Origins Institute

Program Offerings

DIRECTOR

Ralph E. Pudritz

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Jonathon Stone

SCIENCE STEERING COMMITTEE

Cliff Burgess (Physics and Astronomy)
Alan Chen (Physics and Astronomy)
Walter Craig (Mathematics and Statistics)
Brian Golding (Biology)
Daniel Goldreich (Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour)
Radhey Gupta (Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences)
Paul Higgs (Physics and Astronomy)
Greg Slater (School of Geography and Earth Sciences)
James Wadsley (Physics and Astronomy)

The Origins Research Specialization, offered by the Origins Institute, is administered through the Interdisciplinary Programs in the Faculty of Science. The institute is a transdisciplinary academy whose members pursue fundamental research into the origins of:

space-time
elements
structure in the cosmos
life
species and biodiversity
humanity

This specialization addresses the most-interesting and most-important questions in science: how did the universe begin? how did elements form? how did stars, galaxies and planets form? how did life emerge on Earth, and has it also emerged on other planets? what processes account for the diversity and disparity among organisms? how did intelligent beings arise and evolve on Earth? These questions are multifaceted, and a transdisciplinary approach is required to address them.

The Origins Research Specialization is designed to introduce and involve students in these highlights in 21st century science through carefully designed classes and seminars, culminating in an undergraduate thesis. Students graduating from the specialization will possess familiarity with a wide variety of ideas and techniques, which will prepare them well for entry into modern graduate programs, technological and industrial ﬁelds, or professional schools.

Note

The Origins Research Specialization curriculum may be taken in conjunction with Honours programs in Arts & Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, or Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour. Students seeking admission to the specialization must choose a program from the aforementioned list and subsequently complete the requirements for that Honours program and 24 units from Origins courses, as speciﬁed in the appropriate section in this Calendar.

Programs

Specialization

Origins Research Specialization

Minor

Minor in Origins Research