The Faculty of Science celebrated accomplishments of faculty and students last week during their annual awards ceremony. Dean Mark Abrahams was joined by acting president Dr. Eddy Campbell and Christine Burke, director of Housing, Food and Conference Services.

“I want to applaud all the folks who are here being honoured today for your hard work and for the passion you bring to what you do,” said Dr. Campbell in his address to the student award winners. “Events like this always give rise to three words for me: pride, passion and purpose. I know for example your families, professors and staff here at the university are very proud of all the students and what you’ve been able to accomplish.

"My advice to you is to find your passion, love what you do and to let that show.”

Dr. Abrahams presented certificates to the students named to the Dean’s List, the recipients of the Lou Visentin Award and the winners of the Dean of Science Book Prize.

The 246 students named to the Faculty of Science Dean’s List for 2007-2008 represent the top 10 per cent of students in the Faculty of Science.

The Lou Visentin Award recognizes the outstanding achievement of graduating students who have been named to the Dean’s List for four consecutive years and this year was earned by a record 29 students.

The Dean of Science Book Prize for academic excellence in a declared major is awarded to one senior student in each department offering a B.Sc. program.

Dr. Abrahams also took the opportunity to highlight achievements by faculty members throughout the year.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate them on their accomplishments, in particular Dr. Luc Beaulieu, who was named the Petro Canada Young Innovator for 2008,” he said. “Then there is Paul Snelgrove, who has led a strategic grant application to NSERC for the Canadian Healthy Oceans Network and Dr. Xiaoqiang Zhao from Math and Stats, this year’s recipient of a university research professor, who has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to research as a professor at this university.”

In addition, Dr. Abrahams presented Dr. David Schneider of the Ocean Sciences Centre with the Distinguished Scholar Medal for 2008. The award recognizes outstanding and sustained contributions in both the teaching and research areas of a faculty member’s responsibility.

“Dr. Schneider is a triple treat,” said Dr. Abrahams. “He not only excels at research and teaching, but as a former associate dean of science (research), he proved he excels at administration and service as well.

“In research he’s a recognized leader in the study of temporal and spatial ecology,” he added. “His early work on marine birds transformed that field into a quantitative science and as a consequence this work has had impact on management implications which is used by both governmental and non-governmental organizations. His funding history is truly jaw dropping. I can’t think of a major research funding organization in North America through which Dave has not received some form of funding.

"In 2005, Dr. Schneider was also the first Memorial University faculty member to receive a graduate teaching award from the North Eastern Association of Graduate Schools. His courses are known to be tough and challenging but lots of students love to take them anyway. They go there because they know they will learn a lot.”

Dr. Schneider expressed his pleasure at receiving his award at a ceremony that also honoured students.

“One of the nicest things about this ceremony is that I know many of the students getting awards,” he said. “Congratulations to you all, especially for taking a challenging course and doing well.”

Other nominees for the medal included Dr. Howard (Bud) Hulan, Biochemistry; Dr. Fereidoon Shahidi, Biochemistry; and Dr. Jie Xiao, Mathematics and Statistics.