Acadia tick researcher wins Public Impact Discovery Award
From the Springboard Content Lab
It’s been a big week for Acadia University’s tick researcher Dr. Nicoletta Faraone.
On Thursday night, she was named recipient of the 2025 DiscoveryAwards Public Impact Award at a Halifax gala, hosted by Research Nova Scotia.
Earlier in the week, she won the prestigious Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation at a ceremony in Ottawa.
That’s two awards in one week! Springboard sends its congratulations to Dr. Faraone.
Research preventing and managing tick-borne disease
Dr. Faraone is recognized for tackling tick-borne diseases in Nova Scotia through innovative research that combines chemistry, ecology, and public health. Her work develops safe, targeted repellents and fabric sprays to protect communities while safeguarding pollinators and the environment.
Beyond the lab, she engages directly with schools, healthcare providers, and community groups to raise awareness and prevent Lyme disease, while mentoring students and building industry partnerships. Dr. Faraone’s research and outreach demonstrate how science can protect health, support local economies, and strengthen community resilience.
Dr. Faraone and her research teams have worked with Springboard’s Acadia Office of Industry and Community Engagement (ICE). ICE builds relationships between Acadia’s researchers and industry, government and community groups interested in research, commercialization and outreach activities.
Additional recipients of 2025 Discovery Awards
The Discovery Awards celebrate the success of researchers, innovators, and educators whose careers and passions have taken Nova Scotia’s science and technology industries from local to global.
Other 2025 Discovery Award recipients:
Dr. Paola Marignani – Science Champion Award Recipient. Dr. Marignani is a pioneering cancer researcher and mentor, advancing precision medicine that tailors treatment to each patient while championing inclusion and accessibility in research.
CarbonRun, Innovation Award Recipient. Based in Nova Scotia, CarbonRun is tackling climate change and freshwater restoration with its innovative River Alkalinity Enhancement (RAE) technology. Originally designed to restore salmon populations, RAE now removes carbon from the atmosphere while improving water quality and river ecosystems.
Dr. Ejemai Eboreime Emerging Professional Award Recipient. In just two years at Dalhousie, Dr. Eboreime has become a leading voice in implementation science, securing over $15 million in research funding and launching a CIHR-funded study on the mental health impacts of the Upper Tantallon wildfire.
Dr. Chérif F. Matta Professional of Distinction Award Recipient. An internationally renowned scientist, Dr. Matta has redefined how disciplines intersect—bridging chemistry, physics, and biology through pioneering research that continues to shape global science.
Syd West – Youth Award Recipient – a Grade 12 student at Horton High School in Port Williams. Syd is the creator behind Active Light Blocking Glasses for Prevention of Photosensitive Episodes, a groundbreaking research-based engineering project designed to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by Photosensitive Epilepsy.
Discovery Awards’ alumni have aspired to create a positive change in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), and have shared their experiences to inspire future leaders of the scientific community.
See previous Discovery Award recipients.