Climate Positive Energy / en U of T’s Grid Modernization Centre receives $10 million in federal funding to advance energy transition /news/u-t-s-grid-modernization-centre-receives-10-million-federal-funding-advance-energy-transition <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T’s Grid Modernization Centre receives $10 million in federal funding to advance energy transition</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/2024-07/GettyImages-1436000929-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=xaMBTRM5 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-07/GettyImages-1436000929-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=V_n4xZn7 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-07/GettyImages-1436000929-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=2NcuifC0 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/2024-07/GettyImages-1436000929-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=xaMBTRM5" alt="a hydro field in Toronto"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-07-29T10:52:38-04:00" title="Monday, July 29, 2024 - 10:52" class="datetime">Mon, 07/29/2024 - 10:52</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"><p><em>(Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)</em></p> </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="/taxonomy/term/6907" hreflang="en">Sayyeda Masood</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/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institutional-strategic-initiatives" hreflang="en">Institutional Strategic Initiatives</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/leah-cowen" hreflang="en">Leah Cowen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/electrical-computer-engineering" hreflang="en">Electrical &amp; Computer Engineering</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/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</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">Founded by the Climate Positive Energy institutional strategic initiative, the Grid Modernization Centre will help accelerate integration of novel green technologies</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Ƶ has received $10-million in federal funding in support of the&nbsp;<a href="http://cpe.utoronto.ca/grid-modernization-centre/">Grid Modernization Centre</a>, a state-of-the-art facility in Toronto’s Downsview area that aims to accelerate progress towards a decarbonized, decentralized and digitalized power system for Canada.&nbsp;</p> <p>Founded by&nbsp;<a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/">Climate Positive Energy</a>, a U of T <a href="https://isi.utoronto.ca/">institutional strategic initiative</a>, the centre will serve as a hub that provides utilities, regulators, municipalities and enterprises with the equipment and expertise needed to test, develop and commercialize a range of green technologies.</p> <p>The Government of Canada announced the investment – which includes $5 million apiece from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and Natural Resources Canada – at U of T's Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship&nbsp;on Friday, July 26.</p> <p>“On behalf of the Ƶ, we thank FedDev Ontario and Natural Resources Canada for their $10-million investment in the Grid Modernization Centre,” said&nbsp;<strong>Leah Cowen</strong>, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “By convening stakeholders across the electricity ecosystem, Climate Positive Energy and their partners will help ensure the electrical grid remains safe and reliable, while supporting the development of clean technologies and jobs.”</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-07/043A2416-crop.jpg?itok=Y5KQdtBH" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Leah Cowen (left), U of T's vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, was joined by Ya'ara Saks (centre), minister of mental health and addictions, and Julie Dabrusin (right), parliamentary secretary to the minister of the environment, at the $10-million funding announcement for&nbsp;U of T's Grid Modernization Centre (photo by Liz Beddall)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>The first facility of its kind in Canada, the Grid Modernization Centre will foster innovations pertinent to electricity demand, which is estimated to double in the next 30 years according to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator.</p> <p>“Through initiatives such as the Grid Modernization Centre here at U of T, we are collaborating to unlock a brighter future for our energy systems on the path to net-zero,” said&nbsp;<strong>Julie Dabrusin</strong>, parliamentary secretary to the minister for environment and climate change and the minister of energy and natural resources.</p> <p>“By supporting advancements in clean energy technologies, we are not only protecting our environment but also positioning Canada at the forefront of the clean energy revolution,” said&nbsp;<strong>Ya’ara Saks</strong>, minister of mental health and addictions and MP for York Centre, who attended the announcement on behalf of&nbsp;Filomena Tassi, the minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-07/043A2323-crop.jpg?itok=ZxD8_rzi" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Ya'ara Saks and Julie Dabrusin speak with Associate Professor Ali Hooshyar during a tour of the Centre for Applied Power Electronics (photo by Liz Beddall)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Ontario’s existing grid faces a number of challenges, including extreme weather events, the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and concerns around capacity, reliability, and security.</p> <p>To address these challenges, the Grid Modernization Centre will enable an array of green technologies – from electric vehicle charging stations to battery energy storage systems – to be tested and refined before they are integrated with the grid.</p> <p>It will also provide training opportunities for students and thought leadership on policy, regulatory and climate financing models.</p> <p>Prior to Friday’s announcement, MP Saks and Parliamentary Secretary Dabrusin enjoyed a tour of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ece.utoronto.ca/research/centres/centre-applied-power-electronics-cape/">Centre for Applied Power Electronics</a>&nbsp;led by&nbsp;<strong>Ali Hooshyar</strong>, associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Electric Power Systems in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering. The centre specializes in research and development around electric power systems in areas such as integration of renewable resources into power grids and energy storage and distribution in microgrids.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-07/yip-kundur.jpg?itok=Jqb_7gLX" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(L-R) Chris Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering, and Deepa Kundur, chair of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, said the Grid Modernization Centre will help address crucial challenges around sustainable energy&nbsp;(photo by Liz Beddall)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Professor and chair of the department&nbsp;<strong>Deepa Kundur</strong>&nbsp;hailed the Grid Modernization Centre as a “crucial step” toward a safer and more sustainable society. "At ECE, we actively contribute to the technological landscape by addressing challenges in vehicle electrification, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This new centre represents U of T's proactive response to society's energy needs, and I'm thrilled about its potential impact,” Kundur said.</p> <p>Professor&nbsp;<strong>Christopher Yip</strong>, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering, described the clean energy transition as arguably the most important shift facing companies and communities today. “U of T has responded to this challenge by developing the Grid Modernization Centre," Yip said.</p> <p>"Today’s investment is key in supporting the centre and propelling us towards a reliable, resilient and sustainable electricity grid that will power a clean energy future for generations.”</p> <h3><a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/climate-positive-energy-led-grid-modernization-centre-receives-10m-in-federal-funding-following-on-campus-announcement/">Read the Climate Positive Energy story</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> Mon, 29 Jul 2024 14:52:38 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 308703 at Students tackle impact of climate change at U of T Climate Impacts Hackathon /news/students-tackle-climate-change-impacts-u-t-climate-impacts-hackathon <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Students tackle impact of climate change at U of T Climate Impacts Hackathon</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/2024-05/53590413492_993328d14c_o-crop.jpg?h=8a5a0ff0&amp;itok=VpZ5KPbJ 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-05/53590413492_993328d14c_o-crop.jpg?h=8a5a0ff0&amp;itok=_06oCR13 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-05/53590413492_993328d14c_o-crop.jpg?h=8a5a0ff0&amp;itok=rIvR3m3C 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/2024-05/53590413492_993328d14c_o-crop.jpg?h=8a5a0ff0&amp;itok=VpZ5KPbJ" alt="A large group of students sit in a room for the hackathon"> </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="2024-05-06T12:44:57-04:00" title="Monday, May 6, 2024 - 12:44" class="datetime">Mon, 05/06/2024 - 12:44</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"><p><em>Students, instructors and organizers participate in the inaugural&nbsp;Climate Impacts Hackathon (photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sindark/53590413492/in/album-72177720315488393/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Milan Ilnyckyj</a>, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DEED)</em></p> </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/chris-sasaki" hreflang="en">Chris Sasaki</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/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/data-sciences-institute" hreflang="en">Data Sciences Institute</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institutional-strategic-initiative" hreflang="en">Institutional Strategic Initiative</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-change" hreflang="en">Climate Change</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/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</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">Teams of undergraduate and graduate students grappled with problems that ranged from altering irrigation practices in Sudan to adapting snow-clearing plans in Ottawa</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In the wake of Toronto’s warmest winter on record, students at the Ƶ recently gathered for the inaugural U of T&nbsp;<a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/event/u-of-t-climate-impacts-hackathon/">Climate Impacts Hackathon</a>.</p> <p>The event asked students to tackle several challenges brought by a warming planet:&nbsp;How should the City of Ottawa adapt its snow clearing plan in response to increased precipitation caused by our warming atmosphere? How should irrigation practices in Sudan change in response to higher temperatures and reduced rainfall? And where should new cooling stations – swimming pools, libraries, community centres, shopping malls – be located in an increasingly sweltering City of Toronto?</p> <p>Participants included undergraduate and graduate students from a range of natural science and engineering disciplines, as well as from the humanities and social sciences. They were divided into teams and competed for prizes.</p> <p>The hackathon was led by&nbsp;<strong>Paul Kushner</strong>, a professor of Earth, atmospheric and planetary physics in the&nbsp;department of physics&nbsp;in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science; and&nbsp;<strong>Karen Smith</strong>, an associate professor, teaching stream, in the&nbsp;department of physical and environmental sciences&nbsp;(DPES) at U of T Scarborough. Co-organizers included&nbsp;<strong>Michael Morris</strong>, a PhD candidate in the department of physics, and <strong>Francisco Camacho</strong>, a masters of environmental science student at DPES.</p> <p>The event was hosted by the department of physics and the DPES; sponsors included&nbsp;<a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca">Climate Positive Energy</a>&nbsp;(CPE) – a U of T <a href="https://isi.utoronto.ca">institutional strategic initiative</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://uoftcse.ca">Centre for Climate Science and Engineering</a>&nbsp;(CSE) and the&nbsp;<a href="https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/initiatives/explore-humanitys-future-in-the-cosmos/">Cosmic Future Initiative</a>.</p> <p>The event kicked off with a wide-ranging discussion from a panel of climate experts with diverse perspectives.</p> <p><strong>Steve Easterbrook</strong>, director of the&nbsp;School of the Environment in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, spoke about how climate models work and why&nbsp;we can trust them. <strong>Lisa MacTavish</strong>, project lead in resilience, climate resilience policy and research for the City of Toronto, shared how the city uses climate projections to manage infrastructure and crisis planning. And&nbsp;<strong>Daniel Posen</strong>, an associate professor in the&nbsp;department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering, talked about his expertise at the intersection of climate change and engineering.