05/31/2026
TOMORROW
✨ June NSIS AGM & Public Lecture - Free & Open to All! ✨
Join the Nova Scotian Institute of Science on Monday, June 1st from 5:00-8:30 pm at Saint Mary's University room SB255 (nearest entrance at the end of Robie Street) for our 2026 Annual General Meeting and final public lecture of the 2025-2026 session!
More information can be found on the NSIS AGM webpage: https://nsis1862.ca/annual-general-meeting-2025/
✨ June Public Lecture ✨
Following the AGM, we are excited to welcome Chérif Matta from Mount Saint Vincent University for a free public lecture.
“A Computational Journey Across Chemistry, Biology, and Astronomy: From Electrons to Enzymes to the Stars”
Theory and computational modeling have transformed our ability to explore the invisible molecular world linking chemistry, biology, and astronomy. In this broad non-technical lecture, Dr. Matta will present selected examples from his research on chemical bonding, enzyme electrostatics, ATP synthase, and astrochemical processes in interstellar space, illustrating how modern theoretical approaches help investigate fundamental questions about matter, life, and the interstellar medium.
Chérif F. Matta is a Professor at Mount Saint Vincent University whose research spans theoretical and computational chemistry, theoretical astrochemistry, and mitochondrial biophysics. He introduced electron localization–delocalization matrices (LDMs) as predictive tools in materials science and pharmacology and discovered both a new mode of chemical bonding known as the hydrogen-hydrogen bond and an unconventional function of ATP synthase beyond catalysis. His work has been disseminated through more than 200 publications, four books, and approximately 300 invited lectures in over 40 countries. He is a Fellow of several major scientific societies and was recently recognized with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award for the Sciences from McMaster University and the 2025 Professional of Distinction award from the Discovery Awards for Science and Innovation.
