Nick Iwanyshyn

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.”

The year in pictures: U of T News looks back at 2020

davidlee — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 21:57:15 +0000

The year in pictures: U of T News looks back at 2020

davidlee Tue, 12/22/2020 - 16:57

Cutline

The fully accessible Valley Land Trail at U of T Scarborough provided the local community with a chance to walk, run or roll into the Highland Creek Valley (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

U of T News photographers had a front-row seat to history this year as they captured pictures of ��Ƶ students, faculty and staff responding to one of the gravest crises in recent memory.

Despite the grim headlines, there was also plenty of hope, kindness and inspiration – the pictures below highlight the resilience of the university community and its willingness to help others.

You'll see university staff stack boxes of personal protective equipment for donations to a local hospital network; students stretch their legs in a physically distanced yoga session in the University College quad during orientation and U of T researcher and ER doctor Sameer Masood – who developed a virtual care system and oxygen masks that filter out coronavirus particles – pose stoically for a portrait in the back of an ambulance.

These are U of T's pictures of the year.

A drone's view of a crane carefully installing a new oculus on Convocation Hall. The new glass skylight was put in place after two years of preparations involving construction specialists, designers, heritage consultants and university operations staff. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

With news of a shortage of medical supplies in the spring, U of T collected more than 250,000 pairs of gloves, 12,000 masks and respirators to donate to local hospitals. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

A thank-you banner outside Michael Garron Hospital, part of U of T's network of community-affiliated hospitals. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

For the first time in its history, U of T held convocation virtually, in keeping with public health guidelines around physical distancing. Chancellor Rose Patten, centre, was part of a platform party including, from left to right, Lieutenant Governor in Council Claire Kennedy, convocation speaker and University Professor John Polanyi and President Meric Gertler. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

The university community came together to mourn the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, which crashed in January near Tehran killing all aboard, including eight members of the U of T community. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Sameer Masood, an ER doctor at University Health Network and assistant professor in the department of medicine in the ��Ƶ’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, played a key role in developing a virtual care system for the ER and a novel oxygen mask that filters out exhaled coronavirus particles. (Photo by Johnny Guatto)

A small but dedicated staff of volunteers was responsible for safely packaging 15,000 degrees and diplomas for shipment to new graduates in Canada and 99 other countries. (Photo by Johnny Guatto)

Genene Assefa, a building operations team member, checks on generator room equipment in the Central Utilities Plant at U of T Mississauga. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

In the University College quad in September, students practised a physically distanced form of yoga during orientation. (Photo by Johnny Guatto)

Stepping into nature was one of the safest ways to get out of the house this year. The fully accessible Valley Land Trail at U of T Scarborough provided the local community with a chance to walk, run or roll into the Highland Creek Valley. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T medical students Daniel Lee, Orly Bogler (appearing via video conference), Jordynn Klein and Tingting Yan recruited volunteers from their class and other programs to help front-line health-care workers with everyday chores, such as groceries, during the COVID-19 crisis. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Members of the U of T Scarborough leadership team celebrated the official groundbreaking for a new, 750-bed residence building that will double the current residence capacity on campus. It will be one of North America's largest Passive House projects, a low-energy design concept. Pictured from left: Wisdom Tettey, William Gough, Desmond Pouyat and Andrew Arifuzzaman.(Photo by Dylan Toombs)

Faced with deciding whether to cancel in-person mandatory labs and send students home for the year or find a safe way to open, Leigh Revers, director of U of T Mississauga’s master of biotechnology program, found a creative and safe solution. He implemented strict safety protocols and reduced the number of students in the lab by splitting the work between team members who connected with their teammate in the lab via video conferencing – a novel approach that allowed students to continue their studies safely. (Photo by Diego Garcia)

U of T in focus: Our favourite photos of 2019

davidlee1 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 19:34:08 +0000

U of T in focus: Our favourite photos of 2019

davidlee1 Wed, 12/18/2019 - 14:34

Cutline

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Geoffrey Vendeville

Nick Iwanyshyn

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Hart House

Honorary Degree

Indigenous

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

Varsity Blues

This year has gone by in a flash, but luckily U of T News photographers have been present to capture life on campus – from the orientation week crowds to convocation smiles, and many other moments in between.

Here are 20 of our favourites:

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

In a colourful start to the school year, students do the wave during orientation festivities.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Loki, the golden retriever, poses below his chalkboard portrait in U of T's canine cognition lab, where researchers study how dogs think.

(photo by Johnny by Guatto)

Speaking to U of T News, food blogger and influencer Joanna Luo, an alumna of U of T Mississauga, dished out advice about where to eat around campus.

(photo by Alexa Battler)

Wisdom Tettey, the vice-president and principal of ��Ƶ Scarborough, shares a laugh with U of T Chancellor Rose Patten.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

A woman stops to take a snowy selfie in February on the St. George campus.

