Focus on Macdonald_Spring 2015

FOCUS ON

Macdonald AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

SUMMER 2015

SPECIAL EDITION

Dean Madramootoo– a ten-year legacy Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

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Faculté des Sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement

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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Dean Chandra A. Madramootoo

FOCUS ON MACDONALD SUMMER 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Dean .................................. 2 From the Newsroom ........ .............................. 3 Chandra Madramootoo - A Ten-Year Legacy .... 4 Focus on Research ........................ .................. 8 Becoming a Mentor ........................................ 10 Students Take the Lead in Entrepreneurship ............................................ 11

COVER PHOTO: Dean Chandra Madramootoo. Photo by Owen Egan.

EDITOR: Helen Cohen Rimmer CONTRIBUTORS: Helen Cohen Rimmer, Kathy MacLean, Ron Henry, Anna Duff,

Dear Alumni and Friends of Macdonald,

Chers anciens étudiants et amis,

As my tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences draws to a close, I look back on the wonderful professional opportunity that was afforded to me to lead the Faculty for ten years. The job was most rewarding and not without its challenges; with the support of the Macdonald Community, we have collectively faced the challenges and strengthened the Faculty’s position within McGill, nationally and internationally.

Mon mandat en tant que doyen de la Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement tirant à sa fin, je jette un regard rétrospectif sur la formidable occasion qui m’a été donnée de la diriger pendant dix ans. Ma tâche s’est révélée des plus gratifiantes mais non sans défis. Grâce au soutien de l’ensemble de la communauté Macdonald, nous avons su les surmonter collectivement et consolidé notre position au sein de l’Université McGill, tant à l’échelle nationale qu’internationale.

I would like to thank all my colleagues, the staff and the students, and my leadership team who worked with me to lift the standards and the quality of the Faculty, and move it in new directions. With their support, we were able to diversify our teaching programs, as well as our funding in research and philanthropy.

I am most grateful to all our alumni and donors for their continued and sustained support over the past ten years. It is gratifying to see all that we have achieved by working together. Our shared vision and love for Macdonald past, present and future led to endeavours and a solid reputation in many academic areas, such as food security, food safety, environment and water. We have modernized our learning infrastructure and created new opportunities for our students in entrepreneurship, internships and undergraduate research experiences.

With our new academic programs, dynamic new teaching staff, groundbreaking research and community engagement and outreach, I feel confident that the Faculty will rise to new heights in the coming decades. I look forward to watching Macdonald grow.

Eduardo Ganem Cuenca PHOTOS: Thank you to all who provided photos or took photos for this issue

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Je tiens à remercier tous mes collègues, les membres du personnel, nos étudiants ainsi que mon équipe de direction pour avoir travaillé à mes côtés et contribué à doter la Faculté de normes élevées en matière de qualité, lui donnant ainsi accès à de nouveaux horizons. Votre appui nous a permis de diversifier nos programmes d’enseignement de même que le financement de nos efforts de recherche et de philanthropie.

Je suis très reconnaissant à tous nos anciens étudiants et donateurs pour leur parrainage soutenu des dix dernières années. Il est réjouissant de voir l’ampleur de ce que nous avons pu accomplir ensemble. Notre vision et notre passion commune pour le passé, le présent et le future du campus Macdonald a donné lieu à de nombreux projets et nous a permis d’acquérir une solide réputation dans plusieurs disciplines universitaires. Nous avons modernisé nos infrastructures d’enseignement et créé de nouvelles perspectives d’entrepreneuriat, de stages et d’expériences de recherche au profit de nos étudiants.

Avec nos nouveaux programmes, notre nouvelle équipe d’enseignants dynamiques, nos recherches d’avantgarde, la mobilisation et les échanges au sein de la collectivité, je suis confiant de voir le campus Macdonald atteindre de nouveaux sommets dans les décennies à venir.

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FROM THE NEWSROOM

McGill announces appointment of Macdonald’s new Dean McGill University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Anja Geitmann as McGill’s next Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Associate Vice-Principal (Macdonald Campus), beginning 1 September 2015.

Prof. Geitmann is a renowned scholar with an international and interdisciplinary research career that took her from Germany to Italy, the United States and Sweden before she settled in Quebec.

