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Articles by Liz Do
Three Moments from Autumn 2021
September 23, 2021 Second Skin Date: August 30 Time: 10:21 a.m. Campus: St. George This surgical tool, being developed by researchers at U of T and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, could soon change how large burn wounds are treated. The device – a kind of 3D printer for skin – will enable physicians to lay a sheet of biomaterial over a patient’s burn site and dispense a “bioink” to accelerate the healing process.
Five U of T Engineering faculty receive Ontario Research Funding to advance transformative research
Professor Philippe Lavoie (UTIAS) is among five U of T Engineering researchers to receive funding in the latest round of the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence (ORF-RE) program. (Photo: Meredith Pullara) Anyone who lives under a flight path is familiar with the “whishing” and “whooshing” sounds of an aircraft flying above. Professor Philippe Lavoie (UTIAS) is developing technologies to contain this noise to just the immediate area around an airport.
How modelling informs tough ICU decisions during COVID-19: U of T Engineering researchers explain
Last month, an Ontario Health official warned that reaching 900 COVID-19 patients in its intensive care units (ICU) could trigger a triage protocol, in which some of the province’s oldest and sickest patients would not receive the highest level of care available. Ontario only narrowly averted this life-or-death scenario. The pandemic has shone a light on the difficult decisions that must be made in order to manage hospital capacity, quality of care and patient outcomes.
The show must go on: Skule™ Nite to premiere all-virtual musical and comedy show for 100th anniversary
For 99 years, U of T Engineering students have put on a musical and comedy show, Skule™ Nite, to packed audiences at Hart House Theatre. But in its 100th year, while surefire jokes about Skule™ life and Arts & Science students will remain, almost nothing else about the show will be the same. On Friday, Apr. 16, Skule™ Nite 2T1 will stream to a live audience watching from home.
‘Assemble it like IKEA furniture:’ U of T Engineering TA creates build-at-home machine to enable hands-on remote learning
In February, U of T Engineering students in MSE398: Materials Manufacturing and Design Laboratory received a package in the mail. Inside was a lab kit, with components — mechanical parts, electrical components, a printed circuit board (PCB), and tools — to build an at-home mini mechanical tester machine for their labs. “You assemble the pieces like IKEA furniture,” says teaching assistant Crystal Liu (MIE 1T8 + PEY, MSE MASc candidate).
‘Nobel Prize of Computing:’ U of T Engineering alumnus Alfred Aho receives A.M. Turing Award
Alumnus Alfred Aho (pictured here in 2015 receiving his honorary degree at U of T) and collaborator Jeffrey Ullman have been named 2020 AM Turing Award recipients. (Photo: Roberta Baker) U of T Engineering alumnus Alfred Aho (EngPhys 6T3), alongside collaborator Jeffrey Ullman, has received the 2020 A.M. Turing Award — widely considered the Nobel Prize of computing — for their influential work in algorithms and compilers. The award is named after mathematician and computer scientist Alan M.
Explainer: U of T Engineering professor Omar F. Khan on COVID-19 vaccination efficacy, misconceptions and Canada’s rollout
One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines are being deployed and administered around the world — with vaccine development, manufacturing and distribution taking place at record-breaking speed. As Canada races to vaccinate its citizens amid an increase in variant infections, writer Liz Do spoke to Professor Omar F. Khan (BME), an immunoengineering expert.
ISTEP welcomes new faculty member Lydia Wilkinson
Professor Lydia Wilkinson recently joined the Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education & Practice (ISTEP) as a faculty member. Wilkinson has been an instructor at U of T Engineering since 2007, helping to develop undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry (ChemE) and the Engineering Communication Program (ECP) on themes including communication and engineering research methods.
ISTEP welcomes new faculty member Shai Cohen
Professor Shai Cohen recently joined the Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice (ISTEP) as a faculty member. Cohen is a recognizable face for many U of T students and alumni, having taught in the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, Rotman School of Management, and U of T Engineering, over the last 25 years. “My first experience at U of T Engineering was when a professor blew out a ligament just a few days before the start of term.
