Origins Institute

Return to: Faculty of Science

DIRECTOR

Ralph E. Pudritz

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Jonathon R. Stone

Members of the Advisory Board, Science Steering Committee, Origins Institute and potential Supervisors may be found at the ‘People’ link on the Origins Institute website http://origins.mcmaster.ca/.

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 (ORS) 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.

For the Honours Arts & Science and Origins Research Specialization (B.Arts.Sc.) program, see Arts & Science Program .

Programs

• Origins Research Specialization

• Minor in Origins Research

Return to: Faculty of Science