Sarah Symons - McMaster Experts

Affiliations

Faculty of Science, McMaster University
Leadership in Teaching and Learning Fellow, Paul R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching, McMaster University
Associate Member, History, Faculty of Humanities
Interdisciplinary Science (Internal), Faculty of Science
Associate Member, Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science
Professor, Interdisciplinary Science, Faculty of Science

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University  MUFA RoA committee, from Nov 2023 Faculty of Science  Faculty Tenure, Permanence, and Promotion Committee, from Nov 2023. (seasonal) o I am a non-voting representative on this committee in a new position designed to allow input by a teaching-stream member.  Recruitment (on occasion) o In addition to my direct work in iSci admissions, I normally also participate in recruitment events for the Faculty of Science, including Fall Preview. I have also helped by training university recruiters in Faculty of Science offerings. School of Interdisciplinary Science (SIS) (c. 2 hrs per week)  SIS Executive Committee (member). o This role is part of my work as iSci Program Coordinator. I represent the program’s students and instructional staff, reporting to the Committee and being involved in advising the Director on School matters. SIS committee meetings take up 2hrs of my schedule each week for the meetings themselves including prep.  SIS Curriculum Committee (member).  SIS Council (member). o I also sit on both of these School committees. I am very interested in School progress and take an active part in discussion of ideas and materials. Department of Physics and Astronomy (c. 1 hr per month)  William J. McCallion Planetarium Committee Chair until 1 July 2021, then member. o My main activity is helping with the development of Indigenous programming working with Rick Monture (Indigenous Studies), Tom Deer (Six Nations Polytechnic), and David Moses (media production). This year, based on the success of our first “Celestial Bear” planetarium show (2016), we received a McMaster Future of Canada Project grant to support the development of more planetarium shows that will be part of the new portable dome’s education and outreach offerings. Honours Integrated Science Program (c. 3 hrs per week)  Integrated Science management committee, ”iCore” (member, chair since July 2017).  Integrated Science instructors “iTeach” (member, chair since July 2017).  Integrated Science admissions committee (member, chair since July 2017). o As iSci Coordinator, I am expected to be present at all iSci meetings and to set the agenda for the weekly management meeting. iSci is a team activity, so in order for everyone to have a full picture of what is going on, the instructional team for Level 1 meets every other week, and Levels 2-4 meet in the intervening weeks. o The admissions group is active to set up the admissions process in Oct/Nov and to review applications in Feb-Apr.  Integrated Science curriculum committee (co-chair). o This is a student-instructor interface committee, which I co-chair with the students’ VP Academic. Members include our IA, Devon Jones, and student year reps. The committee gathers feedback from students and instructors about the curriculum and suggests changes. Major points are fed upwards to the instructional team and the School’s Curriculum Committee. It is a major source of in-program feedback., 2023