Engineering Strategic Communications / en U of T, other Ontario universities create fellowship to increase diversity in engineering and technology /news/u-t-other-ontario-universities-create-fellowship-increase-diversity-engineering-and-technology <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T, other Ontario universities create fellowship to increase diversity in engineering and technology</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT86386_u-of-t-engineering_50409629722_o.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=vMioeWKU 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT86386_u-of-t-engineering_50409629722_o.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=u1t7VW-U 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT86386_u-of-t-engineering_50409629722_o.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=WW0Qw3tE 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT86386_u-of-t-engineering_50409629722_o.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=vMioeWKU" alt="Two students walk past a building at U of T with a sign that says #1 engineering school in canada"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2021-01-18T12:21:35-05:00" title="Monday, January 18, 2021 - 12:21" class="datetime">Mon, 01/18/2021 - 12:21</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by Daria Perevezentsev)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/engineering-strategic-communications" hreflang="en">Engineering Strategic Communications</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black" hreflang="en">Black</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Six universities in Ontario have partnered to create a new fellowship to expand the pathways for Indigenous and Black students pursuing doctoral degrees in engineering to prepare them for academic careers as professors and industry researchers.</p> <p>The <a href="https://gradstudies.engineering.utoronto.ca/ibet/">Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowships</a> aim to address the urgent need to provide pathways that encourage and support the pursuit of graduate studies by under-represented groups. A lack of representation has hindered the enrolment of Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Metis) and Black graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.</p> <p>IBET Momentum Fellowship recipients will receive financial support, mentorship, training and networking opportunities to foster a robust professional community for participating PhD candidates.</p> <p>“It’s clear that U of T Engineering – as well as the engineering profession and academia in general – must accelerate our work to improve representation of Black and Indigenous students, staff and faculty members&nbsp;at all levels,” says <strong>Christopher Yip</strong>, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering. “Launching the IBET Momentum Fellowships is a start, and we plan to listen and evolve our program as we learn from its first candidates. Today, we are pleased to join our partner universities in launching this important initiative.”</p> <p>In addition to U of T Engineering, the partnership includes the engineering and math faculties at the University of Waterloo&nbsp;and the engineering faculties at McMaster University, the University of Ottawa, Queen’s University and Western University. The six partner universities share the understanding that greater diversity is needed among academic leaders in engineering and technology to reflect all populations and to ensure a full range of thought and problem-solving approaches.</p> <p>The Momentum Fellowships are a central pillar of the new IBET PhD Project, which aims to change the academic landscape within the next five to 10 years by increasing the number of Indigenous and Black engineering professors teaching and researching in universities across Ontario. The project will also bring more diverse perspectives and voices into engineering research and the Canadian technology industries.</p> <p>Two recipients each year will receive $25,000 annually for four years as they pursue doctorate degrees and specialized engineering research. Interested Canadian students can&nbsp;apply for the IBET Momentum Fellowships&nbsp;following their application to a graduate program.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 18 Jan 2021 17:21:35 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 168107 at 'Ask questions and try things': U of T hosts grade-school students, innovation minister at STEM-focused event /news/ask-questions-and-try-things-u-t-hosts-grade-school-students-innovation-minister-stem-focused <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'Ask questions and try things': U of T hosts grade-school students, innovation minister at STEM-focused event</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/32875591717_a84e16b452_o-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=cWQCdWFH 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/32875591717_a84e16b452_o-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jFggQn3t 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/32875591717_a84e16b452_o-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=e3N0zSnE 