Don Campbell

Research project explores how urban agriculture can reduce emissions and increase access to food

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:37:29 +0000

Research project explores how urban agriculture can reduce emissions and increase access to food

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 09/19/2024 - 14:37

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Urban agriculture, including growing food on roof tops, may hold the key to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing access to food in cities (photo by Don Campbell)

Don Campbell

Topic

Our Community

Cities

Sustainability

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

The $3.9-million TOsustain project brings together 15 researchers, including 11 from U of T, and partner organizations involved in food production, food distribution and land management

From raised garden beds under hydro corridors to apartment building roofs, researchers at the ��Ƶ say urban agriculture may hold the keys to improving access to different types of food in large cities while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Urban areas have so much food-growing potential, but our knowledge about how, where and what kind of crops can be grown in and around cities is limited,” says Marney Isaac, a professor in the department of physical and environmental sciences and the department of global development studies at U of T Scarborough.

Marney Isaac takes measurements of soil carbon levels at the Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute (BCI) urban farm (submitted photo)

“We know even less about how well urban agriculture can capture and store carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to climate change.”

To help answer these and other questions, Isaac will lead a multifaceted project with a team of researchers and partners from the private and public sector called TOsustain (Toward Sustainable Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture for Net-zero Food Systems). It is being supported by a $3.9-million grant from the NSERC- and SSHRC-funded Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative.

The first task is to create an inventory of current and potential land for agriculture in urban and peri-urban (the land immediately surrounding urban areas) spaces across Greater Toronto. This includes smaller farms and large-scale growing operations, public lands, hydro corridors, community gardens, green roofs and unused green spaces.

The project will also look at measuring the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions urban agricultural land can potentially trap and store and identifying farm management practices that can reduce GHG emissions. It will also include research that looks at regulations and policies that either constrain or promote urban agriculture, and develop a model to estimate GHG emissions from urban agriculture.

Isaac says there may be other benefits, too.

She points to the added security of having to rely less on food imports – not to mention the additional emissions created by the need to ship it around the world.

“The majority of our food is imported, so there’s a huge security element,” says Isaac, who is an expert on making agriculture more sustainable.

Postdoctoral researcher Lutchmee Sujeeun at the Black Creek Community Farm (submitted photo)

“This really came to light during the pandemic. If we can do more to localize food production and enhance crop diversity, it can help make our food system more resilient.”

The researchers also want to explore how sustainable agricultural practices – those that require less intensive use of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation – in urban areas can help reduce GHG emissions compared to conventional agricultural systems. Isaac adds that greater urban food production might also help reduce the pressure on converting forests to farmland in rural areas, a major environmental concern and contributor to climate change.

The project brings together an interdisciplinary team of 15 researchers, including 11 from U of T, with expertise in soil biogeochemistry, crop biology, microbial ecology and urban food systems, among others. It also includes eight partner organizations from the private and public sectors that are involved in food production, food distribution and land management.

Adam Martin, an assistant professor in U of T Scarborough’s department of physical and environmental sciences and project co-lead, says urban farming isn’t about replacing large-scale agricultural systems that supply wheat, for example. Rather, he says it can produce relatively large quantities of fruits and vegetables that can bring economic benefits to urban households.

Martin adds that improving access to food in urban areas has a host of positive downstream effects.

“Local food banks rely heavily on local small-scale farms and community gardens for fresh produce, and food bank use is on the rise,” he says, noting that many urban communities are located in so-called “food deserts,” where the cost of accessing certain food, particularly fresh produce, is much higher than in other communities.

“By increasing people’s access to nutritious and affordable food, it can go a long way in addressing these social and economic challenges.”

U of T holds flag-raising ceremonies across its three campuses to mark start of Pride Month

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:21:00 +0000

U of T holds flag-raising ceremonies across its three campuses to mark start of Pride Month

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 06/04/2024 - 16:21

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(photos by Nick Iwanyshyn, Don Campbell and XiaoXiao)

Jelena Damjanovic

Don Campbell

Topic

Our Community

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Subheadline

"Let us celebrate the progress we have made while acknowledging the work that still lies ahead"

Flags have been raised across the ��Ƶ’s three campuses to mark the start of Pride month.

At the St. George campus, the Progress Pride flag was hoisted above Varsity Stadium during an event hosted by the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) and the Sexual and Gender Diversity Office.

Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, welcomed guests at the event and noted that June is also the start of National Indigenous History Month – a reminder that fighting for 2SLGBTQ+ rights also means fighting for an end to all forms of oppression. “I’m old enough to remember the Toronto bathhouse raids in 1981 and the violence exerted against the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We’ve made progress since then, but we can’t take our feet off the gas pedal,” Kerr said.

"Raising the Progress Pride flag today at U of T is essentially important as we mark Pride within the context of our ongoing efforts to address many systems of oppression, discrimination, and harassment,” said Jodie Glean-Mitchell, U of T's executive director of equity, diversity and inclusion.

"Pride Month is a time to celebrate the contributions that 2SLGBTQ+ people and communities have made – and continue to make – across the university. It is a time to educate ourselves on the past and present lived experience of queer and trans people. Most importantly it's a time to push back, a time for resistance... There is purpose in us being here. We have work to do. But we can only do it together."

At U of T Scarborough, the More Colour, More Pride and Trans Pride flags were raised to mark the beginning of Pride Month.

“Each of us will choose to mark this day in different ways,” said Cherilyn Scobie Edwards, senior director of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office (EDIO) at U of T Scarborough.

Left: U of T Scarborough community members gather to mark the start of Pride Month. Right: Cherilyn Scobie Edwards, senior director of equity, diversity and inclusion, delivers remarks (photos by Don Campbell)

Edwards noted that not everyone has the privilege of being able to celebrate Pride. “It is my hope that today we continue to note that the struggle for freedom and acceptance has not ended and that the fight for true freedom continues,” she said.

Professor Linda Johnston, acting vice-president of U of T and principal of U of T Scarborough, and Diana Pearson, equity, diversity and inclusion coordinator with the EDIO, also offered remarks.

The ceremony was followed by a courtyard celebration in front of the Arts and Administration Building featuring snow cones, a Pride balloon display, interactive floral mural and a welcome table set up by the Positive Space Committee.

Pride flags were also raised at U of T Mississauga last week.

The Progress Pride flag is raised at U of T Mississauga (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Back at Varsity Stadium, Jasmine Lew, a kinesiology major and track-and-field athlete who was nominated by their peers as the 2SLGBTQ+ community impact honouree, said the raising of the Progress Pride flag is a deeply meaningful moment. “Let us celebrate the progress we have made while acknowledging the work that still lies ahead,” said Lew, “and let us recommit ourselves to building safe and brave spaces that empowers us to love who we love and live authentically.”

Wrapping up the event, Terry Gardiner, KPE’s director of equity, diversity and inclusion, said the raising of the Pride flag represents “a rallying call for all of us, as a community, to continue to work together to bring to life our vision of truly inclusive societies for everyone, everywhere.”

U of T plant biologists use high-tech growth chambers to develop stronger crops

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 10 May 2024 18:34:46 +0000

U of T plant biologists use high-tech growth chambers to develop stronger crops

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 05/10/2024 - 14:34

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Jenan Noureddine, a PhD candidate in U of T Scarborough's department of biological sciences, examines plants being grown indoors under a growth lamp (all photos by Don Campbell)

Don Campbell

Topic

Our Community

Research & Innovation

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

"The ultimate goal is to translate our research into improved crop varieties that can support local agriculture"

In the basement of the ��Ƶ Scarborough’s Science Research Building are four chambers that look like industrial walk-in fridges in a restaurant – but they’re high-tech labs where biologists are conducting plant experiments that could one day lead to more resilient food crops.

Located in the building’s Plant Growth Facility, these newly installed chambers are equipped to mimic different types of growing conditions, with researchers able to control heat, humidity and light intensity as well as speed and direction of wind inside the chambers – enabling them to test the effects of stressors such as drought, heat and infections on plant growth.

There’s even an astronomical clock that can recreate the average amount of sunlight during different times of year in any part of the world.

Each chamber has a growing space of 18 cubic metres and the top shelf can move up or down to make space for tall plants to grow

Here, Jenan Noureddine, a PhD candidate in the department of biological sciences, checks on the state of her Arabidopsis plants. These small, flowering plants are related to cabbage and mustard and are among the most widely studied by plant biologists due to their status as a model organism.

“The ultimate goal is to translate our research into improved crop varieties that can support local agriculture,” says Adam Mott, an assistant professor in the department of biological sciences who manages the facility.

PhD candidate Jenan Noureddine ties the Arabidopsis stems to wooden sticks to provide structural support for the plants, allowing them to grow upright and protecting them from damage.

In all, the facility contains 21 growth chambers used for a range of plant experiments, including identifying genes that are important for disease resistance and proteins that help regulate growth and development.

Mott says an important feature of the four new chambers is the ability to control carbon dioxide levels, which will allow scientists in the facility to develop experiments to study climate change.

This instrument precisely measures carbon dioxide concentrations – a novel feature of the new growth chambers.

The chambers can be set to 75 per cent humidity (90 per cent with the lights off) and reach a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius – conditions akin to the Amazon rainforest during summer. Each chamber has a growing space of 18 cubic metres and the top shelf can move up or down to make space for tall plants to grow.

Researchers wear sunglasses with UV protection to shield from the light.

Their brightest setting can output nearly as much light as a sunny day in Toronto during the summer. The LED lights in the newer chambers can get so intense that UV protective eyewear is recommended as a safety precaution.

PhD candidate Aparna Bhasin injects bacteria containing a gene receptor from Arabidopsis into her Nicotiana plant. This particular gene was chosen because it’s been shown to improve immunity to pathogens in other plants.

The new growth chambers received funding courtesy of a grant from the Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation at U of T Scarborough.

U of T study challenges stereotypes about lazy, unmotivated cannabis users

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 17:51:28 +0000

U of T study challenges stereotypes about lazy, unmotivated cannabis users

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 04/29/2024 - 13:51

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(Bloomberg Creative Photos via Getty Images)

Topic

Rotman School of Management

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

"Our data suggests that you can be hard-working, motivated and a chronic cannabis user at the same time."

Cannabis users might not be as lazy and unmotivated as popular stereotypes suggest, according to new research from the ��Ƶ.

In a study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, researchers found that regular cannabis use had minimal effects on motivation and willpower, and that getting high was associated with more positive emotions and fewer negative ones.

The research aimed to take an objective look at the effects of recreational cannabis on the daily lives of chronic users, says Michael Inzlicht, a professor in the department of psychology at U of T Scarborough who led the study.

“There is a stereotype that chronic cannabis users are somehow lazy or unproductive,” says Inzlicht, who is cross-appointed to the Rotman School of Management. “We found that’s not the case – their behaviours might change a bit in the moment while they’re high, but our evidence shows they are not lazy or lacking motivation at all.”

Professor Michael Inzlicht runs the Work and Play Lab at U of T Scarborough (photo by Lorne Bridgeman)

For the study, scientists surveyed 260 chronic cannabis users – defined as those who used cannabis at least three times a week – five times per day over the course of a week. Participants received notifications through an app asking if they were high, and were then prompted to answer questionnaires that assessed their emotional state, motivation levels, willpower and self-regulation.

Inzlicht says the most interesting finding relates to motivation, with participants found to be just as willing and motivated to exert effort in completing a task when high compared to when sober.

Past research has shown mixed results when it comes to chronic cannabis use and motivation, with Inzlicht noting much of it relied on limited experimental designs that didn't account for differences between cannabis users and non-users, including variations in personality, mental health or use of other psychoactive substances.

He says this study accounted for those pre-existing differences and also looked at chronic cannabis use while participants were actively high.

The researchers did find that being high was associated with lower levels of self-regulation, an important trait for being able to accomplish tasks. Specifically, chronic users reported being more impulsive, less thoughtful and less orderly.

“These things can detract someone from getting stuff done, but we didn’t find it made them less hard-working, responsible or able to focus,” says Inzlicht, who runs the Work and Play Lab, which does research on self-control, motivation and empathy as well as social media, digital devices and recreational cannabis use.

Chronic cannabis users were also found to experience a boost in positive emotions such as awe and gratitude when they were high, and a reduction in some negative emotions such as fear and anxiety. However, more chronic users were found to experience more negative emotions while high as well as while sober.

The study also found no evidence of a “weed hangover” the day after cannabis use.

Inzlicht notes that studying the effects of daily cannabis use was difficult in the past due to its legal status, and that most scholarship on the topic focused on negative impacts in an effort to curb use.

Now that cannabis is legal in Canada, however, Inzlicht says he expects there will be more research focusing on both positive effects and risks.

“The cannabis literature, historically, tended to focus a lot on the negative medical consequences of chronic use,” says Inzlicht. “Part of the motivation for this study is to take a neutral, clear-eyed approach to see how cannabis affects chronic users in their everyday lives.”

He adds the study isn’t an endorsement of heavy cannabis use, pointing out there is plenty of research highlighting its risks – especially among adolescents.

Rather, he points to Statistics Canada data showing that nearly one in 10 adult Canadians are regular cannabis users, and they come from all walks of life. Cannabis is also the fourth most used recreational drug after caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. But despite its increased legal and social acceptance, relatively little is known about the everyday experiences of regular users.

“Our data suggests that you can be hard-working, motivated and a chronic cannabis user at the same time.”

The study received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

U of T astrophysicist offers tips for enjoying April 8 solar eclipse

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:01:04 +0000

U of T astrophysicist offers tips for enjoying April 8 solar eclipse

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 04/01/2024 - 10:01

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Special eclipse glasses are a must for looking safely at the sun – particularly in Toronto, which will be just outside the path of the total eclipse on April 8 (photo by Don Campbell)

Topic

Subheadline

"The further you travel towards the central line of the total eclipse, the longer you will be able to experience it"

Being in the path of a total solar eclipse is rare. Since it’s only visible across a thin stretch of the Earth’s surface, it only happens once every 375 years on average.

While Toronto will only get a partial eclipse on April 8, a total eclipse will be viewable just a short distance from the city.

“If you have the chance to take the day off to go and see it, I strongly encourage you to do so,” says Hanno Rein, an astrophysicist at the ��Ƶ. “It's a rare event and it's worth it.”

Writer Don Campbell spoke to Rein, an associate professor in the department of physical and environmental sciences at U of T Scarborough, for his advice on the best locations to watch the total eclipse, tips for safe viewing and why it promises to be a memorable event for millions.

Why do you think we are so captivated by a solar eclipse?

The rarity of an eclipse makes it very special. Beyond that, it'll be completely dark in the middle of the day. If that is not captivating, I'm not sure what is!

What can those in Toronto expect to see on April 8?

Toronto will only get a partial eclipse, which is still very exciting – but it’s very different from seeing a total eclipse. Even one per cent of sunlight is still very bright so you won’t see prominences in the sun's corona, which are the loops of plasma that extend out from its surface, or stars in the sky.

If you want to see a total eclipse in Toronto, you will be out of luck. The next one takes place in 2144.

Where can we view a total eclipse?

If you live in Toronto, you will need to travel. Burlington is the first city south-west of Toronto where you can see the total eclipse for a few seconds. The further you travel towards the central line of the total eclipse, the longer you will be able to experience it. Buffalo is almost exactly on the central line and totality will last there for about four minutes.

Port Hope is the first town east of Toronto where you can see the total eclipse for a few seconds. In Kingston you can see the total eclipse for about two minutes. If you make it across the border to Watertown, N.Y., by 3:25 p.m., then you will experience a total eclipse for about four minutes.

I’ve made a map that shows where and when the eclipse shadow will take place over the GTA. I also created a free app that calculates accurate timing of the eclipse and what it will look like based on your location.

This map created by U of T Scarborough astrophysicist Hanno Rein charts the eclipse shadow across southern Ontario.

What should we do to safely view the eclipse?

Do not look directly at the sun. I can’t emphasize that enough. You can do permanent damage to your eyes if you do. If you’re in Toronto, you will need eclipse glasses at all times to safely look at the sun. Sunglasses, even if they are very dark, or other home-made filters, are not safe.

Some places, like the Toronto Public Library, are handing out glasses for free. At U of T Scarborough, we handed out 1,000 pairs over the past month to students, staff and faculty, but unfortunately, we are all out. You can also buy glasses online, but make sure not to get ripped off. Glasses selling for more than $3 or $4 per pair are a scam.

Do you have any other tips for viewing the eclipse?

I recommend not taking pictures during the eclipse because it will be over quickly. Just relax and enjoy the experience. There will be millions of people taking photos and many people will be using fancy camera gear, so there will be plenty of photos online to appreciate afterwards.

Be sure to check the forecast. You might be able to travel to an area with no clouds. For this time of year in the GTA there is a 60 to 70 per cent chance of cloud coverage. If there are clouds, it will still get very dark, but you won’t see the corona (outermost part of the atmosphere around the sun) during totality, which is disappointing.

Roads and public transit will likely be very busy, so pack some drinks and food and head out before sunrise to beat the traffic. Try not to stand on a busy road because drivers will be distracted during the eclipse. It’s also possible that streetlights might turn on, so try to find an area where there are no streetlights.

Register to watch the Dunlap Institute’s livestream of the eclipse

U of T researcher discovers critically endangered bats in two new locations

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 21:56:26 +0000

U of T researcher discovers critically endangered bats in two new locations

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 01/23/2024 - 16:56

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Finding the Jamaican flower bat in two new locations is raising hope for the critically endangered species (photo by Sherri and Brock Fenton)

Topic

Subheadline

PhD student Phillip Oelbaum says finding new breeding grounds for the Jamaican flower bat raises hope for its survival and conservation

The Jamaican flower bat is endangered – so much so that experts believed only a small colony of about 500 existed in a single cave.

But an international team of researchers, including a PhD student from the ��Ƶ Scarborough, recently discovered two new locations where the bat lives.

Published in Oryx, the International Journal of Conservation, the research shows the bat living in Jamaica’s Green Grotto Caves and Rock Spring Caverns.

“It’s exciting that we found them in two new locations, but it doesn’t mean they still aren’t in danger of going extinct,” says Phillip Oelbaum, a PhD student in Associate Professor Ken Welch’s lab in the department of biological sciences and lead author of the study.

“It also doesn’t mean they should be delisted as a critically endangered species. It just shows how little we know about them and that more research is needed.”

Nobody knows why, exactly, there are so few Jamaican flower bats in existence. The bat is found only in Jamaica so it’s possible its numbers may have always been low. It may also be threatened due to habitat disturbance from bauxite mining, predation from cats and guano harvesting. Guano (bat feces) is a highly sought after fertilizer because of its high nitrogen and phosphorus content and is commonly used by farmers growing cannabis.

The species was declared extinct until 2010 when a small colony was found in Stony Hill Cave, so finding these new breeding grounds raises hope for its survival and conservation, Oelbaum says.

A chance discovery

In Jamaica doing research on nectar and fruit-eating bats, Oelbaum says the Jamaican flower bat was on his radar, but he didn’t have high hopes of finding them.

The first location, Green Grotto Cave, is a popular tourist destination on the north part of the island just outside Runaway Bay. The bats were discovered in a lower part of the cave system in what’s known as the wild caves, a spot that’s not accessible to tourists. Previous acoustic detection and photos hinted that Jamaican flower bats might live there, but finding pregnant females was definitely a “happy accident,” says Oelbaum.

He almost didn’t make it to Rock Spring, the second spot, located in St. Mary Parish in the north, central part of the Island. The van Oelbaum was travelling in with fellow researcher Ronnie Hall, a grad student at the University of California, Merced, and Stefan Stewart, an expat Canadian and experienced cave explorer with the Jamaican Caves Organisation, hit a series of deep potholes and nearly rolled down the side of a hill.

“It was a rough start, and if it wasn’t for the help of local residents at Rock Spring who helped us get back on the road, we wouldn’t have made it to the cave at all,” Oelbaum says.

Oelbaum, a PhD student at U of T Scarborough, was in Jamaica doing research on fruit- and nectar-eating bats when he discovered Jamaican flower bats living in two previously unknown locations (photo by Don Campbell)

Despite arriving at their destination late, they took Stewart’s advice and set their harp traps next to a giant sinkhole known as Big Hole. A harp trap is a device that uses a series of strings to disrupt a bat’s flight, letting them drop harmlessly into a collection chamber.

As the sky grew darker a large funnel of bats emerged from the cave in what Oelbaum describes as a “batnado,” and once the bats flew into the trap it was just a matter of picking them up to check the species. That’s when they came across a lot of Jamaican flower bats.

What distinguishes the Jamaican flower bat is a bright pink forearm and the fur found on its upper body is often blondish and short compared to the buffy flower bat, which it closely resembles. It also has a protruding bone (known as a calcar) found on the inner side of the ankle.

“Even their facial structure is unique. Once you have one in your hand, there’s no mistaking it’s a Jamaican flower bat,” says Oelbaum.

Damion Whyte, Phillip Oelbaum and Ronnie Hall are currently doing bat surveys at sites across Jamaica (supplied image)

Next steps

Oelbaum is currently in Jamaica doing a survey of 30 locations with Damion Whyte, a PhD student at the University of the West Indies who was also an author on the study. They want to see if the Jamaican flower bat can be found at other locations.

The goal is to further study their habitat and behaviour since the bat is likely an important pollinator, and might also play a role in insect control and dispersing flower seeds. They also want to analyze hair and skin samples to better understand its diet.

“Damion is from Jamaica and has been instrumental in this research,” says Oelbaum. “I’m excited to see what else we can come up with and hopefully shed more light on this elusive bat.”

U of T research on plants' protective wax could hold key to developing stronger crops

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 19:14:00 +0000

U of T research on plants' protective wax could hold key to developing stronger crops

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 12/01/2023 - 14:14

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Jeff Chen, who recently completed a master’s in cell and systems biology at U of T Scarborough, discovered that waxes can break down to produce aldehydes (Photos by Don Campbell)

Don Campbell

Topic

Our Community

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

“This process could one day be used to engineer desirable traits in plants"

A team of researchers at the ��Ƶ Scarborough have discovered that the waxy protective barrier around plants might play a role in sending chemical signals to other plants and insects – and could be harnessed to develop plants that can deal with challenging environments.

For the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers looked at cuticular wax, a thin layer that plants deposit on their surface to protect against losing water. “These waxes act as a physical defence,” says Eliana Gonzales-Vigil, an assistant professor in the department of biological sciences who led the study.

“If plants didn’t have this wax, they would dry out very quickly. It’s the reason you see water drops beading on the surface of leaves. Plants evolved this trait over time when they moved from growing in water to growing on land.”

Professor Eliana Gonzales-Vigil (right) led the study with Jeff Chen, who recently completed his master's in cell and systems biology at U of T Scarborough

The waxes play a role in defending plants against ultraviolet radiation, fungus, bacteria, high and low temperatures as well as insects. It was thought they were stable, unreactive barriers – but the researchers found that some waxes break down after being exposed to air and light, releasing other compounds in the process.

Using a method of analyzing waxes in a species of poplar tree (cottonwood), the researchers found that unsaturated waxes, known as alkenes, degrade to produce nonanal – a well-known aldehyde signalling compound and insect pheromone.

This means smaller compounds of interest could be released from larger waxes found in the plants. “This process could one day be used to engineer desirable traits in plants that can improve their resilience from drought or insects,” Gonzales-Vigil says.

Role in plant communication

Aldehydes perform an essential role in both plants and animals, including humans. In animals, they work as signalling molecules, influencing various aspects of growth, development and reproduction. They’re also the reason why mosquitos are attracted to some people and animals more than others.

In plants, they’re present in pheromones that attract insects and are also responsible for plant-to-plant communication. If a plant is stressed due to drought, for example, it will release the compound to let neighbouring plants know so they can prepare.

Jeff Chen, who recently completed a master’s in cell and systems biology at U of T Scarborough, discovered that waxes can break down to produce aldehydes – by accident. He wanted to see what happened to waxes in poplar plants as they aged, so he tracked the plants’ leaves from when they were young until they were dying. He found the waxes decreased in abundance as the plants got older.

This research might help in eventually developing stronger crops. For this study the researchers also looked at waxes found in wheat

“This was surprising because you would expect something that is stable to be there for the lifetime of the plant,” says Chen who is now a PhD student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“At the same time, we saw an increase of volatile compounds, these aldehydes. That led us to believe that as these waxes break down, there is a corresponding increase in volatile compounds.”

Potential for improving crop resilience

Alkenes, the precursors for creating aldehydes, are specialized waxes that are only present in some plants. The fact these waxes might play a role in signalling opens a bunch of possibilities for helping grow plants, including food crops, says Gonzales-Vigil. For example, they found that the hairs on an ear of corn, known as corn silk, also accumulate large quantities of alkenes that break down into aldehydes.

For this study, the researchers also looked at waxes in wheat and found that another major wax component in the crop also breaks down into smaller compounds.

“It opens up a lot of exciting opportunities. This process could be used to make pheromones that are released slowly from the wax to attract or repel insects,” says Gonzales-Vigil.

“Currently, this is done synthetically, which is expensive, so it could also lead to cheaper, more natural alternatives.”

This research received funding from a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grant

Inaugural chair in Tamil studies to foster scholarship, teaching and research

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:11:15 +0000

Inaugural chair in Tamil studies to foster scholarship, teaching and research

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 11/30/2023 - 14:11

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Sidharthan Maunaguru, currently an associate professor at National University of Singapore, has been appointed the inaugural chair in Tamil studies at U of T Scarborough (submitted photo)

Topic

Subheadline

“I believe U of T Scarborough will emerge as a global hub for collaborating, experimenting and creating discussions on new directions for Tamil studies”

The newly appointed chair of Tamil studies at the ��Ƶ Scarborough says he is looking forward to making the campus a global hub for Tamil research and scholarship.

“I'm honoured to be appointed as the inaugural chair of Tamil studies,” says Sidharthan Maunaguru, who will start the role in May 2024.

“Scholars at U of T have already set a solid foundation for Tamil studies. As chair I will be building on these foundations while looking forward to expanding scholarship and research by bringing an interdisciplinary approach.”

The chair in Tamil studies will not only support academic programming and research in Tamil language and history, it will also help preserve its rich culture for future generations.

Maunaguru is currently an associate professor in the department of sociology and anthropology, and South Asian studies program, at National University of Singapore. He is a renowned expert on global Tamil communities whose research intersects with anthropology, history and philosophy. His 2019 book Marrying for a Future: Transnational Sri Lankan Tamil Marriages in the Shadow of War explored how marriage emerged as an important means of building alliances between dispersed segments of Tamil communities across the globe.

He hopes to foster Tamil scholarship, teaching and research by taking a collective approach.

“My vision is to ground, create and promote thriving Tamil scholarships and research on the ethos of inclusiveness and diversity that will connect and bring together Tamil scholarships from communities across the world into Canada,” he says.

“I believe U of T Scarborough will emerge as a global hub for collaborating, experimenting and creating discussions on new directions for Tamil studies.”

A performance of the Legend of Ponnivala was held at U of T Scarborough in support of the chair in Tamil studies (photo by Joseph Burrell)

Tamil is among the world’s seven classical languages, with a linguistic and literary history stretching back more than 2,000 years. With 80 million-plus speakers, it’s one of the most frequently spoken languages in the world.

The chair was made possible through a landmark $3-million philanthropic effort that began in 2018 and was spearheaded by the Canadian Tamil Congress and Tamil Chair Inc.

“We are thrilled that Professor Maunaguru has been hired as the inaugural chair in Tamil studies,” says Sivan Ilangko, who was committee chair for the chair in Tamil studies and is an adviser to and former president of the Canadian Tamil Congress.

“When we envisioned having a chair who could lead Tamil studies we knew U of T Scarborough would be an ideal location because U of T is Canada’s most prestigious university and Scarborough is home to a large Tamil population. It is exciting to think about all of the world-class research and scholarship that will be created in the years to come.”

Canada is home to the largest Tamil diaspora outside of South Asia, with a large portion living in the Greater Toronto Area. Lisa Lemon, U of T Scarborough’s executive director of development and alumni relations, says the campaign was a grassroots effort involving more than 3,800 donors, including many from Scarborough and the Greater Toronto Area.

“This is a momentous occasion for our campus. We are so excited to celebrate this announcement with our large Tamil-heritage student and alum population,” Lemon says.

“While most of the donors were from Canada and the United States, it was also exciting to see support coming from France, Australia and Malaysia. It just goes to show how much support there is internationally for Tamil studies.”

U of T students, learners awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 15:04:48 +0000

U of T students, learners awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 11/28/2023 - 10:04

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From left to right: 2024 Rhodes Scholars Sapolnach Prompiengchai, Leighton Schreyer, Adam Martínez, Tierrai Tull and Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen (supplied images, photo of Tull by Tysen Harvey Photography Bermuda)

Topic

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Subheadline

Four U of T students and one medical resident are among the members of the 2024 cohort of Rhodes Scholars

For the first time in more than three quarters of a century, four ��Ƶ students have been selected for a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship in a single year.

With interests that span mental health, narrative health, gender and discovering next-gen materials, Sapolnach Prompiengchai, Tierrai Tull, Leighton Schreyer and Adam Martínez are headed to Oxford University with the support of the coveted scholarship, which identifies and supports exceptional young people with the potential to make a positive impact on the world.

Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen (supplied image)

A fifth member of the U of T community, Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen, an ophthalmology and vision sciences resident in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, also received a Rhodes Scholarship via her alma mater, McGill University.

“The ��Ƶ is delighted to see so many of our exceptional students and learners join the world-renowned community of Rhodes Scholars,” says U of T President Meric Gertler.

“We wish them continued success as they enter the next chapter of their academic journeys. And we look forward to seeing their accomplishments and contributions to society in the years to come.”

Here are the four U of T students – two Canadian students, two international students – who recently joined an elite group of more than 100 new Rhodes Scholars from across the globe as part of the 2024 cohort:

Sapolnach Prompiengchai

U of T Scarborough

(supplied image)

Prompiengchai, who grew up in Thailand and attended school in India, is one of two Rhodes Global Scholars this year – making him the first recipient selected from Thailand through the Global Rhodes program, which is open to candidates from parts of the world that aren’t covered by one of the 25 Rhodes constituencies.

He says the news took a toll on his vocal cords.

“I probably lost my voice from talking to so many incredible people at the University of Oxford and then calling everyone I know,” says Prompiengchai, a fourth-year neuroscience student at U of T Scarborough.

A 2020 recipient of U of T’s Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, Prompiengchai earned recognition for his interdisciplinary mental health research and advocacy. That includes receiving undergraduate research prizes for several of his papers.

A member of the student advisory committee for Inlight, one of U of T’s institutional strategic initiatives, Prompiengchai has worked in five research labs specializing in disciplines including clinical neuroscience, memory and educational psychology.

He is currently working in Professor Andy Lee’s cognitive neuroscience lab at U of T Scarborough where he is doing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments to discover how the brain encodes time when memories are formed.

“I think to properly tackle mental health you need to become a multidisciplinary scientist, so I hope to learn more about genetics and chemistry,” he says.

“I hope to one day be a scientist who can work with diverse stakeholders – including politicians, clinicians, scientists and community groups from diverse backgrounds – in order to translate research into real-world solutions.”

Tierrai Tull

Faculty of Arts & Science

(photo by Tysen Harvey Photography Bermuda)

Tull, a fourth-year student in Woodsworth College studying political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, says she was on her evening walk overlooking the waters of Bermuda when she got the call.

“I screamed, and I had to mute myself because I didn’t want to blow [the national secretary’s] eardrums out,” says Tull, an international student who is representing the Rhodes constituency of Bermuda. “I was just so overcome with joy that I ran for 15 minutes straight home.”

A recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Award and the Frank Peers Award for International Study, Tull says her studies have focused on gender in the Caribbean, pursuing research ranging from appropriation in the health and wellness industry to the case for reparations under John Locke’s theory of labour.

Her time at U of T has been a “global experience” spanning five countries, Tull says.

Starting her studies in fall 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Tull took courses virtually in Armenia during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. She continued her remote studies from Bermuda and the U.S. before arriving at U of T in her second year. After studying abroad at University College London, she returned to the St. George campus to finish her degree.

Tull says she’s looking forward to continuing her studies at Oxford, where she’s interested in exploring the social sciences and women’s studies.

A first-generation student on full scholarship, Tull says she hopes her success will inspire students in similar circumstances to shoot for prestigious programs like Rhodes.

“I would encourage anyone who is struggling but has big goals to dare to dream and dare to achieve,” she says. “Don’t tell yourself no before anyone else does.”

Leighton Schreyer

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Leighton Schreyer (supplied image)

Schreyer, one of two U of T students among the 11 Rhodes Scholars selected from Canada, says receiving the call from Rhodes organizers quickly turned into an impromptu celebration.

“I had to turn the stove burner off, so I wasn’t going to burn down my building,” they say. “I think I did a bit of a party dance.”

An activist, writer and poet, Schreyer says their emphasis on the human side of medicine was informed by interactions with the health system – a theme explored in works that have been published in leading medical journals, literary magazines and news outlets. They have also held research positions at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Unity Health Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Schreyer plans on fusing passions for storytelling and medicine by pursuing a DPhil in anthropology at Oxford, specializing in medical anthropology. Their interests lie in the field of narrative medicine, which honours the fundamental role that story plays in health care and caregiving – and explores how narrative can help bridge the gap between the biological manifestation of disease and the patient’s lived experience of illness. They credit U of T’s health, arts and humanities program with formally introducing them to the field.