A cell biologist by training, Prof. Geitmann has been a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Université de Montréal and a scientist at the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale since 2001. There, she has led an interdisciplinary team of cell biologists and mechanical engineers, with a research program focusing on the biomechanical principles

governing plant development and reproduction.

Prof. Geitmann is President of the Microscopical Society of Canada and Vice-President of the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists.

She has published numerous articles in leading scientific journals and serves on the editorial boards of multiple journals, including Plant Physiology.

“I am looking forward to joining the vibrant academic community of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the Macdonald Campus,” said Geitmann. “I am committed to promoting scientific excellence, stimulating innovation and creativity, as well as to fostering an environment that is conducive to learning and personal growth and development.”

$1-million donation to Macdonald College Campus to boost community outreach Gift from graduate William Ritchie forms centrepiece of $2.5-million plan to educate the public, open campus to more visitors.

important public engagement about agriculture and food production, and to showcase the vital link between good agricultural practices and a healthy, sustainable future.”

A $1-million gift from Macdonald College alumnus J. William Ritchie, BSc(Agr)’51, will provide major support for McGill’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in its efforts to open the Macdonald Campus to more visitors and provide a unique, hands-on education into the critical role of agriculture in the food supply chain.

The Macdonald Farm Community Outreach Program currently provides bilingual guided tours aimed at educating schoolchildren about agriculture and environmental stewardship. Last year, more than 5,000 children participated in activities during a limited spring and summer schedule. Operating on a year-round basis out of the new Centre, the Faculty estimates that the Campus and the Farm could welcome up to 20,000 visitors a year, mainly from surrounding suburban communities as well from areas closer to Montreal’s inner city.

Ritchie’s gift will support construction and renovations to an original stone dairy barn dating back to 1907 that will serve as the centrepiece of the Faculty’s renewed outreach efforts. The historic building is designated to become the Macdonald Farm Community Engagement Centre and will include the centrally located Lorna and William Ritchie Educational Hall. The 279-square-metre hall will serve as an initial point of contact for visitors, accommodate a 140-seat instructional area and be home to multimedia displays and other interactive exhibits portraying the workings of the Macdonald Farm and themes related to agriculture, nutrition and food production.

“As a graduate of Macdonald College, I have come to appreciate the Faculty’s role and its proud tradition when it comes to agriculture, food, nutrition and the environment,” said Ritchie, a Nova Scotia businessman and loyal McGill volunteer and supporter who grew up in Montreal. “Supporting the Macdonald Farm Community Engagement Centre is an opportunity to open the campus, and its many activities, to even more students and more people in the community.”

“Thanks to the outstanding generosity of William Ritchie, our Faculty will be able to connect our teaching and research programs even more deeply with the community of which we are a part,” said Dean Chandra Madramootoo. “As an internationally renowned leader in fields like sustainable agriculture, food safety and food security, and human nutrition, the Faculty is ideally positioned to contribute to McGILL UNIVERSITY

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For more information on how you can contribute to this outstanding project, please contact: Ron Henry, Stewardship and Special Projects Officer University Advancement Office - Macdonald Campus 514-398-7695 | ron.henry@mcgill.ca

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SPECIAL SECTION: DEAN MADRAMOOTOO – A TEN-YEAR LEGACY

Dean Madramootoo, with our thanks!

Chandra Madramootoo has always been very passionate about Macdonald – the Faculty, the Campus and what it offers. This passion has only grown stronger over the last ten years that he has been at the helm of the Faculty.

“I was determined to leave Macdonald a stronger and better place than when I found it,” says Madramootoo. “I hope that today the Faculty is stronger, and its roots more deeply entrenched in the local, national and international communities that we serve.”

As he was getting ready to pass on the reins, we asked him to share some thoughts with us about his tenure as Dean.

How has Macdonald evolved over your ten years as Dean?

Well, over the 40 years that I have been at Macdonald, there has been a lot of change. We have evolved and adapted. It’s a place that has lent itself to evolution in thinking. During my term, we have recruited 46 new staff members, and it is wonderful to see the invigoration of excellent ideas, new programs that they have established, and introduction of new technologies in their teaching and research. It has been wonderful for me to be part of this evolution. I look at our student growth, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and I see passionate and deeply committed students hungering for knowledge and wanting to improve the world.

