Alumni / en Reimagining the curb: 麻豆直播app alum helps cities design smarter streets /news/reimagining-curb-u-t-alum-helps-cities-design-smarter-streets <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Reimagining the curb: 麻豆直播app alum helps cities design smarter 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/2024-12/Marian-Mendoza-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=913d5070&amp;itok=jDl1DWXI 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-12/Marian-Mendoza-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=913d5070&amp;itok=oSm3Nsbx 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-12/Marian-Mendoza-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=913d5070&amp;itok=GIkEA_mI 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/2024-12/Marian-Mendoza-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=913d5070&amp;itok=jDl1DWXI" alt="Marian Mendoza poses in a typical urban street in Japan"> </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="2024-12-20T10:26:17-05:00" title="Friday, December 20, 2024 - 10:26" class="datetime">Fri, 12/20/2024 - 10:26</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>Marian Mendoza, who earned an honours bachelor of arts in geography and international relations at 麻豆直播app, is among a new generation of city-builders using data and emerging technologies to build more inclusive and sustainable cities&nbsp;(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/david-goldberg" hreflang="en">David Goldberg</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/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</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/geography-and-planning" hreflang="en">Geography and Planning</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/victoria-college" hreflang="en">Victoria College</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">Marian Mendoza is a product operations specialist at CurbIQ, a Toronto company that's helping cities wield data to better manage curbsides<br> <br> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For <strong>Marian Mendoza</strong>, curbsides aren鈥檛 simply where road and sidewalk happen to meet 鈥� they鈥檙e dynamic urban spaces with the potential to boost sustainability, inclusion and mobility.&nbsp;</p> <p>An alum of the University of Toronto鈥檚 Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, Mendoza is a product operations specialist at <a href="https://www.curbiq.io/">CurbIQ</a>, a Toronto-based company that offers a digital platform to help urban centres gather information about curbsides and optimize their use.</p> <p>鈥淐ities are finally starting to see the value of this real estate and taking steps to make the most of it,鈥� says Mendoza, who earned her honours bachelor of arts in geography and international relations in 2019 as a Victoria College member.</p> <p>Curbside management has become increasingly important as&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem;">curb use expands beyond vehicle parking to include bike lanes, patios and designated pickup areas for rideshares. Toronto, for example, has about 5,600 kilometres of curbside 鈥� a distance roughly equal to that between 麻豆直播app鈥檚 St. George campus and Whitehorse, Yukon.</span></p> <p>By providing cities with the tools to analyze real-time and historical data, CurbIQ helps municipalities and large urban institutions that manage roadways 鈥� such as universities and airports 鈥� make strategic, data-informed decisions to better optimize curbside space.</p> <p>鈥淎 city can use CurbIQ to see that certain on-street parking spaces are underutilized,鈥� says Mendoza. 鈥淎nd this could help decision-makers to consider converting those spaces into alternative curbside uses, such as a dedicated lane for transit or active transportation 鈥� improving accessibility and mobility in general for the city.鈥�</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/2024-12/data-curb-iq.png?itok=mvV8-NNb" width="750" height="434" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>CurbIQ digitizes curb regulations, integrates usage data from multiple sources and centralizes the information into a single platform (Image courtesy of Arcadis)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Since its founding in 2019, CurbIQ has had an impact in cities across Canada and around the world.</p> <p>In Toronto, the platform facilitated the expansion of bike lane infrastructure on Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue, and helped identify potential patio sites for the city鈥檚 Caf茅TO program, which created curb lane patios for restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p>In Edmonton, Alta. and Arlington County, Va., CurbIQ was used to optimize management of parking spaces.</p> <p>And in Dublin, Ireland, CurbIQ mapped more than 30 kilometres of curbside, helping city staff and third-party vendors, such as delivery services, better understand curb usage patterns 鈥� reducing congestion, lowering carbon emissions and improving traffic flow.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檝e already noticed a shift in support from the public and private sectors for building our cities smarter, in ways that use technology to improve urban planning processes,鈥� says Mendoza, noting digital tools like CurbIQ are essential to helping manage rising demand for housing, transit and curb space as cities and populations grow.</p> <p>鈥淏ut I鈥檓 a firm believer that technology doesn't replace human expertise; it just gives us the data and confidence to make better decisions.鈥�</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/2024-12/curb-iq.png?itok=XyK9zxyz" width="750" height="502" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>CurbIQ's platform has been used in cities across Canada and around the world (image courtesy of Arcadis)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Mendoza says the skills she developed at 麻豆直播app have stood her in good stead as she establishes herself among a new generation of city-builders using data and advanced technology.</p> <p>鈥溌槎怪辈pp taught me to be curious, ask questions and develop strong research skills,鈥� says Mendoza. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e free to ask any questions you want, and you have guidance from professors to explore and nurture your research interests.鈥�</p> <p>Mendoza鈥檚 work at 麻豆直播app included an independent research project on multimodal transportation in Portland, Oregon, conducted under the mentorship of <strong>Michael Widener</strong>, chair and professor in the department of geography and planning. 鈥淎s a student, Marian had a special talent for thinking through complex urban problems, their connections to both social and technical systems, and then charting a way forward,鈥� says Widener.</p> <p>鈥淪he always brought to class a wonderful mix of intellectual curiosity and positivity,鈥� adds&nbsp;<strong>Don Boyes</strong>, a professor, teaching stream and associate dean, teaching and learning, who taught Mendoza in several courses. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see her doing so well in her chosen field.鈥�</p> <p>In addition to the support of professors and peers, Mendoza is grateful for the numerous scholarships she received at 麻豆直播app, which included the <a href="https://www.geography.utoronto.ca/people/honours-awards/all-annual-department-award-recipients-1969-2023#WilliamGDeanScholarhship:~:text=recipients%20(1980%20%2D%202022)-,William%20G.%20Dean%20Scholarship%20in%20Geography%20Field%20Research,-Awarded%20to%20one">William G. Dean Scholarship in Geography Field Research</a>.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had,鈥� says Mendoza. 鈥淪cholarships gave me the freedom to explore a career path that wasn鈥檛 a straight line.鈥�</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> Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:26:17 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 310965 at 麻豆直播app community members recognized with Order of Canada /news/u-t-community-members-recognized-order-canada-2 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">麻豆直播app community members recognized with Order of Canada</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/2024-12/gg05-2018-0316-001-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=Cibnvyzb 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-12/gg05-2018-0316-001-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=1Xt6KMvf 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-12/gg05-2018-0316-001-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=834gbPgo 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/2024-12/gg05-2018-0316-001-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=Cibnvyzb" alt="a display of the various order of canada medals and honours"> </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="2024-12-19T11:01:38-05:00" title="Thursday, December 19, 2024 - 11:01" class="datetime">Thu, 12/19/2024 - 11:01</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&nbsp;Sgt Johanie Maheu)</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/adam-elliott-segal" hreflang="en">Adam Elliott Segal</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/temerty-faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Temerty Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lunenfeld-tanenbaum-research-institute" hreflang="en">Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/anthropology" hreflang="en">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/factor-inwentash-faculty-social-work" hreflang="en">Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work</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/faculty-dentistry" hreflang="en">Faculty of Dentistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-law" hreflang="en">Faculty of Law</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hospital-sick-children" hreflang="en">Hospital for Sick Children</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institute-medical-science" hreflang="en">Institute of Medical Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/laboratory-medicine-and-pathobiology" hreflang="en">Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/molecular-genetics" hreflang="en">Molecular Genetics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mount-sinai-hospital" hreflang="en">Mount Sinai Hospital</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/nutritional-sciences" hreflang="en">Nutritional Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/oise" hreflang="en">OISE</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/order-canada" hreflang="en">Order of Canada</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/trinity-college" hreflang="en">Trinity College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">麻豆直播app Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">麻豆直播app Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-college" hreflang="en">University College</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">"Each in their own way, they broaden the realm of possibilities and inspire others to continue pushing its boundaries"</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A pediatric surgeon who pioneered techniques to keep children鈥檚 hearts pumping. An anthropologist whose work has explored how land development shapes communities. A leading mathematician also renowned for scholarship on Indian philosophy.</p> <p>These are a few of the University of Toronto community members who were recently recognized by the Order of Canada.</p> <p>The Governor General announced <a href="https://www.gg.ca/en/appointments-order-canada-december-2024">88 new appointments to the Order of Canada</a> on Dec 18, including three promotions. They include <strong>George Trusler</strong>, former head of cardiac surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children and a professor emeritus in the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine;&nbsp;<strong>Tania Li</strong>, a <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-professors/complete-list-university-professors/">University Professor</a> in the department of anthropology in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science; and <strong>Vijaya Kumar Murty</strong>, a professor in the department of mathematics in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science.</p> <p>鈥淢embers of the Order of Canada are builders of hope for a better future,鈥� Gov. Gen.&nbsp;<strong>Mary Simon</strong>&nbsp;said <a href="https://www.gg.ca/en/media/news/2024/appointments-order-canada-december">in a statement</a>. 