Faculty of Science

www.uwo.ca/sci

Creativity is the essence of Science at Western. Engage your intellectual curiosity to recognize the deeper patterns formed from observations, experimentation, facts and probabilities. Western's focus on providing a science education from a choice of 15 disciplines allows you to shape a program that fits your career plans.

 

Program Information

Biological and Medical Sciences

Students can apply for the Biological and Medical Sciences first-entry program in Year 1 and then apply for registration in Year 2 of a module(s) offered by the Department of Biology and/or the Basic Medical Science departments, depending on their interest. The courses taken in Year 1 are similar for students interested in either Biology or the Basic Medical Sciences but higher marks are required in some of the first year courses to register in the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) program in Year 2. Career paths for the Biological and Medical Sciences include: graduate and professional schools, employment in government agencies, scientific research, industry and academia, medical instrumentation, biotechnologies, health and environmental agencies, drug and pharmaceutical companies, food industries, agriculture and marketing.

 

Biology

The Biology Department offers modules and courses in a number of specialties including the following:

Animal Behaviour

Understand what animals (including humans) do
and why they do it. The module addresses mechanisms
underlying behaviours, such as hormonal
controls and gene expression, as well as evolutionary
origins and the reproductive consequences of
behaviours.

Organismal Physiology

Understand how animal biochemical and physiological
systems evolved and adapted to virtually
every environment on the planet. Emphasis is on
critical thinking, laboratory skills and integrating
cellular and biochemical systems to understand the
function of the whole animal.

 

Biological Sciences

Students will acquire key concepts and skills that prepare them for careers in a variety of areas including business and industry, education, government and public sectors, health care, and law and policy.

 

Biology

Study aspects of life from molecular, cellular, organismal, community and global perspectives. Students will acquire key concepts in the origin and diversity of life. Courses provide hands-on lab experience and our innovative lab-only courses in cell biology, ecology, genetics and physiology emphasize student input into experimental design. Students also learn a variety of modern techniques and the basics of scientific communication. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty in their laboratories through research project courses, and field courses provide a unique opportunity for Biology students to take their studies outside to locations found throughout the world.

 

Ecosystem Health

Explore the relationships between ecosystems, human health, and our global environment. Students will be exposed to experimental and theoretical approaches to ecosystem health as well as to the economic factors and the policies that impact how humans interact with their environment.

 

Genetics

Subtle mutations in the genetic code can have extensive consequences not only for the individual organism, but also for following generations. Explore a wide range of topics in genetics with emphasis on concepts, principles, modern genetic technologies and their application to diverse organisms from humans to microbes.

 

The Honors Specialization module includes an
optional individual research project, as well as a
course emphasizing library research on individual
topics and communication skills.

Genetics and Biochemistry

This module highlights the powerfully synergistic insights gained from the study of DNA as both a part of cellular chemistry and as hereditary information. It provides support for students with interests in a wide range of careers that build on applications of molecular biology in biological research as well as applied biotechnologies utilized by agricultural, pharmaceutical, forensic, and medical sciences.

 

Reciprocal agreement with Fanshawe College, London.
Transfer credit may be granted to Environmental Science students who are graduates of Fanshawe, and to Fanshawe College students who are graduates of Western with a degree containing an Environmental Science module.

Basic Medical Sciences

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the molecules and mechanisms essential to life. An emphasis is placed on an understanding of the structure, function, and regulation of biomolecules as they relate to the molecular basis of disease. Training involves the application of state-of-the art approaches and equipment to the many diverse areas of modern biochemistry that includes molecular genetics, structural biology, signal transduction, and bioinformatics.

