Faculty of Science

Fish exposed to the antidepressant drug Prozac pass on altered behaviour to the next three generations, raising questions about what might happen to human children whose mothers take the drug.

At the University of Ottawa, researchers Vance Trudeau and Marilyn Vera-Chang exposed fish eggs and newly-hatched fish to Prozac levels typical of what would cross the human placenta and reach an embryo. Read the full article.

Laurie Chan studies the toxic effects of chemical contaminants on wildlife and humans. Chan has worked with indigenous peoples across Canada to address their food safety and security issues. Chan and his team develop innovative approaches to study health determinants at the local, regional and global levels.

The Faculty of Science has created a professional mentorship program that partners mentors with students who are looking for advice on career possibilities and professional development.

This program is offered through various departments: Biology,Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences,Mathematics and Statistics and Physics. Learn more about the mentorship program.

Robert Smith, Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is the 2018 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for successfully using pop culture to showcase the power of mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, sparking the interest of mathematical and non-mathematical audiences worldwide. Read the press release.

uOttawa doctorial candidate Seungmin Leo Lee says one of the things he likes best about the university’s graduate science programs is the opportunity to develop as a diversified scientist with interdisciplinary skills.

Lee wasn’t always this hooked on the science of rocks. He was charting an academic path in biochemistry until an undergraduate geology elective changed his outlook. Today, he is happily pursuing his research under the supervision of Dr. Keiko Hattori, a professor of geochemistry and mineral deposits in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Read the full article.