Comparing COVID-19 mitigation strategies worldwide: Passion for complex global challenges drives alumna’s fellowship project
During the pandemic, Marie Floryan (MechE 1T9 + PEY) has been analyzing and comparing COVID-19 mitigation strategies in different countries around the world. She worked on the side project while pursuing her master’s in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Floryan was driven by a deep interest in studying global challenges — a passion sparked during her time at U of T Engineering.
Black History Month: Representation Matters
How are you taking action for systemic change? Chris Yip, Dean, U of T Engineering "While there is much more to be done to improve Black inclusion at the Faculty, we have made some strides over the last few years. We continue to expand pathways for Black students to pursue STEM fields. This includes partnering with five universities in Ontario to create a new fellowship for Indigenous and Black students pursuing doctoral degrees in engineering.
Black History Month: Presidents reflect on the impact of National Society of Black Engineers at U of T
Kelly-Marie Melville (ChemE 1T2 + PEY) was in her dorm room, just two weeks into her studies at U of T Engineering, when a fellow student Korede Owolabi (CompE 1T5 + PEY) and member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) U of T chapter came knocking on her door. “He gave me a full rundown about NSBE, and I didn’t fully understand the gravity of it at the time,” says Melville.
Black History Month 2021: Black Women in STEM
“I have drawn my inspiration from many people, and so I cannot point to a few. I have learnt different lessons from each person that has inspired me, from Maya Angelou and Nelson Mandela, to my mother, father and sister, grandmothers and grandfathers, mentors and teachers, friends, and other youth. All of them have inspired me at different points along my path. As the South African word "Ubuntu" describes, ‘I am, because you are.’” “My parents. I think it’s a cliche for a reason.
Toronto’s first-ever Black student-run hackathon returns for third year, going virtual and global
The NSBEHacks 2020 team, many of whom are back to lead NSBEHacks 2021. This year’s student organizers also include Adam Cassie (Year 3 ECE), Rebecca Lashley (Year ECE), Kyra Nankivell (Year 1 IndE) and Boleng Masedi (Year 4 ECE). This photo was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtual reality makes unique chemical engineering lab accessible from home
For more than 70 years, the Unit Ops Lab has been a cornerstone for undergraduate training in chemical engineering. Now, Professor Ariel Chan (ChemE) is using virtual reality and 3D simulations to make it accessible to students who are studying from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Unit Ops is like medical school for our students,” says Chan, who coordinates several lab-based courses built around the facility’s capabilities.
Ontario universities create fellowship to increase diversity in engineering and technology
U of T Engineering is one of six universities announcing the launch of the new Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowships, designed to expand pathways and improve inclusion of Black and Indigenous voices in higher education and the STEM fields.
Five U of T Engineering researchers awarded Canada Research Chairs
Professor Shoshanna Saxe (CivMin, left) and Ali Hooshyar (ECE, right) are among this year’s Canada Research Chairs. Work is underway in Professor Shoshanna Saxe’s (CivMin) lab to create the world’s largest detailed database of construction materials used in buildings and transport infrastructure. “Materials are the biggest driver of cost and environmental impact on a construction project,” explains Saxe, whose work investigates ways to align infrastructure provision with sustainability.
‘Reflect, remember, respond’: U of T commemorates National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Members from across U of T’s three campuses gathered virtually to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On Dec. 6, 1989, a gunman entered an engineering classroom at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal and murdered 14 female students, injuring another 10 women and four men. The victims were targeted because of their gender. The date of the massacre has become a day of remembrance and action against gender-based violence and discrimination.
How automated vehicles can impede driver performance, and what to do about it
Credit: CC0 Public Domain As cars keep getting smarter, automation is taking many tricky tasks —from parallel parking to backing up —out of drivers' hands. Now, a University of Toronto Engineering study is underscoring the importance of drivers keeping their eyes on the road—even when they are in an automated vehicle (AV).
