/ en /celebrates/5-undergraduate-students-receive-2024-rbc-awards-diversity-and-innovation-technology <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">5 undergraduate students receive 2024 RBC Awards for Diversity and Innovation in Technology</span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-type/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> </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="2024-11-07T10:30:39-05:00" title="Thursday, November 7, 2024 - 10:30" class="datetime">Thu, 11/07/2024 - 10:30</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-people/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-campus/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/rbc-scholarships-diversity-and-innovation-technology" hreflang="en">RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/university-toronto-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">������Ƶ Entrepreneurship</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-orientation field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">landscape</div> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-11/2024-rbc-group.jpg" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>(clockwise from top left): Isabella Tang, Riya Mathur, Harmandeep Gill, Sarvnaz Ale Mohammad and Jessica Tang (supplied images)</em></p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Five U of T undergraduate students – <strong>Harmandeep Kaur Gill</strong>, <strong>Isabella Tang</strong>, <strong>Jessica Tang</strong>, <strong>Riya Mathur</strong> and <strong>Sarvnaz Ale Mohammad</strong> – have received <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/social-impact-and-health-innovation-among-priorities-for-winners-of-the-rbc-award-for-diversity-and-innovation-in-technology/">2024&nbsp;RBC Awards for Diversity and Innovation in Technology</a>.</p> <p>The award recognizes Black, Indigenous and/or woman-identifying students entering their third year who are interested in careers at the intersection of technology and financial services.&nbsp;Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, their demonstrated interest in exploring a future career in technology and their work on creating innovative solutions, which demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset. &nbsp;</p> <p>This year's recipients are all women and their&nbsp;interests range from researching black holes to helping seniors manage their prescription medication and developing energy-harvesting devices to help patients with heart failure.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“Investing in the future of technology and building key technical skills is core to RBC’s strong engineering culture,” said <strong>Kendra Dubyk</strong>, director, technology partnerships at RBC. “The RBC Award for Diversity and Innovation demonstrates our commitment to the equity and inclusion of deserving students and recognizes their creativity, curiosity and technical aptitude.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Each student receives a $15,000 award, renewable for a second year.</p> <h3><a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/social-impact-and-health-innovation-among-priorities-for-winners-of-the-rbc-award-for-diversity-and-innovation-in-technology/">Read more about the award recipients at U of T Entrepreneurship</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-source field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">UTC</div> <div class="field field--name-field-top-story-hub-page- field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Top Story (Hub page)</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:30:39 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 310215 at /celebrates/xatoms-startup-named-hult-prize-finalist-wins-three-prizes-startupfest <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Xatoms startup named Hult Prize finalist, wins three prizes at Startupfest</span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-type/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> </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="2024-07-25T11:27:20-04:00" title="Thursday, July 25, 2024 - 11:27" class="datetime">Thu, 07/25/2024 - 11:27</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-people/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-campus/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/artificial-intelligence" hreflang="en">Artificial Intelligence</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/university-toronto-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">������Ƶ Entrepreneurship</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-orientation field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">landscape</div> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-07/IMG_2599-%281%29-1-crop.jpg" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>Diana Virgovicova and Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou (supplied image)</em></p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://www.xatoms.com/">Xatoms</a>, a startup co-founded by ������Ƶ students <strong>Diana Virgovicova</strong> and <strong>Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou</strong>, has been <a href="https://www.startupfest.com/blog/629/2024-winners">recognized with three prizes at Startupfest 2024</a>.</p> <p>The company, which uses quantum chemistry and AI to discover molecules that can efficiently purify water, took home the $100,000 Best of the Fest, $100,000 Women in Tech Investment and $50,000 Front Row Ventures Student Entrepreneur prizes.&nbsp;Those prizes will be matched by the Business Development Bank of Canada, bringing Xatoms’s total winnings at Startupfest to $500,000.</p> <p>Additionally, Xatoms has also been selected among the top 14 out of 9,400 teams for the prestigious <a href="https://www.hultprize.org/2024-challenge-unlimited/">Hult Prize</a>, and will compete for&nbsp;the $1-million grand prize in September.</p> <p>The startup&nbsp;<a href="/news/making-waves-u-t-entrepreneur-uses-quantum-chemistry-ai-purify-drinking-water">evolved out of a discovery that Virgovicova, its CEO, made at age 17</a> when she used quantum chemistry software to model a photocatalyst molecule that can eliminate pollutants from water when exposed to sunlight.</p> <p>Xatoms, which was part of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thebridge/">The Bridge</a>&nbsp;accelerator program at U of T Scarborough and is now part of the <a href="https://spinup.utm.utoronto.ca/">SpinUp wet lab incubator</a> at U of T Mississauga, builds on that discovery by incorporating AI and machine learning to discover more – and more efficient – materials and molecules.