(photo by Don Campbell)

U of T Scarborough's Valley Land Trail is aglow as the sun sets in October.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signs a guest book while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U of T President Meric Gertler look on during the Ukraine Reform Conference, which was hosted by U of T in July.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Twin sisters Mikhaela and Nakeisha Ekwandja show their game faces before the start of their first season with the Varsity Blues basketball team.

(photo by Yasmin Al-Samarrai)

A young visitor interacts with a temporary art installation at Toronto's Woodbine Beach by U of T Assistant Professor Victor Perez-Amado and master of architecture students.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

When the hard work is over, it's time for celebratory snaps at convocation.

(photo by Joseph Burrell)

Dancers from the Scarborough-based studio Niro Dance Creations kicked off the Tamil Heritage Month celebration at U of T Scarborough.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T joined 13 other engineering schools across Canada to mark the 30th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre by shining a spotlight into the night sky on Dec. 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

(photo by Drew Lesiuczok)

Madeleine Mant doesn't dress to impress. She dresses to educate. The U of T Mississauga anthropologist teaches her students about disease by donning period garb like the 17th-century plague mask above.

(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

“Hurricane” Hazel McCallion, the 98-year-old former mayor of Mississauga, laughs with the platform party at Carlo Fidani's honorary degree ceremony in June.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Students at U of T's Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education spent five days learning about Indigenous health in one of Canada’s first land-based learning courses.

(photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Jodie Glean became the director of U of T's Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office this year. “Compassion allows me to work,” she says. “It’s important to be able to hear everyone in their truths and my role is to be the bridge if there are opposing views.”

(photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Sarah Edo poses for the cameras during Black Grad, an annual student-run event hosted this year at U of T Mississauga.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

An early sprinkling of snow blanketed the annual Remembrance Day ceremony outside Hart House on the St. George campus this year.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Miyopin Cheechoo, then a first-year student, was the head dancer at U of T's powwow.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

In school and after graduation, friends will always be there to support you.

Introducing Viridian: U of T's Blue Sky Solar Racing unveils its latest solar car

Romi Levine — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 15:27:57 +0000

Introducing Viridian: U of T's Blue Sky Solar Racing unveils its latest solar car Romi Levine Wed, 07/03/2019 - 11:27

Nick Iwanyshyn

Romi Levine

Topic

Our Community

Blue Sky Solar Racing

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Research & Innovation

Sustainability

Undergraduate Students

A sleek, bullet-shaped vehicle will be zooming across the Australian Outback this fall, harnessing the power of the sun to make it through the toasty terrain.

The solar car is the latest model created by ��Ƶ’s Blue Sky Solar Racing, a team of undergraduate students from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering who build and race solar-powered vehicles.

Viridian, the 10^th car built by the team in 23 years, will be put to the test during the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, a 3,000-kilometre race from Darwin to Adelaide that takes place Oct. 13-20.

The car has four square metres of silicon solar cells, a new electrical system and a design the team hopes will prove to be its most aerodynamic model yet.

“The team’s objective is to promote and provide students with an opportunity to grow and develop themselves outside of the classroom as well as to promote sustainable technology through the building and designing and racing of solar-powered race cars,” says Hubaab K. Hussain, managing director of Blue Sky Solar Racing and a mechanical engineering student.

U of T's Blue Sky Solar Racing team unveils Viridian at the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

In photos: U of T shows its colours for Pride Month

geoff.vendeville — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 16:01:56 +0000

In photos: U of T shows its colours for Pride Month

geoff.vendeville Fri, 06/21/2019 - 12:01

Cutline

The rainbow flag, Maple Leaf and Trans Pride flag fly at Varsity Stadium (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Sexual & Gender Diversity Office

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

The ��Ƶ came together to show its support for the LGBTQ+ community at multiple events across the three campuses this month. Here is a selection of images that detail the colourful displays:

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

The festivities kicked off with the traditional flag-raising ceremony at Varsity Stadium on June 6. “The raising of the Pride and trans flags, along with other campus events, promotes necessary LGBTQ+ visibility, celebrates our differences and emphasizes our support and allyship with our queer and trans communities,” said Kelly Hannah-Moffat (fourth from left), U of T’s vice-president of human resources and equity.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

It's the second year that U of T has flown the blue, pink and white Trans Pride flag. Monica Helms, a U.S. Navy veteran and trans activist, designed the flag in 1999 using the traditional colours for boys and girls, with a white band separating the two to represent intersex, gender non-conforming or transitioning people.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

People in the audience snap pictures during the flag-raising ceremony at Varsity Stadium.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

One of the signature events on the Pride at U of T calendar, Pride Pub brings the community together for barbecue, dancing and a communtiy fair with local LGBTQ+ organizations. This year's edition featured Samba Elegua, a percussion ensemble inspired by Brazilian music.

