[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Capone_John.jpg” caption=”John Capone stands outside the General Sciences Building, the home of his new ofice. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay”]In his new office in the General Sciences Building, less than two weeks into starting his job as the new dean of science, boxes are still unopened, the walls are devoid of pictures and his desk is in relative order. But aside from all outer appearances, John Capone talks as though he's been in the job for years.

It could be because in all of his other roles at McMaster since 1986, he has worked closely with the Faculty of Science. He has seen it grow into McMaster's second largest faculty – prominent in research, education and service.

“It's at the nexus of the University's mission,” says Capone, leaning back in his chair, a casual air about him. But what does it mean to take on the lead job of the second largest faculty at a University recently named “Research University of the Year”?

“It's a very exciting opportunity to be part of the leadership of the Faculty at this particular time,” he says. “The country is increasingly recognizing the essential roles that universities play in economic development, social prosperity, and innovation as evidenced by increased funding coming into universities for research, and now for educational programs.”

The Faculty is ready to enhance and imprint its profile within and beyond McMaster, he adds. “Partnerships are going to be a key thing that we'll be pursuing. We have considerable opportunity to leverage our strengths, expertise, and resources with other areas and other sectors, both public and private. Traditional discipline areas of science both in education and research are less distinct today. There is much more direction towards multidisciplinary, cross-disciplinary activities.”

As dean, Capone is charged with ensuring the Faculty achieves its goals, links to McMaster's mission and strategic plans and looks towards significant growth in areas where there are existing strengths and emerging opportunities, and through increased linkages with other faculties at McMaster and with our affiliated, teaching hospitals and research institutes.

It's a step in a new direction for the former associate dean of research in the Faculty of Health Sciences, who was focused primarily on the University's overall research mission.

In fact, he admits he was content in his previous role. After all, the Faculty of Health Sciences has been enjoying unprecedented growth and is on the cusp of some great initiatives including strategic investments in infrastructure and attracting a growing number of outstanding young investigators and staff.

But when the opportunity of dean of science arose, he couldn't let the opportunity pass him by. “It's hard to predict timing within the university and know when an opportunity may arise. In my previous position of associate dean of research, we put in place a lot of exciting new initiatives and I was looking forward to helping to foster that growth. On the other hand, the Faculty of Science opportunity presented itself and after considerable thought as to whether I would be the right person for the job, I decided that it was an exciting prospect and the right move.”

The Faculty of Science has a bright road ahead, he says. “I believe the Faculty has a lot of pent-up potential that needs to be tapped into and by marshaling our strengths and expertise in a cohesive manner, the Faculty of Science is poised to be among the best and most innovative in Canada.”

He believes his experience will help move the faculty forward on that trajectory. “My experience in health science and the academic health network will, I hope, provide different perspectives to the Faculty of Science as we strive for excellence in our educational, research, and service missions.”

Capone foresees exciting opportunities ahead, such as collaborative efforts between the faculties of engineering, health sciences and humanities. But to capitalize on these opportunities, it is crucial to provide effective education programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, he says. “We need to look at innovative ways of delivering, assessing, and applying knowledge so as to provide a much more interactive and more satisfying environment for students, faculty and staff.”

There also is significant external potential that will move McMaster towards integrated, large-scale research activities, such as SHARCNET, nanotechnology and biotechnology, through various federal, provincial, and regional initiatives and international consortiums, he adds.

Nanothechnology, for example – the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances at the molecule level – is an area of tremendous strength for the university, and an area that both levels of government see as an important economic and knowledge driver, he says.

The McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) is another example. “We look towards a very active role in developing and planning the MIP with a view of expanding capacity and critical mass in our research and educational programs, and in fostering economic development in our community,” he says.

Talking about the future for science excites Capone. “Science is always exciting because of the innate curiosity of understanding our world and ourselves. Science is clearly foundational in today's knowledge-based environment where the creation of knowledge and the application of knowledge is extremely rapid.”

As he talks about his new role, his smile barely resides, making one assume how passionate he is about his new path ahead. “It's a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to it a great deal,” he says. “I think the opportunities for the Faculty of Science are significant because we have some outstanding, talented people. During the tenure of the last dean Peter Sutherland, Science went on a recruiting binge that attracted many young, aggressive, intelligent investigators that unquestionably are going to be the seeds of our growth in the future. Providing them an opportunity to help mold the Faculty for the future is one that is exciting and I think will also excite all of our faculty, staff and students.”

Capone arrived at McMaster in 1978 as a PhD student. He then spent three years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before rejoining McMaster as an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry in 1986. He was appointed a full professor in 1995 and from 1997 to 2000 served as chair of the Department. Since 2000 he has been the associate dean, research, in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Capone is married with three daughters, enjoys woodworking and is involved in a number of community activities, and is a member of various boards of directors, such as St. Joseph's Hospital and Sons of Italy Charitable Corporation.