Molly Shoichet named one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada
University Professor Molly Shoichet has been a longstanding advocate for women in STEM, as well as a leading voice in the advancement of science and engineering knowledge within Canada. (Photo: NSERC/CRSNG - Sylvie Li) University Professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, BME, Donnelly) has been named one of the Top 100 most powerful women in Canada by Women’s Executive Network (WXN). The list recognizes the country’s highest achieving female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
'A false sense of security’: How automated vehicles can impede driver performance, and what to do about it
As cars keep getting smarter, automation is taking many tricky tasks — from parallel parking to backing up — out of drivers’ hands. Now, a U of T Engineering study is underscoring the importance of drivers keeping their eyes on the road — even when they are in an autonomous vehicle (AV). Using an AV driving simulator and eye-tracking equipment, Professor Birsen Donmez (MIE) and her team studied two types of in-vehicle displays and their effects on the driving behaviours of 48 participants.
Two new clean-energy hubs in the GTA to boost U of T Engineering sustainability research
This rendering shows the vision for the Sustainability Lab, a new facility to be constructed on the roof of the Wallberg Building. (Image courtesy Baird Sampson Neuert Architects) Two leading-edge facilities set to open in 2022 will further strengthen U of T Engineering as a powerhouse for clean energy research and commercialization. This week, the National Research Council of Canada announced a new advanced materials research facility in Mississauga.
Three cool virtual labs: How U of T Engineering instructors are getting creative with remote active learning
A camera and a bottle of Gatorade were the key pieces of equipment for a recent virtual lab in Professor Jennifer Farmer’s (ChemE) course, CHE204: Applied Chemistry. “We told students that they’d have to determine the amount of food dye in the drink,” explains Farmer. Any other year, students would learn to operate a spectrometer to find the answer.
U of T researchers develop new tool for scooping contents of individual cells from local environment
Scientists can now select individual cells from a population that grows on the surface of a laboratory dish and study their molecular contents. Developed by researchers at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and the Donnelly Centre, the new tool will enable a deeper study of stem cells and other rare cell types for therapy development.
Molly Shoichet receives Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal, Canada’s highest honour for science and engineering research
University Professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, BME, Donnelly Centre), a world-leading researcher in tissue engineering, has received the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering — Canada’s most prestigious award for science and engineering research. The Herzberg Gold Medal is awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) in recognition of research contributions characterized by both excellence and influence.
Rapid COVID-19 testing: U of T team ditches cotton swabs for sensing probes
Amid a rise in positive COVID-19 cases — and a reported backlog to book tests and receive results in Ontario — Health Canada has approved four rapid-testing devices that could return results within 15 minutes. Meanwhile, U of T researchers are working on an approach that could produce results in five. The project is a collaboration between researchers at U of T Engineering, Pharmacy and Chemistry, under the supervision of professors Ted Sargent (ECE) and Shana Kelley (Pharmacy).
Four emerging startups to watch from Hatchery’s virtual Demo Day 2020
Student-founded startup Themis — which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline contract-drafting for lawyers — recently took home the top prize at the eighth-annual Hatchery Demo Day 2020, hosted by the Entrepreneurship Hatchery. The event is the culmination of the Hatchery Nest program, a four-month accelerator that connects student teams with experienced mentors and industry leaders to develop their businesses.
U of T Engineering community rallies together to record messages of support for Back to Skule™
From advice to students, to tips on practicing wellness at home, nearly 50 U of T Engineering faculty, staff, students and alumni, have so far shared their messages of support. As classes start remotely this week, the U of T Engineering community has a message to new and returning students, and to one another: we got this. The Faculty has launched the Back to Skule™ video capsule, inviting faculty, staff, students and alumni to record messages of encouragement, support and advice.
Professor Aimy Bazylak elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists
Professor Aimy Bazylak (MIE) is working to advance fuel cells, electrolyzers and batteries for the production of clean power and energy storage without greenhouse gas emissions. (Photo: Roberta Baker) Professor Aimy Bazylak (MIE) has been elected to the 2020 cohort of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.
