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For students, some of the most rewarding learning opportunities happen outside of the classroom. A real-world experience supported by ������Ƶ donors is creating opportunities for Faculty of Science students to learn firsthand from community and industry partners, so they can prepare for careers in the field.

This year, a new pollinator garden took shape outside the walls of the Life Sciences Centre at ������Ƶ. Made possible in part through gifts to the Faculty of Science’s Science Student Experience Fund, the garden helps students gain biodiversity and horticulture skills such as planting, maintenance, and growing.

Creating a sense of belonging for students

Roman Kisseljov, originally from Estonia, returned to post-secondary studies in his 30s and is now completing a Bachelor of Science in environmental science. Kisseljov played an instrumental role in planting the new garden, which provided him with a sense of belonging.

“As a returning student, it was a meaningful way to connect with campus and contribute to something lasting," says Kisseljov. "It also deepened my interest in urban forestry and biodiversity.”

Kisseljov, who developed an early interest in gardening while spending time with his grandparents in Eastern Europe, returned to his roots to foster a new passion and maybe even a green thumb.

Building community

The event was led by Drs. Amy Mui and Susan Gass from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and their colleagues from , a new initiative developed by Dal faculty who are concerned about how ecoanxiety (worry over the state of the planet) impacts students. Eco Hope provides non-curriculum-based opportunities for students to take action for the planet and form a community with like-minded people. Eco Hope also received funding for the garden through the Centre for Learning and Teaching Anne Marie Teaching and Learning Enhancement Grant.

The event brought together students and community members to transform a small patch of campus into a vibrant hub for biodiversity. Tim Mason, a Dal gardener with exceptional knowledge and a passion for native plants and biodiversity, helped shape the garden into something truly functional and beautiful.

Supporting biodiversity through green spaces

Thanks to students like Kisseljov, the garden is filled with native species chosen for their ecological benefits and their connection to Mi’kmaq culture.

Dr. Mui explains that trees like serviceberry (Amelanchier) and beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) attract birds, while shrubs such as Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) and bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) provide year-round sustenance and shelter for local wildlife. Flowering plants like New England aster draw pollinators, creating a buzzing ecosystem that evolves with the seasons.

Plans for the future

The garden also fosters hands-on learning for students. Students participated in every aspect of the project, from choosing plant locations to watering and maintaining the space. “Student buy-in is crucial," explains Dr. Mui. "When students take ownership of the project, they help protect and sustain it for years to come”

The hope is to expand the outdoor green space, including adding habitats for amphibians and reptiles, and the garden's footprint. The team is also exploring ways to integrate the garden into a course-based curriculum.

For now, the garden stands as a symbol of hope and a testament to the power of community—the donors who helped make it possible and the students who are tending to it. It also invites the entire campus community to reconnect with nature and be part of something larger than themselves.

Dr. Mui concludes, “This garden isn't just about plants, it's about people, purpose, and the possibility of a greener future.”