鈥淓ach in their own way, they broaden the realm of possibilities and inspire others to continue pushing its boundaries.&nbsp;Thank you for your perseverance, fearless leadership and visionary spirit, and welcome to the Order of Canada.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country鈥檚 highest civilian honours. It recognizes individuals whose achievements and service have had an impact on communities across Canada and beyond.</p> <p>Here is a list of 麻豆直播app faculty, alumni, supporters and friends who were appointed to, or promoted within, the Order of Canada in the latest round:</p> <hr> <h3>Current and former faculty</h3> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/image001.jpg?itok=e99KyMHL" width="150" height="149" alt="Stephen Arshinoff" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Steve Arshinoff</strong>, a professor in the department of ophthalmology and vision sciences in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named an Officer of the Order for his contributions to eye care, pioneering now-standard practices. Co-founder of the Eye Foundation of Canada, he also serves as a medical director of Eye Van, providing care to remote northern Ontario communities. He completed his ophthalmology residency at 麻豆直播app.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/Sylvia_sml-crop.jpg?itok=IAiBIePq" width="150" height="150" alt="Sylvia Bashevkin" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Sylvia Bashevkin</strong>, a professor emerita in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, was named an Officer of the Order for her contributions as a leading scholar of gender and politics. A former principal of University College and a senior fellow of Massey College, she pioneered research on the barriers faced by women in public life and has worked to expand opportunities for diverse political engagement.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/DrBhutta-crop.jpg?itok=TxbpQdI5" width="150" height="150" alt="Zulfiqar Bhutta" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Zulfiqar Bhutta</strong>, a professor in the department of nutritional sciences in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named an Officer of the Order for his contributions as one of the world鈥檚 foremost authorities on maternal and child health, shaping public health strategies that have reduced mortality and improved the well-being of women and children worldwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> <br> &nbsp;</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/IMG_6664-copy.jpg?itok=9N9b7lbc" width="150" height="150" alt="Sandy Buchman" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Sandy Buchman</strong>, medical director of the Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care at North York General Hospital and associate professor in the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for contributions to palliative medicine. A former president of the Canadian Medical Association, Buchman has advocated for palliative care, MAID and equitable access to compassionate care. He completed his residency in family medicine at 麻豆直播app.</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/10289_OFCPortraits_20221124-David-Chitayat-crop.jpg?itok=SI0qIS_S" width="150" height="150" alt="David Chitayat" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>David Chitayat</strong>, head of the prenatal diagnosis and medical genetics program at Mount Sinai Hospital, physician at SickKids and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine鈥檚 departments of paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, laboratory medicine and pathobiology, and molecular genetics, was named a Member of the Order for his globally acclaimed work identifying genes associated with fetal abnormalities and postnatal newborns.</p> <p><strong>Stacy Churchill</strong>, a professor emeritus in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, was named a Member of the Order for his expertise in education and linguistic rights for Francophone minorities. Churchill has advised the federal and provincial government on language policy and consulted on UNICEF and UNESCO education missions.</p> <p><strong>Dafna Gladman</strong>, a senior scientist at the Toronto Western Research Institute and a professor in the Institute of Medical Science in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named an Officer of the Order for her contributions to the psoriatic arthritis field. Her research advanced the understanding of the chronic disease, and her advocacy has improved the treatment and care. She earned her medical degree from 麻豆直播app.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/_Haas%2C-Dan-Portraits_2021-12-08_015-crop.jpg?itok=Qhmxjh8N" width="150" height="150" alt="Daniel Haas" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Daniel Haas</strong>,&nbsp;a professor and former dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, was appointed a Member of the Order for his expertise in dental anesthesiology and pharmacology. The former head of the faculty鈥檚 graduate dental anaesthesia speciality program, Haas has influenced dental training and practices worldwide. He earned his bachelor of science, doctor of dental surgery and PhD at 麻豆直播app.<br> &nbsp;</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/UofT13192_t-li_7199-crop.jpg?itok=65UXsgm9" width="150" height="150" alt="Tania Li" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Tania Li</strong>, a <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-professors/complete-list-university-professors/">University Professor</a> in the department of anthropology in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, was named an Officer of the Order for her contributions as one of Canada鈥檚 leading anthropologists. Her research 鈥� including groundbreaking work in understanding how international land development and corporate agriculture generate unintended poverty 鈥� has had a profound interdisciplinary impact, shaping policy and advancing human rights and sustainability initiatives.</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/UofT85114_2020-03-30-Kumar-Murty-%2811%29-crop.jpg?itok=WkMsMDfz" width="150" height="150" alt="Vijayakumar Murty" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Vijaya Kumar Murty</strong>, a professor in the department of mathematics in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions as one of Canada鈥檚 leading mathematicians. A former director of the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences at 麻豆直播app, he has advanced knowledge in various mathematical fields, including analytic number theory. He is also a renowned scholar of Indian philosophy. &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/09357_Greg_Ryan_0007-crop.jpg?itok=yVUl9vWj" width="150" height="150" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Greg Ryan</strong>, a perinatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, head of the fetal medicine unit at Sinai Health and professor in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for his groundbreaking contributions to fetal medicine. A senior clinician scientist in the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, he has revolutionized in-utero treatment and care, improving outcomes for mothers and their unborn children globally.&nbsp;</p> <div class="align-left"> <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_150_width_/public/2024-12/UofT84429_Valerie-Tarasuk_11-5-2019_by-Jim-Oldfield-crop.jpg?itok=MiODT-uG" width="150" height="150" alt="Valarie Tarasuk" class="image-style-scale-image-150-width-"> </div> </div> <p><strong>Valerie Sue Tarasuk</strong>, a professor emerita in the department of nutritional sciences in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine with a cross-appointment to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, was named a Member of the Order for her expertise on food insecurity in Canada. Tarasuk has worked to reduce food insecurity with policy intervention through PROOF, an interdisciplinary research program. She earned her master of science and PhD at 麻豆直播app.&nbsp;&nbsp; 鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>George Trusler</strong>, former head of cardiac surgery at SickKids and a professor emeritus in the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named an Officer of the Order in recognition of innovations in pediatric and cardiac surgery. His innovations have saved thousands of lives, including his &nbsp;groundbreaking invention to preserve the aortic valve and his design of an algorithm to control excess blood flow to the lungs of infants suffering heart failure.</p> <h3>Alumni and Friends</h3> <p><strong>J. Anthony Boeckh</strong>, who earned a bachelor of commerce in 1960 as a member of Trinity College, was named a Member of the Order in recognition of contributions to youth mental health through the Graham Boeckh Foundation, which he founded in honour of his late son. Boeckh has worked with leading global experts to establish strategies to transform Canada鈥檚 mental health care system. He is also a founding trustee of the Fraser Institute.</p> <p><strong>Carol Cowan-Levine</strong>, who earned her master鈥檚 in social work from 麻豆直播app, was recognized with the Order of Canada for her leadership role in social work&nbsp;and the establishment of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.&nbsp;Her extensive volunteer work has impacted government, health care institutions and the non-profit sector in Ontario.</p> <p><strong>Stan Douglas</strong>, a renowned multimedia artist, was named an Officer of the Order for his body of work that explores history, technology and memory. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the 2022 Venice Biennale. His donated piece, Maritime Workers Hall, Vancouver, hangs in the halls of 麻豆直播app鈥檚 Hart House as part of the Hart House Permanent Collection.</p> <p><strong>Donald Dippo</strong>, who earned a master of education and PhD from 麻豆直播app, was named a Member of the Order for increasing educational access for children and teachers in Canada and internationally. He co-founded the Borderless Higher Education for Refugees program, based in the Dadaab refugee camps of Kenya.</p> <p><strong>R. Douglas Elliott</strong> was named a Member of the Order for his advancement and protection of 2SLGBTQI+ rights under Canadian law. An alumnus of the Faculty of Law, he has been involved in landmark constitutional cases and class actions, notably serving as lead counsel in the LGBT Purge class action.</p> <p><strong>Aura Kagan</strong>, a speech language pathologist who earned a PhD from 麻豆直播app, was named an Officer of the Order for contributions that profoundly shaped care for people living with aphasia&nbsp;鈥�&nbsp;a disorder that disrupts the ability to speak, understand, read, and write&nbsp;鈥� including groundbreaking methods to help individuals communicate more effectively.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jeffrey J. McDonnell</strong>, who earned a bachelor of science from 麻豆直播app Scarborough in 1984, was named an Officer of the Order for his seminal scientific impact on the field of hydrology. A professor at the University of Saskatchewan, he has transformed the understanding of streamflow generation and the water cycle.</p> <p><strong>Maureen Jennings</strong>, who earned a master鈥檚 degree at 麻豆直播app in 1967, was named a Member of the Order for her achievements as an historical crime author, most notably for the creation of the <em>Detective Murdoch</em> series 鈥� which inspired the long-running TV show <em>Murdoch Mysteries</em> 鈥� and for her contributions to Canadian history regarding women's roles during the Second World War.</p> <p><strong>Karen Levine</strong>, who earned a bachelor of arts as a member of University College in 1977, was named a Member of the Order in recognition of her decades-long career at CBC Radio. She is also honoured for her book <em>Hana鈥檚 Suitcase</em>, which has educated young readers worldwide about the Holocaust.</p> <p><strong>Sam Shemie</strong>, who completed his pediatric cardiology fellowship at 麻豆直播app, was named a Member of the Order for shaping new ethical standards surrounding organ donation, creating new protocols for hospital culture and mentoring hundreds of clinical care physicians in Canada and abroad. He is medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Montreal Children's Hospital.</p> <p><strong>Walter Schneider</strong>, who earned a degree in literary arts from 麻豆直播app Mississauga, was named a Member of the Order for contributions to business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. As president and co-founder of RE/MAX INTEGRA, he transformed Canadian real estate, building the company into the nation鈥檚 top-selling organization.