</p> <h3><a href="/news/making-waves-u-t-entrepreneur-uses-quantum-chemistry-ai-purify-drinking-water">Read more about Xatoms CEO Diana Virgovicova</a></h3> <h3><a href="http://www.hultprize.org/2024-challenge-unlimited/">Read more about the Hult Prize</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-source field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">UTC</div> <div class="field field--name-field-top-story-hub-page- field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Top Story (Hub page)</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:27:20 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 308549 at /celebrates/biomaterials-startup-erthos-recognized-2024-governor-general-s-innovation-award <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Biomaterials startup Erthos recognized with 2024 Governor General’s Innovation Award</span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-type/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> </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="2024-05-28T11:01:48-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 28, 2024 - 11:01" class="datetime">Tue, 05/28/2024 - 11:01</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-people/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-campus/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/governor-general-s-innovation-award" hreflang="en">Governor General's Innovation Award</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/university-toronto-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">������Ƶ Entrepreneurship</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-orientation field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">landscape</div> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-05/UTE_Erthos_Jan-2024_Volpe-14-crop.jpg" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>Nuha Siddiqui (L) and Kritika Tyagi (photo by Matthew Volpe)</em></p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Erthos, a biomaterials startup co-founded by ������Ƶ alumni <strong>Nuha Siddiqui</strong> and <strong>Kritika Tyagi</strong>, has received a <a href="https://innovation.gg.ca/winner/erthos-next-gen-biomaterials-platform/">2024 Governor General's Innovation Award</a>.</p> <p>Launched in 2016, the annual awards celebrate exceptional Canadian individuals, teams and organizations for their excellence in innovation and their contributions in helping to shape our future and positively impact our quality of life.</p> <p>Erthos, which began as a research project of Siddiqui’s while she was studying at U of T, was recognized for its efforts in helping tackle plastic pollution with its novel plant-based resin, which serves as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. The startup was nominated for the honour by the Business Development Bank of Canada.</p> <p>“Nuha Siddiqui's leadership at Erthos is a testament to strategic vision, adaptability and a commitment to global sustainability,” reads the award citation. “Erthos stands resilient, inspiring transformative change for a more sustainable and inclusive future.”</p> <h3><a href="https://innovation.gg.ca/six-recipients-from-across-canada-recognized-for-their-ground-breaking-work-and-excellence-in-innovation-2/">Read about the 2024 Governor General's Innovation Awards</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-source field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">UTC</div> <div class="field field--name-field-top-story-hub-page- field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Top Story (Hub page)</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 28 May 2024 15:01:48 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 307810 at /celebrates/four-u-t-students-awarded-2022-rbc-scholarships-diversity-and-innovation-technology <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Four U of T students awarded 2022 RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology</span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-type/academic-achievement" hreflang="en">Academic Achievement</a></div> </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="2022-10-14T13:36:41-04:00" title="Friday, October 14, 2022 - 13:36" class="datetime">Fri, 10/14/2022 - 13:36</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-people/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-campus/mississauga" hreflang="en">Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-campus/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/rbc-scholarships-diversity-and-innovation-technology" hreflang="en">RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/university-toronto-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">������Ƶ Entrepreneurship</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-orientation field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">landscape</div> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/media/1-RBCScholarshipWinners-2022.jpg" width="750" height="500" alt="2022 RBC Scholarship Winners"> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item">(L-R) Mouaid Alim, Sana Hashim, Muhammed Yakubu and Yara Nassar</div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Mouaid Alim</strong>, <strong>Sana Hashim</strong>, <strong>Yara Nassar</strong> and <strong>Muhammed Yakubu</strong> are the recipients of the inaugural RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology.</p> <p>The undergraduate students are all in their third year of studies at the ������Ƶ – in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, at U of T Mississauga and the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.</p> <p>The scholarships, which recognize and support undergraduate students who are from equity-deserving groups and interested in emerging technologies, were announced at the <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/rbc-innovation-challenge/">Tech for a Greener Future - RBC Innovation Challenge</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>“As part of our efforts to accelerate a more inclusive future, we are proud to support the RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology,” said Emily Mercier, chief operating officer of RBC technology and operations. “These winners are champions of positive change both in their classrooms and their communities, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.”</p> <p>Recipients were selected based on academic and extra-curricular achievements that demonstrate innovation and an interest in technology. Each was awarded a scholarship valued at $15,000, renewable for a second year.&nbsp;</p> <p>“It is a great honour to be selected as a recipient of the RBC Scholarship for Diversity and Innovation in Technology,” said Yakubu. “This award will inspire me – alongside fellow students and innovators – to keep finding solutions to problems around us, while connecting me to a network of like-minded individuals who will be pivotal in my journey toward my long-term goals.”</p> <h3><a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/meet-four-u-of-t-students-awarded-2022-rbc-scholarships-for-diversity-and-innovation-in-technology%ef%bf%bc/">Read the UTE story</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-source field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">UTE</div> <div class="field field--name-field-top-story-hub-page- field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Top Story (Hub page)</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 14 Oct 2022 17:36:41 +0000 lanthierj 177491 at