After three years as an engineer, Zaid Al Rayyes (BENG’19) has decided to return to Dal for an honours project in chemistry. Although it may seem at first odd that a mechanical engineer wants to study chemistry, but for Zaid, the two fields are very complementary for what he aims to do, which is finding the best way to manufacture material and produce it at an industrial scale.

Zaid believes that it is important that students understand the wide range of academic options available to them after graduating – and that it often takes time to find your passions and path. “The bigger the ambition, the slower you need to go,” says Zaid when discussing the new academic endeavour. “I’m hoping to start my master’s in chemistry at Dal by fall 2023, where I’ll be applying my engineering skills in the pursuit of scientific advancement.