March Message from Matina

Dear CNAS community,

A huge congratulations to the graduates across ALES, engineering and science who donned their caps for the first University of Alberta March convocation last week. It’s always inspiring to see our students enjoy their well-deserved moments on stage in front of family, friends and mentors. If you weren’t in attendance for the March 18 ceremony, I encourage you to head over to The Quad to read the transcript of Richard Sutton’s address as the recipient of a U of A honorary degree. His words were prescient as our institution continues to explore, lead and embrace AI research and enablement: “This moment is pivotal for our society and its relationship to machine minds. Will we fear them and suppress them, or will we embrace them, and even become them? Will we see the AIs as alien competitors, or as our progeny? This is the moment when we have that discussion.” He has given us lots to think about as stewards of this technology, and encourages us to maintain an open mind as we look to the future. 

In that spirit, I am excited to share we have received formal approval from the Government of Alberta to launch the new Graduate Certificate in Data Science and AI. The program offers four courses in data analysis, statistical reasoning, artificial intelligence principles and the responsible and ethical use of these technologies. We anticipate high demand — this interdisciplinary and entry-level program will unlock new skills for professionals across multiple sectors from the arts to agriculture. We’ll share more details soon, including when applications will open. This program benefits from input from representatives across 12 faculties at the university — a truly interdisciplinary offering. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the development of this new certificate. I would like to share a special message from Lobo Cruz Noguez, CNAS associate dean (education):

“A very heartfelt thank you to the faculty who lent their expertise and time, the staff who navigated the process, the colleagues who challenged and sharpened our vision, and the students who participated in the consultation process. With your support we have developed something truly wonderful together. I am excited for all the possibilities this program will unlock for our students in the years to come."

Giving Day is today, and a wonderful opportunity to rally behind our students and faculties. Please share far and wide through your networks to support this 24-hour campaign. The faculties across CNAS are seeking support for highly impactful experiential learning funds. These initiatives ensure our students have hands-on experiences to guide their decision making, enrich their learning and strengthen career readiness. Importantly, thanks to a $100,000 matching pool, donors have the opportunity to double their impact, so every gift goes further. 

Last week, campus master space planning kicked off with CNAS and CHS meeting with Infrastructure Planning, Development and Partnerships to determine how we will accommodate growth and optimize space within our existing footprint. This planning process will assess our current space, determine what kind of space we will need in the future and propose actions we should take to reach our goals. This includes ongoing planning of the LIFT Centre, — a transformation of the Biological Sciences Building. Please see our recently updated LIFT Centre FAQs with new details about LIFT Centre activities. Consultations are ongoing between the architectural firm and representatives from ALES, engineering and science; University Wide Services and others. These representatives are providing insights around the operational needs of collections, animal services, manufacturing shops, the greenhouse, core spaces, instructional spaces and more.

Enjoy the transition to spring and as always, if you would like to share any thoughts or ask questions, please reach out to me at deancnas@ualberta.ca.

Sincerely, 

Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell
Dean and Vice-Provost, College of Natural and Applied Sciences