Medical Biophysics

Medical Biophysics is the application of mathematics
and physics to medical research of disease processes
in biological systems and the development of
medical technology for diagnosis and treatment of
disease. This field includes cardiovascular biophysics,
orthopedic and soft tissue mechanics, MRI, CT
and ultrasound imaging for diagnosis and radiation
biophysics for cancer treatment. Courses and
laboratories focus on problem solving and modeling
to examine normal and diseased biological processes.
They are taught by leaders in the research
fields and are supported by the department’s world-class research environment.
Career paths include graduate research, medical
instrumentation development, clinical physics and
professional schools such as Medicine or Dentistry.
The Department of Medical Biophysics offers a
variety of courses, which include Medical Imaging,
Radiobiology, Biophysical Analysis, Biomechanics,
Environmental Biophysics and individual projects in
research laboratories.

 

Medical Cell Biology

The modules in Medical Cell Biology highlight the
interrelationships of structure and function from the
molecular level to the cellular level, to tissues and
gross anatomical structures, thereby focusing in Year
4 on cell biological discovery and disease processes.
The courses offered by the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology allow students to learn the gross anatomical features of all the human body systems, to understand how cells in the human body interact when forming tissues, maintaining homeostasis and regulating behavior, and to examine the cellular mechanisms governing normal and pathological processes such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and mental disorders. Courses include Human Systemic Anatomy, Mammalian Histology, Advanced Medical Cell Biology, Discovery-Based Cell Biology, Integrative Neuroscience, and Translational Models of Cancer. The broad scope of this program offers
students a diverse set of career options.

Medical Sciences

The modules in Medical Sciences provide an opportunity to learn and understand the interrelationships between basic and clinical medical sciences. Students wishing to study more than one discipline will enjoy the flexibility of the Medical Sciences modules as they have access to courses offered by all of the Basic Medical Sciences departments.

 

Microbiology and Immunology

Many people think of microorganisms in the context of impending epidemics and deadly infections. As important as microbial diseases are, few microorganisms actually cause disease. Microorganisms play many roles in the functioning of the biosphere.

As well as causing disease, microorganisms play many roles in the functioning of the biosphere. They are essential for the global decomposition of waste, necessary in the food and manufacturing industry, and essential for biotechnology. The immune system reacts with bacterial and viral pathogens to maintain our health yet can also react to cause diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and arteriosclerosis. Explore the cellular and molecular biology of microorganisms and the immune system in lectures and laboratory courses, including courses in diversity of bacteria and viruses, bacterial pathogenesis, fundamentals of immunology, and molecular virology.

 

Pathology and Toxicology

Building on a foundation of normal anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology and physiology, pathology looks at the structural and functional changes that occur in human disease. Human illness can also result from adverse effects of biological and chemical toxins, environmental pollutants, and occupational exposures to toxic metals, gases, and other substances. Using animal and human models of disease, pathologists also assist in the diagnosis, treatment, and discovery of mechanisms of disease.

Pharmacology

Study how drugs act on biological systems to modify physiological functions in health and disease. Understand the range of targets for drug action and the therapeutic uses of some important drugs. Discover the adverse effects of both drugs and chemicals on humans and other biological systems and learn how technology is an integral part of risk/ safety evaluation. Courses offered by the department cover a wide range of topics, including: molecular pharmacology, human toxicology, chemotherapy, neuropharmacology and cardiovascular pharmacology.

Physiology

Learn how complex cells work together to produce an integrated whole. Physiology courses and research span the whole spectrum of living organisms, from events at the molecular level to integrated responses of the whole animal, offering a whole perspective on how the body works. Sample courses include cardiovascular, cellular and molecular physiology, as well as courses in neurophysiology, physiology of exercise and physiology of the senses.

Mathematical and Computational Sciences

Applied Mathematics

Applied Mathematics is at the heart of quantitative analysis in science and technology and thus comes in many different flavors. Our department offers six of them: computational bio and materials science, computer software tools for mathematical modeling, dynamical systems, mathematical biology, the mathematics
of finance and risk as well as theoretical physics. This broad range of fields allows for stimulating and interdisciplinary research, which results in new modeling tools and methods, scientific insight, and ultimately technological progress. The variety of careers that our graduates have taken is as diverse as the department itself, to name a few: scientific and medical researcher in government laboratories, financial analyst, computer consultant, mathematics teacher, risk manager, scientific editor, and professor in departments ranging from business to physics.