</p> <p>To develop their solutions, students used the&nbsp;<a href="https://utcdw.physics.utoronto.ca">Ƶ Climate Downscaling Workflow</a>&nbsp;(UTCDW) which includes the&nbsp;UTCDW Guidebook&nbsp;developed by Morris, Smith and Kushner, and the UTCDW Survey, a project design tool. The UTCDW was developed with the support of the CSE, CPE and the&nbsp;<a href="https://datasciences.utoronto.ca">Data Sciences Institute</a>, another U of T institutional strategic initiative.</p> <p>Climate models or simulations typically work on a global scale; the UTCDW is designed to help researchers “downscale” what the models do in order to understand how smaller regions and even individual cities are being affected by climate change. The resulting projections can then inform decisions on a local level.</p> <p>“In our proposal for support to develop these tools, we committed to holding this hackathon to roll them out,” says Kushner. “The intent is to encourage a better understanding of climate change impacts on different domains of application in an atmosphere of fun engagement and community cohort building.”</p> <p>First prize was awarded to a team that tackled the cooling centre challenge. Using the downscaling tool, the team made detailed projections using temperature and humidity data. They considered vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, refugees and the underhoused; and they factored in education and income levels.</p> <p>After surveying the current locations of the city’s cooling centres, the team came up with recommendations for six new centres located in areas that are currently underserved.</p> <p>“We were very pleased and impressed at how far the student participants got in their analysis – how they creatively overcame technical and conceptual obstacles, and how they maintained a constructive and positive attitude as they grappled with the serious issues of climate change,” Kushner says.</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, 06 May 2024 16:44:57 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 307796 at Smart and clean growth conference draws industry, government leaders /news/smart-and-clean-growth-conference-draws-industry-government-leaders <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Smart and clean growth conference draws industry, government leaders</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/2023-12/043A6486-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=KAqja_PD 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-12/043A6486-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=8yNfMDGq 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-12/043A6486-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=bEIqXNCT 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/2023-12/043A6486-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=KAqja_PD" alt="A panel is seen at the smart and clean growth conference"> </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="2023-12-04T15:17:46-05:00" title="Monday, December 4, 2023 - 15:17" class="datetime">Mon, 12/04/2023 - 15:17</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"><p><em>(photo by Liz Beddall)</em></p> </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/catrina-kronfli" hreflang="en">Catrina Kronfli</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/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institutional-strategic-initiatives" hreflang="en">Institutional Strategic Initiatives</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-change" hreflang="en">Climate Change</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/sustainabilty" hreflang="en">Sustainabilty</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">Event organized by U of T’s Climate Positive Energy and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce brings together researchers and leaders from government and industry</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>From innovative clean technology to smart building standards, Ƶ researchers are working with industry and communities to reduce emissions in infrastructure and transportation – and to support a cleaner energy grid.</p> <p>That was among the takeaways from the inaugural Smart Growth Symposium, which recently drew more than 250 representatives from industry, academia and government to Hart House to showcase smart and clean technology solutions.</p> <p>The event was co-hosted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and U of T’s <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/">Climate Positive Energy </a>(CPE) initiative, an <a href="https://isi.utoronto.ca/about-isi/">institutional strategic initiative</a> that brings together more than 500 researchers and students across U of T’s three campuses to develop social, scientific, technical, economic and policy solutions that will help policymakers reach net-zero by 2050 and ensure an equitable energy transition.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2023-12/043A6335-crop.jpg?itok=ZZ92D9x1" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, said Climate Positive Energy is working with the university to create a climate positive campus (photo by Liz Beddall)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>“While Climate Positive Energy is working to solve global problems, it maintains a laser focus on local impact,” <strong>Leah Cowen</strong>, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, said in her opening remarks.</p> <p>“CPE is working closely with other groups across the university to create a climate positive campus by engaging researchers in projects that can be piloted right here at the university, with our campus functioning as a ‘living lab.’”</p> <p>The Ontario government’s priorities, meanwhile, include balancing housing construction with environmental objectives and increasing green space in the province, said Andrea Khanjin, minister of environment, conservation and parks.</p> <p><strong>David Sinton</strong>, CPE’s academic director, said U of T has deep expertise in all the fields needed to help Canada achieve its climate objectives.</p> <p>“The critical role of strategic initiatives like CPE is that we bring together those disciplines, and match teams with industry, government, and other partners to achieve those goals,” he said.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2023-12/043A6833-crop_0.jpg?itok=Mk_ecBvA" width="750" height="500" alt="the room at hart house was full of attendees" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>The event brought together more than 500 researchers and students across U of T’s three campuses&nbsp;(photo by Liz Beddall)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>The symposium included several panels that examined the shifts taking place across various sectors, including:</p> <ul> <li>Building Smart: The building sector is increasingly adopting technologies – from digital twinning to smart energy monitoring to retrofits – to improve overall performance and efficiency. Dima Zreik, director of investments at the <a href="https://cib-bic.ca/en/">Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)</a>, spoke to the CIB’s <a href="https://cib-bic.ca/en/sectors/green-infrastructure/">Building Retrofits Initiative</a>, which provides&nbsp;financing to decarbonize and improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings in both the public and private sector – including U of T’s <a href="/news/u-t-partners-canada-infrastructure-bank-boost-climate-positive-efforts">Project Leap</a>. Derek Goring, Northcrest Developments’ CEO, stressed that to adopt new technologies in the building sector, there must be shared standards&nbsp;on data governance, referring to his ongoing collaboration with the <a href="/news/build-more-pollute-less-new-u-t-research-centre-tackles-need-sustainable-infrastructure">Centre for the Sustainable Built Environment</a> led by <strong>Shoshanna Saxe</strong>, an associate professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Advanced Mobility: Electric vehicles (EVs) are sparking change across the automotive supply chain. Brian Kingston, president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, noted the auto sector plans to <a href="https://www.cvma.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CVMA-Federal-Pre-Budget-Submission.pdf">spend nearly $1.2 trillion</a> through 2030 to produce millions of EVs, along with the batteries and raw materials needed to support that production. For Kingston, a key challenge is ensuring EV demand since adoption sits at 13 per cent in Canada amid consumers’ concerns about the availability of charging infrastructure and grid capacity.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Smart Energy Grid: With electricity demand from EVs and <a href="https://www.ieso.ca/en/Powering-Tomorrow/2021/The-Future-of-Electricity-Demand-in-Ontario">a growing population expected to double electricity demand by 2050</a>, concerns about the power grid’s reliability have grown. This is why CPE is spearheading the <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/grid-modernization-centre/">Grid Modernization, Testing and Simulation Centre</a> with the support of 55 partners, said <strong>Shatha Qaqish-Clavering</strong>, CPE’s director of strategy and operations. Led by Professor <strong>Ali Hooshyar</strong>, the Ontario-based, state-of-the-art facility will help small- and medium-sized enterprises commercialize green technologies and develop solutions to ensure Ontario’s grid remains safe and reliable.</li> </ul> <p>Industry partners said the Grid Modernization, Testing and Simulation Centre will accelerate the adoption of new technologies.</p> <p>“We’re very excited about this centre,” said <strong>Frank D’Andrea</strong>, Hydro One’s vice-president and executive lead, enterprise strategy and energy transition. “One way to offset affordability issues is to become innovative. We view U of T as a partner and are looking to test technologies, scale them, and bring them to utilities for adoption.”</p> <p>“Before we implement anything onto the grid, we need to ensure it’s safe and resilient,” said Shitiz Agrawal, vice-president of power systems, sales and operations at Schneider Electric. “What’s unique about this centre is that it’ll provide real-time simulation and engages all ecosystem players.”</p> <p>The collaborative approach adopted by the Grid Centre initiative is also evident in another effort led by CPE: <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/u-of-t-led-collaboration-to-develop-community-tailored-clean-energy-technologies/">the CANSTOREnergy project</a>. The project, <a href="/news/u-t-led-collaboration-develop-community-tailored-clean-energy-technologies">which recently received a $24-million grant</a> from the federal government’s New Frontiers in Research Fund, involves researchers from 11 Canadian universities, led by Sinton, who are developing clean energy technologies tailored to meet the needs of two Canadian communities – one in Ontario and the other in the Yukon.</p> <p>Whether the domain is transportation, housing, or energy transmission, all panelists agreed that the time for action is now.</p> <p>Nolan Andres, chief of technology and innovation for Kindred Credit Union, said the existential threat of climate change is increasingly being met with a collaborative response — one that is "driving us closer together."</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, 04 Dec 2023 20:17:46 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 304777 at U of T’s plan to become climate positive expanded to all three campuses /news/u-t-s-plan-become-climate-positive-expanded-all-three-campuses <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T’s plan to become climate positive expanded to all three campuses</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/2023-11/skyline.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=do-a0362 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-11/skyline.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=KiVllrLh 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-11/skyline.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=DvRbMZNc 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/2023-11/skyline.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=do-a0362" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-12-04T10:54:25-05:00" title="Monday, December 4, 2023 - 10:54" class="datetime">Mon, 12/04/2023 - 10:54</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"><p><em>(photos by Nick Iwanyshyn, David Lee and Sean Liliani)</em></p> </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/rahul-kalvapalle" hreflang="en">Rahul Kalvapalle</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/alexandra-gillespie" hreflang="en">Alexandra Gillespie</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-positive-campus" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Campus</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/geoexchange" hreflang="en">Geoexchange</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/utogether" hreflang="en">UTogether</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/wisdom-tettey" hreflang="en">Wisdom Tettey</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-change" hreflang="en">Climate Change</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</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">The commitment builds on an earlier pledge to have the historic St. George campus reduce more greenhouse gases than it emits&nbsp; </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>All three of the Ƶ’s campuses <a href="https://sustainability.utoronto.ca/operations/climate-positive-tri-campus-commitment/">are committing to reduce more greenhouse gases than they emit in the years ahead</a>, an ambitious goal that goes beyond carbon neutrality and targets a climate-positive future.</p> <p>The commitment expands on an earlier pledge to make the St. George campus climate positive by 2050 – a milestone the university now says it will reach well in advance – and is an extension of U of T’s <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-141837.pdf">Low-Carbon Action Plan</a>, which looks to curb greenhouse gas emissions by 37 per cent relative to 1990 levels by 2030.