Science Atlantic is proud to be a member of Volunteer Canada. One of Volunteer Canada’s flagship initiatives is National Volunteer Week (NVW) which puts an annual spotlight on the good work of volunteers across the country.
This year’s theme is Volunteering Weaves us Together, celebrating how volunteers contribute to the strength and vibrancy of our communities. There are countless examples of volunteers weaving the Science Atlantic community together over the past 61 years. Perhaps the best is our 10 discipline-specific student research conferences that have occurred annually since 1969. They would not be possible without the significant contributions of the faculty and student organizers who volunteer their time to coordinate annual events that allow students to come together from all over the Atlantic region and connect with each other. The collective knowledge sharing and relationships that are built at our conferences are a prime example of how these dedicated volunteers weave us together.
The most recent example of the connectivity that volunteers bring to Science Atlantic are our Science Atlantic Sessions for All discussions. We launched this event series with the goal of connecting academics to share knowledge to the benefit of everyone involved. Our first year of events did just that, but they would not have been possible without the work of our volunteer presenters. Their hosting of presentations relevant to faculty across career stages brings our community together in a special way.
Finally, we would be remiss to mention the hard work done by the fantastic volunteers on our Board and Committees, our Institutional Representatives, and our Division Chairs and members. The Board members play an important role in guiding Science Atlantic’s strategic plan, contributing to our organizational culture, and advocating for the advancement of post-secondary science education and research in Atlantic Canada. The Institutional Representatives give their time to act as the voice for their institution and help to make decisions about our organizational direction. Our Division Chairs are responsible for keeping their discipline-specific divisions organized and on track to ensure continued success. Over 150 faculty members from across the region take on the role of discipline representatives for their institutions.
