Dr. Allen J. Britten. Professor of Chemistry, has been honoured for his varied and substantial contributions to Science Atlantic (formerly APICS) and was inducted into the Science Atlantic Hall of Fame for 2015 as an Outstanding Member on Friday, November 21.

Dr. Britten was Cape Breton University’s representative on Science Atlantic from 2004 to 2011. He served on the Executive, Finance, and Nominating committees.

Dr. Britten is a vibrant and an articulate educator who, for the past two decades, has devoted his talents in science education to high schools and university students in Atlantic Canada and particularly in Nova Scotia. He is well respected nationally and internationally for his contributions to the development of science in Cape Breton Island, and the province of Nova Scotia.

Dr. Allen Britten, popularly known by all generations of high school and university science students as “Dr. B”, is a true Science Champion who has given numerous lectures and workshops at high schools, universities and conferences. He is involved in, and has led, several mentorship programs for science students at CBU. He is a strong supporter of the APICS Youth Education and Communications (YEC) program.

Dr. Britten brought Let’s Talk Science to CBU and encouraged CBU join the Science and Technology Network (STAN). He was a presenter at CBVRSB guidance counsellors’ meetings and a frequent guest speaker at CBVRSB professional development sessions for science teachers. He was an invited panel table presentation on bridging the gap between high school and university science at the Science Atlantic Education Conference at Dalhousie in 1999.

Besides being an outstanding teacher and a great science advocate, Dr. Britten is also well recognized in his contributions to research. He has attracted numerous government, provincial, university, and industrial research grants which he has used to provide science mentorship opportunities in his research group for both high school and university students.

The fact that Dr. Britten developed strong international research collaboration, for which his research students have the opportunity to work abroad, is an indication of his stellar reputation in science research and mentorship. The students he has mentored over the past two decades of his teaching are now in various areas of employments as science advocates in universities, high schools, health professions, and industries.

It is well fitting that Dr. Britten was recently the winner of the 2015 CBU Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the first Cape Breton University Professor named “Hotshot prof” in The Globe & Mail Canadian University Report, 2014. As one of his colleagues put it, “Dr. Allen Britten is truly a Science Icon”.

Congratulations, Dr. B!