Vol. 5 No. 1 (2010)

Dear reader,

Undergraduate research has a long history at McGill University. In the 1950s, Thomas Chang developed the first artificial cells in his dormitory in Douglas Residence Hall. Two decades later, Jack Szostak launched his research career as a McGill undergraduate, a career that culminated in the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This tradition has enriched the pre-eminent scientific research done at McGill and must continue to be cultivated.

In 2006, McGill students took a major step in addressing this need by founding the McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal (MSURJ). MSURJ was the first peer-reviewed undergraduate scientific journal in Canada, and since its inception has inspired the founding of other scientific journals across the country. While our mission is to promote and publish undergraduate research, our mandate extends to promoting effective communication in science. We therefore make a concerted effort to present our articles with clear and accessible writing.

This year, we have implemented two major initiatives aimed at increasing the breadth and scope of our journal. We partnered with Professor Linda Cooper, an expert in scientific writing, to actively instruct our editorial board in the proper organization and presentation of scientific results. These lessons ensured a higher standard of writing clarity in our publication. We also implemented a community outreach program aimed at science students at local CÉGEPs, encouraging them to become involved in research as undergraduates and to develop strong writing habits.

Part of our strength at MSURJ derives from our multidisciplinary nature. Members of our editorial board are from diverse backgrounds and represent a wide-range of departments. Furthermore, the articles in this issue represent domains that range from structural bioinformatics to psychology to physical chemistry. Our hope is that this diversity will allow you, the reader, to sample the range of possibilities at McGill, and to open your eyes to the new paths being forged by young investigators in science.

Marzieh Ghiasi and Daniel Ting
Editors-in-Chief

On The Cover

Designed By Teagan White

The front cover features an illustration of a dragonfly, illustrating the interwoven nature of the different disciplines of science, and celebrating of the International Year of Biodiversity. The back cover features illustrations from René Descartes, the 17th century French philosopher and mathematician, hypothesizing about the nature of the universe. Though the Cartesian universe has long been replaced by one infinitely more complex, the legacy of scientists past, an unwavering pursuit for knowledge, remains with us today.