</p> <p><em>鈥� With files from Mariam Matti</em></p> <h3><a href="/news/tags/order-canada">Read about more 麻豆直播app community members recognized with the Order of Canada in recent years</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">On</div> </div> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:01:38 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 311073 at Researcher, entrepreneur ... and DJ to the stars? 麻豆直播app alum perfects the mix /news/researcher-entrepreneur-and-dj-stars-u-t-alum-perfects-mix <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Researcher, entrepreneur ... and DJ to the stars? 麻豆直播app alum perfects the mix</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/2024-12/Online%20Story%20Main%20%281%29.jpg?h=a1e1a043&amp;itok=MVC7Ito- 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-12/Online%20Story%20Main%20%281%29.jpg?h=a1e1a043&amp;itok=_8vKcJYG 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-12/Online%20Story%20Main%20%281%29.jpg?h=a1e1a043&amp;itok=1yfZ1KVw 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/2024-12/Online%20Story%20Main%20%281%29.jpg?h=a1e1a043&amp;itok=MVC7Ito-" 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="2024-12-16T09:22:20-05:00" title="Monday, December 16, 2024 - 09:22" class="datetime">Mon, 12/16/2024 - 09:22</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>Amir Alam says 麻豆直播app provided the foundation he needed to succeed as a DJ, a cancer researcher and an entrepreneur (photo by Kemeisha McDonald)</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/david-goldberg" hreflang="en">David Goldberg</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/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</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/woodsworth-college" hreflang="en">Woodsworth College</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">As a first-year student, Amir Alam toured with Justin Bieber and The Weeknd. Next, he refocused on his studies, published brain tumour research and launched a shoe-cleaning brand</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Amir Alam鈥檚</strong> arrival at the University of Toronto began with a friendly bet.</p> <p>After watching a DJ spin records for a raucous crowd one evening as a teenager,&nbsp;he struck a deal with his mother: she would buy him a set of turntables if he was accepted to every major Canadian university to which he applied.</p> <p>鈥淭he first choice was always 麻豆直播app 鈥� even before my family immigrated from Iran to Toronto, I remember hearing 麻豆直播app was the 鈥業vy League School of Canada,鈥欌€� says Alam, who earned his honours bachelor of science degree from the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science in 2015 as a member of&nbsp;Woodsworth College.</p> <p>A first-year student, Alam moved into residence with his new turntables and collection of vinyl records in tow. He also began to frequent a local record shop near campus where he persistently approached the manager about a job, opening the door to regular gigs at downtown clubs and, soon after, touring opportunities with high-profile artists including Justin Bieber and The Weeknd.</p> <p>Yet, despite the excitement that came with touring the world, Alam 鈥� aka DJ Crunch 鈥� says he missed belonging to the community that many students experience during their first year at university.</p> <p>鈥淲hen you're touring, you're always in a different city. You're in, you do the show, and you're out. It's a very scheduled and disconnected lifestyle. I really missed being around like-minded individuals and having meaningful conversations.鈥�</p> <p>So, music took a back seat as Alam focused on his studies and fulfilling a promise he had made to his father about completing a double-major in human biology and cell and systems biology.</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/2024-12/Online%20Story%20Inside%20%281%29.jpg?itok=vLcy5ngW" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Amir Alam looks through albums at Play De Record on Spadina Avenue, a store he worked at part-time during his 麻豆直播app studies&nbsp;(photo by Kemeisha McDonald)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Alam also took on mentorship roles and immersed himself in campus life. Beginning in third year, he worked as a lab assistant at SickKids鈥� <a href="https://www.sickkids.ca/en/care-services/centres/brain-tumour-research-centre/" target="_blank">Brain Tumour Research Centre</a> alongside&nbsp;<strong>Gelareh Zadeh</strong>, a neurosurgeon-scientist at University Health Network (UHN) and a professor in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 Temerty Faculty of Medicine.</p> <p>Alam then secured a full-time research position with UHN at the MaRS Discovery District, where he worked in neuro-oncology and published several papers on brain tumour research.</p> <p>But new opportunities and challenges were about to change Alam鈥檚 trajectory once more.</p> <p>He drew on his chemistry experience 鈥�&nbsp;and interest in street fashion 鈥� to develop a 100 per cent plant-based shoe-cleaning product called Shoe Laundry. Working with a lab in Edmonton, he refined the formula and Shoe Laundry soon became a full-time job.</p> <p>鈥淢y scientific background in the labs at 麻豆直播app, SickKids and UHN definitely helped me when I was developing the concept,鈥� says Alam. 鈥淚 knew what I wanted and I had the vocabulary to communicate with the lab.鈥�</p> <p>The company continues to grow. He鈥檚 developing a new, sustainable product that repels stains before they happen.</p> <p>Alam has also dabbled in filmmaking, running a music festival, making his own music and working in artist relations.</p> <p>He says he enjoys having multiple projects on the go 鈥� and is open to whatever comes next.</p> <p>The most valuable skill Alam developed at 麻豆直播app? &nbsp;Perseverance, he says, and making use of all the university has to offer.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淭he reputation of the school speaks for itself internationally, but what really matters is learning how to use the tools around you to succeed.鈥�</p> <p>Now a mentor in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science鈥檚&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneurship.artsci.utoronto.ca/venture-mentoring-service">Venture Mentoring Service</a>, Alam says he is eager to give back. His advice to current students is simple: unless you are certain about your career path, explore as many options as possible.</p> <p>鈥淵ou'll fail at some things, and you鈥檒l succeed at others, but it's the only way to truly discover what you're passionate about.鈥�&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, 16 Dec 2024 14:22:20 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 310962 at R u there? Using abbreviations in your texts reduces the chance of getting a reply: Study /news/r-u-there-using-abbreviations-your-texts-reduces-chance-getting-reply-study <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">R u there? Using abbreviations in your texts reduces the chance of getting a reply: Study</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/2024-11/young-mixed-race-woman-indoor-metro-station-using-2024-10-18-07-50-06-utc.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=NLqUTbKm 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-11/young-mixed-race-woman-indoor-metro-station-using-2024-10-18-07-50-06-utc.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=bxbau3m- 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-11/young-mixed-race-woman-indoor-metro-station-using-2024-10-18-07-50-06-utc.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=q-00hIww 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/2024-11/young-mixed-race-woman-indoor-metro-station-using-2024-10-18-07-50-06-utc.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=NLqUTbKm" alt="young mixed race woman uses a cellphone while walking through a subway station"> </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="2024-11-25T09:07:13-05:00" title="Monday, November 25, 2024 - 09:07" class="datetime">Mon, 11/25/2024 - 09:07</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>&nbsp;(photo by Envato)</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/alexa-battler" hreflang="en">Alexa Battler</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/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/language" hreflang="en">Language</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/psychology" hreflang="en">Psychology</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/rotman-school-management" hreflang="en">Rotman School of Management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">麻豆直播app 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">Researchers find that people who use common messaging shorthands such as "lol" and "ttyl" are perceived as putting less effort into the conversation</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Tapping out smartphone messages using shorthand such as 鈥渂tw鈥� (by the way) or 鈥渢bh鈥� (to be honest) may feel breezy and efficient 鈥� but a new study warns these and other common abbreviations may make it less likely to get a response.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether you鈥檙e on a dating app or messaging with fellow gamers, it turns out that using abbreviations makes people believe you鈥檙e putting less effort into the conversation. They鈥檒l find your message less sincere and not as worthy of a reply as the exact same text written in full.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淎bbreviations imply informality and casualness 鈥�&nbsp;so we thought if somebody uses one, you might read that as a signal of closeness and be more likely to respond,鈥� says study co-author&nbsp;<strong>Sam Maglio</strong>, a marketing professor in the department of management at the University of Toronto Scarborough and the Rotman School of Management.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲e figured that was perfectly plausible and we found out that was perfectly wrong. An abbreviation makes the other party tune out.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>The study, published in the&nbsp;<em><a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xge-xge0001684.pdf">Journal of Experimental Psychology: General</a></em>, was based on the results of experiments in the lab and the field, survey data and archival field data.</p> <p>One experiment<i>&nbsp;</i>examined&nbsp;Tinder conversation histories submitted by 700 users across five continents. Researchers calculated the percentage of abbreviations participants used in their messages on the popular dating app. They found that for every one-per-cent increase in abbreviations, average conversation length decreased by about seven per cent.&nbsp;</p> <p>When other Tinder users were surveyed, 80 per cent believed their matches wouldn鈥檛 care if they used abbreviations. But that wasn't reflected in the data&nbsp;鈥�&nbsp;regardless of profile characteristics, topics discussed, message length or the sophistication of word choices.&nbsp;</p> <p>Another experiment focused on Discord, a messaging platform popular among young people. They sent almost 2,000 messages to members of a Discord channel dedicated to anime TV shows, asking for a show recommendation.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲e set ourselves up to fail. We tried to find the most challenging arena for this effect to work: young people who live online 鈥�&nbsp;and it still worked,鈥� says Maglio.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Discord messages were probing whether reactions changed based on the type of abbreviations used. That includes: phonological abbreviations that condense words based on how they sound, such as 鈥減lz鈥� or 鈥渢hnx鈥�; acronyms and initialisms like 鈥渉ru鈥� (how are you?) and 鈥渢tyl鈥� (talk to you later); subbing letters or numbers for words, as in 鈥渦 2鈥�; and contractions, which shorten words by removing letters, such as 鈥渞lly鈥� or 鈥渨ud.鈥�&nbsp;All forms of abbreviations were less likely to get a reply than their spelled-out counterparts on the platform. The only exception was for the messages that used phonological abbreviations (although this exception was not noted in a subsequent experiment).</p> <p>In a virtual speed dating experiment, roughly 200 young Americans were paired up for five-minute dates. Half were encouraged to integrate words from one of two lists 鈥�&nbsp;an abbreviated version and a spelled-out one 鈥�&nbsp;into their conversations.