</p> <p>It comes as the United Nations COP28 climate conference gets underway in Dubai, where the <a href="https://sustainability.utoronto.ca/ceccs-home/">President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change &amp; Sustainability</a> (CECCS) and <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/">Climate Positive Energy</a>, a U of T <a href="https://isi.utoronto.ca/">institutional strategic initiative</a>, are scheduled to host a variety of events and <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/climate-positive-energy-to-host-three-panels-at-cop28/">panel discussions </a>that highlight the role of universities in supporting a clean energy transition.</p> <p>“U of T is determined to lead by example in addressing climate change – a strategic priority of the university and one of the most pressing issues of our time,” said U of T President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong>.</p> <p>“The goal of becoming climate positive on all three campuses is bold and befitting of our mission as an educational institution that strives to make the world a better place.”</p> <p>President Gertler noted the pledge aligns with U of T’s commitments to the <a href="/news/u-t-joins-coalition-leading-universities-driving-climate-action">University Climate Change Coalition</a> (UC3), which include climate resilience, and the <a href="https://www.u7alliance.org/">U7+ Alliance of World Universities</a>, whose priorities include championing sustainability and climate action.</p> <p>“As a large and globally top-ranked public university, U of T has a responsibility to play a leadership role on this issue by taking actions that will be felt across our three campuses and beyond,” he said.</p> <p>The tri-campus pledge is the latest step by the university to realize <a href="/news/professor-wants-u-t-campuses-become-living-labs-sustainability-research">its longstanding goal of building a more sustainable future</a>. That includes <a href="/news/u-t-divest-fossil-fuel-investments-create-climate-positive-campus">its 2021 commitment</a> to divest its endowment fund of fossil fuel investments and make the St. George campus – the oldest, largest and most energy-intensive of the three campuses – climate positive before 2050, as outlined in the campus’s <a href="https://climatepositive.utoronto.ca/images/UT Climate Positive FIN Web.pdf">carbon and energy master plan</a> and accompanying technical report.</p> <p>Among the major initiatives on the St. George campus is <a href="/news/u-t-s-proposed-geoexchange-project-front-campus-one-urban-canada-s-largest">Canada’s largest urban geoexchange field</a> beneath Front Campus. Part of <a href="https://landmark.utoronto.ca/">the Landmark Project</a>, the geoexchange system is set to become fully operational in spring 2024 and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15,000 metric tons annually.</p> <p>The campus is also modernizing what are some of Canada’s oldest district energy systems via Project LEAP, <a href="/news/u-t-partners-canada-infrastructure-bank-boost-climate-positive-efforts">an effort supported by the Canada Infrastructure Bank</a>. The project comprises a number of retrofit projects – including the replacement of gas boilers with electric alternatives in the St. George campus’s central steam plant – that will help curb greenhouse gas emissions by over 50 per cent by decade’s end.</p> <p>“The renewal of this infrastructure – much of which is out of sight for the 100,000 people served by the campus each day – offers a chance for us to embed sustainability into the very backbone of campus,” said <strong>Ron Saporta</strong>, U of T’s chief operating officer, property and sustainability.</p> <p>Saporta said the expanded, tri-campus scope of the climate commitment “offers opportunities for us to collaborate and share best practices as we work to deliver on key milestones along this journey,” noting U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough will publish details of their roadmaps to becoming climate positive in the coming months.</p> <p>He pointed out that many of U of T’s tri-campus sustainability efforts double as experiential learning opportunities for students through the <a href="https://sustainability.utoronto.ca/ceccs-subcommittees/operations/campus-as-a-living-lab/">Campus as a Living Lab</a> initiative, which are part of CECCS.</p> <p>At U of T Scarborough, <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/sustainability/low-carbon-and-renewable-energy-systems">sustainable infrastructure efforts</a> include both existing and upcoming projects.</p> <p>The campus’s oldest building, the Science and Humanities Wing, has been undergoing deep energy retrofits since 2018 – work that will be accelerated in the coming years. Elsewhere, the campus’s geothermal system, which comprises 350 boreholes, will be expanded to 450 by the end of 2024.</p> <p>U of T Scarborough is also proceeding with new climate-responsible construction projects such as the recently announced <a href="/news/u-t-breaks-ground-state-art-building-training-health-professionals-scarborough">Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health</a> (SAMIH) and the <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/bosa/earth-phase-2">EaRTH (Phase 2) complex</a>, part of the collaborative <a href="/news/earth-focused-u-t-centennial-college-partnership-advance-cleantech-build-vertical-farm">EaRTH District initiative</a> with Centennial College.</p> <p>This fall, U of T Scarborough opened a new student residence, <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/residences/first-year-building">Harmony Commons</a>, that meets the rigorous Passive House standard for energy-efficient construction. The building is equipped with eco-friendly features, including mechanical systems that can capture and re-use heat generated by sunlight, cooking and even body heat. In addition to being energy-efficient, the complex is designed to inspire students to carry forth sustainable thinking into their careers and spheres of influence, and drive change in construction and related sectors.</p> <p><strong>Wisdom Tettey</strong>, U of T vice-president and principal at U of T Scarborough, said the climate-positive commitment is a testament to the university’s global leadership.</p> <p>“We are delighted to be a part of this tri-campus commitment to a climate-positive future,” said Tettey. “Sustainability is a core consideration in every aspect of U of T Scarborough’s mission of facilitating world-class learning, scholarship and innovation that supports flourishing communities in the eastern GTA and beyond – while protecting the health of the world we all inhabit.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Tettey added that he’s confident the commitment will be met even as the campus experiences significant growth in the years ahead.</p> <p>“We are very confident that the tremendous talent of our faculty, students and staff will be harnessed, in collaboration with partners, to deliver on our goal through ground-breaking research, transformative learning and operational excellence.”</p> <p>At U of T Mississauga, a key element of the clean energy transition is moving away from natural gas as the primary energy source for heating, hot water and research processes. To that end, the campus launched Project SHIFT, an initiative to carry out deep energy retrofits in the central utilities plant to hasten the shift from fossil fuels to electricity.</p> <p>The campus is already home to a cutting-edge geothermal system, situated beside the Instructional Centre, and is working to expand solar energy projects across numerous buildings.</p> <p>U of T Mississauga also recently completed campus-wide energy audits, following which some 240 energy conservation measures were devised for the short, medium and long term.</p> <p><strong>Alexandra Gillespie</strong>, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Mississauga, said the campus is on track to exceed the targets set by the Low Carbon Action Plan, and is ramping up work towards becoming climate positive.</p> <p>“Our community is developing efficient LEED-certified buildings, accelerating our transition to renewable energy and realizing our sustainability goals,” said Gillespie, echoing comments she made in U of T Mississauga’s <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/green/media/485/download?inline">Climate Positive report</a>. “We have strengthened this work through outstanding programs in research and teaching, which continue to extend the power of sustainability learning from our campus into the wider world.”</p> <p>She added, in the report, that the university has a responsibility to future generations to help forge a more sustainable future.</p> <p>“I look forward to achieving this goal together and to opening a path to go beyond net zero. It’s the right and good thing to do – for our lifetime and for lives to come.”</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">On</div> </div> Mon, 04 Dec 2023 15:54:25 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 304619 at U of T sustainability leaders head to Dubai for COP28 climate summit /news/u-t-sustainability-leaders-head-dubai-cop28-climate-summit <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T sustainability leaders head to Dubai for COP28 climate summit</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/2023-11/GettyImages-1812568239-crop.jpg?h=4a5c3114&amp;itok=26P3QeB9 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-11/GettyImages-1812568239-crop.jpg?h=4a5c3114&amp;itok=1cNvBGaM 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-11/GettyImages-1812568239-crop.jpg?h=4a5c3114&amp;itok=up9aQgrj 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/2023-11/GettyImages-1812568239-crop.jpg?h=4a5c3114&amp;itok=26P3QeB9" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </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="2023-11-30T09:51:02-05:00" title="Thursday, November 30, 2023 - 09:51" class="datetime">Thu, 11/30/2023 - 09:51</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"><p><em>The 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Dubai, runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 (photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</em></p> </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/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</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/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/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institutional-strategic-initiatives" hreflang="en">Institutional Strategic Initiatives</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/munk-school-global-affairs-public-policy-0" hreflang="en">Munk School of Global Affairs &amp; Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-change" hreflang="en">Climate Change</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Sustainability leaders from the Ƶ are among the thousands of world leaders, legislators and climate activists attending COP28 in Dubai this year – highlighting the university’s commitment to advancing sustainability and research on a global scale.</p> <p>Beginning Nov. 30 and running until Dec. 12., the <a href="https://unfccc.int/cop28">28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference</a> will feature numerous discussions, presentations and other events aimed at mitigating and adapting to the ever-evolving challenges of climate change.</p> <p>That includes several panels hosted by U of T’s <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/">Climate Positive Energy Initiative</a> – <a href="https://isi.utoronto.ca/">an institutional strategic initiative</a> that supports sustainable energy and climate change initiatives across the university and beyond – and a roundtable discussion, evening reception and a networking event hosted by the U of T <a href="https://sustainability.utoronto.ca/ceccs-home/">President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change &amp; Sustainability</a> (CECCS).</p> <p><strong>Kristy Faccer</strong>, director of CECCS, says the committee is activating the university’s "third mission" – after <a href="/about-u-of-t/mission">education and research</a> – by taking action on climate change and sustainability.</p> <p>“At COP28, CECCS is meeting with Network and higher education leaders that are already involved in the global dialogue and innovating on climate, but so far are largely doing so with an ‘outside-in’ focus and operating in a largely uncoordinated manner outside of their own networks,” she says.&nbsp;</p> <p>“As co-convenor of the Network of Networks and roundtable at COP28, CECCS is turning this conversation ‘inside-out’ to work with leaders on how and where we can move the dial together, not by setting out a direction and next steps for one institution, or one network, but potentially thousands of institutions around the world, for the sector, and critically, with partners where it is needed most.”</p> <p>The CECCS roundtable discussion on Dec. 8 – an invite-only event co-hosted by Faccer – will feature remarks from the past COP26 president and <a href="https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/un-climate-change-high-level-champions/">UN Climate Change High-Level Champion</a> as well as the <a href="https://secondnature.org/initiative/uc3-coalition/" target="_blank">University Climate Change Coalition</a> (UC3), UN Climate Champions, <a href="https://www.u7alliance.org/">U7+ Alliance of World Universities</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://international-sustainable-campus-network.org/">International Sustainable Campus Network</a> (ISCN). An invite-only reception in the evening of Dec. 8 with a keynote from the co-president of the <a href="https://www.clubofrome.org/">Club of Rome</a> will also be co-hosted by CECCS.