milky way

Faculty of Science Top 20 for 2020

Take a look back at some of our most impactful stories from the past year

In a year of unprecedented events in our city, our province, and around the world, science is more important than ever. From innovations in entrepreneurship and program offerings to mobilizing researchers, labs, and efforts to help with the global COVID-19 pandemic, our faculty, staff, and students faced 2020 with initiative, resilience, and compassion. We connected with industry partners, with our communities, and with each other in new ways to help with efforts to solve some of the major issues facing the world. Read on to discover our top 20 stories for the year 2020.


Study authors, from left: Darla Zelenitsky, Jared Voris, Caleb Brown and François Therrien.

New, large meat-eating dinosaur discovered in Alberta

Science student Jared Voris identifies the first new tyrannosaur species from Canada named in 50 years. Called Thanatotheristes, meaning ‘reaper of death’, the 79-million-year-old fossil is the oldest tyrannosaur known from northern North America.

Imja Lake

Largest-ever study of glacial lakes shows dramatic increases in volume

Researchers say risk growing for communities downstream.

Dr. Casey Hubert

UCalgary, The City of Calgary and AHS team up in the fight against COVID-19

Wastewater samples will help quickly identify local outbreaks.

Kathryn Blair

PhD student and alum explore innovative wearable technology

Kathryn Blair and Teddy Seyed study its impact on our minds and bodies.

SCFN students

Mentorship pipeline connects students together to explore STEM pathways

Sucker Creek First Nation students will learn foundational skills to evaluate drinking water safety in their community.

Dr. Ian Lewis

Leading metabolomics researcher in Faculty of Science helps with COVID19 relief

Ian Lewis part of four new collaborative projects for testing, rapidly diagnosing viral infection.

Calgary's Peace Bridge at night

2020 Parex Resources Innovation Fellows unveiled

Scholars from across campus fuel innovation and spark discovery with fellowships.

The UCalgary IBA 2020 team after winning the Rocky Mountain/Canada section in early March. From left: Lukas Sadownyk, Emily Ellefson, Samantha Mackie, Daniela von Bassenheim, Ninoska Amundaray, Per Pedersen.

Geoscience student team wins Stoneley Medal in Imperial Barrel Award program

Creativity, teamwork earn UCalgary grad students impressive finish in international competition.

researchers stand near a stream

A bird's-eye view on saving the bull trout

UCalgary researchers, other agencies collaborate on conservation and restoration project

Shardar Quraishi at work during his internship at TC Energy.

Computer science student 'transformed' by work internship

Faculty of Science’s new program offers full-time work experience.

Tim Cruz

'Massive talent shortage' lures UCalgary grad into data science career

Tim Cruz leveraged Data Science and Analytics diploma to make the most of new opportunities in Calgary's tech economy

Dr. Richard Guy waves to the crowd from the convocation stage at the 2016 spring ceremony.

Emeritus professor’s remarkable legacy spans over a century of life and learning

Celebrating the memory of Dr. Richard Guy, professor emeritus in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Taylor Markham on exchange at University of Hawai'i Manoa

Graduate on personal mission to encourage girls to study math

Taking a chance on math led to lifelong passion for Science grad Taylor Markham

Team members Russell Shanahan, Stephen Lemmer, Megan Buick, and Jeroen Stil.

University of Calgary students play starring role in cosmic discovery

Radio astronomy group finds new magnetic ‘fingerprint’ in Milky Way Galaxy.

Dr. Peter Facchini in the Faculty of Science greenhouse

MagicMed makes psychedelic molecules to turn trips into treatments

University partner poised to be world leader in molecular derivatives for pharmaceutical use.

Angie in Israel

Curiosity sparks discovery for Faculty of Science grad

Angie Hu combines her love of research and travel for a memorable undergraduate experience.

David Terrill working in the Alberta badlands

Canadian dinosaurs stayed put for the winter, new study shows

Study of isotopes in dinosaur teeth confirm that Late Cretaceous hadrosaurs were non-migratory.

photon detector

Scientists take important step toward building a practical quantum internet

University of Calgary quantum physicists on team developing systems that would revolutionize computing and communication.

Amanda Leong

Amanda Leong organizes charitable book drive for children at local shelter

Biological sciences undergrad shares the joy of reading with some of our city’s most vulnerable.

Students at computer

New professional master's degree programs announced

Master of Data Science and Analytics and Master of Information Security and Privacy programs get green light in 2020. Applications now being accepted for Fall 2021 start!