On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, award-winning Queen鈥檚 researchers gathered at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts to celebrate the achievements of their peers at Applause: A Celebration of Research Excellence.
Hosted by the Vice-Principal Research Portfolio, the event recognized the accomplishments of 80 scholars who, from 2021 to 2023, were the recipients of 99 national and international prizes and awards for their research and scholarship.
Principal Patrick Deane and Vice-Principal Research Nancy Ross, alongside award recipients John Smol (Biology), Praveen Jain (Electrical Engineering), and Cathleen Crudden (Chemistry), shared inspiring words on the importance of the awards in helping to support research advancement, student and faculty recruitment, and in building global profile for the researcher, their research program, and Queen鈥檚.
Research Excellence Highlights
Receiving the prestigious Vega Medal
John Smol has joined the ranks of some of the world鈥檚 most adventurous, and well-decorated, scientists. The Queen鈥檚 professor and former Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change is now a member of an elite group of explorers, oceanographers, geographers, and anthropologists bestowed with the Vega Medal. Sometimes referred to as equivalent to a "Nobel Prize in Geography," the Vega Medal is awarded by the (SSAG) every two to three years to an outstanding geographer or anthropologist with international renown. Dr. Smol collected his prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the society鈥檚 chief patron. When announcing this year鈥檚 recipient, SSAG described Dr. Smol as "unquestionably one of the most prolific scientists in paleolimnology, and certainly the most prolific regarding northern lake systems."
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Recognizing outstanding research
World-leading expert in the field of materials science and organic chemistry, Cathleen Crudden is the recipient of one of the most prestigious research awards in Canada: the . Awarded annually by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the honour recognizes her innovative and impactful approach to protecting metal surfaces using organic molecules.
![Dr. Cathleen Crudden (Chemistry), Canada Research Chair in Metal Organic Chemistry. [Credit: Sylvie Li / Shoot Studio]](/research/sites/vp2www/files/uploaded_images/events/Applause2024/Cathleen-Crudden-144A4517_1000x667_3.jpeg)
Breaking down walls for a net-zero future
On Nov. 9, 1989, the demolition of the Berlin Wall was both literal and symbolic, as it marked the falling of concrete and imagined barriers. Twenty years later, inspired by these events, a not-for-profit organization was founded in Berlin, Germany to connect stakeholders in the areas of science, business, politics, and arts to break down the invisible borders that still separate science and society. Each November since then, The Falling Walls Foundation brings together international experts and leaders to share big ideas that can tackle some of the world鈥檚 biggest challenges.
The annual summit combines keynotes, discussions, and pitches on research and science engagement, culminating in the Falling Walls Breakthrough Day, when invited speakers share the stage with the Falling Walls Science in six categories. Laureates of the Breakthrough of the Year prizes are selected from a pool of over 1,000 nominations of researchers worldwide. In 2023, Queen鈥檚 professor Cao Thang Dinh (Chemical Engineering) is the winner of the Engineering and Technology category.
Top Canadian honours for two field-leading researchers
Two researchers from Queen鈥檚 have been awarded prestigious honours from the National Killam Program. The recognize outstanding career achievements in the health sciences, engineering, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences that contribute to building Canada's future and increasing the scientific impact of Canadians through research.
(Mechanical and Materials Engineering) is the recipient of one of eight Dorothy Killam Fellowships (valued at $160,000 over two years) to support scholars in carrying out groundbreaking projects, while Praveen Jain (Electrical and Computer Engineering) is one of five researchers nationally to receive a Killam Prize (valued at $100,000), which recognize and celebrate Canada鈥檚 most inspiring scholars and thought leaders.
Royal Society awards
In acknowledgement of their outstanding achievements, two Queen鈥檚 researchers have been awarded medals from the (RSC). (Biology) and ;Jacalyn Duffin (History, Medicine), who are both Fellows of the society, have each been recognized for their important contributions in advancing knowledge in their fields, marking the fourth and third times that they have been honoured by the RSC.
