Vol. 9 No. 1 (2014)

Each year, we never ceased to be amazed by the exceptional research done by undergraduate students here at McGill University. It has been a privilege for the McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal to share the inspiring work of young scientists with the student body.

The two us have been part of MSURJ for nearly half of its existence. These four years have been an experiment, in which we tested many hypotheses, and was not always assured that our efforts would yield expected results. But the vision of the MSURJ editorial board remains the same — to inspire students to pursue their scientific interests. In our effort on this front, we introduced tutorials on lab-related skills in our Outreach Program. Our online blog, The Abstract (msurjblog.com), also continues to engage students of all disciplines in the discussion of science.

As you read this year’s journal, we hope that the works of your peers will kindle your inner curiosity and encourage you to dive into the boundless world of research.

YUHAO SHI AND JANINE HSU
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

ON THE COVER

In 1914, physicist Ernest Rutherford proved that gamma rays were a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Though Frenchman Paul Villard was credited with their discovery, it was Rutherford, then at McGill University, who gave them their name in 1903 and worked to understand their properties.

The penetrating properties of gamma rays are now used in broad applications such as life-saving gamma knife surgeries, and their detection is a key part of understanding astronomical phenomena in our universe. In this issue, on pg. 17, we feature a novel heptagonal gamma ray detector, born from the Rutherford Physics Building at McGill University — 100 years on.