</p> <p>The panel discussion topics hosted by the Climate Positive Energy Initiative, meanwhile, will focus on everything from addressing gaps in climate innovation to the role of universities in ensuring no one is left behind in the transition to a net-zero future.</p> <p>On Dec. 8, a panel moderated by <strong>Shatha Qaqish-Clavering</strong>, director of strategy and operations at Climate Positive Energy, will focus on Western Canada’s plans to tackle climate change – in particular, the challenges and opportunities around meeting net-zero emissions reduction targets by 2050.</p> <p>“We will focus on clean energy innovation in Alberta and Saskatchewan,” Qaqish-Clavering says. “Our hope is that this conversation can inspire global collaboration, spark ideas for scalable solutions in other climates and countries, and foster shared optimism towards a clean and equitable energy transition worldwide.”</p> <p>A side event panel on Dec. 9 will discuss how universities are working with communities and industry to support 2050 net-zero emission reductions targets, with Qaqish-Clavering co-moderating and sharing U of T’s efforts. She says she intends to highlight U of T’s plans for a Grid Modernization Centre in Ontario, which would be the first of its kind in Canada and would see the university convene more than 50 industry partners to accelerate the adoption of renewable technologies into the grid. In addition to discussing innovation, policy-building and strategic partnerships, the panelists will also explore universities’ efforts to promote social justice, equity and youth leadership.</p> <p>A third panel – also moderated by Qaqish-Clavering – on Dec. 10 will focus on how universities can help communities and industry realize a net-zero future. That includes questions around adoption of new innovations, the gaps between universities and society more broadly on climate action and the role of fundamental and applied research in the field.</p> <p>Finally, on Dec. 11 – the same day that CECCS will co-host a networking event which will include guests from different universities – Qaqish-Clavering will participate on a panel about the role of academic institutions in a low-carbon transition organized by Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.</p> <p>Qaqish-Clavering says participating in COP28 showcases the university’s commitment to being a leader on climate change and sustainability.</p> <p>“The university is a global leader in climate research, and established the Climate Positive Energy Initiative to unite our climate and sustainability research experts so that we can work together towards achieving a net-zero future,” she says.</p> <p>“One of CPE’s goals is to help Canada become a global clean-energy model. Having CPE at COP28 allows us to showcase some of the research that is underway to transform our energy systems – and to bring forward future collaboration opportunities that can support equitable clean energy solutions not only in Canada, but around the world.”</p> <p>U of T’s collaborative approach to addressing climate change and other sustainability issues is longstanding. It is a member of ISCN and <a href="/news/u-t-joins-coalition-leading-universities-driving-climate-action">the University Climate Change Coalition</a> (UC3), and works to address global challenges such as climate change through the&nbsp; U7+ Alliance of World Universities.</p> <p><strong>Emma Lecavalier</strong>, a PhD student in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, is among four U of T students attending the conference. As a political scientist, she examines the role of transnational policy actors in promoting ambitious climate targets and building cities’ capacities to reach those targets.</p> <p>At COP28’s Local Climate Action Summit, she plans to interview policymakers to inform her research.</p> <p>“Attending the Local Climate Action Summit at COP28 will be a unique opportunity to observe the global dimensions of urban climate action,” she says.</p> <p><strong>Rohina Kabir</strong>, a master’s student studying European and Russian affairs at U of T’s Munk School of Global Affairs &amp; Public Policy, says attending COP28 will allow her to connect with fellow researchers, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and technology companies engaged in climate change initiatives in Central Asia.</p> <p>She hopes to uphold the commitment of leaving no one behind, with a specific focus on countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan and others.</p> <p>“Climate change knows no boundaries,” Kabir says, “making it even more imperative to address these issues.” &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">On</div> </div> Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:51:02 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 304739 at U of T undergrad student takes the fight against climate change to the streets /news/u-t-undergrad-student-takes-fight-against-climate-change-streets <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T undergrad student takes the fight against climate change to the streets</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/2023-08/Ibarra-Mendez-bike-orig-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=uqZCF9vW 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-08/Ibarra-Mendez-bike-orig-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=4MkTPg47 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-08/Ibarra-Mendez-bike-orig-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=niBkUy6X 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/2023-08/Ibarra-Mendez-bike-orig-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=uqZCF9vW" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </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="2023-08-30T13:59:37-04:00" title="Wednesday, August 30, 2023 - 13:59" class="datetime">Wed, 08/30/2023 - 13:59</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"><p><em>Sebastian Ibarra Mendez, pictured here towing a gas analyzer behind his bike, is&nbsp;a summer researcher with Climate Positive Energy, a U of T institutional strategic initiative (photo by Chris Sasaki)</em></p> </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/chris-sasaki" hreflang="en">Chris Sasaki</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/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institutional-strategic-initiatives" hreflang="en">Institutional Strategic Initiatives</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</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">Sebastian Ibarra Mendez cycles around the Toronto region towing a unit that measures methane leaks</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>As a high school student in Cajicá,&nbsp;Colombia,&nbsp;<strong>Sebastian Ibarra Mendez</strong> developed a methane detector for homes that was designed to alert users of harmful levels of the gas leaking from domestic stoves – not unlike a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm.</p> <p>He won a national competition with the idea, which he dubbed the Air Keeper.</p> <p>Now entering his fourth year in the Ƶ’s Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, Ibarra Mendez is continuing his focus on measuring methane leaks as a&nbsp;summer undergraduate researcher with&nbsp;<a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/">Climate Positive Energy</a>, a U of T <a href="https://isi.utoronto.ca/">institutional strategic initiative</a>.</p> <p>He and <strong>Mishaal Kandapath</strong> – a former CPE summer researcher – have been monitoring levels of methane throughout the Toronto region by towing a gas analyzer behind a bicycle. The mobile device measures the concentration of methane along different routes, revealing plumes or hotspots with higher-than-normal emission levels.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Kilogram for kilogram, methane traps over 20 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide so it’s very important to track,” says Ibarra Mendez, who is a physics and statistics major&nbsp;with a minor in computer science.</p> <p>“Measuring levels in different locations helps identify methane emitters. It allows the City of Toronto to better focus its efforts on methane emission reduction and it can be used to test existing policies designed to tackle the problem.”</p> <p>Water treatment plants are one place where the breakdown of biodegradable materials creates plumes of methane in Toronto, the researchers found. The data collected by the students can be used to identify excessive emissions and help plant operators to mitigate the problem.</p> <p>Active landfill sites also emit methane and plumes from these locations similarly show up in the maps.</p> <p>The researchers also discovered that landfill sites no longer in use continue to outgas at significant levels.</p> <p>“It made me realize that you can close a landfill site, but it’s still going to be a source of methane,” Ibarra Mendez says.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2023-08/Ibarra-Mendez_5679_master-crop_0.jpg?itok=dsDDOXKJ" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Sebastian</em><strong>&nbsp;</strong><em>Ibarra Mendez, right, and Mishaal</em><strong>&nbsp;</strong><em>Kandapath, left, prepare for another ride (photo by Chris Sasaki)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Recently, the team even detected a major leak from a Toronto hospital that resulted in measurements of 300 parts-per-million. “The concentration of methane in your home is about 2 parts-per-million – so 300 is a lot of methane,” Ibarra Mendez says.</p> <p>The research is part of the ongoing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca/GTA-Emissions/About/index.html">GTA Urban Emissions project</a>&nbsp;headed by&nbsp;<strong>Debra Wunch</strong>, an associate professor in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science’s&nbsp;department of physics&nbsp;and the School of the Environment.</p> <p>The project is just part of Wunch’s overall research as a member of the department’s Earth, atmospheric, and planetary physics group. Throughout her career, she has focused on measuring atmospheric greenhouse gases to gain a better understanding of the flow of carbon within the Earth’s land, oceans and atmosphere.</p> <p>“With the bike measurements, we can identify facilities in the city that emit methane,” she says. “And then, with five remote sensing instruments in permanent locations, we get the bigger picture of city-scale emissions – I can't tell you if it's a particular building or road, but we can see the amount of methane being put into the atmosphere by the city as a whole. And then, we also get measurements from satellites, which show us how much Toronto is producing relative to other cities around the world.”</p> <p>Among other criteria, the <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/launching-soon-climate-positive-energy-summer-2023-undergraduate-research-program/#:~:text=Are%20you%20an%20undergraduate%20student%20seeking%20a%20summer%20research%20position,research%20or%20in%20their%20field.">Climate Positive Energy (CPE) summer undergraduate research program</a> provides funding for undergraduate students conducting research in climate and sustainability topics that are “focused on achieving a just and equitable net-zero future.”</p> <p>“With this in mind, we planned our routes so they covered neighbourhoods that varied by household income,” says Ibarra Mendez. “By using this methodology, we ensure that the data being collected doesn’t benefit just specific target areas or groups, but rather supports everyone across the GTA.”</p> <p>Not only has the research been a natural extension of the methane alarm he began working on in high school, it also lets Ibarra Mendez enjoy another of his interests: cycling.</p> <p>“Yes, I really like cycling,” he says. “And we’ve covered over 160 kilometres so far. So, for me, it’s the perfect job.”</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> Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:59:37 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 302739 at Can AI help make our buildings more sustainable? /news/can-ai-help-make-our-buildings-more-sustainable <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Can AI help make our buildings more sustainable?</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/2023-05/Seungjae-Lee-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=H1-fzhKa 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-05/Seungjae-Lee-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=m_Ozx5jj 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-05/Seungjae-Lee-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=aiGgwWNV 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/2023-05/Seungjae-Lee-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=H1-fzhKa" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </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="2023-05-29T14:00:57-04:00" title="Monday, May 29, 2023 - 14:00" class="datetime">Mon, 05/29/2023 - 14:00</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"><p><em>Seungjae Lee, a professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering, is using U of T buildings as models to design deep learning algorithms that could optimize the operations of building heating and cooling systems – significantly reducing energy use (supplied image)</em></p> </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/selah-katona" hreflang="en">Selah Katona</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/climate-positive-campus" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Campus</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <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/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</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">Assistant Professor Seungjae Lee is working on a pilot project aimed at reducing U of T’s climate footprint by using machine learning to optimize heating and cooling systems in existing buildings</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>We know we should switch the lights off when we leave a room&nbsp;– but what about the furnace, or air conditioning? In studying how unnecessary heating and cooling of buildings wastes a lot of energy,&nbsp;<a href="https://civmin.utoronto.ca/home/about-us/directory/professors/seungjae-lee/"><strong>Seungjae Lee</strong></a>, an assistant professor in the Ƶ's department of civil and mineral engineering in the <a href="https://www.engineering.utoronto.ca/">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a>, has found that&nbsp;artificial intelligence (AI) could offer a better way forward.</p> <p>Lee’s latest research project,&nbsp;Grid-Interactive Smart Campus Buildings, is a three-year pilot project that aims to reduce U of T’s climate footprint by leveraging AI to optimize the heating and cooling systems in existing buildings. The project is carried out in partnership with <a href="https://cglee.mie.utoronto.ca/"><strong>Chi-Guhn Lee</strong></a>, a professor in the department of mineral and industrial engineering and is jointly funded by the <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/">Climate Positive Energy</a> and <a href="https://climatepositive.utoronto.ca/">Climate Positive Campus</a> initiatives at U of T.</p> <p>“Buildings account for around 25 to 30 percent of total energy consumption and energy-sector greenhouse gas emissions in Canada and worldwide,” Lee says.</p> <p>“Given that people spend an average of 90 percent of their lives indoors, ensuring comfortable and healthy indoor environments is a critical function of building systems. But we could be a lot smarter about using the resources we have.”</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2023-05/Seungjae-Figure.png?itok=xuV11sp0" width="750" height="261" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>This schematic describes how deep learning could be used to create customized algorithms for optimizing energy use in buildings (illustration by Seungjae Lee)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Lee’s research applies AI solutions to building science to tackle this issue. In the first year of the project the team is focused on creating a digital twin&nbsp;– or virtual representation&nbsp;– of the <a href="https://lsm.utoronto.ca/ats/">Exam Centre</a> at 255 McCaul St.</p> <p>In the next stage, the researchers will develop a deep reinforcement learning algorithm for the optimal control of the heating and cooling systems. This algorithm will be pre-trained with the digital twin to avoid putting excessive stress on the actual building.</p> <p>The algorithm will then be implemented in the real Exam Centre and further fine-tuned through interactions with the building. If successful, Lee hopes to use the same approach to convert more campus buildings to smart buildings, contributing to&nbsp;U of T’s <a href="https://www.fs.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2019-10-04_LowCarbonActionPlan_V22_Spread_Web.pdf">Low-Carbon Action Plan</a>.</p> <p>“60 percent of campus energy consumption on the St. George campus comes from heating and cooling buildings,” he says.</p> <p>Lee’s research group is also investigating how humans interact with their buildings in an NSERC Discovery-funded project on scalable systems for intelligent and interactive buildings, which is an emerging area of study with relatively little published research&nbsp;– something Lee hopes to change.</p> <p>Where previous methods relied on data such as the correlation between thermostat setpoint temperature and other parameters (such as the time of the day), Lee and his team are instead using causal relations&nbsp;– for example, the factors affecting occupants’ decision-making on thermostat setpoint temperature&nbsp;– to develop reliable human-centric smart solutions.</p> <p>“Once we understand how humans interact with their buildings in the light of causation, we can realize more intelligent and human-interactive buildings,” says Lee.</p> <p>While Lee is not the only researcher interested in using machine learning and AI techniques in buildings, the sector has lagged behind other sectors such as the automotive or health-care industries, because of how different the energy consumption profiles and needs of individual buildings can be.</p> <p>“A solution customized for one building is not necessarily fully transferable to another,” Lee says.</p> <p>“This is a major roadblock in the path of making our buildings smarter. If we can seamlessly combine existing building-science domain knowledge and AI, we can build scalable and reliable solutions to create sustainable buildings.”</p> <p>To tackle this issue, the team is partnering with PLC Group, along with funding from the Ontario Centre of Innovation, to develop a scalable digital twinning tool for building energy systems. If the tool is effective, it will equip the building industry with a solution to create intelligent, interactive and more sustainable buildings around the world.</p> <p>“The use of AI in building management systems not only has the potential to significantly improve the sustainability of our built environment, but also the way in which we interact with it,” Lee says.</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, 29 May 2023 18:00:57 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 301800 at U of T-led collaboration to develop community-tailored clean energy technologies /news/u-t-led-collaboration-develop-community-tailored-clean-energy-technologies <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T-led collaboration to develop community-tailored clean energy technologies</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/2023-05/Neville_photo-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=dnycz0YL 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-05/Neville_photo-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=wiMNoDVH 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-05/Neville_photo-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=G83wOazq 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/2023-05/Neville_photo-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=dnycz0YL" alt="Kate Neville, with snowy hills in the backround"> </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="2023-04-25T09:57:30-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 25, 2023 - 09:57" class="datetime">Tue, 04/25/2023 - 09:57</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"><p>It’s important to develop clean energy systems that meet the needs of individual communities, says Kate Neville, one of the lead researchers of the CANSTOREnergy project (photo by Kate Harris)</p> </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/adina-bresge" hreflang="en">Adina Bresge</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/breaking-research" hreflang="en">Breaking Research</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/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institutional-strategic-initiatives" hreflang="en">Institutional Strategic Initiatives</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/leah-cowen" hreflang="en">Leah Cowen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate" hreflang="en">Climate</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-change" hreflang="en">Climate Change</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/collaboration" hreflang="en">Collaboration</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/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mechanical-industrial-engineering" hreflang="en">Mechanical &amp; Industrial Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/political-science" hreflang="en">Political Science</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/school-environment" hreflang="en">School of the Environment</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p class="paragraph"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">A<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> Ƶ-led collaboration develop</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">ing</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> clean energy technologies that </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">can be</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> tailored to the </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">needs of </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">different</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> communities </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">–</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> from </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Canada’s</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">remote </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">North</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> to </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">populous</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">southern Ontario</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> – <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/research-coordinating-committee/news/2023/04/government-of-canada-invests-in-high-risk-high-reward-interdisciplinary-research-to-support-world-leading-innovation.html">will receive support from the federal government</a>.</span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="paragraph"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">The <span style="border-bottom:transparent; user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="background-image:var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url(/taxonomy/term/6826/feed/&quot;data:image/svg+xml"><span style="background-position-x:0%"><span style="background-position-y:100%">CANSTOREnergy</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> project brings together researchers from </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">11</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> Canadian universities</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">, along with</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> community</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">, </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">utility</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">and industry </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">partners</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">,</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> to </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">develop</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> technologies that convert carbon-based emissions into useful products, such as fuels and raw materials</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">,</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> and create a net-zero means of seasonal storage for renewable energy </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">that meet</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">s</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> specific community needs</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">.</span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></p>__<p class="paragraph"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">Led by researchers from U of T’s <a href="https:/cpe.utoronto.ca/" style="user-select:text; -webkit-user-drag:none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent" target="_blank"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="text-decoration-line:none"><span data-contrast="none" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important">Climate Positive Energy</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> initiative,<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> the collaborative effort is being supported by $24 million through the</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> federal</span></span></span> </span></span></span><a href="https:/www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/index-eng.aspx" style="user-select:text; -webkit-user-drag:none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent" target="_blank"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="text-decoration-line:none"><span data-contrast="none" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">New Frontiers in Research Fund</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span><span data-contrast="none" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">’s </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https:/www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/transformation/2022/competition-concours-eng.aspx" style="user-select:text; -webkit-user-drag:none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent" target="_blank"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="text-decoration-line:none"><span data-contrast="none" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important">2022 Transformation Competition</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span data-contrast="none" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{75bf72ec-9702-49d2-8037-7804824418f6}{92}" paraid="897174619"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">The project <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">will</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> deliberately</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> focus on two</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">very </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">different</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">regions </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">–</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Yukon and</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> the</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> southern Ontario</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> city of</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> Hamilton</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">– </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">in recognition that there is no one-size-fits-all approach</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> in a vast country like Canada</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{75bf72ec-9702-49d2-8037-7804824418f6}{140}" paraid="737282183"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">“We want to think about address<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">ing</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> these big global challenges </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">such as </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">climate change. </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">But we </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">don’t</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> solve them </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">at </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">the </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">global scale,” says </span></span></span><b><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Kate Neville</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">, </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">one of the project’s lead researchers and </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">an associate professor in </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">U of T’s</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> department of </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">political science and School of the Environment in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{75bf72ec-9702-49d2-8037-7804824418f6}{174}" paraid="1001187461"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">“You solve them by <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">thinking about what those challenges look like in lots of places and </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">working with communities </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">to find solutions that meet multiple </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">needs</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{75bf72ec-9702-49d2-8037-7804824418f6}{190}" paraid="2097811994"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">The project<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">’</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">s two sites highlight the different challenges Canadian regions face when considering </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">how carbon conversion technologies can be</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">successfully</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> adapted to existing infrastructure, economic </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">forces</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> and </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">social </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">goals</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{75bf72ec-9702-49d2-8037-7804824418f6}{218}" paraid="107313988"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Yukon, for example, is <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">not included in</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> the electrical grid that connects much of the U.S. and Canada</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">,</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> and seasonal extremes limit the availability of renewable energy. As a result, many communities need to import diesel </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">fuel </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">during the harsh winter months – which comes at </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">a high cost</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> both environmentally and financially.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{75bf72ec-9702-49d2-8037-7804824418f6}{236}" paraid="2117505300"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Hamilton, by contrast, is a densely populated urban centre that is plugged into the main North American power grid. Heavy industry fuels the local economy, but the environmental costs, such as air pollution, are unevenly distributed <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">and</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">disproportionately </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">impact</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> low-income and marginalized communities.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{75bf72ec-9702-49d2-8037-7804824418f6}{236}" paraid="2117505300"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none">“Science and research are essential to solving the greatest challenges facing humanity today and in the future,” says François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry. “That’s why our government is committed to continuing support for researchers who are pushing the boundaries of innovation, by investing in transformative, high-risk / high-reward research that will address issues that impact Canadians in all sectors of our economy and society.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{1500faeb-faa9-4d69-bfc1-8b2ff6e44297}{199}" paraid="135681542" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">At<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> the core of the project is a commitment to engaging community members </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">about the</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">ir</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> energy challenges and </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">goals</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> and </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">how carbon conversion </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">technologies could fit into their future.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-left">_<div>_ _ _ <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2023-05/087A6087-resized.jpg" width="750" height="500" alt="David Sinton">__</div>_ _</div>__<figcaption><em>David Sinton is the nominated principal investigator of CANSTOREnergy and academic lead of the Climate Positive Energy institutional strategic initiative (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p class="paragraph" paraeid="{177439eb-cc0b-41f6-8c9c-193d2b14b8b1}{25}" paraid="1793866327"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">This <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">engagement</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> could</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">ultimately</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">determine</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">the </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">success </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">of carbon conversion technologies, </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">says </span></span></span><b><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">David Sinton</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">, </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">nominated </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">principal investigator </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">of </span></span></span><span style="border-bottom:transparent; user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="background-image:var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url(/taxonomy/term/6826/feed/&quot;data:image/svg+xml"><span style="background-position-x:0%"><span style="background-position-y:100%">CANSTOREnergy</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> and </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">academic lead of Climate Positive </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Energy, one of several U of T </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https:/isi.utoronto.ca/" style="user-select:text; -webkit-user-drag:none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent" target="_blank"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="text-decoration-line:none"><span data-contrast="none" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important">institutional strategic initiatives</span></span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> and a professor of mechanical engineering in U of T's Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{177439eb-cc0b-41f6-8c9c-193d2b14b8b1}{76}" paraid="931824205"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">T<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">echnologies that </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">perform in the lab</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">don’t</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> always work as well </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">under</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> real-world conditions</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">, </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">adds</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> Sinton</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">, who notes that </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">the </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">urgency of </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">the </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">climate c</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">hallenge</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> calls for a</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">n </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">expedient </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">way</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> to</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> pre-empt issues </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">that may crop up during</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">deployment</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{177439eb-cc0b-41f6-8c9c-193d2b14b8b1}{132}" paraid="489827793"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">“Too often,<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> engineers – and I have experience in this – innovate while focusing </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">on the technology, which is </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">totally understandable</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">. </span></span></span><span data-contrast="none" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">But when tech is developed without guidance from an end user … the </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">subsequent</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> iterations </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">can be</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> costly.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{177439eb-cc0b-41f6-8c9c-193d2b14b8b1}{150}" paraid="588662807"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="none" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">“<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">We </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">don't</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> have time for that decades</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">-</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">long iterative cycle that is the norm. We need </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">a new approach</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> and are testing that here</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{177439eb-cc0b-41f6-8c9c-193d2b14b8b1}{164}" paraid="428433606"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="border-bottom:transparent; user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="background-image:var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml"><span style="background-position-x:0%"><span style="background-position-y:100%">CANSTOREnergy’s<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> research team </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">comprises</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">engineers, social scientists, economists and other experts</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> from McMaster University, Yukon University, University of Waterloo, University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, University of Winnipeg, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Calgary, Carleton University and Dalhousie University.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{177439eb-cc0b-41f6-8c9c-193d2b14b8b1}{178}" paraid="1179798948"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">The researchers will receive guidance from stakeholders and advisers in industry, utilities, <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">government</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> a</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">nd</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> Indigenous </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">nations</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{177439eb-cc0b-41f6-8c9c-193d2b14b8b1}{196}" paraid="93328286"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;ba6c953e-a01e-4d4e-840c-5769e456ae86|32&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[469775450,&quot;ui-provider&quot;,201340122,&quot;1&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;ui-provider&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469778324,&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;]}" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">"The Ƶ welcomes the federal government’s critical support for this important research,” says <b><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Leah Cowen</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">, U of T's vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “Canada enjoys a global competitive advantage </span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">in </span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">the area of carbon capture research – and the </span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="border-bottom:transparent; user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="background-image:var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml"><span style="background-position-x:0%"><span style="background-position-y:100%">CANSTOREnergy</span></span></span></span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> team</span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">, with its</span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> collaborative and</span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> interdisci</span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">plinary approach,</span></span></span><span data-ccp-charstyle="ui-provider" style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> will build on these strengths and help to optimize this technology to meet the needs of communities across the country.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{177439eb-cc0b-41f6-8c9c-193d2b14b8b1}{226}" paraid="980078876"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Since e<span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">nvi</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">ronmental justice is at the forefront of the </span></span></span><span style="border-bottom:transparent; user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="transition:background-color 0.1s linear 0s"><span style="background-image:var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml"><span style="background-position-x:0%"><span style="background-position-y:100%">CANSTOREnergy</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">p</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">roject, Neville says</span></span></span> <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">it’s</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> vital that communities have a say in developing the </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">clean </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">energy systems </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">tha</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">t could</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> power and</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> empower</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{4458fbfe-4ec9-4c23-9bd4-c2ea59b176cf}{5}" paraid="1102698985"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">“It’s about imagining <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">community futures in ways that meet the goals of equity and fairness,” says Neville.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>__<p class="paragraph" paraeid="{4458fbfe-4ec9-4c23-9bd4-c2ea59b176cf}{13}" paraid="1099227308"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="overflow-wrap:break-word"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-kerning:none"><span data-contrast="auto" style="user-select:text" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:none !important"><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">“It’s thinking about how technology can <span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">help us undo some of the unjust systems that we have</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> and help build something that is not </span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">only</span></span></span><span style="user-select:text"><span style="-webkit-user-drag:none"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent"> about climate change, but about a more just future.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></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>__ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:57:30 +0000_ lanthierj_ 301471 at _ __ U of T President Meric Gertler calls for cross-sector collaboration at Climate Economy Summit_ /news/u-t-president-meric-gertler-calls-cross-sector-collaboration-climate-economy-summit_ <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T President Meric Gertler calls for cross-sector collaboration at Climate Economy Summit</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/UofT90249_2022-11-24-TRBOT-Climate-Summit-%2810%29-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=kq9GunkG 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT90249_2022-11-24-TRBOT-Climate-Summit-%2810%29-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YcgaEXVB 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT90249_2022-11-24-TRBOT-Climate-Summit-%2810%29-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=4WgRa_jn 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/UofT90249_2022-11-24-TRBOT-Climate-Summit-%2810%29-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=kq9GunkG" alt="Meric Gertler at the podium at the Toronto Region Board of Trade Climate Summit in Toronto"> </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="2022-12-01T14:00:08-05:00" title="Thursday, December 1, 2022 - 14:00" class="datetime">Thu, 12/01/2022 - 14:00</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">U of T President Meric Gertler delivers remarks at the&nbsp;Climate Economy Summit, which was co-hosted by the university’s Climate Positive Energy initiative and the Toronto Region Board of Trade (photo by Johnny Guatto)</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/adina-bresge" hreflang="en">Adina Bresge</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/climate-positive-campus" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Campus</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/geoexchange" hreflang="en">Geoexchange</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-change" hreflang="en">Climate Change</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/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/philosophy" hreflang="en">Philosophy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p style="margin-bottom:11px">Partnerships between the public and private sectors are crucial to help the Toronto region capitalize on its strong cluster of clean energy companies, Ƶ President <b>Meric Gertler </b>says.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">He issued the call for collaboration at the recent <a href="https://bot.com/Events/climate-summit">Climate Economy Summit</a>, co-hosted by U of T’s <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/">Climate Positive Energy initiative</a> and the Toronto Region Board of Trade, which brought together business leaders and experts to discuss the challenges – and opportunities – of investing in a sustainable future.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Home to Canada’s largest cluster of clean-tech firms, the Toronto region is positioned to become a leading centre of sustainable growth, President Gertler said in his opening remarks.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">But it will take a concerted effort to unlock this potential, he said, urging governments, public institutions, not-for-profits and private firms to work together to find homegrown solutions to the global climate crisis.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">“U of T and its partners are collaborating to move the needle quickly,” said President Gertler.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">“In the face of barriers to progress at the international level, it's important to be reminded that progress at home is possible.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">For example, the university is set to receive <a href="/news/u-t-partners-canada-infrastructure-bank-boost-climate-positive-efforts">$56 million in&nbsp;financing from the Canadian Infrastructure Bank</a> (CIB) to <a href="https://climatepositive.utoronto.ca/">advance the university’s plan</a> to reduce more emissions than it emits on the St. George campus by 2050. The plan, which includes building <a href="/news/he-d-be-thrilled-see-u-t-s-massive-geoexchange-project-built-pioneering-work-late-prof">Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system</a> under King’s College Circle, is just one of the ways the university prioritizes sustainability initiatives across its three campuses, with ongoing initiatives at <a href="http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/green/home/sustainability-strategic-plan">U of T Mississauga</a> and <a href="http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/sustainability/people-planet-prosperity">U of T Scarborough</a>.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">In particular, the CIB partnership will support sustainable infrastructure initiatives under Project LEAP, including deep energy retrofits for university buildings and labs, and the installation of energy-storage solutions.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">U of T – recently <a href="/news/u-t-ranked-2nd-world-first-ever-qs-sustainability-ranking">ranked second in the world in the inaugural QS Sustainability Ranking</a> – has leveraged this federal financing to secure an additional $70 million in loans from the private sector on very attractive terms, said President Gertler.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">He said these investments will accelerate the university’s progress towards <a href="https://www.fs.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2019-10-04_LowCarbonActionPlan_V22_Spread_Web.pdf">its climate targets</a> by a decade, with emissions projected to drop by nearly 60 per cent before 2030.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Moreover, he said, U of T will continue to tap into the expertise of its researchers at the Climate Positive Energy Initiative, launched earlier this year. The <a href="https://isi.utoronto.ca/#:~:text=The%20Institutional%20Strategic%20Initiatives%20portfolio,industry%2C%20community%20and%20philanthropic%20partners.">institutional strategic initiative</a> brings together researchers from across disciplines to devise clean-energy solutions that are guided by political, human and societal considerations.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Their work could help Canada address competitive pressures that are emerging and being closely watched by the federal government. This month, the Standing Committee on International Trade is studying how the <i>U.S. Inflation Reduction Act</i>, which invests US$369 billion in supporting clean energy, will impact the development of Canada’s clean-tech industry.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Some of the faculty members involved in the Climate Positive Energy initiative shared their insights at the summit, including academic lead <b>David Sinton</b>, a professor of mechanical engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering and Canada Research Chair in microfluidics and energy.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Among the other U of T speakers at the summit were: <b>Ali Hooshyar</b>, an assistant professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering and Canada Research Chair in electric power systems; and <b>Shoshanna Saxe</b>, an associate professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Hooshyar is leading a proposed $20-million grid modernization testing and simulation centre. The proposed centre would be the first of its kind in Canada, convening stakeholders in the electricity sector to accelerate the integration of renewable energy solutions, energy storage and electric vehicle charging infrastructure into the grid.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><img alt="General view of the conference participants" src="/sites/default/files/UofT90251_2022-11-24-TRBOT-Climate-Summit-%2812%29-crop.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><em>The&nbsp;Climate Economy Summit&nbsp;brought together business leaders and experts to discuss the challenges – and opportunities – of investing in a sustainable future&nbsp;(photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Saxe, for her part, told a panel that the goal of retrofitting buildings toward net-zero emissions is well within reach – but that the greatest impediment North America faces is a “deficit of imagination” about how to develop infrastructure for a sustainable society. “Our emission goals are totally achievable. We just have to be willing to achieve them,” said Saxe. “The tools are waiting there for us to grab them.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Representing the Ontario government at the summit were Energy Minister Todd Smith, who spoke about how the province is championing energy innovation, and Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade, who spoke about how Ontario’s auto sector is shifting to electric vehicles.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">On the eve of the event, <b>Joseph Heath</b>, a professor in U of T’s department of philosophy in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, made the case for optimism about the potential of innovation to address climate change, suggesting that with the right policy incentives, the next energy revolution could be on the horizon. “A lot of environmental pessimism looks as though it has a grounding in science. Whereas, in fact, what it really is when you scratch the surface is pessimism about human ingenuity,” said Heath.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The Toronto summit came on the heels of the United Nation’s COP27 climate conference in Egypt, where U of T helped co-ordinate a meeting of university networks that collectively represent more than 900 institutions.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><b>Kristy Faccer</b>, director of the <a href="https://sustainability.utoronto.ca/ceccs-home/">President's Committee on the Environment, Climate Change &amp; Sustainability</a>, said this “network of networks” facilitates the exchange of knowledge among academic institutions in order to amplify sustainable innovation on a global scale.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">“What we’re really interested in is collective impact,” Faccer told a side panel convened by the U7+ Alliance of World Universities. “You can imagine the kind of scaling opportunity and the influence that these networks can have.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&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, 01 Dec 2022 19:00:08 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 178381 at Good for you, better for the planet: U of T cyclists pedal toward a more sustainable future /news/good-you-better-planet-u-t-cyclists-pedal-toward-more-sustainable-future <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Good for you, better for the planet: U of T cyclists pedal toward a more sustainable future </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/Beth-Austerberry-and-Walid-Maraqa-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=NA9ZTkfe 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Beth-Austerberry-and-Walid-Maraqa-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UUBl9Lme 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Beth-Austerberry-and-Walid-Maraqa-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=n1a_Agj1 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/Beth-Austerberry-and-Walid-Maraqa-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=NA9ZTkfe" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </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="2022-10-20T16:13:42-04:00" title="Thursday, October 20, 2022 - 16:13" class="datetime">Thu, 10/20/2022 - 16:13</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">Beth Austerberry, executive director of Bikechain, helps Walid Maraqa, a grad student in biostatistics, perform basic maintenance on his bike (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</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/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</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/climate-positive-energy" hreflang="en">Climate Positive Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cycling" hreflang="en">Cycling</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institutional-strategic-initiatives" hreflang="en">Institutional Strategic Initiatives</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cell-and-systems-biology" hreflang="en">Cell and Systems Biology</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/faculty-art-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Art &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/landmark" hreflang="en">Landmark</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/transportation" hreflang="en">Transportation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>One of<b> Ayush Sharma</b>’s first stops upon moving to Canada to attend the Ƶ was <a href="https://bikechain.ca/">Bikechain</a> on the George campus.</p> <p>An international student from Delhi, Sharma says he had barely been in Toronto a week before visiting the educational bike repair space for students.</p> <p>“I enjoyed cycling back home in India and I wasn’t sure how to go about doing it in Toronto,” says Sharma, who is completing a major in biodiversity and conservation biology and a minor in geographic information systems. “It’s a big city and it seems a little intimidating – and bikes are expensive.</p> <p>“I wasn’t really sure where to start.”</p> <p>Bikechain proved to be a great landing pad. The non-profit organization, which has been around since 2005, not only offers free workshops on how to fix a flat tire, do-it-yourself bike repairs and free bike rentals to students – it’s part of a supportive and growing local cycling community in and around campus.</p> <p>“People come here on a basic level to fix their bike,” says <b>Beth Austerberry</b>,<b> </b>executive<b> </b>director of Bikechain. “A lot of people also come here because they want to learn.”</p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/Bike-Chain-wid-crope.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>Bikechain is a non-profit on the St. George campus that offers free workshops on how to fix a flat tire, do-it-yourself bike repairs and free bike rentals to students (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</em></p> <p>While Toronto is often criticized for its car-focused infrastructure, there’s no denying the rapidly growing popularity of cycling as a healthy, sustainable mode of transportation – a future that U of T is actively supporting through research, infrastructure and community building efforts.</p> <p>On the St. George campus alone, there are 36 Bike Share Toronto stations – <a href="https://bikesharetoronto.com/">part of a larger, city-wide network of 680 stations and 7,185 rental bikes</a> (U of T Scarborough also has a Bike Share station near the bus loop on Military Trail). There are also bike lanes that run through the campus along University Avenue, College Street, St. George Street, Wellesley Street, Bloor Street, Hoskin Avenue and Harbord Street, among others.</p> <p>U of T is also adding hundreds of new above-ground and below-ground spaces to park your bike as part of as part of the <a href="https://landmark.utoronto.ca/">Landmark Project</a>, which will transform the historic heart of the St. George campus into a greener, more pedestrian friendly space on top of a massive underground geoexchange system that will significantly reduce campus emissions.</p> <div class="media_embed" height="422px" width="750px"><iframe height="422px" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1v6FHIX4ccsbJOApmA9Rtn0bqdcw&amp;ehbc=2E312F" width="750px"></iframe></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>At U of T Scarborough, cycling admittedly requires a bit more planning than it does on the St. George campus – but there are enviable upsides, too.</p> <p><b>Hanno Rein</b>, an associate professor in the department of physical and environmental sciences at U of T Scarborough, says he discovered a particularly scenic cycling route to campus that he felt compelled to share via a <a href="http://hanno-rein.de/bike.html">blog post</a>.</p> <p>“The nice thing about it is that there are no cars around, so the entire trip is all trails,” he says. “I wanted to encourage others to commute by bike, even if it is in Scarborough.”</p> <div class="media_embed" height="422px" width="750px"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="422px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VapVO9CAtWA" title="YouTube video player" width="750px"></iframe></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Rein, who also teaches in the David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics and the department of physics on the St. George campus, says he loves cycling because of the environmental and health factors.</p> <p>“It’s very enjoyable,” he said. “It’s the nicest commute I can think of.”</p> <p>However, he’s also quick to point out that infrastructure for cyclists could be better and safer.</p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/UofT88614_u-of-t-engineering_51682339783_o-lpr.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>Many U of T students, staff, faculty and librarians treat cycling as a year-round activity&nbsp;in Toronto (photo by&nbsp;Daria Perevezentsev)</em></p> <p>At U of T Mississauga, <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/green/bikeshare/rentals">BikeShare</a> offers 48-hour bicycle, helmet and lock rentals to U of T Mississauga students free of charge. Located in the Student Centre extension, BikeShare has commuter-style bikes and mountain bikes for rent and is open until the end of October. The program also offers educational repairs similar to Bikechain, providing tools for basic fixups.&nbsp;</p> <p>Cyclists at U of T Mississauga also have access to the 3.4-kilometre <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/ontario/utm-nature-trail-loop">Nature Trail Loop</a> along Credit River and nearby Erindale Park offers a scenic route for cyclists and mountain bikers in the area. Meanwhile, the City of Mississauga is considering the implementing a system similar to Bike Share Toronto to expand transportation options. The system would include stations with bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters.</p> <p>Southern Ontario’s snowy winters can pose a challenge to bicycle commuters on all three campuses – though many are increasingly treating it as a year-round activity.</p> <div class="image-with-caption right"> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/Tony-Harris-600x600-1.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;"><em>Tony Harris</em></p> </div> <p><b>Tony Harris</b>, a professor in the department of cell and systems biology in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, says he appreciates being available to avoid traffic on his commute and likes that he’s reducing his environmental footprint by not driving.</p> <p>His approach to slush and snow?</p> <p>“I think it’s really important to find good routes that are safe,” he says, adding that it takes him about 30 minutes to bike to the St. George campus from his home. “In the winter, you have to be more cautious about slippery conditions.”</p> <p>A long-time cycling commuter, Harris adds that he’s perfected the art of cycling during a Toronto winter.</p> <p>“I wear my normal clothes and then my fleece and I have a yellow cycling jacket on top,” he described. “I wear two pairs of gloves and that really helps my hands. I have an inner glove that’s a running-type glove and then I wear a fleece glove over top. I also wear a toque underneath my helmet. “One other thing is long underwear.</p> <p>“Having two layers everywhere seems to be the key.”</p> <p>His advice to students who are new to cycling? Map out your routes.</p> <p>“Before you head out, find where the dedicated cycling lanes are. If there aren’t dedicated cycling lanes, find one-way side streets that allow you to avoid the busier streets and cars,” he says.</p> <p>U of T researchers are also playing a key role in helping to map out the university’s transportation future with sustainability – and cycling – in mind.</p> <div class="image-with-caption left"> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT88443_2021-11-03-Marianne-Hatzopoulou-and-%C3%89lyse-Caron-Beaudoin-%288%29-crop.jpg" alt><em>Marianne Hatzopoulou</em></p> </div> <p><b>Marianne Hatzopoulou, </b>a professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, belongs to a research team that’s trying to understand how U of T commuters’ habits and other personal choices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.</p> <p>The project, funded by the <a href="https://cpe.utoronto.ca/news/">Climate Positive Energy</a> research initiative, will launch a travel survey in January to collect data from students, staff, faculty, and librarians to understand how they commute to campus every day.</p> <p>“The second part of the project is to quantify the carbon footprint of commuting and the greenhouse gasses associated with commuting to U of T to measure what our footprint is from transportation,” explained Hatzopoulou.</p> <p>“The third element is to run some experiments to understand what would make people switch their mode of transportation, especially those who are driving.”</p> <p>Hatzopoulou’s team wants to understand where there are opportunities to promote more sustainable and active modes of transportation and where the challenges lie.</p> <p>“There’s a lot of research out there that actually quantifies the benefits of cycling as a mode of transportation,” she says.</p> <p>As for Sharma, riding his bike around campus not only introduced him to the city, it saved him precious time traveling between classes on the St. George campus – not to mention lowering his carbon footprint.</p> <p>Most importantly, he says, it has helped him find a community through Bikechain, where he is now a co-president and runs workshops.</p> <p>“There is a mix of undergraduate, graduate, PhD students as well as faculty and non-U of T students,” he says of the group. “Bike shops in general can be dominated by cis males and it can be an unwelcoming space for other people, but Bikchain has always been an inclusive and open space for everyone.</p> <p>“That’s one of the main reasons I’ve stuck with the community for so long.”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>&nbsp;</b></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> Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:13:42 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 177448 at