&nbsp;Dates had a much greater desire to continue talking to non-abbreviated texters and viewed them as more sincere. More of their dates also offered to share their contact information to continue chatting after the experiment.&nbsp;</p> <p>The researchers鈥� lab-based tests yielded similar results 鈥� and the thousands of participants who participated in these studies all rated how much effort they felt were put into the texts, how sincere they felt the sender was being and how likely they were to reply.</p> <p>The results were the same across the board: abbreviations meant less effort, less sincerity and a lower desire to reply. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚t鈥檚 possible that some participants treated the sincerity question as a kind of general 鈥榞ood or bad鈥� evaluation,鈥� says study co-author&nbsp;<strong>David Fang</strong>, a 麻豆直播app alumnus.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲e mainly chose sincerity because it's important for relational building. Participants are taking a stab at defining what they perceive sincerity to be 鈥� for instance expressing genuineness in the interaction.鈥�</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, 25 Nov 2024 14:07:13 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 310748 at Kudakwashe Rutendo - a recent grad and TIFF 'Rising Star' - is just getting started /news/kudakwashe-rutendo-recent-grad-and-tiff-rising-star-just-getting-started <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Kudakwashe Rutendo - a recent grad and TIFF 'Rising Star' - is just getting started</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/2024-11/KL121-crop.jpg?h=997687e9&amp;itok=EKeHvF28 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-11/KL121-crop.jpg?h=997687e9&amp;itok=aza0usd9 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-11/KL121-crop.jpg?h=997687e9&amp;itok=b6x1GXtr 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/2024-11/KL121-crop.jpg?h=997687e9&amp;itok=EKeHvF28" 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="2024-11-18T10:49:54-05:00" title="Monday, November 18, 2024 - 10:49" class="datetime">Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:49</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>Kudakwashe Rutendo balanced her studies with a thriving career in film and her aspirations as a novelist (photo by&nbsp;Helen Tansey ~ Sundari Photography)</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/cynthia-macdonald" hreflang="en">Cynthia Macdonald</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/convocation-2024" hreflang="en">Convocation 2024</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</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/film" hreflang="en">Film</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/literature" hreflang="en">Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/poetry" hreflang="en">Poetry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/victoria-college" hreflang="en">Victoria College</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">"My goal is to keep telling stories that shed light on humanity, especially on the struggles that so many of us have faced"</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Kudakwashe Rutendo </strong>is a born storyteller who has taken on several different roles in her own life: an actor in film, theatre and television; aspiring novelist; and a passionate student of English, philosophy and classics.</p> <p>The recent University of Toronto graduate was named <a href="https://tiff.net/industry-rising-stars" target="_blank">one of 2023鈥檚 Rising&nbsp;Stars by the Toronto International Film Festival</a> and starred in the Canadian feature film&nbsp;<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26739710/" target="_blank"><em>Backspot</em></a>. She also has several other stage and screen credits.</p> <p>As a writer, she鈥檚 already completed her first novel, is drafting a second and was recently a panelist on CBC鈥檚&nbsp;<em>Canada Reads</em>.</p> <p>Writer spoke <strong>Cynthia MacDonald</strong> recently caught up with Rutendo, who was a member of Victoria College, to talk about her experiences 鈥� and her plans for life after 麻豆直播app.</p> <hr> <p><strong>You were raised in Fort McMurray, Alta. and came to acting and writing through poetry. How did that happen?</strong></p> <p>Growing up, my mom put me in Girl Guides, swimming, soccer and dance. But then I heard about poetry competitions and said to myself: 鈥淚 want to do this!鈥� It felt very powerful. I started out reciting Shel Silverstein, but moved on to Shakespeare and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, as well as writing speeches. By the time I got to high school, I was working on my&nbsp;associate diploma in speech and drama at the Royal Conservatory. When you鈥檙e bringing words to life 鈥� well, that鈥檚 acting, right? And I said to myself, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know who I鈥檇 be without this. I guess it鈥檚 something I have to continue to do.鈥�</p> <p><strong>What was it like to be named a Rising Star at TIFF?</strong></p> <p>That outside acknowledgment was very special. The program connected me with industry professionals and some of the top casting directors, and I also got to participate in workshops. It鈥檚 nice to be able to have those connections, because the acting industry is a community 鈥� one that you really need.</p> <p><strong>Can you tell us about your first novel, which is tentatively titled&nbsp;<em>Dancing Against the Night </em>and<em>&nbsp;</em>is now being considered for publication?</strong></p> <p>One of the main things I wanted to do was combine prose and poetry. The book is set in Toronto and follows a ballerina who struggles with depression. It鈥檚 inextricably tied to 麻豆直播app because I conceived of it here and workshopped a lot of the early parts in various creative writing classes. I worked with some amazing professors 鈥�&nbsp;for example,<a href="https://www.english.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/robert-mcgill">&nbsp;</a><strong>Robert McGill</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Ian Williams</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer</strong>. It touched on a really formative part of my life, and on an important subject. I wanted to write about mental health and the struggle we all have to feel seen.</p> <div class="align-center"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-oembed-video field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><iframe src="/media/oembed?url=https%3A//youtu.be/N1So7HkCk4g%3Fsi%3DR9g5rGgmEC_uWIw8&amp;max_width=0&amp;max_height=0&amp;hash=6fRBH8tFOiaZ62l-pdagUbhv-WxZFUaQYMEIC-TRadM" width="200" height="113" class="media-oembed-content" loading="eager" title="Kudakwashe Rutendo on Black female representation in Shut Up You're Pretty"></iframe> </div> </div> <p><strong>On&nbsp;<em>Canada Reads</em>, you championed Tea Mutonji鈥檚&nbsp;<em>Shut Up You鈥檙e Pretty</em>. Who are some of the writers who inspire you?</strong></p> <p>I really like James Baldwin 鈥� I finished&nbsp;<em>Giovanni鈥檚 Room</em>&nbsp;a few months ago and it haunted me. I honestly don鈥檛 think he wrote enough. I鈥檝e connected with Toni Morrison as well. I recently read Elizabeth Smart鈥檚&nbsp;<em>By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept</em>&nbsp;and thought it was phenomenal. When I first read it, I didn鈥檛 connect with it 鈥�&nbsp;but I think I was approaching it the wrong way. I was reading it like a narrative when it鈥檚 really a prose poem. As a reader, when you go into a book with expectations, you鈥檙e setting yourself up for failure.</p> <p><strong>You graduated with a major in English and a double minor in philosophy and classical civilizations. Why did you choose that program?</strong></p> <p>I chose my degree based on the subjects I鈥檓 passionate about 鈥�&nbsp;and I do think that鈥檚 how I like to live my life. I love to read and I always knew I would study English. In every lecture I was invested. I wanted to push myself. I was fascinated by what I was doing. When it came to philosophy, I loved the structure 鈥� dissecting arguments and studying reason. I also think studying philosophy is a great way to get to know yourself. Finally, I studied classics because they鈥檝e inspired so much of everyday life. You can see references to them throughout literature.</p> <p>Sometimes people ask why I didn鈥檛 study drama. I think the fact that I didn鈥檛 makes me much more of a well-rounded performer. The more you can pull from different life experiences, the stronger you are as an actor.</p> <p><strong>What are some of your career goals?</strong></p> <p>Growing up within the Black diaspora in Canada, I would say that telling Black stories was always at the forefront of my mind. When I was young there was almost no media showcasing Black people 鈥�&nbsp;in the books I was reading, the TV shows I was watching, there was nobody who looked like me. When you grow up and you never see yourself, you start to hate yourself. You feel invisible.</p> <p>I鈥檓 happy for the strides we鈥檝e made in representation since then. I have a bunch of little sisters and I don鈥檛 want them to have the same experiences I did. To create art is to represent things that might be uncomfortable 鈥� that鈥檚 the artist鈥檚 creed. My goal is to keep telling stories that shed light on humanity, especially on the struggles that so many of us have faced.</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, 18 Nov 2024 15:49:54 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 310569 at 麻豆直播app to mark Remembrance Day across its three campuses /news/u-t-mark-remembrance-day-across-its-three-campuses <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">麻豆直播app to mark Remembrance Day across its 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/2024-11/UofT14428_20171110_RemembranceDayStGeorgeCampus2017_002-crop.jpg?h=98fe528d&amp;itok=mFcQVsPg 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-11/UofT14428_20171110_RemembranceDayStGeorgeCampus2017_002-crop.jpg?h=98fe528d&amp;itok=YxDoz7kB 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-11/UofT14428_20171110_RemembranceDayStGeorgeCampus2017_002-crop.jpg?h=98fe528d&amp;itok=G-gYK_Cz 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/2024-11/UofT14428_20171110_RemembranceDayStGeorgeCampus2017_002-crop.jpg?h=98fe528d&amp;itok=mFcQVsPg" alt="view under soldier's tower during a remembrance day ceremony"> </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="2024-11-06T16:45:25-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - 16:45" class="datetime">Wed, 11/06/2024 - 16:45</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 Laura Pedersen)</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/adam-elliott-segal" hreflang="en">Adam Elliott Segal</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/soldiers-tower-0" hreflang="en">Soldiers' Tower</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/remembrance-day" hreflang="en">Remembrance Day</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/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">麻豆直播app Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">麻豆直播app 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">A ceremony on the St. George campus will commemorate the 100th&nbsp;anniversary of Soldiers鈥� Tower</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto will mark Remembrance Day across its three campuses on Nov. 11 鈥� including a ceremony on the St. George campus that will commemorate the 100th&nbsp;anniversary of Soldiers鈥� Tower.&nbsp;</p> <p>The 44-metre tower, which&nbsp;<a href="https://alumni.utoronto.ca/community/soldiers-tower/soldiers-tower-carillon">houses a 51-bell carillon</a>, was erected beside Hart House in 1924 to honour soldiers and members of the 麻豆直播app community who fell in the First World War.&nbsp;</p> <p>The monument was later expanded to include the names of 1,185 people who fell during either the First or Second World Wars, while the annual Service of Remembrance that takes place at its base honours those who served in both the Great Wars as well as other conflicts.</p> <p>鈥淭he most important aspect of this day is drawing the community together,鈥� says&nbsp;<strong>Peter MacLaurin</strong>, chair of the Soldier鈥檚 Tower committee and a retired lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Army.&nbsp;</p> <p>Beginning at 10:25 a.m.,&nbsp;<a href="https://alumni.utoronto.ca/community/soldiers-tower/service-of-remembrance">the St. George campus service</a>&nbsp;will include carillon recitals before and after the ceremony 鈥� and will be followed by a free public reception in the Great Hall of Hart House. The Memorial Room in Soldiers鈥� Tower will be open until 4 p.m.