(photo by Tina Adamopoulos)

The U of T Scarborough community came out in large numbers for a flag celebration.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

The Instagram-friendly rainbow frame at Hart House was a popular spot for pictures. Pride Pub is organized by U of T's Sexual & Gender Diversity Office and Hart House.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Partygoers could also record their memories of Pride Pub at a photo booth installed for the occasion.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Cuter than the real Elmo? A family poses for a portrait at the photo booth.

(photo by Drew Lesiuczok)

The festivities took place on each of U of T's campuses. U of T Mississauga held its flag-unfurling ceremony on June 6 at the UTM Student Centre with representatives from the Equity & Diversity Office, UTM students’ union, OUT @ UTM, human resources, dean of student affairs and the Indigenous Centre.

(photo by Blake Eligh)

Angela Lange, U of T Mississauga's acting vice-principal, academic and dean, and Amrita Daniere, acting principal, pose with Pride-themed cupcakes.

(photo by Leslie Seto)

U of T Mississauga's mascot, Eddy the Eagle, sporting colourful plumage in honour of Pride month.

U of T in focus: The year in pictures

geoff.vendeville — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 05:00:00 +0000

U of T in focus: The year in pictures

geoff.vendeville Wed, 12/19/2018 - 00:00

Cutline

Mason Godkewitsch, 8, makes shadow puppets on the walls of the “cell cave” in the student lounge in the McLennan building on the downtown Toronto campus (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Topic

Canada Research Chairs

Faculty & Staff

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Research & Innovation

STEM

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

University College

In the lab, classrooms and at a variety of events on the three ��Ƶ campuses, U of T News photographers captured moments that made this year special.

Staff photographer Nick Iwanyshyn selected some of the highlights of 2018.

Axel Guenther, scientific director of the Centre for Microfluidic Systems, inspects microfluidic devices in a cleanroom. This fall, U of T partnered with Canada’s National Research Council to create a national innovation hub focused on microfluidics (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Students line up before making a grand entrance at the second student-led Black graduation ceremony in June at Hart House. In 2017, U of T became the first Canadian university to host a Black graduation (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland looks on during a service of remembrance at the ��Ƶ's downtown campus (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Alán Aspuru-Guzik, who came to U of T from Harvard University to become a Canada 150 Research Chair, delivered the keynote address at the ��Ƶ-Tsinghua University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Forum in May (photo by Chris Sorensen)

Elspeth Arbow, an undergraduate student with cystic fibrosis recovering from her second double-lung transplant, gets ready for physiotherapy at Toronto General Hospital on May 4 (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Wearing matching maple leaf socks, former U.S. vice-president Al Gore and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt chat on the main stage at the Elevate technology conference in Toronto, on Sept. 26 (photo by Chris Sorensen)

Your mind isn't playing tricks on you. Students go up the stairs at U of T Scarborough (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Kirsty Duncan, minister of science and sport, watches a demonstration during a Nov. 13 announcement about new and renewed chairs in the Canada Research Chairs program, including 21 at U of T (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Cranes in the colours of the rainbow hang from a window at Hart House's reading room in June to mark Pride (photo by Romi Levine)

Students gather to study and chat at U of T Mississauga (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Enakshi Shah, who earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at U of T, found there were lots of opportunities after graduating (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

A girl adds to a poster about what it means to be a woman in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at Science Rendezvous on May 12 (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville).

Hundreds of people in a rainbow of colours filled the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport at the ��Ƶ for the Indigenous Studies Students' Union's powwow on March 11 (photo by Laura Pedersen)

For Remembrance Day and the 100^th anniversary of the armistice ending the First World War, U of T News staff photographer Nick Iwanyshyn juxtaposed archival campus photos with present-day pictures at the same location. Above, a Sopwith Camel plane appears in front of University College in 1918 (photo illustration includes a U of T Archives photograph)

Members of the U of T community gather outside of University College on Oct. 30 for a vigil for victims of the attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh (photo by Romi Levine)

Astrophysicist Matt Russo makes music using the movements of objects in space. The music was featured in Our Musical Universe, an audio-focused planetarium show that debuted at U of T in January (photo by Romi Levine)

Drummers welcome delegates during a Spiritual Opening Ceremony for the Parliament of the World’s Religions around the Sacred Fire in Olympic Park, on Nov. 2 (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Rose Patten, centre, U of T's 34th chancellor, was installed in a ceremony in November (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

At the 25th annual Bring Our Children to Work Day on April 26, kids got to see a soda geyser made of Mentos and cola spraying 12 feet above the courtyard near Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)