It’s been a powerful dynamism, to not just observe, but also to actively participate in the student-staff interactions that make Macdonald a very different and distinct institution of higher learning.

donors, or political leaders. The issues raised at each of these levels are very different. But they have one common thread – how to make the academy stronger and better. What I have learned from this experience is how to stay focused, and try to show some tangible results, while being true to the academic mission of Macdonald, despite the many gales that blow in various directions from time to time.

What was the most difficult thing you did?

The most difficult work I undertook was, and continues to be, the reorganization of administrative and support services, imposed by budgetary constraints. Through retirements, we lost a lot of talented individuals, whom we have not been able to replace. This has been very tough for me, and we are still working through it.

What have you learned?

Many things, perhaps too numerous to mention. When you become Dean, you move from being an individual thinker and doer, to interacting with groups of people on a larger scale and in broader and more complex settings, be it groups of students, groups of professors and staff, administrators,

2006: Library and Learning Centre

2006: Launch of Centenary stamp When he became Dean ten years ago, Chandra Madramootoo had both a passion and a vision for the Macdonald Campus. During his tenure his leadership has resulted in a decade of growth in academic recruitment, in student enrolment and in alumni contributions. He has demonstrated the ability to inspire and empower while dedicating himself to faculty, staff, students and alumni in a way that touches people personally.

Byron Beeler, BSc(Agr)‘58 Chair, Faculty Advisory Board

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What did rewarding?

you

find

most

There were so many milestones. To be part of the academic renewal in the faculty, and to see the growth in student enrolment, that gave me a lot of satisfaction. The first McGill Conference on Global Food Security, which led to the creation of the McGill Institute for Global Food Security, the opening of the Macdonald Library and Learning Centre, the Active Learning Lab, the opening of the Food Labs in the Centennial Centre, the creation of the Bieler Family Internship Office, the Food Safety and Quality Program, the Integrated Water Resources Management Program, the Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Program – they all have their own excitement, and will remain memorable for me. None would have been possible without the strong support of our alumni, donors and friends.

An occurrence that really touched me was the way in which the Macdonald Community came together during and after the fire at the Farm. Assistance—emotional, physical and monetary—came from students, staff and alumni, and for that I am deeply grateful.

What’s next on the books for you?

What’s next for me? First, some time to wind down from a hectic ten-year stint, and to catch my breath. Then I will be on an administrative leave that will allow me to renew and advance my research and teaching program, and spend more time with my graduate students.

Closing reflections Dean Madramootoo has always impressed me by the deep knowledge and the exceptional skills, commitment and empathy he brings to the tasks he engages in. It has been inspiring and a privilege to work with him these past years.

Marco Ferroni, PhD Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture Under Chandra’s leadership, we have brought a more interdisciplinary approach to our BSc(AgEnvSci) programs and our undergraduate enrolment has increased markedly. He has received generous donor support that has allowed us to revitalize our library, to build a new food and nutrition lab, and to move full steam ahead into the area of entrepreneurship. Together with our new professors and our very active research training program, our Faculty is in great shape for his successor! Thank you Chandra!

Marilyn E. Scott, PhD’80 Associate Dean (Academic) and Professor

I have had the pleasure of working with the Dean for the last two years. He enthusiastically supports innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in striving to make Mac better. He has made a tremendous impact in the Faculty; it’s clear that Mac is a place he holds dear to his heart.

Nadia Wendowsky, BA’07 Associate Director University Advancement - Macdonald Campus

Chandra stands for leadership skills and for business acumen, none can argue that. He has single-handedly put McGill’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the world map.

Having worked with him for over ten years, I can state that he cares, going out of his way to assist anyone wanting a hand. Whatever he undertakes in the future, he will do it well. On behalf of all those who have been touched by him, I wish him continued success and passion about what is really important in life.