How U of T Engineering students are keeping Skule™ F!rosh traditions alive, virtually
Yellow hard hats and purple paint — two colourful symbols that signal the longstanding traditions of U of T Engineering F!rosh Week. Although the class of 2T4 won’t be together in-person this fall, the organizing team is on a mission to make sure first years won’t miss a beat. “It’s been incredibly tough, but easily the most rewarding thing I’ve done,” says Gabe Sher (Year 4 ElecE), Orientation Chair.
Anti-viral copper coatings could help slow transmission of COVID-19
A U of T Engineering team is developing a new way to coat minute particles of copper onto the inside of fabrics, such as those used in face masks. The technology could provide an additional layer of safety to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The goal is to deposit very fine copper particles onto both woven and non-woven fabrics using twin-wire arc (TWA) spray technology. This fabric will then be used in one of the layers of a reusable fabric face mask.
Five U of T Engineering professors on how they’re preparing for an unprecedented Back to Skule™
During a typical academic year, Professor Chirag Variawa’s (ISTEP) pre-lecture ritual involved taking a walk and listening to music before making his way into the Lee & Margaret Lau Auditorium, a large collaborative space in the Myhal Centre that seats nearly 500 people. Inside, the room would be filled to near-capacity with first-year engineering students. “I’d fire up the laptop, the screen turns on, and the room goes quiet,” says Variawa.
Meet two top students from Toronto high schools who are attending U of T Engineering this fall
The upcoming fall semester will be unlike any other in the University of Toronto’s history due to the shift to virtual learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. But for incoming student Michael Acquaviva (Year 1 EngSci), the unusual start to his post-secondary journey represents more of an opportunity than a hinderance.
Resiliency during COVID-19: How one Canadian supply chain is adapting to serve its customers
The economic impact of COVID-19 has rippled through industries across the world. Businesses everywhere have dealt with sudden closures, new health and safety rules and disruptions to the supply chain.
McLean Award recipient Aimy Bazylak is creating new technologies for sustainable energy
Professor Aimy Bazylak is this year’s winner of the McLean Award from the Connaught Fund and the McLean endowment. (Photo: Roberta Baker) Zero-emission sources of power harvested from solar and wind are less costly and more widely available than ever before. But what happens when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow? Professor Aimy Bazylak (MIE) may have an answer. Bazylak holds the Canada Research Chair in Thermofluidics for Clean Energy.
Six U of T Engineering projects receive funding boost for state-of-the-art research tools
A precision flight-control test in wind with a hexacopter drone from Professor Steven Waslander‘s (UTIAS) lab. Waslander will use the funding to acquire the latest in motion-capture technology in order to develop next-generation drones.
How to get more cancer-fighting nanoparticles to where they are needed
U of T Engineering researchers have discovered a dose threshold that greatly increases the delivery of cancer-fighting drugs into a tumour. Determining this threshold provides a potentially universal method for gauging nanoparticle dosage and could help advance a new generation of cancer therapy, imaging and diagnostics.
Forensic engineering expert on what happens next in Beirut
On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, a massive explosion caused extensive damage to the city of Beirut, Lebanon. With hundreds killed and thousands more injured, the country’s government has promised an investigation. Professor Doug Perovic (MSE) is an expert in forensic engineering, and has been involved in investigations of explosions, structural failures, and other disasters.
New Canada Research Chairs boost research into clean air and sustainable resource extraction
Left to right: Professor Gisele Azimi (ChemE, MSE) and Arthur Chan (ChemE) have both been awarded new Canada Research Chairs. (Photo credits, from left: Roberta Baker; courtesy of Arthur Chan) Two U of T Engineering professors have been awarded new Canada Research Chairs. Professor Gisele Azimi (ChemE, MSE) now holds the Canada Research Chair in Urban Mining Innovation, while Professor Arthur Chan (ChemE) is the new Canada Research Chair in Atmospheric Chemistry and Health.
Five U of T Engineering grad students awarded Vanier Scholarships in recognition of research impact and leadership
Five U of T Engineering graduate students have been recognized with Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, worth $150,000 each. The funding will support doctoral research addressing a diverse range of challenges, from treating retinal degenerative diseases to fighting climate change. The Vanier Scholarships recognize PhD candidates at Canadian universities who demonstrate excellence in academics, research impact and leadership.
