Academic X’cellence: Sharing stories from our inspiring StFX community
It should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with StFX that our campus is filled with highly engaged students, educators, researchers, and leaders. Academic X’cellence shines a spotlight on members of our educational community to find out more about their unique experiences—both inside and outside of the classroom. (To see the full series, please click HERE.)
Here we meet Max MacNeil from Rothesay, NB, a fourth year student who is graduating with a combined B.Sc. advanced major in physics and a Diploma in Engineering, a path that he says has deepened his appreciation for both engineering and physics. Earlier this year, Mr. MacNeil won first place in the Science Atlantic Undergraduate Research Award category at the Atlantic Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy Conference held at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL. That success follows a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) student grant he received last summer to perform research on the detection of cosmic ray muons, which are subatomic particles created in the upper atmosphere. While he planned to perform experiments with the Physics Department’s muon detector, Mr. MacNeil ended up helping build a second muon detector to help with the experiments. This year, he is on the executive team of StFX’s newly launched Robotics Society. Following his StFX graduation, he plans to continue his electrical engineering studies at Dalhousie University.
Max MacNeil: Combining a passion for physics and engineering
What drew you to this subject area?
I have always enjoyed math and science classes in school. When I got to StFX first year, I was enrolled in the two-year Diploma in Engineering program. It was my first year physics professor, Dr. Mark Baker, who really sparked my interest in physics. His enthusiasm for the subject was unlike any other teacher I'd had before. It was there that I realized that physics is so much more then plugging numbers into equations. It is a subject that opens a whole new perspective on the world around us, and seeing how interconnected everything is through the laws of nature is fascinating. It has also deepened by appreciation for engineering as well because it’s really cool to see how physics is applied through engineering.
Have you had a favorite class?
It’s hard to say. There have been so many interesting engineering and physics courses I have taken at StFX. I am really enjoying ‘Subatomic Physics’ with Dr. Hossain Ahmed. He is very passionate about the subject and it’s cool learning about all the different particles that make up our universe. It’s a subject that has a lot of connections with my summer research, and it is helping me fill in knowledge gaps from that work. Another one of my favourite classes was ‘Statistical Mechanics’ with Dr. Peter Poole. This class is super engaging and unique. I highly recommend any physics student who gets a chance to take these courses.
Could you talk about some highlights, involvements, and accomplishments?
During my time at StFX, I have had many highlights and involvements. I really enjoyed getting involved with research this last summer. I was awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) grant to perform this research on the detection of cosmic ray muons, which are subatomic particles that are created in the upper atmosphere and are constantly raining down onto the surface of the earth. The original plan was to perform experiments with the Physics Department’s muon detector, however, after some further research I found that it would be feasible and beneficial to build a second muon detector to help with the experiments. The building process was both challenging and fun! I really liked how this combined both the physics and engineering aspects of my degree, and I learned so much more about how the detector works from the building process. You learn so much working on your own project and through discussions with fellow students about their projects. It is a pleasure working with so many smart and motivated students.
Aside from research, I am on the executive team of StFX’s Robotics Society. It was just started this year by several physics and engineering students and has been cool seeing how the society evolves. It has been a great experience applying some of the skills I have from engineering classes, and it is a fun society for anyone who has interest in robotics.
Do you have a path in mind for after StFX?
Next year, I plan to continue my electrical engineering studies at Dalhousie University. In the future, I hope to work in a field where I can apply the technical aspects of physics through engineering, combining my passion for both.
Is there an opportunity that stands out for you at StFX?
I have really enjoyed attending conferences and competitions with my fellow engineering and physics students. In second year, I went to the Atlantic Engineering Competition where we had to build a design to solve an engineering problem with a team of StFX students. The past two years, I have attended the Atlantic Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy Conference (AUPAC), and this year was awarded the Science Atlantic Undergraduate Research Award. It is a great experience to learn about what other research is going on in the Atlantic provinces and to meet lots of physics students from other schools.
Would you have advice for a first year student?
I would encourage first year students to get involved as much as possible, whether that is through joining a student society or participating in research. There are so many fun and unique opportunities that StFX has to offer and exploring these can greatly enrich your time at StFX. Additionally, I recommend taking courses that both interest and challenge you. It’s normal for students to change their degree path as they discover their true interests, so don't be afraid to follow what you’re passionate about!