</p> <p>Meanwhile, at 麻豆直播app Scarborough, the community will honour alumni, students, faculty and staff who fell in the First and Second World Wars, as well as other conflicts. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/principal/remembrance-day">in-person ceremony</a> begins at&nbsp;10:45 a.m. at The&nbsp;Meeting Place, Science Wing, and&nbsp;features the UTSC Concert Band, Concert Choir &amp; String Orchestra.</p> <p>At 麻豆直播app Mississauga,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/remembrance-day-ceremonies">an in-person ceremony</a>&nbsp;will take place at&nbsp;10:45 a.m. in front of the&nbsp;Davis Building, near the flagpole. The UTM Indigenous Centre is also hosting <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFaQpCwxQAVHzu8jnzxOvoYg_y8J1poevm3aes70sTZY_bfQ/viewform">a&nbsp;poppy-beading workshop</a>&nbsp;on Nov. 8.</p> <p>Flags on all three campuses will be flown at half-mast on Nov. 11.&nbsp;</p> <h4>Soldiers鈥� Tower</h4> <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/2024-11/UofT14434_20171110_RemembranceDayStGeorgeCampus2017_008-crop.jpg?itok=qm888w-z" width="750" height="518" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>The 44-metre tower, erected beside Hart House in 1924, houses a 51-bell carillon&nbsp;(photo by Laura Pedersen)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Between 1923 and 1924, the University of Toronto Alumni Association raised $397,141 to build a war memorial and establish scholarships to honour community members who served in the Great War 鈥� the equivalent of more than $7 million in today鈥檚 currency.</p> <p><a href="https://alumni.utoronto.ca/community/soldiers-tower/soldiers-tower-carillon">The tower鈥檚 carillon</a>&nbsp;is played by three different carillonists, who use their hands and feet to play a keyboard that sounds the bells during spring and fall convocations and&nbsp;<a href="/news/soldiers-tower-carillon-played-remembrance-queen-elizabeth-ii">other special ceremonies</a>, including on Remembrance Day.&nbsp;</p> <p>The ranks, names and units of those lost to the university in the First World War are etched in stone on the memorial screen. Other features of the monument include the memorial arch and the Garden of Remembrance.&nbsp;</p> <p>In the Staircase of Honour, stained-glass windows depict men and women who contributed to the war effort.&nbsp;</p> <p>Portraits of several illustrious graduates are on display in the tower. They include: Lt.-Col.<strong>&nbsp;John McCrae</strong>, who wrote&nbsp;<em>In Flanders Fields</em>; Maj.&nbsp;<strong>Thain MacDowell</strong>, who earned the Victoria Cross in the battle of Vimy Ridge, the only member of 麻豆直播app to receive the honour in the Great War; Maj.&nbsp;<strong>Fred Tilston</strong>, awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts in Hochwald Forest (Germany), 1945; and the co-discoverers of insulin, Sir&nbsp;<strong>Frederick Banting</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Charles Best</strong>. Both men served in the Canadian Army in the First World War.</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, 06 Nov 2024 21:45:25 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 310445 at From AI to Atari: What it's like to work with Nobel Prize-winner Geoffrey Hinton /news/ai-atari-what-it-was-work-nobel-prize-winner-geoffrey-hinton <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">From AI to Atari: What it's like to work with Nobel Prize-winner Geoffrey Hinton</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/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%2810%29-crop2.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=0iRY_Amm 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%2810%29-crop2.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=ke-zpDaw 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%2810%29-crop2.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=S8-2j70q 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/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%2810%29-crop2.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=0iRY_Amm" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>mattimar</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-10-25T10:13:56-04:00" title="Friday, October 25, 2024 - 10:13" class="datetime">Fri, 10/25/2024 - 10:13</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"><p><em>From left: Chris Maddison, Nick Frosst and Kevin Swersky at a recent event celebrating 麻豆直播app University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton's 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics (photo by Johnny Guatto)</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/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/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</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/computer-science" hreflang="en">Computer Science</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/geoffrey-hinton" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Hinton</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/nobel-prize" hreflang="en">Nobel Prize</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/statistical-sciences" hreflang="en">Statistical Sciences</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">Three former students who worked with the "godfather of AI" recall his passionate and playful approach to research</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 <a href="/news/geoffrey-hinton-wins-nobel-prize" target="_blank"><strong>Geoffrey Hinton</strong>鈥檚 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics</a>, former students and colleagues from the University of Toronto are sharing their favourite anecdotes about the 鈥済odfather of AI鈥� 鈥� including one involving the classic Atari video game Asteroids.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-10/2018-10-10-Nick_Frosst-crop.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Nick Frosst (photo by Nina Haikara)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Nick Frosst</strong>, a 麻豆直播app alumnus and co-founder of generative AI startup Cohere, said Hinton, University Professor Emeritus of computer science, once spoke of an intense, button-mashing session that left him with nerve damage.</p> <p>鈥淭his kind of explains, perhaps, the way in which he types, which is still two fingers at a time,鈥� said Frosst, who began working with Hinton as a 麻豆直播app undergraduate student and was his first employee at Google Brain.</p> <p>He shared the story at a recent event hosted by the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, saying it offered a telling glimpse into Hinton鈥檚 character.</p> <p>鈥淚t鈥檚 that fever-pitched intensity, passion and playfulness that he brings to everything 鈥� He found something that was fun and engaging and he played it until it damaged a finger and then he continued to push for it.鈥�</p> <p>Frosst said he also appreciates Hinton鈥檚 thoughtful consideration about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9cW4Gcn5WY" target="_blank">the potential negative consequences of the revolutionary technology</a> he helped create and praised him for looking past formal qualifications to spot potential and creativity.</p> <p>鈥淚 don't have a master's degree or a PhD, but he was willing to work with me and I saw that in the types of people he brought into Google Brain to work with him,鈥� Frosst said.</p> <p>鈥淗e took lots of chances on people and gave them the time of day once they were there. And for that, I'll always be thankful and deeply privileged, and honoured, to have him in my life.鈥�</p> <p>Other former students at 麻豆直播app tell similar stories.</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/2024-10/HEADSHOT_Chris-Maddison-crop.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Chris Maddison (supplied image)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Chris Maddison</strong>,&nbsp;now an assistant professor in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 departments of computer science and statistical sciences in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, was also an undergraduate student when he started working with Hinton in 2011. &nbsp;</p> <p>He also painted a picture of Hinton鈥檚 vibrant office 鈥� where everyone knew when he had a new idea.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淭he excitement, the joy radiated out of his office down the hall. The air was buzzing with possibility,鈥� said Maddison. 鈥淗e was famous for bursting into a room and pronouncing that, he now finally, after all these years, understood how the brain worked.鈥�</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-10/UofT15470_2017-06-08-Kevin-Swersky-crop.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Kevin Swersky (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Kevin Swersky</strong>, a research scientist at Google DeepMind, worked with Hinton as a graduate student at 麻豆直播app and similarly described visiting Hinton as a memorable academic experience.</p> <p>鈥淣ormally when you go to a supervisor's office, you give them a progress update. You go through what your latest results are, you talk about a couple of your ideas and you get some feedback,鈥� he said.</p> <p>鈥淕oing to Geoff鈥檚 office was a completely different story. He would be telling you what his latest idea was. He would show you his latest results. And his whole thing was just that he was really excited about it, and his hope was to inspire you enough to start running with it.鈥�</p> <p>He added that he was particularly inspired by Hinton鈥檚 focus on small, solvable puzzles that would ultimately lead to significant breakthroughs over time.</p> <p>鈥淕eoff would think completely intuitively 鈥� like the universe was a puzzle and he was just kind of figuring out where all the pieces went, and the math would always follow whatever he was talking about,鈥� he said.</p> <p>He also remarked on Hinton鈥檚 kindness.</p> <p>鈥淗e offered to put me up for a few weeks,鈥� he said of a time when he found himself looking for a place to stay in Toronto. 鈥淗e offered to go and get dishes. I was thinking to myself, 鈥榃ow, Geoff Hinton wants to go out shopping for dishes for me so that I can be comfortable for a few weeks.鈥欌€�</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/2024-10/2024-10-10-UofT-Celebrates-Geoffrey-Hinton-Nobel-b-%2813%29-crop.jpg?itok=p_-or-3O" width="750" height="500" alt="Hinton speaks to someone during his Nobel celebration event" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Geoffrey Hinton shakes hand at a recent 麻豆直播app event celebrating his Nobel Prize (photo by Mac&nbsp;Pattanasuttinont)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Frosst, too, has a Hinton home-making story: the AI luminary built him a desk from scratch.</p> <p>鈥淗e's a carpenter,鈥� Frosst said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a small wooden desk that fits in the corner of my room at home.</p> <p>鈥淭hat's where I keep my computer and work from.鈥�</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> Fri, 25 Oct 2024 14:13:56 +0000 mattimar 309950 at Congratulations pour in for Geoffrey Hinton after Nobel win /news/congratulations-pour-geoffrey-hinton-after-nobel-win <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Congratulations pour in for Geoffrey Hinton after Nobel win</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/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%283%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=006T1tnK 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%283%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=SiTXIeog 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%283%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=982sYJXx 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/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%283%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=006T1tnK" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>mattimar</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-10-08T15:43:16-04:00" title="Tuesday, October 8, 2024 - 15:43" class="datetime">Tue, 10/08/2024 - 15:43</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 Johnny Guatto/University of Toronto)</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/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/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</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/computer-science" hreflang="en">Computer Science</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/geoffrey-hinton" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Hinton</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/nobel-prize" hreflang="en">Nobel Prize</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/statistical-sciences" hreflang="en">Statistical Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-health-network" hreflang="en">University Health Network</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/vector-institute" hreflang="en">Vector Institute</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">鈥淵ou always knew when Geoff had a new idea. The excitement, the joy radiated out of his office down the hall. The air was buzzing with possibility"</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Reactions to <a href="https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/26059-geoffrey-e-hinton"><strong>Geoffrey Hinton鈥檚</strong></a>&nbsp;<a href="/news/geoffrey-hinton-wins-nobel-prize">Nobel Prize win</a> began almost immediately after it was announced Tuesday morning. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Known as the 鈥済odfather of AI,鈥� the <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-professors/">University Professor</a> Emeritus of computer science at the University of Toronto&nbsp;shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with<strong> John J. Hopfield</strong> of Princeton University for groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for machine learning using artificial neural networks.</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/2024-10/GettyImages-2176644097.jpg?itok=FKNW9Os1" width="750" height="481" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>麻豆直播app鈥檚 Geoffrey Hinton and Princeton鈥檚 John J. Hopfield are pictured during the announcement for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics (photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>At 麻豆直播app, students, faculty and staff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSCDoHsqV3E">gathered at an event</a> hosted by the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, which Hinton joined as a professor in 1987.</p> <p>Those in attendance described a revered and beloved figure, citing Hinton鈥檚 determination, playful approach to research and excitement for new ideas.</p> <p>"I really don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 anyone more deserving of this recognition," said&nbsp;<strong>Chris Maddison</strong>,&nbsp;assistant professor in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 departments of computer science and statistical sciences, and one of Hinton鈥檚 former students.</p> <p>"Geoff was a fantastic adviser. He worked really, really hard to remove the barriers for his students and he was laser focused on ideas and building his own understanding."</p> <p>Hinton also received congratulations from universities and other research organizations around the world, including the <a href="https://x.com/royalsociety/status/1843606333490143741">Royal Society</a>, the <a href="https://x.com/turinginst/status/1843690135717892219" target="_blank">Alan Turing Institute</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://x.com/Cambridge_Uni/status/1843614886946861491">Cambridge University</a>, Hinton鈥檚 alma mater.</p> <p>Meanwhile, friends, colleagues and leaders in politics and business took to social media to express their congratulations for Hinton鈥檚 remarkable achievement.</p> <p>Here鈥檚 a snapshot of what some of them said:</p> <hr> <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/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration-%2810%29-crop.jpg?itok=QI98R3aZ" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>From left: Melanie Woodin, Chris Maddison, Nick Frosst, Kevin Swersky and Eyal de Lara (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>鈥淐ongratulations to Geoffrey Hinton on this fantastic recognition which is a testament to the importance of supporting basic research and the long journey that can lead to profound discoveries like deep learning that forever change our world. Hinton's phenomenal work has seeded new and innovative research by his former students and many around the world who are using AI to solve global challenges in areas like medicine and climate change.鈥�</p> <p>鈥�&nbsp;<em><strong>Leah Cowen</strong>, vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives&nbsp;at 麻豆直播app</em></p> <p>鈥淚 would say his approach to science has stuck with me. Everything I know about how to do science, I mostly learned from him. It's his curiosity and playfulness ... that has been most impactful. I would also say his thoughtfulness, thinking about the consequence of the technology and how it affects society is something that we have taken seriously at Cohere as well.鈥�</p> <p>鈥�&nbsp;<em><strong>Nick Frosst</strong>, 麻豆直播app alumnus and&nbsp;co-founder of Cohere</em></p> <p>鈥淵ou always knew when Geoff had a new idea. The excitement, the joy radiated out of his office down the hall. The air was buzzing with possibility. He was famous for bursting into a room and pronouncing that, he now finally, after all these years, understood how the brain worked.&nbsp;Above all, he understood that research was a human endeavor. Research is really hard. It becomes personal. It's intertwined with tragedies and compromises. I saw him go through some of his own when I was a student in the group, and I went through my own. I remember when I was going through some health challenges, I went to him and I said, 'Geoff, sometimes it's really hard to go on.鈥� And he looked at me and he said, 鈥橞ut we're not going to let that slow us down, will we?鈥�"</p> <p>鈥� <em><strong>Chris Maddison</strong>,&nbsp;assistant professor in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 departments of computer science and statistical sciences, Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</em></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/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration_2-crop.jpg?itok=fzaxySC5" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>麻豆直播app is the only computer science department with a Nobel Prize winner, says Professor Michael Brudno&nbsp;(photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>鈥淚t's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate an award for somebody who has made huge contributions 鈥�&nbsp;obviously in AI broadly, [and] to this department. No other computer science department can say that they have a Nobel Laureate. But I think beyond that, it really goes back to show how the birthplace of modern AI is Toronto, how this is the place where it all started and how it's upon us as the AI faculty in this department to continue this legacy.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥�&nbsp;<em><strong>Michael Brudno</strong>, professor in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 department of computer science, acting vice-dean, graduate education in Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, a chief data scientist at University Health Network and a faculty member at the Vector Institute</em></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/2024-10/UofT16991_0J5A1449.jpg?itok=fCQSglO2" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Geoffrey Hinton shares a laugh with fellow AI researcher Raquel&nbsp;Urtasun, left, at the Vector Institute鈥檚 opening in 2017 (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>"Geoff is the most influential person in AI, and our field would certainly not be the same without his immense contributions. He is also a tremendous educator, and has mentored many students and postdocs who have gone on to become very influential in the field of AI. Geoff cares deeply about the Toronto and Canadian ecosystem and was the driving force in the formation of the Vector Institute, which we co-founded together. Through our time as colleagues at the University of Toronto, I've deeply admired his commitment to the advancement of AI for good. This recognition is well-deserved and acknowledges his decades of work leading AI innovation and building the foundation for the AI revolution that is happening today.鈥�</p> <p>鈥�&nbsp;<em><strong>Raquel Urtasun</strong>, professor in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 department of computer science, faculty member and co-founder at the Vector Institute, founder and CEO of Waabi</em></p> <p>鈥淚 was the first to call Geoff Hinton 鈥淕odfather of Deep Learning,鈥� which later became 鈥淕odfather of AI.鈥� Thrilled to see him win the Nobel prize together with John Hopfield for AI. Congrats @geoffreyhinton.鈥�</p> <p>鈥� <em><strong>Andrew Ng</strong>, co-founder of Coursera, founder GoogleBrain, former chief scientist at Baidu</em></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/2024-10/UofT16745_0207BoardofTrade003.jpg?itok=1_YeHbqx" width="750" height="501" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Geoffrey Hinton at a 2019 event (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>鈥淒r.&nbsp;Hinton is a stalwart in his field. Celebrated as one of the 鈥楪odfathers of AI鈥�, he brings decades of leading expertise in AI research as a Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto鈥檚 Department of Computer Science, and the current Chief Scientific Advisor at the Vector Institute in Toronto 鈥� one of our three national AI institutes. Dr.&nbsp;Hinton is also an outspoken advocate for the responsible development and adoption of AI, educating the world about the benefits and challenges this technology poses.</p> <p>鈥淐anada is at the forefront of AI technology thanks to trailblazers like Dr.&nbsp;Hinton. His curiosity for discovery and contributions to innovation will inspire generations to come. On behalf of all Canadians, I congratulate him on his remarkable achievement.鈥�</p> <p>鈥�&nbsp;<em><strong>Justin Trudeau</strong>, Prime Minister of Canada</em></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/2024-10/38021064796_59e963a64e_o-crop.jpg?itok=uMLTY34E" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>A.M. Turing Award winners Yann LeCun, left, Yoshua Bengio, middle, and Geoffrey Hinton at an AI summit in Montreal (photo courtesy of&nbsp;RE鈥ORK)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>"@HopfieldJohn and @geoffreyhinton, along with collaborators, have created a beautiful and insightful bridge between physics and AI. They invented neural networks that were not only inspired by the brain, but also by central notions in physics such as energy, temperature, system dynamics, energy barriers, the role of randomness and noise, connecting the local properties, e.g., of atoms or neurons, to global ones like entropy and attractors. And they went beyond the physics to show how these ideas could give rise to memory, learning and generative models; concepts which are still at the forefront of modern AI research. Their ideas inspired me so profoundly that I decided to choose learning in neural networks for my own research as a graduate student. They motivated me to look for abstract principles that could be as simple as the laws of physics, but could explain biological as well as artificial intelligence. I'm truly delighted for them and for our field."</p> <p><em>鈥�&nbsp;<strong>Yoshua Bengio</strong>, professor at Universit茅 de Montr茅al and co-winner of the A.M Turing Award with Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun</em></p> <p>鈥淚t was the first thing I saw in the morning. I opened my phone, and it was the headline of <em>The</em> <em>New York Times&nbsp;</em>and I was like, 鈥榊es!鈥� I was very excited.&nbsp;I saw his perseverance 鈥�&nbsp;he always goes with what he believes, not what the flow is 鈥� and it's quite inspirational for me. That鈥檚 what I look for, especially in the health care area. I want to do something meaningful, something big.鈥�</p> <p>鈥�<em><strong>Tina Behrouzi</strong>, second year PhD student in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 department of computer science</em></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/2024-10/UofT2995_20130312_GeoffreyHinton_A.JPG?itok=-VlB64xm" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Geoffrey Hinton poses with graduate students Ilya Sutskever, left, and Alex Krizhevsky, right, in 2013 (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>鈥淐ongratulations to @geoffreyhinton for winning the Nobel Prize in physics!!鈥�</p> <p><em>鈥�&nbsp;<strong>Ilya Sutskever</strong>, 麻豆直播app alumnus, co-founder of OpenAI and&nbsp;co-founder and chief scientist at Safe Superintelligence</em></p> <p>鈥淕oing to Geoff鈥檚 office was always fun. Normally when you go to a supervisor's office, you give them a progress update. You go through what your latest results are, you talk about a couple of your ideas and you get some feedback.