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WINTER 2015 AAND RTS CANADA POST PUBLI CANADA POST LETTERS C ATIONS: MAIL ATIONS: HOW DAL ALUMNI ARE MAKING THEIR MARK ON STAGE AND PAGE P M41901013 HELPING START-UPS THRIVE SMARTER SOLAR THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE Download a PDF version of this issue at alumni.dal.ca/stay-informed/dalhousie-magazine CONTENTS WINTER 2015 DAL RESEARCH CHEAPER SOLAR LIGHT IN ACTION Rising climate change concerns and electricity rates have many homeowners exploring renewable energy sources. Solar panels are affordable but expensive to install: The necessary racks and wiring required can make solar ener- With 2015 designated as the UN’s International Year of Light and Light-based gy generation a hefty investment. That’s why Ian Hill in the Created by Scott Lewis from the Noun Project Faculty of Science is keen on re-examining solar cells and Technologies, we turn the spotlight on Dal’s light-related research and insight. better incorporating them into materials already used in By Nikki Comeau building construction. “We’re working on the next gener- ation of solar cell technologies,” says Dr. Hill. His team is FEATURES 1working on new solar cell materials and technologies that could be printed directly onto common building elements, like glass windows. The result? With significantly lower SHINING installation costs (after all, homes need windows anyway), LIGHT residential solar electricity generation becomes a lot more ON DAL affordable. IMPROVED MOOD Created by iconsmind.comRESEARCH Canadians are used to cold and gloomy winter months. But from the Noun Project fewer hours of sunlight can have a major effect on some vulnerable individuals, says Martin Alda, Dalhousie’s Killam Chair in Mood Disorders. Those with depression, bipolar disorder and other chronic mood disorders can experience worsening of their symptoms during times of reduced daylight in fall and winter. “Light is an import- A MESSAGE TO DALHOUSIE’S ALUMNI COMMUNITY ant factor in mood regulation and it does play a role in mood disorders,” explains Dr. Alda. With light therapies 2in combination with other treatments, some people who suffer seasonal symptoms of mood disorders can success- How Dal is addressing the Dentistry situation fully find relief. GETTING SMARTER ABOUT LIGHT BRIGHT UPGRADES much as 50 per cent by 2020. Next up: the Dal- explains Peter Green, with the Faculty of Med- With three campuses in Halifax and one in housie Agricultural Campus in Truro, Nova icine. UVB rays are more associated with sun- page 2 Truro, Dal has more than a few buildings to Scotia, where testing of LED tube lighting has burns but over-exposure to both UVB and UVA light. Between 2011-2013, “over 80 per cent of already taken place. rays contributes to premature aging as well Dal buildings have been retrofitted with high- as cancerous changes in the skin. Dr. Green er efficiency lamps, ballasts and some lighting STAYING SUN SAFE points out that any unintentional sun exposure ICONSMIND.COM FROM THE NOUN PROJECT controls,” says Rochelle Owen, director of the Harmful rays from sunlight are known to se- is unhealthy, even if an individual tans easily. Office of Sustainability. It’s one of many ener- riously damage the skin and lead to cancer. “In order to develop a tan, an individual’s DNA 14 gy-saving initiatives led by the Office of Sus- “UVA rays have a longer wavelength and can would have to be damaged to get there,” says tainability and Facilities Management, with penetrate the skin deeply. But it’s felt that UVB Dr. Green. “A tan without damage is scientifi- LIGHT IN ACTION a goal to reduce Dal’s greenhouse gases by as rays have the potential to cause more damage,” cally impossible.” “WE’RE WORKING ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES,” SAYS IAN HILL IN THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE ABOUT HIS “OVER 80 PER CENT OF DAL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN RETROFITTED WITH HIGHER EFFICIENCY LAMPS, BALLASTS AND SOME LIGHTING TEAM’S EFFORTS TO INCORPORATE SOLAR CELLS INTO COMMON BUILDING MATERIALS. CONTROLS,” SAYS ROCHELLE OWEN, DIRECTOR OF DALHOUSIE’S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. PLAINPICTURE/STEPHEN WEBSTER; SCOTT LEWIS FROM THE NOUN PROJECT SCOTT WEBSTER; PLAINPICTURE/STEPHEN With 2015 designated as the UN’s International Year DAL WINTER 2015 DAL WINTER 2015 14 15 of Light and Light-based Technologies, we turn the spotlight on Dal’s light-related research and insight. By Nikki Comeau Created by Murali Krishna page 14 from the Noun Project CULTURE CLUB Dal’s new FountainA School N of PerformingEW Arts is fostering S collaborationTA andG exploration.E By Keri Irwin Being under one roof—even a metaphorical one—is already having The Fountain gift has also brought an unprecedented level of support As students in the new Fountain School of Performing clear benefits for students and faculty of the newly-minted Fountain to students. The creation of entrance scholarships, in-course scholar- School of Performing Arts, which welcomed its first class in September ships and summer program awards almost