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/32875591717_a84e16b452_o-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=cWQCdWFH" alt="photo of children using a tablet"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-05-10T14:29:42-04:00" title="Friday, May 10, 2019 - 14:29" class="datetime">Fri, 05/10/2019 - 14:29</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">More than 1,000 Ontario students from Grades 2-8 were on U of T's downtown Toronto campus Friday for Go North Youth, hosted by U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering in partnership with Google Canada and Actua (all photos by Roberta Baker)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/engineering-strategic-communications" hreflang="en">Engineering Strategic Communications</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/artificial-intelligence" hreflang="en">Artificial Intelligence</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-innovation" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/stem" hreflang="en">STEM</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>More than 1,100 inquiring minds visited the Ƶ on Friday for Go North Youth –&nbsp;the largest science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) event in Canada for pre-university students.</p> <p>The annual one-day event, hosted by U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering in partnership with Google Canada and Actua, encourages Ontario students from Grades 2-8 to build, explore and learn about the vast possibilities that open by studying and pursuing careers in STEM.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10892 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/32875594247_3b07cd6509_o.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>This year's theme of artificial intelligence (AI) gave students the opportunity to not only gain a better understanding of the power of AI, but also gain exposure to how “smart” technology is built.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10898 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/33942114628_866f488c08_o.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>The agenda included experiential STEM workshops, AI coding activities, as well as demonstrations in “Innovate Alley,” a hub of STEM activity located in the atrium of the Bahen Centre.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10896 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/47767176292_c819a86ac3_o.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>The day kicked off with opening ceremonies in U of T's Convocation Hall, featuring welcome remarks from Navdeep Bains (pictured above), the federal minister of innovation, science and economic development, <a href="https://www.engineering.utoronto.ca/about/office-of-the-dean/cristina-amon-dean/"><strong>Cristina Amon</strong></a>, the dean of U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering, as well as a keynote from student quantum computing expert <strong>Tanisha Bassan</strong> and a live demo by movie prop-maker “the Hacksmith,” who also goes by the name James Hobson.</p> <p>“Engineering is about turning imagination into reality,” said Amon. “While you are here, remember to keep your eyes open, to ask questions and try things you have never tried before.</p> <p>“Our country and our world need creative people like you, and I hope you will consider returning to U of T as engineering students one day.”</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10894 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/46903059505_028a73d97a_o.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Prior to the opening ceremonies, Amon participated in a roundtable discussion on AI and how Canada can strengthen its AI ecosystem and prepare the next generation for the future of work.</p> <p>The discussion included policy-makers and industry leaders such as Megh Gupta of Element AI, Natacha Mainville of Google Brain and tech expert Amber Mac.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10893 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/46903057395_4f446a9af8_o.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em>Check out more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/uoftengineering/albums/72157705034542772">photos</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/uoftengineering">social media moments</a> captured from the day.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 10 May 2019 18:29:42 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 156647 at Go North event at U of T inspires young STEM students /news/go-north-event-u-t-inspires-young-stem-students <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Go North event at U of T inspires young STEM students</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-06-06-go-north-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=a3pLpRs5 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2018-06-06-go-north-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=9A9A1APg 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2018-06-06-go-north-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=t-S479u4 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-06-06-go-north-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=a3pLpRs5" alt="Photo of students at Go North Youth event"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-06-06T11:50:25-04:00" title="Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - 11:50" class="datetime">Wed, 06/06/2018 - 11:50</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Students design their vision for a future city at U of T Engineering’s Go North Youth event on June 5 (photo by Laura Pedersen)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/engineering-strategic-communications" hreflang="en">Engineering Strategic Communications</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/kirsty-duncan" hreflang="en">Kirsty Duncan</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>More than 1,100 Ontario students in Grades 3 to 8 visited the Ƶ this week&nbsp;for a chance to peek under the hood&nbsp;of today’s technologies, and get a taste&nbsp;of university life.</p> <p>The one-day Go North Youth event, created by U of T's Faculty of Applied Science &amp;&nbsp;Engineering in partnership with&nbsp;Google Canada&nbsp;and&nbsp;Actua, featured workshops and learning designed to ignite curiosity and showcase the possibility that a career in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) can hold.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8517 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/2018-06-06-go-north-3.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em>Young STEM enthusiasts work on projects at the Go North Youth event (photo by Laura Pedersen)</em></p> <p>“Go North is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of the kids to get to the Ƶ and experience cutting-edge STEM technology,” said Tim Barker, a Grade 4 teacher at McKee Public School in Toronto. “The event offers exactly the kind of experiential learning that both teachers and students are looking for these days.”</p> <p>Minister of Science <strong>Kirsty Duncan</strong>&nbsp;helped kick off the event to a crowd full of students in Convocation Hall.</p> <p>“I am so excited to be here at Go North,” Duncan said. “I want you to know you are the most important people. You’re going to be the astronauts, the engineers, the inventors, the scientists, the teachers. You’re going to be whatever you want to be. You’re going to be the future leaders of our country.”</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8516 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/2018-06-06-go-north-2_0.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em>Minister of Science&nbsp;Kirsty Duncan speaks to Ontario students at the event (photo by William Suarez)</em><br> <br> <strong>Cristina Amon</strong>, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering,&nbsp;talked about pursuing STEM and encouraged students to make the most of the unique opportunity.</p> <p>“This is your chance to build, design, test and explore what it is like to be an engineer,” said Amon. “Engineers do what we do because we care to make the world a better place.”</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8518 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/2018-06-06-go-north-4.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> <em>Dean Cristina Amon mingled with students at the Go North Youth event (photo by Laura Pedersen)</em></p> <p>Earlier in the day, Amon met with other STEM leaders from industry and government for a roundtable discussion on how to best prepare Canadian youth for the future of work through STEM. She&nbsp;emphasized U of T Engineering’s cross-faculty initiatives, multidisciplinary student environment, work-integrated learning, entrepreneurship opportunities&nbsp;and commitment to diversity, as strategies for developing engineering leaders of tomorrow.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <h3><a href="https://twitter.com/i/moments/1004079318245535745">View the Twitter Moment</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 06 Jun 2018 15:50:25 +0000 ullahnor 136644 at Molly Shoichet awarded 2016 Till & McCulloch Award /news/molly-shoichet-awarded-2016-till-mcculloch-award <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Molly Shoichet awarded 2016 Till &amp; McCulloch Award</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-10-06-molly-shoichet-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UvrmjcOr 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-10-06-molly-shoichet-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=zNt41jPH 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-10-06-molly-shoichet-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Mb-u3jfd 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-10-06-molly-shoichet-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UvrmjcOr" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-10-06T11:54:36-04:00" title="Thursday, October 6, 2016 - 11:54" class="datetime">Thu, 10/06/2016 - 11:54</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">University Professor Molly Shoichet holds the hyaluronic acid (HA)-based injectible hydrogel developed in her lab that helps transplanted stem cells survive, integrate and repair damaged tissue in the brain and eye (photo by Roberta Baker)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/engineering-strategic-communications" hreflang="en">Engineering Strategic Communications</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Engineering Strategic Communications</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-innovation" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/stem-cells" hreflang="en">Stem Cells</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/molly-shoichet" hreflang="en">Molly Shoichet</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/peter-zandstra" hreflang="en">Peter Zandstra</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Pioneering stem-cell researcher developed hydrogel platform to deliver stem cells to brain and eyes, restoring vision by 15 per cent</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards/uprofessors.htm">University Professor</a> <strong>Molly Shoichet</strong>, a world-renowned researcher and leader in the use of biomaterials to enhance stem-cell delivery for treating disease conditions from stroke to blindness, is the recipient of the 2016 Till &amp; McCulloch Award.</p> <p>The award recognizes both Shoichet’s contributions to global stem cell research, and her 2015 paper on the use of hydrogels for stem cell transplantation as the most impactful stem cell research publication authored in Canada in the past year.</p> <p>Shoichet is&nbsp;a professor in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and the Institute of Biomaterials &amp; Biomedical Engineering at the Ƶ. The&nbsp;Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering, she is a leader in the use of biomaterials to enhance cell delivery and to guide stem cell fate for tissue engineering. She is also a principal investigator in <a href="http://mbd.utoronto.ca/">Medicine by Design</a>, a leading regenerative medicine initiative at U&nbsp;of T&nbsp;that is designing and manufacturing cells, tissues and organs that can be used in research, drug discovery and clinical treatments.</p> <h3><a href="/news/behind-scenes-medicine-design-molly-shoichet-and-peter-zandstra">Read more about Molly Shoichet's research</a></h3> <p>Her 2015 paper, published in the journal <em>Stem Cell Reports</em>, demonstrated that the research team’s Jello-like hyaluronic acid-based injectable hydrogel helped transplanted stem cells survive, integrate and repair damaged tissue in the brain and eye. The research involved taking photoreceptor cells derived from stem cells, encapsulating them in the hydrogel and injecting them into the retinas of blind mice. Vision was restored by approximately 15 per cent.&nbsp;</p> <h3><a href="/news/molly-shoichet-wins-l-oreal-unesco-women-science-award">Read about Molly Shoichet winning&nbsp;L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science award</a></h3> <p>“Dr. Shoichet, an expert in polymers to advance our understanding of drug delivery and regeneration to promote healing in the body, has made numerous significant contributions to the field of regenerative medicine,” says <a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards/uprofessors.htm">University Professor</a> <strong>Peter Zandstra</strong> (IBBME), executive director of Medicine by Design, chief scientific officer of <a href="http://ccrm.ca/">Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine</a>&nbsp;and a member of the selection committee. “This paper demonstrates that specific interactions between the cells and HA support their survival, migration and integration in animal models of retinal degeneration. The selection committee was impressed with the paper because it offers solutions to the cell delivery problem in neural disease. Importantly, the same material also has a pro-survival effect in a separate animal model of stroke, suggesting broad potential applicability of the strategy.”</p> <p>“While clinical trials in humans are years away, this work is clearly moving in that direction,” says Dr. Michael Rudnicki, Scientific Director of the Stem Cell Network and the 2014 Till &amp; McCulloch Award winner. “Diseases like age-related macular degeneration and stroke don’t yet have cures and today’s medicines only slow the progression of these diseases. Stem cell-based therapies, however, have the potential to outright stop the disease progression and, in the case of blindness, reverse it.”&nbsp;</p> <p>“It is a thrill and an honour to give a lecture that salutes the incredibly important and pioneering research of Drs. Till and McCulloch,” says Shoichet. “I am humbled to be receiving this award that has been won in previous years by superbly talented, internationally renowned stem cell scientists. I am very grateful and look forward to sharing our research with everyone in beautiful British Columbia.”</p> <h3><a href="/news/restoring-eyesight-and-healing-brains-how-hydrogels-can-boost-work-stem-cells">Read more about hydrogels</a></h3> <p>Shoichet will accept the award, named after James Till and Ernest McCulloch, and present a lecture during a special session at the <a href="http://www.cvent.com/events/2016-till-mcculloch-meetings/event-summary-8fa39ab03700402ab65f05134f1549d1.aspx">Till &amp; McCulloch Meetings</a>, Canada’s premier stem cell event. The Till &amp; McCulloch Award lecture will take place in Whistler, BC on Tuesday, Oct.&nbsp;25, 2016.