Bioinformatics

Utilize the power of computers to investigate solutions to a vast range of molecular biology problems. Students with interests in computer science, the biosciences, chemistry and mathematics are encouraged to consider this area of study. Western’s programs in Bioinformatics are offered through the joint cooperation of the Departments of Computer Science and Biochemistry.

Computer Science

Computer graphics, artifi cial intelligence, computer
game development, software engineering, database
management, operating systems, computational
theory–all of these dynamic and exciting applications
of computers in everyday modern life are waiting to
be explored in the study of Computer Science at
Western. We have the only program in Canada that
leads to concurrent degrees in Law and Computer
Science. Our newest module, in Information
Systems, has been designed primarily for students
seeking combined degrees from Computer Science
and the Richard Ivey School of Business.

 

Mathematics

Discover and explore fundamental concepts that lead to the mathematical formulas used in every branch of science, engineering, statistics, computer science, and economics. Go on to learn about the new ideas in mathematics that will drive those disciplines in the future. Today’s students benefit from millennia of mathematical thought; learning exciting and powerful new ways to look at the world.

Statistical & Actuarial Sciences

Statistics involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting
data. In the study of statistics, mathematical models
are used to explain and predict the behaviour of reallife
phenomena. Actuarial Science is the study of the
financial impact of future contingent events and the
management of the risk associated with these events.
Our courses provide students with the background
necessary to pursue the examinations of the Society of
Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society. A program
in Statistics prepares students to perform data analyses,
carry out surveys, and assist marketing efforts for governmental and financial institutions. Actuarial programs prepare students for careers in insurance and other financial institutions, and consulting firms that assess the adequacy of benefits programs and pensions. Together with applied math, financial modeling modules, which prepare students for careers in banking and finance, are also offered.

The Physical Sciences

Astronomy

In striving to understand the universe, and seeking insight into how planets, stars, and galaxies form and evolve, astronomers address some of the oldest questions to face mankind. Astronomers at Western use both local facilities and international observatories in their quest. Our Planetary Scientists are internationally known leaders in space, planetary, and meteor physics. While many of our students pursue careers in astronomy, the skills in mathematics, physics, and computer simulations developed in an Astrophysics degree provide our graduates with a wide range of additional options.

Chemistry

Whether taking a medication to treat a disease, driving a car or listening to our battery-powered MP3 players, chemistry has an immense impact on our daily life. Since all materials are composed of atoms and molecules, an appreciation of chemistry is crucial for an understanding of the biological and physical sciences. Phenomena such as global warming and the health effects of trans fats can be explained using chemical principles. Chemists contribute substantially to the discovery of new technologies, be they green or medical, energy or sport, to name a few. A degree in chemistry is highly versatile and will provide a solid foundation for a variety of exciting careers.

Earth Sciences (Geology, Geophysics, Environmental Geoscience)

The Earth is an amazingly dynamic planet! Interaction between the Earth’s moving tectonic plates
produces ocean basins and mountain ranges, chains of volcanoes and earthquake zones. An understanding
of geological processes is vital to appreciate the
global life support system. Geoscientists contribute
to our understanding of this system in a very wide
range of areas. Examples include understanding
soil quality and agricultural productivity, water supply,
exploration for an enormous range of mineral
deposits, fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), natural hazards
(volcanoes, earthquakes), environmental remediation(water pollution, mine sites, nuclear waste storage), remote sensing (satellite imagery, seismic and other geophysical deep Earth prospecting), surface mapping, and materials science. There is no aspect of our
daily lives that is not dependent, to some degree, on
understanding, and utilizing geo-materials and processes!
Programs in Earth Science focus on Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Geoscience. In 2009, new Professional Programs were introduced in each of these three areas that will lead to registration with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. Legislation now requires practicing geoscientists to be registered (like doctors and engineers). We also offer a range of modular (non-professional) programs that allow geoscience courses to be combined with other disciplines such as Biology or Planetary Science. Careers in Earth Science are enormously diverse, ranging from work in high-tech industrial research laboratories, to field studies in some of the most remote areas of the World. Geoscientists also
work in universities, Government institutions, and in
schools. There is a major shortfall in the number of
geoscientists worldwide. Job prospects are therefore
good, especially given the inevitable increase in the
demand for Earth resources.

