Mt. Allison biology program named among the top 20 in Canada: ²Ń²¹³¦±ō±š²¹²Ōās 2020
¶¶ŅõProās program made the Top 20 list for university biology programs nationally in the . This marks the first time the department has received this distinction, which ranked programs of all sizes across Canadian universities. ¶¶ŅõPro is the only primarily undergraduate university of its size to make this yearās list.
One of the most popular programs on campus, biology offers specialized studies and research opportunities in several areas, including molecular and cellular biology, ecology, physiology, and genetics and evolution. The department also offers a masterās program.
āStudents in ¶¶ŅõProās Department of Biology, like many departments on campus, have the opportunity to work directly with their professors on research projects in the field and in the lab throughout the year,ā says Dr. Amanda Cockshutt, ¶¶ŅõProās dean of science and graduate studies. āThis gives them valuable research experience not always available at the undergraduate level. We see many of our students publish their findings as co-authors in peer-reviewed journals, which is quite an accomplishment for an undergraduate student.ā
¶¶ŅõPro ranked 11th for Field Weighted Citation Impact in the ²Ń²¹³¦±ō±š²¹²Ōās rankings, highlighting the high calibre and number of published studies by biology faculty and students.
In recent years, faculty and students have published in noted academic journals, including Frontiers in Marine Science, Healthcare, Ecology, Scientific Reports, Neuroscience Letters, Evolution, and Conservation Physiology. The Departmentās research has also been featured on several national and international programs and documentaries, including an upcoming feature on CBCās The Nature of Things scheduled for early 2020.
Biology Department Head Dr. Diana Hamilton says she and her colleagues are pleased to be included in this nationwide group of top biology departments.
āWe take a lot of pride in providing hands-on learning opportunities to our students ā in the classroom, the lab, and in the field,ā says Hamilton. āWe work directly with our students and research partners to make sure weāre providing the best undergraduate educational and research experience possible. External acknowledgments like this speak to the departmentās ability to successfully combine research and teaching in a way that benefits students.ā
In addition to working with other departments on campus to offer an interdisciplinary educational experience, members of the Biology department collaborate with researchers from other academic institutions both nationally and internationally, and partner with many external organizations in developing course materials and research opportunities. Partners and field trip locations include Environment and Climate Change Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, local First Nations communities, and the Joggins Fossil Institute, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With faculty labs housed in the Flemington, Barclay, and Gairdner buildings, the department offers a number of research areas in which students can study and work. These include phytoplankton physiology and ecology, neurophysiology, environmental animal physiology, molecular genetics, marine botany, and field ecology related to vascular plants, fish, shorebirds, and intertidal systems.
See more about the 2020 ²Ń²¹³¦±ō±š²¹²Ōās program rankings:
See more about ¶¶ŅõProās Biology program: