Sarah MacFarlane

With her debut novel a bestseller, U of T alumna Amita Parikh aims to help underrepresented writers

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 13:15:48 +0000

With her debut novel a bestseller, U of T alumna Amita Parikh aims to help underrepresented writers

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 08/24/2022 - 09:15

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Amita Parikh began writing what she hoped would someday become a book in 2014, publishing her debut novel, The Circus Train, earlier this year (photo by Helen Tansey)

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

City & Culture

Alumni

Books

Faculty of Arts & Science

Amita Parikh was a member of Victoria College when she was a student at the ��Ƶ – just like acclaimed author Margaret Atwood.

Now, Parikh has something else in common with Atwood: a novel on the Toronto Star bestselling books in Canada list.

“I'm certainly not putting myself in the same company, but it makes me laugh looking back on it. I couldn't have predicted I would write a book, let alone a bestselling book,” says Parikh, who earned her honours bachelor of science from U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science in 2006 with a major in human biology and minors in Spanish and zoology.

The Circus Train tells the story of Lena Papadopoulos, the daughter of an illusionist at the World of Wonders, a travelling circus that tours around Europe during the Second World War. Fascinated by science, Lena feels out of place at the circus – until her life is turned upside down when she rescues a mysterious stowaway.

The Circus Train was published by HarperCollins Canada in March 2022 and became an instant national bestseller.

“Lena’s love of science and medicine was largely a result of me studying at U of T,” Parikh says. “I learned and was exposed to so much. I remember in one of my bio labs, we isolated DNA in its purest form, and I thought that was so cool.”

There are several links to U of T throughout the novel. For example, Lena’s visits to anatomy museums were inspired by Parikh’s time in Grant’s Museum in the basement of U of T’s Medical Sciences building. Lena has polio and uses a wheelchair, an aspect of the text informed by Parikh’s studies of how the polio vaccine was developed and how the virus affected children.

Lena’s feelings of isolation were also inspired by the author’s experiences. As a life sciences student, many of Parikh’s classmates were studying to become doctors or pursue academia, but neither of those career paths felt like the right fit.

“I felt so out of place and alone, like I’d failed somehow,” she says. “But looking back, I am really proud that I stuck it out and finished, and I'm very proud to say I'm a U of T graduate.”

Parikh resolved to figure out what she really wanted to do and follow her passion. As a student, she loved writing for The Varsity, so she pursued journalism after convocation. After a couple of years, she switched to the tech industry and moved to Europe to build a career as a marketer and web developer. In 2014, she picked up writing again – this time creative writing instead of journalism. She began writing what she hoped would someday become a book and enrolled in a writing course at night. Her debut novel was the result.

“People say, ‘That’s so strange. You studied science and you work in tech, but you write creatively,’” she says. “I actually think they’re so similar. To come up with solutions to the biggest problems we have, you have to be really creative. You have to be creative at coding in tech. In science, how do you come up with a vaccine? You have to think on a different level.”

The Circus Train will be published in the U.S. in December 2022 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons and in the U.K. in January 2023 by Little, Brown Book Group.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” Parikh says, referring to the novel’s success. “It wasn't something I expected. I just wanted to write a book and stay true to myself and create a world people enjoy. Everything else has just been icing on the cake. I'm thrilled that it's touched so many people.”

Between working in tech and writing her second novel, spare time is a rare commodity for Parikh. Yet, when she can, she likes to give back by mentoring aspiring writers. She’s also developing a scholarship for underrepresented writers.

“I often get asked, usually by other people of colour, ‘What was your experience like as a writer of colour?’ These conversations have come to the forefront, as they should,” she says. “Publishing is a very white industry. I do think it’s changing. But I can only speak from my own personal experience. I didn't have any pushback. I have not had anyone say, ‘What are you doing here? You’re not the right colour.’ But I’m aware that it happens.”

Her experience in publishing has been encouraging, she adds, recalling a conversation with her agent in which Parikh suggested using a pseudonym.

“I had been conditioned for so long to see books written by Indian authors only being about the immigrant experience or an Indian-inspired rom-com. I'm generalizing, but, by and large, that's what I was reading. And while I love reading those types of stories, I can’t write them. My agent said, ‘Things are changing, and you should be so proud of what you've done. You shouldn't feel like you failed your community because you chose not to write about your own cultural background. You're a fiction author. You can write what you want.’”

Parikh’s scholarship will aim to help mitigate the high cost of writing courses and increase access to these educational opportunities for underrepresented writers.

“Even though I didn’t experience pushback from publishers, I am aware it happens. I’ve been lucky and simply wanted to pay it forward a little bit. I just think we're better when there's more diversity all around.”

Is it cake, or a sneaker? U of T grad and expert baker fools judges on Netflix baking show

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 15:12:04 +0000

Is it cake, or a sneaker? U of T grad and expert baker fools judges on Netflix baking show

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 04/20/2022 - 11:12

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April Julian, a U of T graduate and cake designer, competed on the Netflix baking show, Is It Cake?, where contestants fool judges with hyperrealistic cakes (photo courtesy of Netflix)

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

Our Community

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

Innis College

In the summer of 2020, two unrelated questions were on many people's minds: How long will the COVID-19 pandemic last, and is everything made of cake?

On social media, videos of bakers transforming desserts into red Crocs, rolls of toilet paper or potted plants went viral, prompting delight and disbelief in equal measure.

April Julian, a graduate of the ��Ƶ's Faculty of Arts & Science and long-time cake designer, was no stranger to making hyper-realistic cakes, having made some to look like Air Jordan sneakers and potted orchids.

Julian got a chance to show off her unconventional skills as the only Canadian contestant on Netflix's new hit baking show, Is It Cake?, which premiered this spring. She competed alongside other masterful bakers to create cakes so realistic that they fooled celebrity judges into believing they were something else – a vintage sewing machine, for example.

“I was blown away,” she says, recalling the unexpected invitation she received from Netflix’s casting agency last summer. “I didn’t believe it initially.”

Before she knew it, she was flying to Los Angeles to film the series. Her competition was intimidating – some contestants had been on baking shows before, others had established bakeries – but Julian’s nerves quickly faded.

“This is the most fun thing that has ever happened to me,” she says. “It was just laughing for weeks on end. Of course, it was also hard work. We were baking pretty much nonstop for eight or nine hours straight. The challenges were really difficult, but it was so worth it.”

In addition to making custom cakes and teaching cake decorating classes, she works full time as the director of education at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA).

“I’m teaching learners of all ages about their fundamental rights and freedoms in Canada and to respect human rights and civil liberties,” she says.

As an undergraduate student and member of Innis College, she studied economics and employment relations, areas she “felt could be transferable to a lot of different career paths.

“With labour relations courses, you look at legal issues related to labour and union disputes, so I had a bit of practice thinking about the law, employment rights and rights in general,” she says.

She also has fond memories of U of T due to the friendships she made while in university.

“I made my absolute best friends for life in that program,” she says. “I met them in my first economics course, and we've been friends ever since. I'm grateful for my time there.”

Julian says her roles as cake decorator and director of education are “very separate worlds,” but she approaches them with the same mentality.

“No matter what I'm working on, I'm always putting my absolute best out there, and I got noticed for that effort and skill. At the CCLA, I'm now the director of the education program, but I started off as an intern. With the cakes, I was just doing it on the side, and now I'm on Netflix.”

While Julian has always enjoyed baking, her interest in cake decorating began in 2007 when the celebrity Israeli-American pastry chef, Ron Ben-Israel, appeared on The Martha Stewart Show.

“He was making a sugar orchid for one of his very elaborate wedding cakes,” Julian recalls. “I felt like I could do that, so I boldly wrote to him and said, ‘I want to learn what you do’ – and he was nice enough to write me back.”

Ben-Israel offered tips on where to take lessons, and Julian started practising. A request for an Air Jordan high-top sneaker cake was her first foray into the world of hyper-realistic cakes.

“My husband happens to be a sneakerhead, and I wanted really badly to impress myself but also him by making it as realistic as possible,” she says. “I dove into the challenge – made the shoelaces textured, shined up the patent leather on the shoe – and I got a great reaction from it. I was hooked from that point on. I'm observant and good at replicating details, so it’s a good match in terms of my natural skill set.”

Julian doesn’t know where her cake-decorating journey will lead next, but after her Netflix debut, she’s open to any possibility.

“It [being on Is it Cake?] forced me to do something different that I'd never done before,” she says. “It’s a risk that paid off huge for me, so it's taught me that maybe I need to take put myself out there a bit more and open myself up to other opportunities that normally I would shy away from.”

She says current U of T students might benefit from stepping out of their comfort zones, too.

“Don't close yourself off to just being a practical person. Follow the career path you think is going to lead to the success you desire, however you define that success, but allow yourself to make time for all the things you care about and are interested in, and then see where that takes you.”

U of T researchers investigate the hidden history of 'Black androids'

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 16:03:37 +0000

U of T researchers investigate the hidden history of 'Black androids'

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 01/04/2022 - 11:03

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Clockwise from top left: Edward Jones-Imhotep, Sarai Rudder, Emily Grenon and Alexandar Offord are exploring the histories of racialized mechanical humans created between the mid-18th and late 20th centuries.

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

Our Community

The Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology

Faculty of Arts & Science

History

Humanities

It began as a series of isolated references – the term would appear in a historical article here, a book there. Edward Jones-Imhotep soon began noticing references to “Black androids” everywhere.

They were historically called “automata," automatic machines that, in this case, replicated the actions of human beings.

One example is an 1868 patented design of a mechanical person – a racist depiction of a Black man – wearing a top hat, smoking a pipe and pulling a cart.

“These were references to real physical objects – not science fiction but actual machines that had been built in the form of Black humans,” says Jones-Imhotep, associate professor and director of the Institute for the History & Philosophy of Science & Technology at the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“The androids were part of the racist ideologies of their time. They portrayed Black people in pastoral, leisurely and non-technological roles. But it didn't seem that anybody had looked into what role they might have played in creating racial mythologies – particularly one of the most prominent and harmful mythologies: the idea that technology is opposed to Blackness.”

To help him explore this history, Jones-Imhotep turned to the Jackman Scholars-in-Residence program, a four-week research fellowship for upper-year undergrads in the humanities. In 2017, a year after its launch, the program received 1,000 applications for 50 openings, highlighting the need for additional research opportunities – a call answered by a $1-million gift from Bader Philanthropies, Inc. in 2018.

Jones-Imhotep assembled a team of eight research assistants to undertake the Black Androids project. Their initial goal was to identify and document racialized automata created between the mid-18th and late 20th centuries.

In the first two weeks alone, they discovered more than 100 androids. There are now around 150 androids in the team’s database, which they plan to continue building and refining.

“The most surprising part has been the sheer number of discoveries we have made. It is almost as though we have uncovered a hidden universe that exposes the deep racial roots of societies worldwide,” says Sarai Rudder, a research assistant and third-year undergraduate at Trinity College who is majoring in peace, conflict and justice, with minors in sociology and critical studies in equity and solidarity.

As their research evolved, the team realized that the androids were part of another hidden history.

“We discovered that, if we looked at the machinery beneath the androids’ surface, the same technologies that physically drove their racist depictions were, in other contexts, part of the rich technological experiences of Black peoples at the time – that’s what we want to explore,” Jones-Imhotep explains.

Their current investigation, which forms the basis of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant proposal, focuses on New York City between 1830 and 1930 and has two main goals.

“The idea is to first create a digital historical map of the androids’ movements, their histories and the interconnections they have with the social and technological development of New York City over the course of that century,” says Jones-Imhotep. “We then use the androids’ technology as a portal to try to understand the lived technological experiences of Black New Yorkers, and how those experiences shatter the racist depictions of the androids themselves.”

New York is the focus of the project because many of the androids were manufactured and displayed there during this period. But the city’s significance runs deeper.

“There is a kind of cultural spectacle in New York during the late 19th century that surrounds the androids, linking them to the racist vaudeville and minstrel theatre happening at the time,” Jones-Imhotep says. “The androids play a very important part in the construction of race within New York City.”

The team’s interest in New York also stems from a gap in existing scholarship about its history. Researchers have studied the technological development of the city, on one hand, and the history of Black people in New York, “but nobody has written about these two threads as if they’re part of the same history,” he says.

Working together to explore this largely unresearched area has been a meaningful part of the experience for the team.

“The collaborative, creative nature of the work makes every new discovery resonant with possibilities. It’s like discovering a parallel dimension,” says Alexander Offord, a research assistant who earned his honours bachelor of arts in the history and philosophy of science earlier this year as a member of Woodsworth College. “I remain constantly enthralled by how wonderful and strange our discoveries are – from criminal geniuses and haunted dolls to secret societies and underground resistances.”

“Professor Jones-Imhotep encouraged us to follow whatever paths our research took us on. Each of us has added pieces to the whole that we never could have anticipated,” says Emily Grenon, a research assistant and fourth-year undergraduate studying history and material culture as a member of Victoria College. “It’s been a wonderful experience to be part of a project that covers something totally new, and to work with such brilliant people while doing it.”

The team plans to publish their findings widely, including in scholarly articles, conference papers, a book and even a graphic novel to share their research with a broader audience.

“The point of the graphic novel is to highlight this hidden history of Black technological life,” says Jones-Imhotep. “The consequences of this are really important because the myth that sees technology as opposed to Blackness is partly created in the moment we’re investigating. It’s one of the most pernicious, damaging myths we have — and it persists to this day.

“It denies educational opportunities for Black peoples. It justifies exclusion. It supports technologies that target and surveil African-descended peoples. That’s what makes this investigation so critical and urgent. We are working to rewrite the histories of Blackness and technology. By changing those histories, we hope to change the future.”

Adds Rudder: “When we think of technology, it is often names like Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Steve Jobs that come to mind. It almost feels as though Black people and other people of colour are missing from historical narratives surrounding technological advancement.”

Jones-Imhotep says the Black Androids project highlights the histories of underrepresented groups and supports the research of Black scholars at U of T.

“The Black Research Network that was recently launched here at the ��Ƶ aims to support and nurture a network of Black researchers and the amazing research they're doing,” he says. “That's crucial given the historical experiences and lack of support Black scholars have had at universities worldwide.

“One of the things this project hopes to demonstrate is the remarkable research that’s possible with focused resources and with the right support.”

Samantha Martin-Bird began writing as a pandemic pastime – and won an award

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 15:01:42 +0000

Samantha Martin-Bird began writing as a pandemic pastime – and won an award

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 09/28/2021 - 11:01

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Samantha Martin-Bird, a U of T alumna who is a member of Peguis First Nation, recently won the 2021 Indigenous Voices Award for unpublished poetry in English (photo by Sarah McPherson)

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

Our Community

Indigenous Studies

Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

Humanities

Indigenous

Poetry

St. Michael's College

��Ƶ alumna Samantha Martin-Bird began writing during the pandemic – and it wasn’t long before her work was noticed.

She recently won the 2021 Indigenous Voices Award for unpublished poetry in English for “the indian (adultery) act & other poems.”

But Martin-Bird’s poetry wasn’t destined to remain unpublished for long. ROOM, Canada’s oldest feminist literary journal, recently featured “the indian (adultery) act” in its Indigenous Brilliance issue, lauding the poem for its use of “humour and a calm severity to expose the racist policies enacted by the Indian Act.”

A member of Peguis First Nation, Martin-Bird grew up in Kitchener-Waterloo and Upstate New York before moving to Toronto to attend U of T. She majored in Indigenous studies and diaspora and transnational studies, earning her honours bachelor of arts in 2014 as a member of St. Michael’s College. She then completed a bachelor of education program focused on Indigenous pedagogy at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina.

In 2019, Martin-Bird joined the Thunder Bay Public Library to help lead its decolonization initiative and, last year, she began her current role as program partner at the Mastercard Foundation, where she works on the Canada Programs team with a focus on Indigenous youth education and employment.

How important was winning the Indigenous Voices Award to your work?

I was very surprised to win the award because I only started writing in the past year as a pandemic hobby. The recognition from this award has led to a few unexpected opportunities to share my work with others at poetry events, and so I’m thankful for that.

What inspired you to write “the indian (adultery) act & other poems”?

The poems are about men, the land and the languages – specifically Cree and Anishinaabemowin. I started with the poem, “the indian (adultery) act.” I drew inspiration from a conversation I had with a nêhiyaw man, who shared with me that he wished he had married a Cree girl. The irony of this confession was that he had – his wife was Cree, and, more importantly, she was a 6(1) Status Indian. However, she didn’t grow up in her community, or even in Canada. She was raised in Europe. As such, her demeanour, sense of humour and cultural identity were not Cree.

As someone who has often contemplated the extent to which status should influence who I start a family with, I was struck by the way in which finding a 6(1) partner can still end in immense marital discord and loneliness. I started the poem with the line, “i shoulda married a cree girl,” and built the poem out from there. In a way, this poem is about the way the Indian Act continues to wreak havoc on Indian relationships.

What drew you to U of T for your undergrad, and how was your experience?

I chose the ��Ƶ for its program in Indigenous studies. Although I didn’t know it existed until my second year, I also thoroughly enjoyed the diaspora and transnational studies program.

My experience as a U of T student was transformative. Before moving to Toronto, I was living in a small semi-rural town in Upstate New York. I spent much of my first year quite culture-shocked, but I am so thankful for the time I spent at U of T. I enjoyed my programs, especially the Anishinaabemowin courses I took.

I lived on campus for my entire degree, so I was also able to participate in many campus experiences, such as dorm life and student clubs, where I formed a lot of lifelong friendships.

Can you tell us about your work in developing and leading initiatives that focus on Indigenous engagement and education?

During my time working as the Indigenous relationships supervisor at the Thunder Bay Public Library, I was able to work in a variety of ways to continue the decolonization work of the library. I focused on trying to create spaces that were welcoming and safe for Anishinaabeg. I organized events that featured Indigenous speakers, authors, poets and writers. I started an Indigenous book club exclusively for Indigenous library users. I also helped deliver a program with Sheridan College that led to the co-creation of Indigenous furniture for the library.

For the past year, I have been working at the Mastercard Foundation on the EleV program. This work is focused on addressing inequities in employment and education so that Indigenous young people can realize their visions of Mino-Bimaadiziwin, the good life. Our work prioritizes systems change by partnering with post-secondary institutions and Indigenous-led organizations. Across the country, young people are the drivers of change in their communities; my role at the foundation is to ensure Indigenous young people are included in the ongoing design and delivery of our partnerships.

How did your degree in Indigenous studies and diaspora and transnational studies help prepare you?

My experience in Indigenous studies in university was one of the first times I had the opportunity to learn about Indigenous history, including the history of residential schools and colonization, and to study an Indigenous language (Anishinaabemowin). The program also helped me better understand my own family history. I did not understand the ways in which colonialism and intergenerational trauma affected us before that program. Ultimately, it helped me understand the ways in which colonialism is the root of many of the challenges Indigenous communities face today, which has helped me in my career working with Indigenous communities.

What’s next for you?

I hope to continue to work for Indigenous young people through my role at the Mastercard Foundation.

How U of T grad Chelsea Chioma Anthony changed plans, found her passion and got involved

geoff.vendeville — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:02:48 +0000

How U of T grad Chelsea Chioma Anthony changed plans, found her passion and got involved

geoff.vendeville Thu, 06/24/2021 - 12:02

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(Photo courtesy of Chelsea Chioma Anthony)

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2021

Faculty of Arts & Science

Undergraduate Students

Victoria College

When Chelsea Chioma Anthony began her studies at the ��Ƶ as a member of Victoria College, she planned to major in neuroscience and biochemistry. But after taking a few arts courses, she discovered a passion for health inequity research and decided to pursue a double major in neuroscience and political science instead.

Her academic excellence in two different fields was one reason she received the Ellis M. Ostovich Scholarship last fall. The other reason was her extensive extracurricular work, including serving as president of the Nigerian Students’ Association, president of Black Doctors of Tomorrow, transition mentor at Victoria College and volunteer at Toronto Western Hospital.

Sarah MacFarlane of the Faculty of Arts & Science caught up with Anthony as she looked forward to spring convocation and the “year of discovery” ahead.

What drew you to U of T for your undergrad?

It was definitely Toronto. It’s such a diverse city. In addition to education, there's such life and culture here. There's a place for everybody to find their people. You get to meet different people from different places, even my home country, which is nice. There are so many Nigerians in Toronto, so it feels more like home.

What inspired you to study neuroscience and political science?

Initially, I was going to do biochemistry and neuroscience, but as part of the breadth requirement, I took a sociology class and a political science class. I really enjoyed the arts courses that talked about issues going on today. For better or worse, science classes can sometimes feel abstract and removed from the “real world.” As such, combining neuroscience and political science let me keep the part of science I like the best, which is the brain, while looking into other areas of interest, i.e., health inequity, which desperately requires more focus and attention from the medical and scientific community. All in all, it was nice to have these two different degrees and have the chance to study the intersection between them.

What was your most memorable experience at U of T?

In my first year, I joined the Nigerian Students’ Association. We put on a play every year called Terracotta, and my first year, I was helping backstage. It was a disaster because someone forgot to tell us there were no lights backstage, so when the curtains went down, we couldn’t see a thing. It turned out to be a great play, but I just remember it was the first time I was so happy and so confused in Toronto. I think that sums up the majority of my ��Ƶ experience – I don't know what I'm doing, and I'm stumbling around in the dark, but I'm having fun.

Why was volunteering and giving back such an important priority for you during your undergrad?

In my head, I’m doing things that are selfish because I’m basically just looking for things that centre me and make me feel good. With the Nigerian Students’ Association, because I'm Nigerian, obviously I want to be a part of a community. With Black Doctors of Tomorrow, I want a community of Black doctors around me. I just want to be part of my people so that I don't feel so alone. And I think once you get into that, you want to help other people going into first and second year. It’s just my way of trying to find a community in Toronto. I tried to find my place in the University, and by doing that, I just wanted to share it with other people.

What advice would you give to students considering U of T?

My advice would be to take advantage of the city. Looking back at my first year, it was my first time in Toronto, and I think I was afraid to go anywhere. Take advantage of the city life. Discover your new favourite restaurants, try new cuisines and branch out.

What are your plans after undergrad?

This summer, I'm doing a couple of research programs to see whether I’m more inclined toward medicine or law. Going into university, I thought I would end up in med school. U of T opened me up to different options, and I realized how passionate I am about health inequity. So next year will be a year of discovery.

U of T Trash Team and PortsToronto battle plastic pollution in Lake Ontario

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 13:57:53 +0000

U of T Trash Team and PortsToronto battle plastic pollution in Lake Ontario

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/18/2021 - 08:57

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U of T Assistant Professor Chelsea Rochman and Chris Sawicki, PortsToronto's vice-president of infrastructure, planning and environment, at the launch of the Seabins pilot in the Toronto Harbour in 2019 (all photos courtesy of Chelsea Rochman)

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

Our Community

Cities

Faculty of Arts & Science

It’s a collaboration founded on a shared vision: a cleaner future for Toronto’s waterways.

Chelsea Rochman’s lab at the ��Ƶ is committed to reducing aquatic waste in Toronto by exploring innovative litter-capturing technologies and engaging the public on the issue of plastic pollution.

In her search for partners who shared her vision of a cleaner future for Toronto’s waterways, it wasn’t long before Rochman encountered PortsToronto – a government-business enterprise that owns and operates Billy Bishop Airport, the Port of Toronto and the Outer Harbour Marina.

Key collaborators from PortsToronto with the U of T Trash Team at the Urban Litter Challenge community cleanup in 2019.

With its goal of protecting and preserving Toronto’s waterfront by supporting sustainable transportation infrastructure, marine safety, environmental protection and community programming, PortsToronto has been an active supporter of the U of T Trash Team, a group of students and volunteers who focus on engaging the public and decreasing plastic pollution through a variety of programs, including litter cleanups and sustainability workshops.

PortsToronto even made a $150,000 donation to the Rochman lab last year.

“We've gotten closer every year and started working together in more capacities,” says Rochman, who joined the department of ecology and evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science as assistant professor in 2017.

“PortsToronto staff come to our cleanups every year. Now, we're talking about further things we can do together down the road to continue to get litter out of the water and also communicate with the public.”

The U of T Trash Team was founded by Rochman, who serves as head of operations and program lead of scientific programming and application; Susan Debreceni, program lead of volunteer engagement and community programs; and Rafaela Gutierrez, program lead of social science and educational programs.

Cassy Sherlock quantifying and characterizing microplastics trapped in macrophytes captured in the Seabins at the Outer Harbour Marina in summer 2020.

“The year 2021 marks the 110th anniversary of our organization and more than a century of PortsToronto’s stewardship of our city’s great waterfront,” says Geoffrey Wilson, CEO of PortsToronto. “In tandem with our own sustainability efforts, collaborating with the U of T Trash Team was a natural step for us in our ongoing mission to preserve and protect the waters of the Toronto Harbour for future generations.

“Lending our partnership, support and infrastructure to this dedicated team of researchers has, and will continue to, lead to innovative, evidence-based solutions to tackle the serious issue of plastic pollution in waterways here at home and throughout the Great Lakes.”

One strategy for reducing aquatic pollution is the use of floating trash bins called Seabins, which can collect more than four kilograms of waste per day – as much as 1.4 metric tonnes per year – including debris and microplastics as tiny as two millimetres in size. Seabins are a crucial aspect of the partnership between the U of T Trash Team and PortsToronto.

“PortsToronto owns and operates the Seabins,” says Rochman. “The U of T Trash Team does research in Lake Ontario to inform where in the Toronto Harbour would be useful to have Seabins, and then we quantify and characterize the impact – how much debris we're capturing and what type of debris it is, which can be used to inform policy.”

Small microplastic pieces entrained in macrophytes captured by the Seabins in the Outer Harbour Marina in summer 2020.

In the summer of 2019, PortsToronto launched two of their Seabins in Toronto’s Outer Harbour Marina and the U of T Trash Team studied the results. In just 19 hours, the bins collected nearly 2,000 pieces of plastic, many of which were less than five millimetres in size.

While the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the full-scale launch of the Seabins last year, the U of T Trash Team and PortsToronto persevered and ultimately piloted three Seabins at the Outer Harbour Marina.

“Within the three bins we captured hundreds to thousands of pieces of small debris every week,” Rochman says. “We also did visual audits where we had people from our team walking along the harbour and looking at where there were hotspots of litter accumulation within the slips. And that informs where the Seabins can go next year.

“We also standardized our protocols for how we quantify the debris. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best method that can be shared with other people who are also tracking litter so that we can all have standardized data. Those methods are being used by people as far away as California and Vancouver.”

Small microplastic pieces entrained in macrophytes captured by the Seabins in the Outer Harbour Marina in summer 2020.

The team even created an app called Data Trapper, which allows users to test methods and share their data.

Rochman says PortsToronto’s recent gift has helped the U of T Trash Team build a foundation by allowing them to transition volunteers to full-time paid positions – and that the support of PortsToronto has had a profound impact on the U of T Trash Team since they first began working together in 2017.

“They believed in us,” Rochman says. “They gave us that confidence to build who we are.”

It’s just the beginning. Rochman says she’s looking forward to what PortsToronto and the U of T Trash Team will be able to accomplish together in the future.

“We hope to increase our impact in the harbour, increase awareness and try to spread the litter diversion beyond the Toronto Harbour,” she says. “We plan to have four Seabins along the waterfront that are actively trapping and diverting litter out of Lake Ontario. We also plan to do a design competition with PortsToronto to think about the type of technology that could be placed near the mouth of the Don River to divert the litter that's coming in from upstream. And then raising awareness and increasing waste literacy among the public is one of our main goals to share lessons learned more broadly.”