Students spark new solutions for COVID-19 challenges
From left: Lilian Kabelle (CivE MEng candidate), Marie Merci Ishimwe (ECE MEng candidate) and Ngone Lo (Faculty of Information). The team is building an “engineering think tank” to counteract the impact of COVID-19 in East Africa. (Photos courtesy of Lilian Kabelle) As the COVID-19 pandemic rearranged the plans of students across U of T Engineering over the past few months, one question was on many minds: what can I do to help? Now, dozens of students are taking action.
What’s contributing to the striking gender gap in the AI field? U of T Engineering study takes a closer look
A study led by U of T Engineering alumna Kimberly Ren (EngSci 2T0) is the first to quantify predictors that could lead women towards, or away from, pursuing careers in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). A 2018 report by the World Economic Forum found that women make up 22 percent of global AI professionals, with that proportion oscillating between 21 and 23 percent over a four-year trend.
U of T Engineering alumna Inioluwa Deborah Raji named to MIT Technology Review’s Top Innovators Under 35
U of T Engineering alumna Inioluwa Deborah Raji (EngSci 1T9) has been named to this year’s list of Top Innovators Under 35 by MIT Technology Review. Raji was recognized in the Visionaries category for her research on racial and gender bias in facial recognition services. “It’s been this whole journey, of getting my research published, of fighting against big companies that didn’t want to change, of advocating against this technology, and so this just feels like a cherry on top,” says Raji.
Five U of T engineers elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering
Dr. Emily Moore, centre, speaks with students at Troost ILead’s ‘The Power of Story’ event on March 5, 2020. (Credit: Daria Perevezentsev) Five members of the U of T Engineering community have been elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). Dr. Emily Moore, Director of Troost ILead, along with professors Baher Abdulhai (CivMin), Geoff Fernie (IBBME), Reza Iravani (ECE), and Charles Jia (ChemE), are among the CAE’s 52 new fellows for 2020.
Professor Cristina Amon receives Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award
Dean Emerita Cristina Amon has been recognized with Engineers Canada's most prestigious honour, recognizing outstanding engineering achievements and leadership in the Canadian engineering community. (Photo: Daniel Ehrenworth) Professor Cristina Amon (MIE), Alumni Distinguished Professor in Bioengineering and Dean Emerita of U of T Engineering, has received the 2020 Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award.
Micah Stickel receives University of Toronto President’s Teaching Award
Professor Micah Stickel (ECE), Vice-Dean, First Year for U of T Engineering, has received U of T’s highest honour for teaching. (Photo: Laura Pedersen) Professor Micah Stickel (ECE), Vice-Dean, First Year for U of T Engineering, has been recognized for his outstanding teaching and educational leadership with the President’s Teaching Award.
Grads to Watch 2020
U of T ENGINEERING Story by Liz Do & Tyler Irving With the University’s virtual Convocation ceremony on June 2, 2020 U of T Engineering students mark the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
Robotics for elder care: New joint centre fosters global collaboration
The new joint centre on robotics for elder care is led by professors Alex Mihailidis (IBBME, Medicine) and Yan Fu at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. (Photo: Nick Iwanyshyn) U of T Engineering and the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence has partnered with the Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in China to launch a centre dedicated to researching and commercializing robotics for elder care.
Milica Radisic receives Killam Fellowship
Professor Milica Radisic (IBBME, ChemE) is among the recipients of this year’s Killam Research Fellowships. (Photo: Nicholas Iwanyshyn) Professor Milica Radisic (IBBME, ChemE) is among the recipients of this year’s Killam Research Fellowships. “It is a great honour to receive this fellowship, and to be in the company of so many wonderful researchers from across Canada,” says Radisic.
Ted Sargent receives the Killam Prize in Engineering
University Professor Ted Sargent (ECE) has received this year’s Killam Prize for Engineering. “This honour means a lot to me, especially when I consider all of the inspiring researchers who have held it in years past,” says Sargent. “What this award celebrates is a truly global collaboration with talented researchers dedicated to building a cleaner, more sustainable world.
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