Appointment of Alanna Watt as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Science

Dear community members, 

I am pleased to announce that Professor Alanna Watt, of the Department of Biology, has graciously agreed to take on the role of Interim Dean of Science, effective July 1, 2025. She will oversee the Faculty while we continue the search for a new Dean of Science. In accordance with the University Statutes, an Advisory Committee will be established to support this process. 

Dragonfly study challenges traditional ideas about biodiversity conservation

A study has found that the impact of climate change on an animal’s traits can begin much earlier than scientists previously thought – a discovery that could reshape how researchers and policymakers approach biodiversity conservation.

2025 Faculty of Science Excellence Award winners announced

Danielle Vlaho (Academic Associate), Joe Iantomasi (Clerical), Luisa Sabaz (Management), and Badawy Sha’ath (Technical) have been named recipients of the Faculty of Science Excellence Awards.  

These awards, announced at the Faculty of Science Council meeting on May 20th, recognize the outstanding contributions made by members of the Faculty’s administrative and support staff during the 2024-2025 academic year.  

Professor Emeritus Prakash Panangaden elected as Fellow of the Royal Society

McGill Professor Emeritus Prakash Panangaden of the School of Computer Science is among the latest appointees to the Royal Society, the U.K.’s national academy of sciences.  

Forests thrive where values run deep 

Forests on Indigenous lands in Panama have remained remarkably stable over the past two decades – more so than in protected areas – thanks in no small part to deeply rooted cultural values, a McGill-led study suggests.  

Antibiotics from human use are contaminating rivers worldwide, study shows

Millions of kilometres of rivers around the world are carrying antibiotic pollution at levels high enough to promote drug resistance and harm aquatic life, a McGill University-led study warns.

Provost honours 31 McGill professors for exceptional research achievements

McGill announces 2025 cohort of Distinguished James McGill Professors, James McGill Professors and William Dawson Scholars 

Study suggests we don’t just hear music, but ‘become it’ 

An international study co-authored by McGill psychologist Caroline Palmer suggests our brains and bodies don’t just understand music, they physically resonate with it. These discoveries, based on findings in neuroscience, music, and psychology, support Neural Resonance Theory (NRT). 

Eight Faculty of Science professors honoured by Provost for exceptional research achievements

Clockwise from top left: Robert Brandenberger (Physics), Christian Genest (Mathematics and Statistics), Joel Kamnitzer (Mathematics and Statistics), Bärbel Knäuper (Psychology), Milica Miočević (Psychology), Adrian Liu (Physics), Nagissa Mahmoudi (Earth and Planetary Sciences), and Galen Halverson (Earth and Planetary Sciences)

Researchers identify two new crocodile species

McGill University researchers, in collaboration with Mexican scientists, have discovered two previously unknown species of crocodiles, one living on the island of Cozumel and the other on the atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both off the Yucatán Peninsula. The findings challenge long-held assumptions about the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts, the researchers say.

McGill researchers help ATLAS Collaboration share in 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

Twenty-eight McGill researchers are among the winners of the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their contributions to the ATLAS Collaboration at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Sometimes referred to as the Oscars of Science, Breakthrough prizes are awarded annually by the foundation of the same name for achievements in life sciences, fundamental physics and mathematics.

2025 Fessenden Professorship Awards and Tomlinson Science Awards winners announced

The winners of the 2025 Fessenden Professorship Awards and Tomlinson Science Awards have been announced. 

Professor Courtney Paquette recipient of the CAIMS-SCMAI/PIMS Early Career Award (2025)

Professor Courtney Paquette is the winner of the 2025 CAIMS/PIMS Early Career Award.

David Stephens named Academic Lead for Horizon McGill 

Congratulations to Professor David Stephens (Department of Mathematics and Statistics), former Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science, who has been named Academic Lead for Horizon McGill.

Read the full story here.

McGill names winners of the 2025 President’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media

Congratulations to Jérôme Waldispühl and Attila Szantner (Computer Science), The Eclipse Task Force (Physics), and Andrew Gonzalez (Biology), who are among this year's winners of the President’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media!

In announcing the winners and runners-up, President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini noted that they were among a strong field of applicants spanning all 12 Faculties.