With an open mind, U of T alumnus – and baking show finalist – builds a 'composite career'

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 18:28:49 +0000

With an open mind, U of T alumnus – and baking show finalist – builds a 'composite career'

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 02/01/2021 - 13:28

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Colin Asuncion, an alumnus of the Faculty of Arts & Science and St. Michael's College, was a finalist on the Great Canadian Baking Show (photo courtesy of Colin Asuncion)

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

City & Culture

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

School of Continuing Studies

St. Michael's College

Desserts were always part of Colin Asuncion’s childhood, but he didn’t seriously start experimenting in the kitchen until he became a fan of The Great British Bake Off five years ago. Fast forward to 2019 and he was one of just 10 Canadians selected to compete on Season 3 of The Great Canadian Baking Show — and he made the finals.

Asuncion has since launched his own baking business, appeared on Breakfast Television and hosted numerous online baking tutorials for organizations such as Make-A-Wish and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. He is also marketing manager at the Retail Council of Canada and an accomplished singer and stage performer.

As an undergraduate student in the ��Ƶ’s Faculty of Arts & Science, Asuncion double-majored in English and political science. He earned his honours bachelor of arts degree in 2011 as a member of St. Michael’s College, and a certificate in public relations and publicity from the School of Continuing Studies in 2012.

He recently hosted a live online bake-along for the faculty’s 2020 Minds Redefined Wellness in Practice Speaker Series, a series of events open to staff, faculty and students to promote positive mental health and wellbeing.

Asuncion recently spoke to Arts & Science writer Sarah MacFarlane about his time at U of T and what it’s like baking for an audience.

Is there an experience from your time at U of T that sticks out for you?

I was very involved in both the literary scene and the arts and theatre scene. I performed in many plays and musicals and also wrote for a few campus newspapers. The extracurriculars really enriched my time at U of T and made it feel like home. I made amazing friends through campus theatre, and they are still some of my best friends. The sense of community and being able to do interesting, artistic things was a huge highlight for me.

What drew you to the Minds Redefined speaker series?

What I love about this initiative is that it’s promoting wellness and mindfulness. I think we all need more of that. We're all under a lot of stress and have new anxieties. Now is the time to be connecting with others – safely, of course – and looking inwards to figure out how to better our lives. I've done quite a few of these live bake sessions during the pandemic because people still want interesting activities to do with each other, even though we can't be physically in the same room. Baking virtually is this amazing way to stay connected, do something with your hands, learn something new and just have fun.

Have you personally found that baking has been helpful for mental wellness, especially during quarantine?

Absolutely. Baking has always been a form of stress relief and a creative outlet for me, but especially now. I find respite in doing something with my hands to nourish my mind and body.

What has the experience of leading virtual bake-alongs been like so far?

It’s been a huge learning curve. I never thought I would be engaged in digital demos or classes. At the beginning of the pandemic, I led a weekly baking class with Glad Day Bookshop’s online channel, Glad Day TV, to promote their fund for LGBTQ+ tip-based workers and artists who were out of work during the pandemic. I was dipping my toes into the world of live demos, and it eventually grew. Companies have been approaching me to do live bakes for their private events and fundraisers. The work has been incredibly rewarding and I’m constantly learning how to improve as an instructor.

How did it feel going from a fan of The Great British Bake Off to a finalist on The Great Canadian Baking Show?

It was a whirlwind. Ever since I turned 30 a couple years ago, I've been bolder about pursuing dreams and passion projects. There's something to be said about manifesting opportunities for yourself. I remember the early days when I was watching The Great British Bake Off, thinking, “It would be such a dream to be on a Canadian version of this show.” And then it actually happened. It's wild.

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A post shared by The Great Canadian Baking Show (@cbcbakingshow)

As a baking business owner, marketing manager, singer and stage performer, how do you manage multiple careers?

Well, I never thought I would be so busy. I used to only have my work in retail marketing and stage performance to juggle. Then baking grew into another element of my career. As a result, time management is something I have to be very good at. But I always say it's better to be busy than bored.

Is there a piece of advice you would give to current U of T students who are navigating their career paths?

It's so important to be flexible. I enrolled in life sciences my first year at U of T and obviously did not go down that road. Pay attention to what you really enjoy doing and what you are truly good at. If you try to force yourself into a specific career path, know that it might not work out. If you stay open and understand that things are always moving and changing, you will be ready and willing to take on exciting, unplanned opportunities that can enrich your career. I never thought my life would be the way it is, but I take opportunities when they're attractive to me and, as a result, I have this composite career where I'm able to do so many different things I love.

Author and alumnus Cody Caetano says Indigenous Voices Award win signals he's 'on the right path'

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 14:56:18 +0000

Author and alumnus Cody Caetano says Indigenous Voices Award win signals he's 'on the right path'

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 10/22/2020 - 10:56

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Cody Caetano won the 2020 Indigenous Voices Award for best unpublished prose in English for excerpts from his debut memoir Half-Bads in White Regalia, which will hit bookstores in spring 2022 (photo by Kris Caetano)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Indigenous

Literature

U of T Mississauga

Cody Caetano’s debut memoir won’t hit bookstores until spring 2022 – but it’s already getting noticed.

The ��Ƶ alumnus from the Faculty of Arts & Science recently won the 2020 Indigenous Voices Award for best unpublished prose in English for excerpts from Half-Bads in White Regalia. The news comes shortly after a seven-bid auction for the memoir’s publishing rights, which were acquired by Penguin Canada’s Hamish Hamilton imprint.

