Two Science students will be recognized for their outstanding academic achievements at the Spring 2022 Faculty of Science Convocation. Physics and Astronomy student Aviv Shaya Padawer-Blatt will receive the Governor General Academic Silver Medal for being one of the top undergraduate students with the highest academic standing upon graduation. Biology student Taylor Lynn Virgin will receive the Alumni Gold Medal Award for her outstanding academic achievement.
Aviv Shaya Padawer-Blatt - Governor General Academic Silver Medal
Padawer-Blatt is graduating with a Honours Physics and Astronomy, Co-op degree and 97%+ average. His interest is in theoretical physics as well as Astrophysics/Astronomy and Cosmology.
During his program he has worked in many research labs. His first two co-op jobs were with the the low-temperature (cryogenic) Quantum Physics Group at the National Research Council Canada in Ottawa. His research with Quantum dots led to two scientific publications. The first was published in Applied Physics Letters and the second was published last month in APS Physical Review B.
"I am always eager to learn from different research experiences, and am interested in the various developing and emerging fields in experimental physics research."
He also worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at SNOLAB, a world-class science facility located deep underground near Sudbury, that focuses on sub-atomic physics, largely neutrino and dark matter physics. Padawer-Blatt did some data analysis for low-mass Weakly Interacting Massive Particle detection, an active area for experimental research in the search for the identity of dark matter. He characterized and removed noise from the data. He also helped set up some instruments for SNOGLOBE, the largest Spherical Proportional Counter at the facility, which will be a major focus of future experiments for the group.
In addition to course work, Padawer-Blatt has been working as a Cosmology Research Assistant in Prof. Will Percival's lab for the past year.
This fall he will begin his graduate studies in Astrophysics at the University of Victoria.
The Governor General Academic Silver Medal recognizes the undergraduate students who achieve the highest academic standing upon graduation from a Bachelor’s program. The Governor General of Canada provides three silver medals annually.
Taylor Lynn Virgin - Alumni Gold Medal Award
Like many students at Waterloo, it was BIOL 240 or microbiology that ignited her passion and shifted her academic path. She pursued co op jobs that allowed her to pursue research in microbiology, including two terms with biology professor, Josh Neufeld, in his microbiology lab. Neufeld later become her thesis advisor.
During a senior work term in civil engineering, Taylor researched the effects of climate change on water quality. Specifically, she studied algae bloom formations and the bacteria it produces, known as cyanobacteria, and how it affects water quality. According to Taylor, many things affect the formation of algae blooms including a rise in temperatures, landscape disturbances and even wildfires which decreases vegetation and will lead to soil erosion and soil run off into the water.
This fall, she will pursue a MASc in civil engineering to study cyanobacterial blooms at a drinking water treatment plant. Taylor hopes to pursue a career in water microbiology. Safe drinking water for livestock, pets and of course humans, is dependant on regular monitoring of our water supply.
“We should all care about the impact of climate change on our water. The bacteria can produce toxins that are very harmful to us if consumed.”
In her spare time, She was a science ambassador for the University and loved to talk to prospective students about science and the myriad of opportunities Waterloo could give them.
Alumni Gold Medal recipients are selected on recommendation from the Dean of a Faculty or the Dean of Graduate Studies to recognize the outstanding academic achievement of graduating students. At the spring ceremonies, these medals are awarded to one undergraduate student from each of Waterloo's six faculties. During the fall ceremonies, medals are presented to a masters and doctoral student.