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Stem Cell Network established the Till &amp; McCulloch Award in honour of the two Canadian doctors whose pioneering work established the field of stem cell research. The Till &amp; McCulloch Award is presented each year to one researcher in Canada who is nominated through a public process. The Adjudication Committee chooses the awardee based on what is determined to be the year’s most influential peer-reviewed article by a stem cell researcher based in Canada. The Till &amp; McCulloch Meetings are hosted by CCRM, the Stem Cell Network and the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine.&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 06 Oct 2016 15:54:36 +0000 ullahnor 101360 at Bronze medal finish for U of T’s Blue Sky Solar Racing team at the American Solar Challenge 2016 /news/bronze-medal-finish-u-t-s-blue-sky-solar-racing-team-american-solar-challenge-2016 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Bronze medal finish for U of T’s Blue Sky Solar Racing team at the American Solar Challenge 2016</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/206-08-08-solar-car.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=j8yjpxa5 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/206-08-08-solar-car.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jUNeg2cl 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/206-08-08-solar-car.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=u9vAm4ga 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/206-08-08-solar-car.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=j8yjpxa5" alt="photo of solar car on highway"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lanthierj</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-08-08T16:18:55-04:00" title="Monday, August 8, 2016 - 16:18" class="datetime">Mon, 08/08/2016 - 16:18</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Horizon, the solar car designed, built and raced by the Ƶ’s Blue Sky Solar Racing team races across Missouri on August 3 during Day 4 of the American Solar Challenge 2016 (photos courtesy: Blue Sky Solar Racing)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/engineering-strategic-communications" hreflang="en">Engineering Strategic Communications</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Engineering Strategic Communications</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/solar-racing" hreflang="en">Solar Racing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/blue-sky-solar-racing" hreflang="en">Blue Sky Solar Racing</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Ƶ's Blue Sky Solar Racing team has finished third in the <a href="http://americansolarchallenge.org/the-competition/ascfsgp-2016/">American Solar Challenge</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">an eight-day, rally-style solar car race.</span></p> <p>Horizon, the solar car designed, built and raced by the U of T&nbsp;team, zipped across the finish line Saturday to cheers and shouts from its&nbsp;18-member race crew.</p> <p>The event. which is divided into four stages, covers&nbsp;1,975 miles (3,178 kilometres) through the American Midwest states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska, finishing at Wind Cave National Park near Hot Springs, South Dakota.</p> <p>Horizon, <a href="http://news.engineering.utoronto.ca/blue-sky-solar-racing-team-reveals-new-solar-powered-vehicle-horizon/">an eighth-generation vehicle</a>, made the trip with an official time of 62 hours, 11 minutes and three seconds, powered only by electricity generated from sunlight.</p> <p>Of the 16 solar car teams from colleges and universities across Canada, the United States and Switzerland that qualified to race, only 11 completed the challenging course.</p> <p>“We always knew this would be an incredible experience, but to place third is really special,” said Engineering student&nbsp;<strong>Frank Gu</strong>, managing director of the Blue Sky Solar Racing team. “It’s a tribute to the hard work of all the team members who have spent countless hours designing, building and testing this vehicle over the last two years.”</p> <h2><a href="/news/blue-sky-solar-racing-university-toronto">Read more about the Blue Sky Solar Racing team</a></h2> <p>Horizon was <a href="http://news.engineering.utoronto.ca/blue-sky-solar-racing-team-reveals-new-solar-powered-vehicle-horizon/">officially unveiled last summer</a>, and in October competed in the biennial World Solar Challenge in Australia, where it placed 12th in a field of 27 vehicles. Since racing in Australia, the team has made some modifications to meet the safety regulations of the American Solar Challenge.</p> <p>The vehicle’s body is designed for aerodynamic efficiency and in June, the team took it to Ottawa for <a href="http://www.blueskysolar.utoronto.ca/?p=2283">testing at the National Research Council’s wind tunnel</a>. Horizon’s upgraded solar array and new batteries offer improved performance and reduced weight compared to previous-generation vehicles.