Suha Jabaji Associate Dean (Research) and Associate Professor

I have a lot of respect for our staff and students, and I have enjoyed working with them. I am amazed at how many people want to see Macdonald succeed and who worked with me to achieve that success. I found that very rewarding. Now it’s up to a new generation to take up the mission of Sir William. That mission will be even more relevant as we all tackle problems of agriculture, nutrition, food safety, food security, water, climate change and the environment. These are some of the major challenges confronting humanity in Quebec, Canada and globally.

Professeur Madramootoo, avec nos remerciements !

Chandra Madramootoo s’est toujours montré des plus passionnés pour le campus Macdonald, la Faculté et tout ce qui y est offert.

Cette passion n’a cessé de croître au cours de ses dix dernières années à la tête de la Faculté. « J’étais fermement décidé à laisser le campus Macdonald en meilleure position qu’à mon arrivée, » a-til affirmé. « J’espère que la Faculté est aujourd’hui plus solide et que ses racines sont plus profondément ancrées dans les communautés locales, nationales et internationales que nous desservons. »

2007: Patio and Link Opening

2008: Sir William Macdonald Statue Always a pleasure to work with, a true gentlemen that has a clear and exciting vision.

Bruce Bolton, BSc’72 Executive Director, Macdonald Stewart Foundation

It has been a pleasure to work with Dean Madramootoo over the last 10 years. His vision for the Faculty and his leadership, coupled with an incredible work ethic, have brought many ideas to fruition.

Joanne Ten Eyck, Assistant to the Dean

McGILL UNIVERSITY

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Alors qu’il se prépare à passer les rennes de la Faculté, nous lui avons demandé de partager quelques réflexions avec nous concernant son mandat.

Comment le campus Macdonald a-t-il évolué pendant vos dix ans à titre de doyen?

Eh bien, beaucoup de changements sont survenus pendant mes 40 ans au campus Macdonald. Nous avons évolué et nous nous sommes adaptés.

C’est un endroit qui s’est révélé propice à l’évolution de la pensée.

Durant mon mandat, nous avons recruté 46 nouveaux membres du personnel et il a été formidable de les voir introduire de nouvelles idées et d’excellents nouveaux programmes, d’introduire les nouvelles technologies dans leurs enseignements et dans leurs recherches. J’ai trouvé merveilleux de faire partie de cette évolution. Les yeux rivés sur nos jeunes gens qui évoluent au premier cycle comme dans les cycles supérieurs et je vois des étudiants passionnés, engagés, avides de connaissances et de contribuer à rendre le monde meilleur. Il a été tout à fait vivifiant de me faire observateur mais aussi de participer activement aux interactions entre les étudiants et les enseignants qui confèrent au campus Macdonald toute sa différence et lui permettent de se distinguer en qualité d’établissement universitaire.

préoccupations sont fort différentes mais tous ont un point commun, celui de chercher à enrichir la Faculté, à la rendre meilleure. J’ai tiré de cette expérience la capacité de rester concentré et d’arriver à livrer des Chandra has been the driving force behind the résultats tangibles tout en demeurant resurgence of the Macdonald Campus Farm as a fidèle à la mission d’enseignement central part of the campus and the surrounding du campus Macdonald en dépit des community. He has earned my deepest respect for obstacles rencontrés ici et là. his tireless work on behalf of Macdonald College, a place that he cares about so much. The Farm Management and Technology program is very grateful for his continuing interest in teaching at all levels and his unwavering support.

Serge Lussier, BSc(Agr)’74 Assistant Director, FMT Program

Chandra developed further the ability to participate in team projects, serve on committees and absorb new information from verbal and written input as well as field observations. With these capabilities, a good sense of humour and friendly collegial interactions, Chandra developed the ability to provide leadership in teaching, research problem solving and administration. We have been fortunate to have him contribute to McGill in a full range of academic staff positions, and on committees of the Graduate Society, and on National and International Learned Societies.

Quel a été la chose la plus difficile que vous ayez eu à faire?

Ce que j’ai trouvé le plus difficile dans le travail que je me suis engagé à faire, et cela le demeure, a été de réorganiser les services administratifs et de soutien en raison des contraintes budgétaires. Les départs à la retraite nous ont fait perdre plusieurs individus talentueux que nous n’avons pas été en mesure de remplacer. J’ai trouvé cela très difficile et nous continuons d’en souffrir.

