June 2016 Convocation Kudos and Prizes
On behalf of the Faculty of Science and on the occasion of the recent Science Convocation ceremonies (June 6, 2016), Dean of Science Bruce Lennox offers congratulations to all graduating students, who received B.Sc., B.A. & Sc., Diploma, M.Sc., or Ph.D. degrees. In addition, the Faculty of Science is very proud to recognize the recipients of the Faculty’s and University’s most prestigious awards. These include:
Mr. Alexander Jacob Krolik, B.Sc., First Class Honours in Computer Science, has been awarded a Governor General’s Silver Medal. There are only two medals given each year for the entire university, and they recognise outstanding academic achievement. In the past 26 years, Science students have received 25 of these medals; bravo to Mr. Krolik for continuing this tradition of excellence in Science at McGill.
Prof. Henri Darmon (Department of Mathematics & Statistics) received the Faculty of Science's Leo Yaffe Award for Excellence in Teaching which is given each year to recognize a faculty member for superior teaching at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Science. Professor Darmon has introduced a generation of students to the beauty of mathematics and they consistently rate him as one of the best professors they have ever known. Former students who have become teachers consider him their role model for what a teacher should be; he has an impact beyond time and place
Prof. Joelle Pineau (School of Computer Science) received the David Thomson Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching. This award acknowledges outstanding contributions to promoting graduate student excellence through teaching and supervision. Professor Pineau co-directs the Reasoning and Learning Lab, and her research interests include designing an intelligent robotic wheelchair.
Prof. Tomislav Friščić (Department of Chemistry) received a Principal's Prize for Outstanding Emerging Researchers. This prize was first awarded in 2013 to celebrate and support the work of highly accomplished scholars still in the early stages of their careers. Professor Friščić joined McGill in 2011, and is a leader in green chemistry, particularly mechanochemistry.
Prof. Donald Taylor (Department of Psychology) received a McGill University Medal for Exceptional Academic Achievement, which is awarded to retired members of McGill’s academic staff who are uniquely deserving in light of their exceptional contributions to their discipline, to the University, and to society at large. Professor Taylor is one of Canada’s most influential social psychologists whose research and scholarship have championed immigrants, refugees, inner city youth, and First Nations communities in northern Canada.
Honorary degrees are awarded to distinguished individuals in recognition of a lifetime of scholarly, scientific or artistic achievement, or for exceptional contribution to the public good through professional or philanthropic activity. An honorary degree is the University's highest honour. McGill bestowed the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, on two remarkable individuals: Vinton Gray Cerf and Paul T. Anastas. Dr Cerf is Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist, and is recognised as one of the Fathers of the Internet for his work co-inventing the TCP/IP protocol. Dr Anastas is considered the Father of Green Chemistry; his work has laid the foundation for a more sustainable future. Dr Cerf’s and Dr Anastas’ convocation addresses are available from the McGill Reporter.
Webcasts of the Convocation ceremonies are available for those who may not have been able to attend.