As an undergraduate student, Caetano double majored in English and professional writing and communication, earning his honours bachelor of arts degree from U of T Mississauga in 2017. He graduated from U of T’s Master of Arts in English in the Field of Creative Writing program in 2019.

Caetano is a writer, editor and teacher of Anishinaabe and Portuguese descent. He is an enrolled member of Pinaymootang First Nation and lives in Toronto. In 2019, his short collection of poems called Pleasure Dome Poems was published by Knife Fork Book under their BIPOC/Queer imprint, and his work has appeared in publications such as PRISM International and The Hart House Review. He’s also the former editor-in-chief of UTM Mindwaves: The Professional Writing & Communication’s Creative Non-Fiction Journal. Caetano is currently working on his second memoir, The Cancelling of Captain Pleasure Dome.

Congratulations on winning an Indigenous Voices Award! What was your reaction when you heard the news?

I found out during the live stream on TV. Even though I saw that I had won, it didn’t hit me until an hour or two later. There is this conspiracy theory I’ve hung onto forever that winners are told in advance, but it was such an honour to be wrong. Many of the jurors and nominees are some of my favourite writers, so it feels like I am on the right path if I am getting recognized by and amongst them.

What inspired you to write Half-Bads in White Regalia?

It feels more honest to say that Half-Bads in White Regalia inspired the writing, rather than the other way around. It began one night when I was 16 and up late like always. I was about to finish reading The Glass Castle. After the last page, I pulled out my journal to write down my intentions for “The Story,” which developed over the course of nine years before it became Half-Bads in White Regalia.

While my intentions have certainly popcorned over the last nine years, the kernels remain the same: to write a book for my generation of readers and writers – something that makes my family proud.

There was a seven-bid auction for your memoir's publishing rights. How did it feel to know there was so much interest in your book?

It makes me feel fortunate more than anything else. My agent called me the next day and told me it was the first time she had received an intent to offer on a submission in 24 hours. There were so many kind editors and publishers we spoke with, so it was hard to pick, but I'm so happy I went with David Ross at Hamish Hamilton. He just sent me the first round of edits and they are fantastic. He is getting me excited about my writing in brand new ways.

What drew you to the creative writing master's program at U of T, and how was your experience in the program?

I had first bookmarked the program's landing page on a whim in the summer of 2014, and had dreamt about getting in until I was admitted in the spring of 2017. Mind you, 2014 was just three years after I wrote that journal entry, and, by 2016, I had done enough writing during my undergraduate workshops to submit my application. I didn't have strong marks or an English specialist degree, but I had "The Story," which I never stopped brainstorming about.

In terms of my experience, it was nothing short of transformative. I got to hone my chops teaching and facilitating writing workshops, join a robust community of writers in Toronto, serve as an editor for Echolocation Magazine, publish a chapbook, run a circuit of readings and experience being a mentee with the one and only Lee Maracle, amongst countless other joys. The program and the faculty are so supportive and caring, and I met some of my best friends during it. I'll be talking about my experiences for a while, and I highly recommend it. The time in the program still feels like a dream.

Can you tell us about The Cancelling of Captain Pleasure Dome? Does the process of writing a second memoir differ from writing the first?

While I won't share too much just yet, I will mention The Cancelling of Captain Pleasure Dome is the second book in a tetralogy of books, and that it picks up where Half-Bads in White Regalia ends. If Half-Bads in White Regalia is The Hobbit of this tetralogy in terms of the vibe, then The Cancelling is The Empire Strikes Back.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write every day!

From space to sustainability: U of T alumnus Julius Lindsay helps physics grads navigate career options

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:43:03 +0000

From space to sustainability: U of T alumnus Julius Lindsay helps physics grads navigate career options

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 07/24/2020 - 09:43

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Julius Lindsay advises graduates to "just get your foot in the door," noting that his career in sustainability sprung from a clerical job at a real-estate management corporation (photo courtesy Julius Lindsay)

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

Our Community

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

When asked how he developed an interest in physics, ��Ƶ alumnus Julius Lindsay just laughs.

“I was – am – a big Star Trek and Star Wars nerd,” he says, adding that Grade 8 was when his passion took the form of a career aspiration.

That was the year his class participated in the Canadian National Marsville Program. The students studied space exploration and planned a trip to Mars, building models of habitats and human life-support systems. Lindsay’s group research topic was nuclear fusion, and he was fascinated by the crossover he observed between complex NASA reports and Star Trek.

Lindsay’s interest in math and science led him to U of T, where he double majored in physics and mathematics in the Faculty of Arts & Science as a member of New College, graduating in 2006. In 2017, he returned to U of T as an alumni mentor.

“Coaching is one of my personal strengths, and I feel like I've gotten to the point in my career where I have valuable information to share,” he says. “I wanted to give back and also feel more connected to the school.”

One piece of advice he gives to all his mentees – “just get your foot in the door” – stems from first-hand experience. His first job after university was a clerical job at the Ontario Realty Corporation, where he’d previously worked as a summer student. Little did he know, the role would be the catalyst for a career in sustainability.

“The Green Energy Act was just coming into effect at the provincial level and the board of our agency was interested in sustainability reporting,” he says. “They knew I was a physics major and said, ‘Julius, you know math, so you can do these greenhouse gas calculations.’ I learned the specific climate change information on the job, but it was the ability to do math that helped me get my foot in the door.”

Today, he is project manager of climate change and sustainable development for the city of Richmond Hill. He’s developing a corporate climate change framework, working with the city’s internal departments to understand and prepare for the consequences of climate change. He’s also leading the city’s community energy and emissions plan, which brings together internal staff, external stakeholders and community groups to increase energy efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas emissions throughout Richmond Hill.

