With great sadness, we announce the passing of Jules Carbotte, Professor Emeritus, Physics & Astronomy. Over his 55-year career, Carbotte worked broadly in the field of condensed matter physics, with his most recent work in high-temperature superconductivity, graphene and topological materials. Over his distinguished career, he received many honours: the CAP Herzberg Medal for Achievement (1974), the Steacie Prize (1975), named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1974) and named a Distinguished University Professor in 1976. He also was awarded four honorary degrees from the University of Waterloo, University of Manitoba, Sherbrook University and McMaster University. He will be remembered as a wonderfully gregarious and generous man, who was infinitely curious and with a deep passion for the mysteries of our world as revealed through science. More details about his many accomplishments can be found on our Physics & Astronomy website.

The Faculty is pleased to recognize three outstanding faculty members, who have been chosen as Science's inaugural Science Research Chairs. Congratulations to:

• Michael Brook (Chemistry & Chemical Biology), Science Research Chair in Sustainable Silicone Polymers 
• Kari Dalnoki-Veress (Physics & Astronomy), Science Research Chair in Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Physics
• Allison Williams (Geography & Earth Sciences), Science Research Chair in Career Friendly Workplaces 

"Establishing Science Research Chairs is another way that we're recognizing our exceptional faculty, investing in their work and further enhancing their international reputation for excellence in research," says Gianni Parise, Associate Dean (Research & External Relations).

"Science makes a major contribution to McMaster's continued leadership as Canada's most research intensive university," said Dean Maureen MacDonald during an event to announce the Science Research Chairs. "We're doing an incredible amount of vital research across all of our departments and schools, in our independent and interdisciplinary graduate programs and in every one of our institutes and centres. And the sheer number of undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs who we engage in our research sets Science apart - not only among other universities but within McMaster as well. Research drives our mission of advancing scientific knowledge and discovery."

Last fall, faculty members nominated 18 of their peers for three Science Research Chairs and nominations were reviewed by a four-person committee, chaired by the Associate Dean (Research & External Relations). Science Research Chairs will receive three years of funding to graduate students and research supplies.

• Jessica Speedie won Best Talk for her presentation, "Telling giant planets from brown dwarfs: an observational test with SPIRou".
• Sara Evans won Best Poster for her poster, "High-speed preparation of ultra-this uniform polymer fibres for advanced materials development".
• Anastasia Smolina won the CAP CEWiP (Committee to Encourage Women in Physics) Best Poster Presentation for her poster: "Neurovascular dynamics of mild traumatic brain injury."