Qu’avez-vous gratifiant?

trouvé

le

plus

Robert Broughton, PhD’72,LLD Emeritus Professor (Bioresource Engineering)

Tellement de jalons franchis. Faire partie du renouveau du corps professoral de la Faculté et voir croître l’effectif I am pleased to have served as Associate Dean étudiant m’ont donné beaucoup de (Student Affairs) for nine of Chandra’s ten years as satisfaction. La première conférence Dean of the Faculty. The student population on the de l’Université McGill sur la sécurité Macdonald Campus has increased significantly in alimentaire mondiale ayant mené à la the past decade, and part of this is due to Chandra’s création de l’Institut du même nom, interest in, and support of, student recruitment. l’ouverture de la bibliothèque et du Qu’avez-vous appris?

David Lewis centre d’apprentissage Macdonald, laboratoire d’apprentissage Former Associate Dean (Student Affairs) le Beaucoup de choses, sûrement actif, l’ouverture des laboratoires trop pour pouvoir les énumérer. En alimentaires du pavillon Centennial, devenant doyen, vous passez de la pensée et de l’action en la mise sur pied du Bureau des stages de la famille Bieler, solo à l’interaction avec des groupes beaucoup plus nombreux du programme de salubrité et de qualité des aliments, du et dans des contextes beaucoup plus complexes. Groupes programme de gestion intégrée des ressources en eau ainsi d’étudiants, de professeurs, d’employés, d’administrateurs, que du programme d’entreprenariat et d’innovation sociale. de bailleurs de fonds ou de dirigeants politiques, les Tous ont été aussi marquants les uns que les autres et je ne suis

2008: First Global Food Security Conference

2010: Launch of Institute for Global Food Security As he steps down as dean, I think of the many advances in Agriculture @ McGill under Chandra’s watch. One of the most important is the establishment of McGill’s renowned Conference on Global Food Security. This year will mark the 8th annual international gathering of specialists with students concerned about this critical issue. Out of this initiative of Dean Madramootoo’s the McGill Institute for Global Food Security was created in 2010, now recognized as Canada’s leading multidisciplinary teaching & research centre in that field.

Erin Hogg, DipAgr’94

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pas près de les oublier. Rien de cela n’aurait été possible sans la force de l’appui de nos anciens étudiants, donateurs et amis.

Un événement qui m’a vraiment touché a été la manière dont tout le monde a fait sa part au campus pendant et après l’incendie survenu à la ferme. De l’assistance émotionnelle, de l’aide physique et monétaire provenant de toutes parts, étudiants, membres du personnel et anciens étudiants. Je leur en suis profondément reconnaissant.

CHANDRA A. MADRAMOOTOO SCHOLARSHIP As a token of gratitude and profound appreciation for all that Dean Madramootoo has accomplished over his tenyear tenure, the Faculty Advisory Board is spearheading the establishment of a named scholarship in his honour.

Qu’envisagez-vous pour l’avenir?

Over the course of Dean Madramootoo’s term, the Faculty has flourished. Perhaps no other accomplishment better reflects the impact of Dean Madramootoo’s visionary leadership than the outstanding level of support shown for the Faculty during McGill’s most recent capital campaign.

Alumni, staff and friends of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences contributed $31 million to Campaign McGill – surpassing the Faculty’s goal of $25 million – to support scholarships, fellowships, internships, field studies, chairs, new student programs and research initiatives.

Mes projets? Pour le moment, une pause bien méritée après 10 années mouvementées, histoire de reprendre mon souffle. Je serai ensuite en congé administratif, ce qui va me permettre d’actualiser et de faire progresser mon programme de recherche et d’enseignement. Je pourrai aussi passer plus de temps avec mes étudiants des cycles supérieurs.

Réflexions en conclusion J’ai beaucoup de respect pour notre personnel et les étudiants.

