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In this episode we talk to Will Burt, a chemical oceanographer and Dalhousie alum (PhD’15). Dr. Burt is the Chief Ocean Scientist at Planetary Technologies, a carbon dioxide removal company headquartered in Nova Scotia. The company partners with Dal researchers to study the efficacy and safety of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), a mitigation approach that harnesses the ocean’s natural ability to capture and store CO2 from the atmosphere.This special alumni episode, done in partnership with Dal’s Open Dialogue Live series, is the final episode of Sciographies’ fifth season. Host David Barclay interviews Dr. Burt about discovering a passion for oceanography, leaving a tenure-track position in academia to work in industry, and what it’s like to be on the frontlines fighting climate change.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Kevin Hewitt, a professor and the Associate Dean, Equity and Inclusion in Dalhousie’s Faculty of Science. His research involves designing optical diagnostic tools for disease detection. Outside of his scientific endeavours, he’s passionate about increasing the representation of Black professionals in STEM fields. He was a graduate student when his commitment to this work began with the earliest vision of , which is now a province-wide community partnership that helps to improve student success for youth of African heritage in Nova Scotia. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada has also named him an inaugural Atlantic-region co-chair for Inclusion in Science & Engineering. Dr. Hewitt talks to us about immigrating to Canada, his mother’s influence on his success, and pursuing research related to health outcomes for African Canadians.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Michael Freund, a materials scientist, professor and the Harry Shirreff Chair of Chemical Research at �°������ϲ�. He uses his training in analytical chemistry to do research that informs the design of sensors, electrical devices, and energy storage technologies. He’s also the Director of Dalhousie’s Clean Technologies Research Institute, where he facilitates the resources and funding needed to conduct studies that can help build a more sustainable future. Dr. Freund talks to us about designing sensor arrays that work with machine learning to mimic the brain’s olfactory system, the collaboration between fields to develop new materials, and more.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Erin Bertrand,�� a marine biogeochemist and associate professor with the Department of Biology. Dr. Bertrand’s research examines the relationship between marine microbes and ocean metabolism. To do this, she travels to challenging environments like the Antarctic to collect samples of ocean water. She’s also a Canadian ambassador for the project. In this episode, she talks to us about pivoting from liberal arts to natural sciences, the challenging fieldwork she conducts in Antarctica, and her commitment to creating an inclusive lab environment for her students.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Aaron Newman, a cognitive neuroscientist. Dr. Newman developed an early curiosity for computers in the ’80s. While at university, he found a way to combine his interest in technology with his studies in psychology and carved a path for himself in the field of cognitive neuroscience. Today Dr. Newman is a professor and department chair at �°������ϲ�. He uses technologies like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in his research to understand how different language experiences shape the brain. He’s also the director of Nova Scotia’s , a place for STEM students to explore technology, design thinking, collaboration, problem-solving and more.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Melanie Zurba, a social scientist and associate professor at �°������ϲ�. Her research in environmental governance explores how to design resource management studies that best support a community partner’s aspirations. Dr. Zurba also taps into her creative side to use art as an engagement tool. Her work bridges the gaps between natural sciences, social sciences, the arts, and equity-deserving knowledge systems. Dr. Zurba talks to us about doing “research about research,” leveraging the power of art, and what collaboration between researchers and Indigenous partners can look like.


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In this episode, we talk to Dr. Shannon Sterling, an environmental scientist and associate professor at �°������ϲ�. When she’s not teaching her students about the science behind climate change, she’s leading the charge as Chief Scientific Officer at , the carbon-dioxide removal startup she founded in 2022. By increasing the alkalinity of rivers, CarbonRun technology captures carbon from the atmosphere while restoring acidified river habitats at the same time. Dr. Sterling talks to us about growing up in North Vancouver, her research career, grappling with the idea of geoengineering as a necessity in the fight against climate change, and founding her company. ��

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Chuck Macdonald, an inorganic chemist. Dr. Macdonald attended �°������ϲ� for both his undergraduate degree and his PhD studies. Years later, he returned to his alma mater to take position as the Dean of Science. As Dean, Dr. Macdonald is leading the charge to enhance science programming and facilities — all while working to improve equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within the Dal Science community. Dr. Macdonald talks to us about growing up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, his experience specializing in inorganic chemistry, and the big-picture projects he tackles as a university administrator.��