Concordia Journal Home > Archives > October 15, 2009 issue >

Three decades of excellence 

By Anna Sarkissian

Tucked into a corner of the SP Building at Loyola, the Science College has been consistently producing some of Concordia’s best and brightest students since 1979.

In the last year alone, undergraduates from the multidisciplinary program won the Rhodes Scholarship, the O'Brien Medal, the Malone Medal, and the Chemistry Prize, to name a few.

A public lecture and banquet reunited students, alumni, faculty and staff to mark the 30th anniversary. On Oct. 2, alumnus Louis-Eric Trudeau, who is now a professor at Université de Montréal, spoke about research on brain cells and how the Science College helped him achieve his goals. The following night, cocktails, dinner and dancing brought people together at the Montefiore Club.

“I’ve never seen so many doctors in one room,” says Assistant to the Principal Lillian Jackson, who has been at the college for almost 20 years. “I’m so proud of their achievements.”

Twenty-two-year-old Megan Sheppard says the support network is a huge perk. “Lillian sees you through the entire way. She says she knows us better than we know ourselves. Sometimes it's true,” she says.

With approximately 15 students admitted each fall, it’s a very close-knit community. Students and fellows get together weekly for informal coffee hours and talks. They also have their own kitchen, study space, and a small library at their disposal 24 hours-a-day. Hands-on lab experience is another central component of the program.

“The multidisciplinary research is key. Some students might not know what they want to study. If they’re exposed to something early enough, it could help them change directions,” explains associate professor Louis Cuccia.

After speaking with students, faculty, and staff from the college, it’s evident that they genuinely care about helping each other succeed. Though the college is full of high-achievers who must undergo a formal interview before being accepted, it also fosters a non-competitive atmosphere.

“We want to make sure each student can get as far as they can,” says psychology professor Michael von Grünau, who was the principal for nine years until handing over the reigns to Calvin S. Kalman in June.

Sheppard remembers the two words that Arts and Science Associate Dean Academic Programs Joanne Locke used to describe the college at the banquet: commitment and opportunity.

“There is an incredible commitment on the part of the university, the faculty and the students. The program is grueling. At the same time, we have tremendous opportunities to interact with other scientists on a daily basis,” Sheppard says.

Von Grünau encourages students to get the most out of their academic experiences, even if that means sending them to far-flung places.

“You can't just sit back and wait for things to happen. Once you get a job, you won’t be able to take off to east Africa to study wildlife. Go now, I tell them. We'll try to find some money for you. You have to follow your dreams,” he says.

To find out more about the Science College, visit their site.