J’ai aimé travailler avec eux. Je suis étonné de voir à quel point les gens tiennent la réussite du campus Macdonald à cœur et combien d’entre eux ont travaillé avec moi pour l’atteindre. J’ai trouvé cela très enrichissant. C’est maintenant à la nouvelle génération de poursuivre la mission de Sir William. Cette mission sera d’autant plus pertinente que nous sommes tous confrontés aux enjeux relevant de l’agriculture, de la nutrition, de la sécurité alimentaire, de la salubrité des aliments, de la gestion de l’eau, des changements climatiques et de l’environnement. Ce sont quelques-uns des plus grands défis auxquels l’humanité doit faire face au Québec, au Canada et partout dans le monde.

We have set a goal to raise at least $100,000 to permanently endow the Chandra Madramootoo Scholarship. This prestigious award will be made available to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the Faculty based on academic merit and demonstrated outstanding leadership and community engagement.

We very much hope that you will support this exciting endeavour, and we thank you in advance for helping us recognize someone who has contributed so much to the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Campaign Co-Chairs and Members, Faculty Advisory Board Marc Bieler, DipAgr’58, BA’64 Nathalie Zinger, BSc(Agr)’81, DipNorthernStud’83

For more information or to contribute, please contact: University Advancement Office - Macdonald Campus 514-398-7984

2011: Creation of Ian and Jayne Munro Chair in Food Safety

2012: Margaret Gilliam gift to Institute for Global Food Security As each year of the past decade spirited by it brought good news of Macdonald’s growth. Enrolment increased, number of staff members rose and new chairs were established. Many of us regard green as symbolic of growth. And so, Chandra, by setting the tone you gave us “the green years.” Thank You. Roland Greenbank, BSc(Agr)’47, DipEd’56

McGILL UNIVERSITY

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Based on 2013 statistics

Based on 2014 statistics

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FOCUS ON RESEARCH

Research in our daily lives informs our decision-making process and can help us solve a particular problem. But what happens when research becomes part of how you make a living? Meet a few of our newer faculty members, and learn about their research hopes and dreams.

Jianguo (Jeff) Xia is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Institute of Parasitology and Department of Animal Science.

His expertise is in bioinformatics and statistics for biological big data including metabolomics, transcriptomics and metagenomics. His current research interests are to employ big data approaches coupled with computational innovations to study parasitic worms (helminths) and gut microbiota in animal health and diseases.

Sergio Burgos, Assistant Professor of Animal Nutrition and Metabolism, has a threepronged research program which aims to benefit not only the Canadian dairy industry but consumers as well. Sergio’s research program focuses on nutrient metabolism in relation to milk production, the health benefits of milk consumption and the environmental impact of dairy production. His long-term goals are to develop nutritional strategies and technologies to enhance the sustainability of animal production and to generate animalbased products to improve human health and nutrition.

Kyle Elliott (Natural Resource Sciences) specializes in avian conservation biology. His two-track research program is focused primarily on seabirds and birds of prey.

Kyle aims to understand not only why we age, but why some animals age more quickly than others, what causes aging in wild animals, and how physiological aging causes variation in individual behavior and fitness. It is anticipated that the answers this study provides may impact our ability to prolong the healthy lifespan of animals and to provide age-structured models for wildlife conservation. His second research thrust is to understand what the changing ecology of arctic wildlife tells us about the impact of climate change.

Plant Science’s Valérie Gravel is laying the groundwork to develop sustainable fruit and vegetable cropping models.

Valérie’s research team will look at growth conditions as well as soil microbial activity in order to maximize bioactive compounds in fruits and vegetables to improve plant quality and yield.

McGILL UNIVERSITY

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Stephane Bayen (Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry) studies contaminants in our food system. His lab is trying to answer the question, what happens to the contaminants in food during storage, cooking or processing? Do the contaminants degrade or are they transformed into something else? Are these compounds more or less toxic?

Jessica Head (Natural Resource Sciences) is studying the genetic and epigenetic factors that modulate avian responses to environmental stress.

Jessica will study the levels of environmental contaminants in the eggs of birds and the effects of these contaminants on the developing embryo through their lifetime and into future generations.

Marie-Josée Dumont (Bioresource Engineering) adds value to agricultural wastes by transforming these by-products into advanced biomaterials.