&nbsp;Going to Geoff鈥檚 office was a completely different story. He would be telling you what his latest idea was. He would show you his latest results. And his whole thing was just that he was really excited about it, and his hope was to inspire you enough to start running with it.鈥�</p> <p>鈥�<em>&nbsp;<strong>Kevin Swersky</strong>, 麻豆直播app alumnus and research scientist at Google DeepMind</em></p> <p>鈥淸Hinton's] pioneering research at the University of Toronto not only revolutionized the field of AI but has also been instrumental in establishing Canada as a global powerhouse in AI research and innovation."</p> <p><em>鈥� <strong>Tony Gaffney</strong>,&nbsp;president and CEO of the Vector Institute</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</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/2024-10/UofT93629_2023-10-04-Geoffrey-Hinton-and-Fei-Fei-Li_Photo-Polina-Teif-14-crop.jpg?itok=BApNudhs" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Fei-Fei Li and Geoffrey Hinton speak at a 2023 event in Toronto (photo by Polina Teif)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>鈥淭his is beyond exciting! #AI鈥檚 far reaching impact is just beginning.鈥�</p> <p>鈥�&nbsp;<em><strong>Fei-Fei Li</strong>,&nbsp;professor of computer science at Stanford University and co-director of Stanford鈥檚 Human-Centered AI Institute</em></p> <p>鈥淐ongratulations to @geoffreyhinton, University Professor Emeritus at@UofT, on winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics! Widely regarded as the 鈥済odfather of AI,鈥� Hinton鈥檚 pioneering work in artificial neural networks has transformed the global AI landscape. Dr. Hinton鈥檚 achievement highlights the best of #Ontario鈥檚 world-class talent and thriving AI ecosystem, driving innovation and shaping the future of critical #technology!</p> <p>鈥� <em><strong>Victor Fedeli</strong>,&nbsp;Ontario鈥檚 minister of economic development, job creation and trade</em></p> <p>"On behalf of the Department and the University, we are very&nbsp;proud to acknowledge Geoff's global achievements and this international recognition. His contributions to machine learning and artificial intelligence have benefited virtually every discipline in science, engineering, social sciences and medicine.&nbsp;&nbsp;As we celebrate the department鈥檚 60th anniversary, this award embodies six decades of impact and innovation in computer science and technology.鈥�</p> <p><em>鈥� <strong>Eyal de Lara</strong>, professor and chair of 麻豆直播app鈥檚 department of computer science, Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</em></p> <p>鈥淗eartfelt congratulations to Geoff Hinton @geoffreyhinton on winning the Nobel Prize! What an incredible honor! I feel deeply privileged to have had the opportunity to be your PhD student, work with you, and learn from you.鈥�</p> <p><em style="font-size: 1rem;">鈥�&nbsp;<strong>Russ Salakhutdinov</strong>, professor of computer science at&nbsp;Carnegie Mellon University</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</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/2024-10/2024-10-08-Hinton-Nobel-Celebration_1-crop.jpg?itok=tX-OUnuz" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Hinton approached his research with an 鈥渁lmost childlike playfulness,鈥� says Graduate student Ujan Sen&nbsp;鈥嬧€�(photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>鈥淲aking up today, seeing that news, just motivates me even more and reaffirms the decision that coming to 麻豆直播app was the absolutely the best decision I could have taken. I think one of the people who had previously worked with him mentioned something along the lines of: Geoff didn't really care too much about pedigree. He cared about ideas, regardless if you have a master's or PhD. And the way he approached his research and the almost childlike playfulness and innocence he had with sort of getting to the answer is something that I really resonate with.鈥�</p> <p><em>鈥� <strong>Ujan Sen</strong>, master鈥檚&nbsp;student in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 department of computer science, Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</em></p> <p>"I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Geoffrey Hinton on winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics. His groundbreaking work in machine learning has made Canada world-renowned in the field of AI. He is a true inspiration for the next generation of Canadian researchers!"</p> <p><em>鈥�&nbsp;<strong>Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne</strong>, Canada鈥檚 minister of innovation, science and industry</em></p> <p>鈥淚鈥檓 originally a chemist. It was a surprising thing for me that a Nobel Prize is being awarded to a computer scientist. This is a big moment for computer science. I think it will bring recognition to physics-based approaches and core thinking.</p> <p>鈥淚 think it鈥檚 great that some universities like 麻豆直播app are willing to believe in crazy ideas. People need to encourage outside-the-box thinking.鈥�</p> <p>鈥�<strong> </strong><em><strong>Ella Rajaonson</strong>, PhD student in the Matter Lab with 麻豆直播app professor <strong>Al谩n Aspuru-Guzik</strong>&nbsp;</em></p> <p>鈥淐ongratulations!鈥�</p> <p><em>鈥�&nbsp;<strong>Olivia Chow</strong>, mayor of Toronto</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</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> Tue, 08 Oct 2024 19:43:16 +0000 mattimar 309813 at 3D-printed soil? 麻豆直播app startup expands sustainable urban farming footprint in Toronto /news/3d-printed-soil-u-t-startup-expands-sustainable-urban-farming-footprint-toronto <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">3D-printed soil? 麻豆直播app startup expands sustainable urban farming footprint in Toronto</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/2024-09/Lyrata---Liz-Intac---1500x1000.jpg?h=74c9fa4d&amp;itok=nkrOtxge 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-09/Lyrata---Liz-Intac---1500x1000.jpg?h=74c9fa4d&amp;itok=Ggqhl1pb 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-09/Lyrata---Liz-Intac---1500x1000.jpg?h=74c9fa4d&amp;itok=fYN49WPI 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/2024-09/Lyrata---Liz-Intac---1500x1000.jpg?h=74c9fa4d&amp;itok=nkrOtxge" 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="2024-09-11T11:07:18-04:00" title="Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - 11:07" class="datetime">Wed, 09/11/2024 - 11:07</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>Leo Hua and Adnan Sharif show off fresh basil that was grown with Lyrata鈥檚 sustainable farming system at Toronto鈥檚 Casa Loma (photo by Liz Intac)</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/tyler-irving" hreflang="en">Tyler Irving</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/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-hatchery" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Hatchery</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/innovation-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</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">麻豆直播app 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">With new installations at Casa Loma and 麻豆直播app Scarborough, Lyrata is supplying freshly grown produce to local caterers and restaurants</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A startup co-founded by a University of Toronto graduate student&nbsp;has its roots in an experience that is all too common for many of us.</p> <p>He kept forgetting to water his plants.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 was working in a plant immunity biology lab, so if I didn鈥檛 water them, I鈥檇 have no plants to do experiments with,鈥� says&nbsp;<strong>Adnan Sharif</strong>, who is pursuing&nbsp;a master鈥檚 degree in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.</p> <p>He says his solution was inspired by his father.</p> <p>鈥淢y dad is a mechanical engineering professor at a university in Japan, and he knows a lot about manufacturing materials with porous, three-dimensional structures,鈥� he says.&nbsp;鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I got the idea to make my own 3D-printed soil construct, which could retain water for a week or more.</p> <p>鈥淭hat way, I wouldn鈥檛 have to go into the lab and water the plants so often.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>The innovation 鈥� which Sharif came up as an undergraduate working in the lab of&nbsp;<strong>Keiko Yoshioka</strong>, a professor in the department of cell and systems biology in 麻豆直播app鈥檚 Faculty of Arts &amp; Science&nbsp;鈥�&nbsp;is one of several that now underpins&nbsp;<a href="https://1770angie.wixsite.com/mysite" target="_blank">Lyrata</a>, a startup that grows fresh produce for caterers and high-end restaurants across the Greater Toronto Area.&nbsp;</p> <p>The company, which got its start in a greenhouse on 麻豆直播app鈥檚 St. George campus, has recently expanded with operations at 麻豆直播app Scarborough and Casa Loma, a museum, event space and historic site in midtown Toronto.</p> <p><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="646" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7234958067140825090" title="Embedded post" width="750"></iframe></p> <p>Growing plants without soil, known as hydroponics, is a technique commonly used in greenhouses worldwide. But Sharif and his team see an opportunity to make the industry more sustainable, starting with the soil replacement that the plants grow in.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淭he product that almost everyone uses today is basically the same as house insulation,鈥� Sharif says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 made from rocks that are mined in remote places and shipped hundreds of kilometres to a production facility, where they are heated to thousands of degrees in a giant furnace to make a porous, chemically inert material. This material then needs to be shipped again to where it鈥檚 needed, and when you鈥檙e finished, you throw it in the garbage.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>By contrast, Lyrata鈥檚 SmartSoil is 3D-printed using biopolymers such as polylactic acid, which is derived from corn. These materials can be locally sourced and require much lower temperatures to melt and form into porous structures.&nbsp;</p> <p>When the growing cycle is complete, the product goes through a low-heat proprietary cleaning process and can be used again. Sharif says that SmartSoil has a total lifespan of about two years, after which it can be composted along with crop residue. Together, these changes greatly lower the carbon footprint of indoor farming.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2020, Sharif and his co-founders&nbsp;brought his idea to <a href="https://hatchery.engineering.utoronto.ca">The Entrepreneurship Hatchery</a>, 麻豆直播app Engineering鈥檚 startup incubator and <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/for-entrepreneurs/accelerators/">one of several entrepreneurship hubs across 麻豆直播app鈥檚 three campuses</a>. Through the Hatchery鈥檚 Nest process, they were connected with business mentors, including alumnus&nbsp;<strong>Xavier Tang</strong>, a consultant and venture capitalist who still advises the company today.</p> <p>Over the next few years, the team evolved, with some original members leaving and others joining. They include&nbsp;<strong>Leo Hua</strong>, who has been pivotal to speeding the development of 3D printable soil. The concept evolved, too, as the team realized that producing food was a better business for Lyrata than rather than selling their growth medium to other farmers.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Hatchery team 鈥� in particular, Executive Director&nbsp;<strong>Joseph Orozco</strong>, Go-To-Market Lead&nbsp;<strong>Erika J. Murray </strong>and a team of work-study students, mentors and legal externs 鈥� helped Lyrata develop their technology and business. In 2022, the Hatchery provided $155,000 in seed funding, enabling the founders to be employed by their company and further supporting business development. The funding also enabled the company to rent greenhouse space on campus, where they began&nbsp;growing lettuce to provide to Spaces and Experiences at 麻豆直播app.</p> <p>Lyrata also developed something new: a modular unit that works exclusively with their SmartSoil&nbsp;and contains everything required to produce a variety of indoor crops 鈥� from lights and growth medium to irrigation systems.</p> <p>鈥淣one of these technological and business developments would have taken place without the generous support of the over 50 Hatchery mentors, work-study students, and legal externs who contributed to our success,鈥� says Sharif.</p> <p>鈥淥ur current concept is what we call farming-as-a-service,鈥� Hua adds. &nbsp;鈥淭he SmartGrow unit we developed is small enough to fit into a standard parking spot. Our clients sign a contract with us to place a unit on their site and we take care of everything from planting to harvesting.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淔or a flat fee, they get a self-contained farm that provides a reliable quantity of their desired crop over a set period of time.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>In addition to providing a locally sourced, sustainable product, Sharif says the approach can also help mitigate fluctuations in the price of wholesale produce.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚n Canada, most of our lettuce comes from California, which has been dealing with drought and many other issues,鈥� says Sharif.&nbsp;鈥淪upply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 were also a big challenge for restaurants, which have very thin margins to begin with. At one point, the price of lettuce increased by a factor of six, so you can imagine the effect that would have.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>So far, Lyrata has produced more than 15 different types of crops, including basil, parsley and mizuna, also known as Japanese mustard greens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Support from the 麻豆直播app Engineering community has been key to Lyrata鈥檚 success.</p> <p>For example, it was a 麻豆直播app Engineering alumni connection that recently led to Lyrata launching an installation at the historic Casa Loma museum and landmark in Toronto.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淟yrata鈥檚 competitive edge is that they provide an on-site, full service and they do not take up very much space,鈥� says <strong>Nikol Watlikiewicz</strong>, Casa Loma鈥檚 horticulture and grounds manager.&nbsp;鈥淚n a small corner of our potting shed, we were able to build two grow units that provide a good yield weekly, without having to train our staff on the complicated system.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淕rowing indoors gives us the stability and control that traditional agriculture does not. It鈥檚 an excellent example of how engineers can help solve the global food crisis with innovative thinking.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>In August, Lyrata launched another growing unit at 麻豆直播app Scarborough, located within the Harmony Commons Dining Hall.</p> <p>The priority for the next few years is growing Lyrata鈥檚&nbsp;crop offerings and client base with ongoing support from The Hatchery. The incubator has facilitated graduate student placements through Mitacs, with matching funds. It also backed a recent $167,500 project with the Ontario and Canadian governments through the&nbsp;Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership program to further advance the yield and efficiency of the SmartSoil system.</p> <p>鈥淭he fact we鈥檝e been able to come this far in such a short time is in large part due to the help we鈥檝e had from 麻豆直播app Engineering, and especially the Entrepreneurship Hatchery,鈥� says Sharif.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲hether it was getting seed funding, finding mentors, hiring work-study students or making important connections through their alumni network, we wouldn鈥檛 be here without their support.鈥�&nbsp;</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> Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:07:18 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 309382 at Get That Hope: Alumna and former 麻豆直播app Mississauga instructor premi猫res latest work at Stratford Festival /news/get-hope-alumna-and-former-u-t-mississauga-instructor-premieres-latest-work-stratford-festival <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Get That Hope: Alumna and former 麻豆直播app Mississauga instructor premi猫res latest work at Stratford Festival</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/2024-08/Andrea%20Scott%20photo%20credit%20Helen%20Tansey%202017%20headshot%20glasses.png?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=kxefzGe- 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-08/Andrea%20Scott%20photo%20credit%20Helen%20Tansey%202017%20headshot%20glasses.png?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=4wcN3wLE 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-08/Andrea%20Scott%20photo%20credit%20Helen%20Tansey%202017%20headshot%20glasses.png?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=U4kvUMI8 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/2024-08/Andrea%20Scott%20photo%20credit%20Helen%20Tansey%202017%20headshot%20glasses.png?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=kxefzGe-" 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="2024-08-29T11:27:55-04:00" title="Thursday, August 29, 2024 - 11:27" class="datetime">Thu, 08/29/2024 - 11:27</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>Andrea Scott says she wrote her latest play, Get That Hope, after seeing Eugene O鈥橬eill鈥檚&nbsp;Long Day鈥檚 Journey Into Night, asking herself,&nbsp;鈥淲hy don鈥檛 we have plays like this about Black Canadian families?鈥�</em> (photo by Helen Tansey)</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/kristy-strauss" hreflang="en">Kristy Strauss</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/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/drama" hreflang="en">Drama</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/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/theatre" hreflang="en">Theatre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">麻豆直播app Mississauga</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">Andrea Scott's play tells the story of a Toronto family in the lead-up to a Jamaica Independence Day celebration</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Andrea Scott&nbsp;</strong>has never forgotten the moment when her dreams of becoming a writer were quashed.&nbsp;</p> <p>It was during a Grade 9 English class.</p> <p>鈥淚 remember proclaiming something I felt was very literary and my English teacher shot me down so quickly,鈥� says the University of Toronto Mississauga alumna and former instructor at 麻豆直播app Mississauga. 鈥淚t killed my desire to be a writer and I鈥檝e never forgotten her.鈥�</p> <p>The death of Scott鈥檚 writing ambitions would prove to be premature. She just wrapped up a contract writing for Disney and recently her play&nbsp;<em><a href="https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/PlaysAndEvents/Production/Get-That-Hope" target="_blank">Get That Hope</a>, </em>which&nbsp;tells the story of a family in the lead-up to a Jamaica Independence Day celebration, made its debut at the&nbsp;Stratford Festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>Scott鈥檚 journey to becoming an award-winning playwright and screenwriter began when she temporarily gave up on writing in high school, and turned her attention to the stage. She received&nbsp;an honours bachelor of arts degree in theatre and drama studies through 麻豆直播app Mississauga鈥檚 <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/english-drama/programs/drama/specialist">joint program with Sheridan College</a>, with a minor in English.</p> <p>She later earned a master鈥檚 degree in drama through 麻豆直播app鈥檚 School of Graduate Studies and the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science.鈥�&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>She recalls being 鈥渁n annoying theatre kid鈥� at 麻豆直播app Mississauga, but says she had many professors who encouraged her and gave her a well-rounded theatre education.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚t is good to have a three-dimensional education regarding the 鈥榳hy鈥� of certain stories and the historical context,鈥� Scott says. 鈥淚 have a lot of those books still on my shelf because they inform how I write.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>Following graduation, she pursued an acting career in Toronto. As she auditioned for TV shows, she noticed a theme: Black characters often supported the protagonist 鈥� who was usually white 鈥� and didn鈥檛 have robust stories of their own.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>When she auditioned for the role of a grieving mother who had lost her son to gun violence, she turned her attention back to writing.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 was like, 鈥榊eah ... I could write better than this,鈥欌€� Scott says.&nbsp;</p> <p>She wrote her first play,&nbsp;<em>Damaged</em>, a one-woman show that debuted at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bcurrent.ca" target="_blank">b current鈥�</a>s&nbsp;rock.paper.sistahz festival. Her second play,&nbsp;<em>Eating Pomegranates Naked</em>, was included in the SummerWorks Performance Festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>It was a turning point for Scott.</p> <p>鈥淭here were people lining up to see the play who did not know me and had never heard of me, and that felt very validating,鈥� she says, adding that the play also earned her the RBC Arts Professional Award. 鈥淭hat was the moment where I realized, 鈥楳aybe I could do this.鈥欌€�&nbsp;</p> <p>Scott continued to achieve success with her plays, including&nbsp;<em>Better Angels: A Parable</em>, <em>Don't Talk to Me Like I'm Your Wife</em>鈥�(produced by her production company, <a href="http://callmescottyproductions.com">Call Me Scotty Productions</a>) and the award-winning鈥�<em>Controlled Damage.</em> She also taught playwriting to undergraduate students in 麻豆直播app Mississauga鈥檚 department of English and drama.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2020, Scott worked in the writers鈥� room on the CBC/BET production&nbsp;<em>The Porter</em>. Following that, she worked on&nbsp;<em>Murdoch Mysteries&nbsp;</em>for three seasons and wrote four episodes.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥�<em>Murdoch Mysteries&nbsp;</em>was a huge achievement for me,鈥� Scott says. 鈥淚 never assumed that I would ever get a job quite like that.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p>Scott recently wrote for the upcoming Disney series&nbsp;<em>High Potential,&nbsp;</em>which stars Kaitlin Olson (<em>It鈥檚 Always Sunny in Philadelphia</em>)&nbsp;with&nbsp;Veronica Mars&nbsp;creator Rob Thomas as showrunner. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淭he first time that I got to walk into the Disney lot, it just did not seem real,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was a dream come true.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-oembed-video field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><iframe src="/media/oembed?url=https%3A//youtu.be/OiQQ5V_NRts%3Ffeature%3Dshared&amp;max_width=0&amp;max_height=0&amp;hash=8xXk2zoM5EXKk0y01N1VWtqbPqJu3o45PgbLSxhI-Wk" width="200" height="113" class="media-oembed-content" loading="eager" title="Get That Hope (Teaser) | Stratford Festival 2024"></iframe> </div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>On Aug. 10, Scott made her Stratford debut with the world premi猫re of <em>Get That Hope</em>. She says she was inspired to write the play after seeing Eugene O鈥橬eill鈥檚&nbsp;<em>Long Day鈥檚 Journey Into Night.</em>&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淎ll I kept thinking was, 鈥榃hy don鈥檛 we have plays like this about Black Canadian families?鈥欌€� she says.&nbsp;</p> <p>Scott is working on a new play called&nbsp;<em>Truthfully Jackie&nbsp;</em>about Jackie Robinson鈥檚 time playing for the Montreal Royals in 1946.&nbsp;</p> <p>While she has seen success&nbsp;throughout her career, Scott says she has also faced challenges 鈥� including not being taken seriously enough.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檓 a woman, I鈥檓 a Black woman, and I鈥檓 really tiny 鈥� like five feet tall. But I have this voice, and I try to use it to make sure people take me seriously,鈥� she says, adding that her advice for budding writers is to not take criticism to heart.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淩eacting emotionally to something that was maybe constructive criticism won鈥檛 help you,鈥� Scott says. 鈥淎lso, write and write and write 鈥� and don鈥檛 close off any kind of source material that you can be inspired by. You never know where it might come from.鈥�&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Get That Hope</em>&nbsp;runs until Sept. 28 in the&nbsp;Stratford Festival's Studio Theatre.&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, 29 Aug 2024 15:27:55 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 309180 at