Welcome from the Dean

Our Faculty has a long history of deepening our understanding of fundamental science through groundbreaking research, affecting positive change in New Brunswick by addressing pressing societal challenges, and educating a scientifically literate workforce for our province, our nation, and beyond. My principle goal is to foster an academic environment in which this crucial work can evolve and grow.

I invite current and future students to explore our webpages and get to know the wide variety of academic programs found in the Faculty of Science. These programs encompass all the central disciplines of modern science, such as Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics. But they have recently expanded to include several exciting new and emerging fields, including Environmental Science, Engineering Physics and Biology-Psychology. Please stay tuned for new offerings on the horizon, which will focus on the cutting edge of fundamental and applied science.

Providing a top quality to our students is of the utmost priority to our faculty and staff. To this end, our Faculty is conducting a one year pilot project of embedded educational development. The key component of this initiative is our very own Science Teaching & Learning Fellow, who both teaches in Science and actively encourages and supports effective teaching within the Faculty. Magdalen Normandeau is serving as the inaugural Science Teaching & Learning Fellow for the duration of this pilot project.

Research is central to academic mission of the Faculty. Whether motivated by the most daunting problems facing society, or by curiosity about the key mechanisms governing the natural world, our faculty members are committed to pushing back the borders of human knowledge. Our diverse research activity includes projects to:

• improve global positioning systems using quantum technologies;
• find out how chemotherapy drugs derived from plants can be mass produced;
• search for extraterrestrial life using electrochemistry;
• document the current state of North America’s waterways using science combined with local knowledge; and
• determine the ultimate fate of quantum black holes, which are among the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe.

This is just a small subset of the important Science being done at UNB. When one includes the amazing work being done by our Alumni outside of academia, the true and lasting impact our research has becomes very apparent.

The pursuit of scientific knowledge has not always reflected the inherent diversity of society, and many groups have been traditionally underrepresented in scientific research and learning. This has clearly caused the entire enterprise to suffer. We are committed to improving access to advanced research and education through several new initiatives, such as our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee, and our Indigenous science scholar or Skitqomiqewi Kcicihtuwinut (Skit-goh-mee-gewi Kchee-geet-wee-nood) Dr Charles Sacobie. But we know that there is much more to be done, and we are determined to secure a future where Science is truly open to all.

We at the Faculty of Science are very grateful to our extended family of alumni and other donors for their generous support. In October 2024, we were excited to announce the $2.2-million bequest of Dr. Margot Roach, which will establish perhaps the largest awards for undergraduate physics in Canada. This gift expands on Dr Roach’s lifelong legacy of giving to UNB. Other recent gifts have made possible the John Tidswell Summer Internship and Indigenous Student Summer Internship, the Science Undergraduate Research Experience Award (SURE), and the Fritz Grein Science Research Award for junior faculty. This is just a small sampling of recent support given to Science at UNB, and we are extremely thankful to all of our friends for their crucial gifts and donations.

Our Misson

The Faculty of Science is committed to providing our students with a comprehensive experiential education in the natural sciences that develops creative thinking and promotes excellence in research, innovation and collaboration. We strive to remain a vibrant and inclusive community that advances knowledge for the betterment of the Province of New Brunswick and society at large.

Our Vision

Our vision is to become the preeminent Faculty of Science in Atlantic Canada, recognized for our outstanding faculty, staff, students, facilities and for our contributions to science and technology. We aim to grow by attracting the best students and faculty from around the world and helping them to thrive and succeed.

Our Guiding Principles

• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Excellence in teaching
• Global recognition in research
• Responsiveness to societal needs
• Reconciliation with First Nations
• Ethical conduct and integrity
• Innovation, creativity, and productivity
• Continuous learning and professional development
• Engagement with community and stakeholders

These values inform all our activities in nurturing students, faculty and staff to achieve their full potential and engagement with the community.

Our Place

The Faculty of Science played a foundational role in the genesis of the University of New Brunswick. Science was a central focus of the emerging University, beginning as the Provincial Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1785, but formally recognized as the College of New Brunswick in 1800. In 1837 the institution expanded into King’s College, which initially added Chairs in Chemistry & Natural Science and Mathematics & Philosophy, and later Astronomy (circa 1851). After the University of New Brunswick was established in 1859, the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Geology, Mathematics and Physics were formalized, advanced in part by establishing separate entities for Engineering (1890) and Forestry (1908). These entities have evolved into the five departments that comprise the backbone of the modern Faculty of Science:

• Physics

Proud of our long history of high-quality education, research and innovation, the Faculty of Science is now among the largest in the University. We offer diverse, world-class programs within and jointly with other faculties, and our research programs are recognized internationally.