“My story – the narrative of my life – is far from complete and, in many ways, I hope it never will be; I want to be continuously challenged to rethink, rework and refine my story,” Schreyer says. “I hope that, through Rhodes, I will have the opportunity to gain perspective and participate in experiences that will allow me to walk away from Oxford with a bigger, more complete and comprehensive story of the world.”

Adam Martínez

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

(supplied image)

Martínez, who was also named a Rhodes Scholar from Canada, says receiving the scholarship was a life-altering event.

“I was walking across campus when I got the call,” he says. “All I really heard were the words ‘Welcome to the Rhodes community,’ and after that it was kind of hard to focus. I could really sense a shift in the trajectory of my future.”

A recipient of U of T’s National Scholarship, Martínez is majoring in engineering physics and has taken on internships and fellowships at leading-edge labs in Ontario and around the world. A key theme of his research is the potential of new materials to solve complex challenges in different domains, from biomedicine to sustainability.

“One example I think about a lot is catalytic materials that can convert captured carbon dioxide into products that we already need, such as methanol and ethanol,” he says. “This could help us close the carbon loop and develop a low-carbon economy.”

However, synthesizing and testing the millions of potential catalytic materials in a lab is too slow, Martinez says, with emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing holding the potential to dramatically speed up the process.

As a thesis student at the Vector Institute, he is using generative AI models to simulate quantum circuits and bring such systems closer to reality.

He plans to pursue similar research at Oxford, saying the scholarship will help him make new connections and find new problems to solve.

“The Rhodes community includes a lot of different people coming from different areas of the world and different disciplines,” he says. “It’s an opportunity to open dialogues, to think about the implications of my field on theirs, and to use that space to try to do good in the world.”

Prompiengchai, Schreyer, Martínez and Tull were all supported by U of T’s internal selection process for the scholarship.

In photos: Students settle into their new homes across U of T's three campuses

bresgead — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 21:56:14 +0000

In photos: Students settle into their new homes across U of T's three campuses

bresgead Tue, 09/05/2023 - 17:56

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(photos by Don Campbell, left, and Nick Iwanyshyn, centre and right)

Topic

Undergraduate Students

University College

Subheadline

From instant ramen noodles to lengthy goodbyes, it was a busy – and emotional – Labour Day weekend 2023 at U of T residences

Incoming students from across Canada and around the world made the ��Ƶ their home over Labour Day weekend, pulling up to their residences across the three campuses with boxes of belongings, preferred snacks and plush creature comforts in tow.

Returning students and residential staff welcomed U of T’s newest community members with enthusiastic cheers and a helping hand in hauling suitcases, boxes and appliances through the hallways and to their rooms.

Parents ticked off items on their to-do lists as they prepared to say goodbye, some admitting they were saving their tears for the trip home, while siblings and friends helped figure out how to decorate new quarters.

First-year students, meanwhile, settled into their surroundings and looked forward to writing an important new chapter in their lives.

Interactive Digital Producer Nick Iwanyshyn and Staff Reporters Adina Bresge and Don Campbell were on hand to capture the emotions and excitement of move-in day in photos at each of the three campuses.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

New arrivals at University College on the St. George campus were greeted with signs and cheers as they unloaded their cars outside Morrison Hall.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Like many students, U of T Mississauga’s Diore Thorpe stocked her dorm room with all the essentials – including a ready supply of instant ramen.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Crystal Zhang, a first-year student at Trinity College, says she felt “mildly terrified” but “very excited” about living on her own for the first time.

While she’s comfortable doing her own laundry, she’s less confident in her cooking skills. “I’m glad I got a meal plan,” said Zhang, who is beginning her studies in Rotman Commerce.

(photo by Don Campbell)

Hundreds of students moved in to U of T Scarborough’s new sustainable student residence, Harmony Commons, which is built to passive house standard – a type of building designed for energy-efficient heating and cooling.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Sahil Basra, who is studying computer science, battled the heat as he lugged his desktop and monitor up to his room. “I’m exhausted,” Basra said, bracing himself for several more trips up and down the stairs.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Mya Thompson brought an armful of plushies – a shark, a frog and a dinosaur – to keep herself cozy at Innis College.

While the life sciences student was thrilled to be in the big city, her mother admitted that she was holding back tears for the drive back to Port Dover, Ont. “I’m excited for her, though, to chase her dream,” Eva Thompson said.

photo by Don Campbell)

Luggage carts helped with the heavy lifting as students got to know one another at U of T Scarborough.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Staff and volunteers at U of T Mississauga’s Erindale Hall residence ferried students’ belongings to their rooms in giant plastic bins.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Esmé L. Wilson’s parents flew in from San Francisco to get her set up in her room. While she was ready for classes to begin, Wilson felt less prepared for the coming Canadian winter. “I have no idea what kind of jackets I’ll need,” she said. “I’ll probably have to buy a lot of new things.”