His physics degree continues to be instrumental. “You have to understand how things work together, how to communicate them in a way that people can understand and how to get results. That’s what you do in physics: you get a problem and use tools to solve it. Where I am today is largely because of my physics background.”

“I enjoyed my time at U of T, and a large part of that was playing football and being on the team,” says Lindsay (photo courtesy Julius Lindsay)

Lindsay says his career path illustrates the versatility of a physics degree and gives him a unique perspective as an alumni mentor because he can provide insight for students looking to pursue careers outside of academia.

“People think of it as an impressive degree, but it doesn’t match 100 per cent to one job,” he says. “You have to figure out where you want to go and what you want to do. A lot of the time I've spent with students has been determining what skills are transferable, how to market themselves and what kinds of careers are possible with a physics degree.”

“During my time as Julius's mentee, we spoke a lot about his career path and the jobs he had right out of undergrad,” says Tess King, who graduated from U of T in 2019 as a member of Innis College with an honours bachelor of science in physics and geographic information systems. “I was most interested in learning about his specific career choices because I was hoping to apply some of the lessons he learned to understand what job I wanted. I was looking for a direct path from physics to some physics-related job, but I learned that most careers are not so linear. It has more to do with how you apply yourself.”

Helping students navigate their studies and explore various options after graduation is incredibly rewarding, says Lindsay – so much so that he launched a new mentorship program in collaboration with other members of the Blues Football Alumni Network.

“I enjoyed my time at U of T, and a large part of that was playing football and being on the team,” he says. “I thought a mentorship program would be amazing for the football program — it’s valuable for the students and the alumni.”

He believes the value of mentorship lies in the connections it builds.

“You’re not only helping students figure out what they're going to do as they transition to careers; you're also helping them cope with being a student. I’ve found it turns into more of a life coach relationship, which for me is helpful and fulfilling.”

U of T's Myanmar digital library shares rare manuscripts with scholars around the world

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:48:07 +0000

U of T's Myanmar digital library shares rare manuscripts with scholars around the world

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 05/21/2020 - 11:48

Cutline

Early 20th century cabinets housing the Pali palm-leaf manuscripts, which are considered sacred objects by the textual community at Saddhammajotikārāma Monastery, Thaton, Mon State (photo by U Aung Moe)

Sarah MacFarlane

Topic

Global Lens

Faculty of Arts & Science

“Which colour longyi makes the best background when photographing Pali palm-leaf manuscripts?” writes Tony Scott, a PhD candidate at the ��Ƶ, referencing the long piece of cloth widely worn as a garment in Myanmar. “As it turns out, light green.”

It’s the opening line from an article Scott recently published on the Oxford Tea Circle blog that highlights the importance of a new U of T resource: the Myanmar Manuscript Digital Library.

The open-access digital archive features manuscripts and rare print editions of texts from libraries across Myanmar. It is the result of an ongoing digitizing project led by an international team of scholars and volunteers who have spent more than five years cleaning, cataloguing and curating texts that cover a range of topics connected to the Southeast Asian country, from Buddhist literature and doctrine to medicine and astrology.

Manuscripts wrapped in protective, ceremonial coverings known as cā-thup-pa-vā (photo by U Aung Moe)

The project aims to preserve Myanmar’s heritage of texts while providing free access to these texts for scholars around the world – a goal that has become even more important amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The current pandemic has significantly altered the teaching and learning landscape of post-secondary institutions,” says Scott, who is with the department for the study of religion in the Faculty of Arts & Science and is the outreach and project liaison for the archive. “The Myanmar Manuscript Digital Library is now a crucial tool for both online academic research and global collaboration. Without the need for international travel, researchers can access the database and build projects together, regardless of their location or financial resources.

“This is especially important because students and researchers have disparate access to materials based on the financial support they receive from governments and their respective institutions. Academics in Myanmar are especially limited in their means, and the COVID-19 pandemic will only exacerbate this disparity. Since it is free of charge and strives to make streamlined, manageable downloads for those where the internet capacity is limited, the library represents a chance to remove barriers for anyone interested in accessing these texts.”

Lay devotees of the Saddhammajotikārāma Monastery applying lemongrass oil mixed with powdered carbon to preserve the fragile leaf surface and highlight the incised letters of the manuscript (photo by U Aung Moe)

Scott has been working on this project alongside a number of scholars from U of T’s department for the study of religion, including Associate Professor Christoph Emmrich, who managed the launch of the digital archive; Andrew Dade, a PhD student who will manage new content as digitization efforts continue; and Rachelle Saruya, a PhD candidate and the academic website curator who is currently working on a Burmese translation of the website.

“The team recognizes that language is a barrier for access,” says Scott. “Scholars in Myanmar who do not speak English should still be able to benefit from this resource. Given the linguistic expertise of the ��Ƶ, other languages might also be possible in the future.”

The database will continue to grow considerably over the next few years thanks to a partnership with the National Library of Myanmar, which has one of the largest collections of Pali palm-leaf manuscripts in Southeast Asia. These manuscripts were collected from monasteries and libraries throughout the country, and the team behind the Myanmar Manuscript Digital Library expects to upload 10,000 of these texts to the archive.

Scott says a key goal for the project is to pay homage to generations of scholars and community members in Myanmar who worked tirelessly to preserve these texts.

“The archive recognizes the value of local manuscript cultures, traditions of curation and research questions. Part of this recognition has to do with gratitude – that is, being grateful for the generations of curation and scholarship that maintained these texts into the present.

“Without the work of monks, nuns and lay devotees over the previous centuries, the textual traditions that these manuscripts represent would not have survived.”