&nbsp;</p> <p>Blue Sky Solar Racing is composed of students from across all engineering disciplines. Specialist groups, under the guidance of a ‘team lead,’ focus on particular tasks, such as maximizing the power from the photovoltaic array or optimizing the airflow around the body’s surface. The students are also responsible for logistics, sponsorship and outreach, and have showcased Horizon at a wide range of events, including <a href="http://www.blueskysolar.utoronto.ca/?p=2271">exotic car shows</a> and <a href="http://www.blueskysolar.utoronto.ca/?p=2335">maker festivals</a>.</p> <p>“On behalf of the Faculty, my warmest congratulations to the entire team,” said <strong>Cristina Amon</strong>, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering. “We are tremendously proud and inspired to see our students shine on the world stage. The competencies our students have developed through this multidisciplinary project will serve them well as they take their place among the next generation of global engineering leaders.”&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="photo of solar team" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__1654 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/2016-08-08-Race-team-%281%29.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px; margin: 10px 40px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 08 Aug 2016 20:18:55 +0000 lanthierj 99929 at Alumnus leaves landmark $20-million bequest to U of T Engineering /news/alumnus-leaves-landmark-20-million-bequest-u-t-engineering <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Alumnus leaves landmark $20-million bequest to U of T Engineering</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lavende4</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-05-31T10:26:56-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 10:26" class="datetime">Tue, 05/31/2016 - 10:26</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Erwin Edward Hart (inset) and the Little Red Skulehouse, U of T Engineering’s first building (sketch by artist Andrea M. Listro /photo illustration by Geoff Agnew) </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/engineering-strategic-communications" hreflang="en">Engineering Strategic Communications</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Engineering Strategic Communications</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Percy Edward Hart and Erwin Edward Hart Professorships to bolster early-career research and graduate student mentorship</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A $20-million bequest from the estate of alumnus <strong>Erwin Edward Hart</strong> (CivE 4T0) will drive engineering forward by supporting emerging research and education at the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering and providing enhanced opportunities for graduate students.</p> <p>The income from the Hart Trust will fund the Percy Edward Hart and Erwin Edward Hart Professorships. Seven faculty members, each within the first 10 years of their academic career, will receive $75,000 per year for three years for research and graduate student support. The recipients will be nominated by their department or institute and will have demonstrated a high level of research excellence and exemplary graduate mentorship.</p> <p>Erwin Edward Hart&nbsp;was a long-time employee of Massey-Ferguson Ltd. and served as the company’s chief welding engineer. The professorships are named in honour of Hart and his late father, Percy Edward Hart.</p> <p>“The Hart Professorships are an outstanding example of the impact that can be made when visionary generosity meets visionary leadership,” said U of T President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong>. “Mr. Hart’s legacy gift will bolster the work of promising researchers at a crucial stage in their careers.”</p> <p>The professorships will foster the next generation of engineering research leaders and educators, and strengthen the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering’s position as one of the world’s great engineering schools, said dean <strong>Cristina Amon</strong>.</p> <p>“Investments in early-career faculty will accelerate research and innovation,” Amon said. “This gift will support generations of professors and deepen our Faculty’s culture of research and teaching excellence. It will also strengthen the Faculty’s ability to recruit top early-career educators and researchers from around the world. Our students will benefit by working with faculty members who are committed to mentoring the next generation of innovators.”</p> <p>The&nbsp;bequest contributes to U of T Engineering’s $200-million fundraising goal as part of <a href="http://boundless.utoronto.ca/divisions/faculty-of-applied-science-engineering/">Boundless: The Campaign for the Ƶ</a>. To date, the Faculty has raised more than $180 million.</p> <p>The first cohort of Hart Professors will begin in September 2016, and will represent the following departments and institutes:</p> <ul> <li>Department of Chemical Engineering &amp; Applied Chemistry</li> <li>Department of Civil Engineering</li> <li>The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical &amp; Computer Engineering</li> <li>Department of Materials Science &amp; Engineering</li> <li>Department of Mechanical &amp; Industrial Engineering</li> <li>Ƶ Institute for Aerospace Studies</li> <li>Institute for Biomaterials &amp; Biomedical Engineering</li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 31 May 2016 14:26:56 +0000 lavende4 14187 at