Faculty of Science - Western University

Fascinating collaborative research is taking place on and under the Atlantic Ocean. PhD student Alessandra Walsh is looking at climate change and marine predator-prey interactions.

A Western University chemistry student is doing impactful work with Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organization to ensure safe storage for nuclear waste that will last a million years.

Field research is taking place at Canada’s proposed deep geological repository in northwestern Ontario and lab analysis at Western to understand how copper changes over time and how to protect it from corrosion.

Learn more: https://news.westernu.ca/2026/07/nuclear-waste-storage-safety-research-western-university/

Studying the moon? How about a visit to Hawai'i? Western University scientists are using the island's volcanoes as a model for volcanic features on the Moon's surface.

Hawai‘i serves as model for studying the Moon’s volcanic history Western planetary scientists travelled to Hawai‘i to investigate lava flows that could reveal new clues about the Moon’s volcanic past.

Congratulations to Western University mathematics professor Ján Mináč on being named a fellow with The Fields Institute for Research In Mathematical Sciences!

He is among just seven mathematicians being recognized for their outstanding contributions. Mináč is a globally renowned expert of Galois theory, which has applications in mathematics, physics and chemistry, among others.

With more crewed missions to space planned, researchers at Western University are collaborating with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to better understand the impact of radiation exposure on astronauts. To do this they are using organ-on-chip systems - replicating complex human tissue inside a chamber smaller than a postage stamp.
Learn more: https://news.westernu.ca/2026/06/radiation-exposure-astronauts/

Thank-you to our honorary degree recipients for joining us at convocation last week. Pioneering statistician Nancy Reid and health-care tech innovators David and Mike Wessinger were presented with Doctor of Science degrees, and shared wise words with new graduates.
More: https://news.westernu.ca/2026/03/western-spring-honorary-degrees-2026/