.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is proud to report that Professor Jan Cami has been awarded the 2019 Qilak Award for Astronomy Communications, Public Education and Outreach from the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA).

CASCA’s official announcement:

CASCA is pleased to announce Dr. Jan Cami from the University of Western Ontario as the recipient of the 2019 Qilak Award.

Dr. Cami obtained his PhD from the University of Amsterdam and has been the director and coordinator of Western’s historic Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory since 2010. His work in outreach spans both large public gatherings and hands-on exhibits within the Observatory. In addition to this work at the Observatory, Dr. Cami is the Associate Director of Western’s Centre for Planetary Science and eXploration (CPSX) and is Western’s main organizer for the Science Rendezvous festival. On the national level, Dr. Cami has served for 10 years on CASCA’s Education and Public Outreach Committee, during which time he supported the development of the online platform Discover the Universe. Dr. Cami’s enthusiasm for outreach and his ability to ask ‘how we can’ rather than the ‘if we can’ about any activity makes him an ideal Qilak recipient.

CASCA is delighted to recognise Dr. Cami’s efforts with this award.

Here in the department we are delighted as well. Congratulations Jan on this well-deserved honour!

On Wednesday, March 13 Minister of Science and Sport Kirsty Duncan was on campus to annouce a $39 million investment from Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and its John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF). Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, Mary Ng, and London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos, were also present for the announcement.

Five Western researchers were amoung those with projects selected for funding. They will share in one million dollars from this fund, including Physics and Astronomy’s Robert Sica, who will receive $200,000 to study the transport of particulates from forest fires and other pollutants, and their effect on ozone levels.

To read more about the announcement and the Western reserch choosen for funding, please see the Western News article.

The department of Physics & Astronomy is proud to annouce that Physics PhD candidate, Pubuditha Abeyasinghe, is one of three science students to advance from the faculty heats and qualify for the Western Three Mintue Thesis finals.

If you would like to cheer on Pubuditha in person, the finals take place on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 pm at the Wolf Performance Hall at the Central Branch of the London Public Library.  The winners will go on to complete at the Ontario Three Minute Thesis finals at McMaster University on April 17.

Congratulations Pubuditha, and best of luck in the Western finals!