Her lab has successfully synthesized powdered hydrogels that adapt to changes in the environment from canola meal. Recently, hydrogels that can encapsulate antioxidants and probiotics to be delivered and released directly in the intestine were synthesized from canola and pea proteins. Current work includes the transformation of chicken feathers and corn by-products into superabsorbent hydrogels and aerogels that can be used for insulation and as growth media.

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DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A MENTOR? really appreciated being able to tour such a sustainable project. It was a great opportunity to see a working example of what an alumna has accomplished. I feel the externship really resonated with the reasons why many of us chose Bioresource Engineering as it is an exciting and inspiring career choice.”

Most of our alumni are unaware of an opportunity that exists that many of our students are interested in – one-toone mentoring. Through the CaPS portal, alumni can become mentors and offer their time and experiences with students as they navigate their academic careers and begin the transition to a professional career. Alumna Tanya Bradley, BSc’06, MSc’10 (Dietetics), has been involved with the mentoring program since she graduated. Duff spoke with Tanya about her interest in the program:

Bioresource Students Externship March 2015 – Lufa Farms

Do you have what it takes to be a mentor? Ask the 20 alumni who came back in the winter term to share their experiences and provide advice to our students. Alumni from all disciplines, whether new to the workforce or late in their careers, had a story; over five days they talked, answered questions, provided feedback and, most importantly, demonstrated a big desire to have the chance to speak with current students.

During one of these roundtable career discussions, Bioresource Engineering student Meaghan Dustin, BEng(Bioresource)’16, asked Lauren Rathmell, BSc’10, from Lufa Farms about a site visit. (Lufa Farms is all about sustainability and has developed rooftop farming sites to grow food where people live. According to Lauren, Lufa Farms enjoys reaching out to students through mentoring and allowing site visits as they provide insights into sustainable farming and entrepreneurship.) Anna Duff, Alumni Relations Officer (University Advancement - Macdonald Campus) found this to be a perfect opportunity to introduce a new initiative that is being developed with the assistance of Career Planning Services – externships or job shadowing.

Lauren was delighted to have Bioresource students come to the facility to explore aspects of their degree in a hands-on setting. Twenty students were bussed to Ahuntsic for a 2-hour externship experience. According to Marcos Igreja, BEng (Bioresource)’16, “first-hand experience for future engineers is the best way to explore the work being done in the agricultural and bioresource field.”

His interest in hearing about the use of the closed watercycle, soil renewal and energy consumption in the facilities was something he was looking forward to and he wasn’t disappointed. Lauren paired the group with knowledgeable Lufa employees who were able to not only offer a tour but to answer specific questions related to their field of study. As Marco says, “These experiences are extremely valuable to me as a student in terms of knowledge acquired and its impact on career choices.”

What was your experience like as an undergraduate and graduate student at McGill/Macdonald? As an undergraduate student I had always found it difficult to balance studying and extracurricular activities. In the end, I put studies as the priority but I regret not getting involved as much as I would have liked to. Now that I have more time, I realize that not only would I have enjoyed getting involved, but it likely would have resulted in some great networking opportunities. I did get a great science background and work ethic from my undergraduate studies though.

What does “giving back” mean to you? In an academic sense, I try to be approachable to current students and to offer, hopefully, helpful advice. It is a scary time, making the transition from student to professional. Even though I consider myself a very busy person, I always try and manage time to answer a student’s email, look over and edit a CV, or simply respond to their questions. Being a mentor through CaPS has provided a good venue to accomplish this.

How important is it, now that you are in the work force, to mentor students? A lot of alumni have good advice to share, but making a connection with current students isn’t always easy as we are no longer on campus. The mentor program allows an easy link between alumni and current students.

The link is advantageous to both parties. For students it is an opportunity to seek advice and to network. For mentors it is an opportunity to give back, but also it but it also represents an opportunity to network with other professionals. Many students I have known went on to work in the industry and became suppliers or colleagues.

Any advice for our students? Don’t let opportunities slip by you – they are always informative, have value and might even open a door for you. Creating opportunities for our students is part of Principal Fortier’s mission and your Mac experience, whether it was 3 or 30 years ago, has value so consider sharing it!

So if you have what it takes to be a mentor, or if you would like more information about the mentorship program, please contact Anna Duff (anna.duff@mcgill.ca).