Physics

Physics is a fundamental science that is basic to understanding the laws of nature. Our researchers have interests ranging from the very large (galaxies) to the very small (atoms and subatomic particles). We apply our techniques to the study of natural phenomena such as the earth's atmosphere and its relation to climate, the development of new materials such as nanoscale optoelectronic devices, and the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Our facilities include: the Purple Crow Lidar in Atmospheric Science; the Nanofabrication Lab, atomic force microscopy and positron beams in Materials Science; and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) in Medical Physics. Physics at Western provides adaptable problem-solving skills that are sought by employers and easily transferred to other disciplines — indeed, physicists have made major contributions to nearly all fields of study.

 

Multidisciplinary Studies

Environmental Science
Determine how physical, chemical, and biological processes at local to global scales interact with the influence and interests of humans in these processes. The interdisciplinary modules in Environmental Science combine biological, physical and social sciences perspectives in order to understand the importance of environmental research to science and society. A degree in Environmental Science provides a route to a career as a scientist with an environmental consulting firm or in a government environment department, as a science or geography teacher, as an environmental lawyer or as an environmental science professor in a community college or university.

 

Materials Science
Materials Science is the study of the synthesized ingredients and substances from which we make things. This encompasses natural products modified to improve their properties (such as fabrics and wood), structural materials (including iron and concrete, but also modern materials such as aerospace alloys and polymer/nanoparticle composites), and optoelectronic materials (the display and circuitry in your iPod, for instance). The Materials Science modules at Western have the goal of providing students with the scientific tools needed to design the materials of tomorrow. Because of the vast array of concepts involved, these modules are offered as a partnership between the Departments of Physics & Astronomy, Chemistry and Earth Sciences.

 

Planetary Science
Study the gaseous, rocky and icy bodies of the solar system and the processes by which planetary systems form and evolve. The investigative methods of Biology, Geology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Geography and Environmental Science are used in the study of planetary atmospheres, surfaces and interiors, as well as in the origin and evolution of Earth and its relation to possible life elsewhere. The Planetary Science modules are offered jointly by the Departments of Physics & Astronomy and Earth Sciences. Courses cover topics ranging from the history of planetary exploration and geology of planetary surfaces to analyzing the surface processes of bodies in the solar system. Methods involve image processing and mapping along with a solid backing in astronomy and geology.

 

Internships
Add valuable work experience to your resume and a university credit with the Science Internship Program. Eligible students in the third year of a four-year Science or Medical Science degree take a course to prepare them for the recruitment process and the work term. The resulting 8-16 month internship offers a comprehensive and realistic work experience with opportunities for substantial accomplishment. Recent participating companies include GlaxoSmithKline, IBM Canada Ltd., Vale Inco Ltd., Labatt Breweries of Canada, Eli Lilly, Canadian Space Agency, Sanofi Pasteur and London Life.

 

Programs by Faculty

• Faculty of Arts and Humanities
• Faculty of Engineering
• School of Nursing
• School of Kinesiology
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Information
  and Media Studies
• Faculty of Music
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Social Science
• Management and Organizational Studies
• Second-Level Entry Professional Programs
• Faculty of Law

Academics

• Academic Choices
• Scholar's Electives
• Western Scholars
• Graduate Studies
• Affiliated University Colleges