one-third of students in the 2014. Fountain School of Performing Arts receive funding. “This is another “Even before the school was official, faculty and students began to aspect that makes us unique,” says Dr. Gantar. “Funding for music pro- seek out increased opportunities for integration and collaboration,” grams is pretty common but funding for theatre is almost unheard of.” Arts make their way through their first year, we look at says Interim Director Jure Gantar. Dr. Gantar isn’t the only one who’s excited. “Receiving the Fountain “Since the school launched, the collaboration has increased—you Scholarship helped me realize that not only is theatre something I ab- have theatre faculty working on opera productions, leading to a solutely love, but it is a program that I am good at and I will be able to better-designed program and original music in theatre productions— succeed in, even if I experience some challenges along the way,” says resulting in better productions and better experiences for our students.” first-year costume studies student Alexis Geist. Dal’s contributions past and present, on stage and on Collaboration is also at the heart of how programs in the school are Fountain Scholar and acting student Ursula Calder echoes her class- being developed. While still in the early stages, faculty in theatre and mate. “After being given the scholarship, I felt far more confident about music are re-examining programming for the school, looking for op- theatre and my ability. I thought that perhaps I did have a shot at it, portunities for cross collaboration including a common first-year class which is one of the most incredible feelings in the world. It gave me the for students studying music, acting, technical studies and costume de- opportunity to study acting and learn something I am truly passionate sign. The long-term goal is to have full collaboration between the the- about and in love with.” the page. By Lola Augustine Brown, Keri Irwin, Matt LEFT: DANNY ABRIEL; NICK PEARCE; PEARCE FROM TOP CLOCKWISE atre and music programs on all programming. In addition to scholarships, the Fountain investment enables yearly Another benefit for the theatre and music programs, which have seen state-of-the-art equipment purchases. This year’s purchase is a second 50 per cent growth in faculty and staff over the past 23 years but not an grand piano for the MacAloney Room, a significant gain for the music increase in space, is the ability to share rehearsal space. With 200-plus program and the community—as there isn’t another venue with two students in the school and an incoming class of approximately 80 stu- grand pianos within the Halifax region. This addition broadens the per- Semansky and Erin Stewart dents, space is tight. Since the creation of the Fountain School, there formance possibilities for local and visiting artists, music teachers and has been a shift in how physical space is being classified and used. Now, the many community members who use Dalhousie spaces. theatre and music students can access common rehearsal space, which Looking ahead, Dr. Gantar has big dreams for the school. A future has replaced dedicated music and theatre rehearsal spaces and has re- expansion of the Arts Centre would enable the school to include a dance sulted in fewer hallway rehearsals. “It’s just a shift in thinking but it’s program and film studies major. “Our goal is to be one of the top-notch page 17 made a big difference for the students,” explains Dr. Gantar. performing arts schools in the world.” 20 Leculpa cones molut eatum re sunt, tem quis rent est hicienditate seque oditae volenihil in nes vel incturis eum de volenis cumentur alignis si quamust, ut quasperuptis corem deliquae iduciaest quatintur, si iderum aut auta natem dolentintet in consequo tem. Nam quidell uptaquides et quam exerfersped et fugitest, qui unt, ut et eum rem, ant, omniam, imin core prat ma nobis que con corendi simodit, ut as et, ut quas aut dolorum di officti optati sit pa dolendi. MURALI KRISHNA FROM THE NOUN PROJECT DAL WINTER 2015 DAL WINTER 2015 20 21 REGULARS ON THE COVER For more inspiring works from Dalhousie faculty and alumni, see our list online at [insert link]. Know of a book we missed? Let us know at 5 Dal News 17 Arts and Letters [email protected], and we’ll add it to the list. 27 Dal Alumni 9 Helping Start-ups Thrive BETWEEN 28 Building A Better World 14 Smarter Solar THE COVERS Spotlight SHAKESPEAREAN 40 YEARS OF POETRY CULTURE BENEATH HAUNTING POETRY YESTERDAY’S WORK 31 The performing arts aren’t Dal’s only contribution to Canadian SCIENCE Celebrated novelist, THE WAVES Don Domanski’s (BA’73) Shortlisted for the Evelyn 11 The Future of Agriculture poet and Dalhousie prof ninth book of poetry, Bite Richardson Award at the cultural life: our alumni and faculty have a long history of In his most recent Lesley Choyce earned In The Cultural Lives of Down Little Whisper 2014 East Coast Literary work, The Science of the 2013 Atlantic Poetry Whales and Dolphins (Brick Books) earned him Awards, John Demont’s publishing books that inform, inspire and educate.

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