Meaghan, who helped coordinate the visit, said, “Our group

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PHOTOS: TAM LAM TRUONG PHOTOGRAPHY

STUDENTS TAKE THE LEAD IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

GroundIt co-founders Mitalie Makhani and Audrey Bolduc (second and third from left), with Eduardo Ganem Cuenca (second from right), receiving the $5,000 prize in the Small and Medium Enterprise Track from Professor Gregory Vit (left), Director of the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship, and Patrick Vespa (far right), Manager of the Dobson Cup Competition.

Yves Roy (third from left), Chief Manufacturing and R&D Officer at FlueTRU, receiving the $2,500 McGill Dobson Cup Grit Prize on behalf of his company (pictured with co-prize winner Kamran Nagiyev, AD&GO Inc.), from Patrick Vespa and Professor Gregory Vit.

What do a mobile tailor, a waste management system for coffee shops and a greenhouse gas scrubbing system have in common? They are all Macdonald entrepreneurs!

greenhouse heating cost and increase crop yield.

Mac has a strong tradition of entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership and this was very much evident at McGill’s premier competition for aspiring entrepreneurs, the Dobson Cup, where McGill students, alumni, faculty and staff compete for $100,000 in prize money.

As a result of the Faculty’s investment in the Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Program which launched in the Fall of 2014, fourteen Mac student teams entered this year’s Dobson Cup with six teams making it into the finals.

GroundIt’s co-founders Audrey Bolduc (BCom’16) and Mitalie Makhani (PhD, Renewable Resources) placed fourth in the Small and Medium Enterprise Track of the Cup for their business which will help coffee shops transform nutrient-rich waste into affordable, high-quality compost.

FlueTRU took home the Grit Prize for outstanding dedication towards establishing their business venture. The team, comprised of Camillo Perez Lee (MSc, Bioresource Engineering), René Roy (BSc(AgEnvSc)’05, MSc’09, PhD NRS), Catherine Huppé (BEng‘13) and Yves Roy (BEng‘12, MSc‘15), created a technology that will benefit the greenhouse industry through a process that will purify biomass heating system exhaust to create an organic source of carbon dioxide that will reduce

Our remaining teams, all winners in our eyes, include Fleurmohn – a plant based cosmetics company, Little Buds – a personalized baby food and nutrition counselling service, Urban Spores – growing oyster mushrooms in coffee waste, and TiraVerde, which is redefining snack food through the use of avocados and functional foods. You can read more about these groups at www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/programs/ entrepreneurship.

Alum Nathon Kong (BSc(AgEnvSc)‘07), a Microbiology major, took first place in the Dobson Cup SME track for his Montrealbased Tailor2Go. Using a solar-powered vehicle fitted with a 3D scanner, Tailor2Go will scan clients for perfect fit, customized outerwear, allow them to feel and select fabric from T2G’s extensive collection, and design clothing online in a matter of minutes.

Ready to harvest the skills to become a successful agribusiness entrepreneur? An 18-credit minor in Agribusiness Entrepreneurship is launching in September. This new program is multidisciplinary and integrative, and includes a combination of courses from both the Desautels Faculty of Management and the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

In creating new opportunities, Sir William’s motto of Mastery for Service still remains an ideal that members of the Clan Macdonald strive for.

Two more Macdonald Food Science teams headed for IFT Competition in July! Good luck to all!

IFT Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Competition: a Food Science Team was selected as finalist, out of 59 competitors. The product: Falamus Instant Mix, a healthy dry blend used to easily prepare popular Middle Eastern dishes, such as falafels and hummus.

IFTSA & MARS Product Development Competition: our team once again qualified as a finalist!! The product: Tiraverde, a consumer-driven reinvention of the classic Italian dessert, tiramisu.

McGILL UNIVERSITY

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Congratulations to our newest grads!

Macdonald-Campus-of-McGill-University

McGill University - Macdonald Campus

@McGillMacCampus

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Macdonald Campus, McGill University 21111 Lakeshore Road Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9 www.mcgill.ca/macdonald Canada Post Corporation Publications Mail Agreement 40613662

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