Faculty of Arts &amp; Science

Psychology

Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies

Subheadline

“Don’t get mad at the little boy who’s doing jumping jacks while you’re reading a book"

Are you a parent or teacher frustrated that the children in your life can’t seem to pay attention when you’re trying to teach them something? You don’t need to be, say psychologists at the ��߲ݴ�ý.

New research from the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science finds children learn just as much whether they’re trying to or not – adults, on the other hand, tend to ignore information that they aren’t paying attention to.

The findings are outlined in a new study published in the journal Psychological Science.

“Don’t get mad at the little boy who’s doing jumping jacks while you’re reading a book,” says the study’s senior author Amy Finn, associate professor in the department of psychology who leads the Learning and Neural Development lab. “He’s probably still listening and learning even though it doesn’t necessarily look like it.”

For the study, the research team – which included U of T alumni Marlie Tandoc, Bharat Nadendla and Theresa Pham – tested how much children and adults learned about drawings of common objects after two different experiments.

In the first, they told participants to pay attention to the drawings. In the second, participants were told to ignore the drawings and complete an entirely different task. After each scenario, participants had to identify fragments of the drawings they saw as quickly as possible.

They found that children learned about the drawings just as well across both scenarios, while adults learned more when told to pay attention to the drawings – in other words, the children’s learning wasn’t negatively impacted when they weren’t paying attention to the information they were tested on.

Children’s selective attention, or their ability to focus on a specific task and tune out distractions, develops slowly and doesn’t fully mature until early adulthood.

Previous research has found that unlike adults, a child’s brain treats information that they are told to pay attention to similarly to information they are not told to attend to. That is likely one of the reasons why children are so good at picking up languages spoken around them.

“As adults, we really filter what we’re learning through our goals and task demands, whereas kids are absorbing everything regardless of that – seemingly without even trying,” says Tandoc, former lab manager of the Learning and Neural Development lab and a PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania.

Although returning to a child-like state of learning might sound appealing, selective attention does hold several benefits. Across experiments, attentional instruction was found to boost learning in adults. In other words, adults learn better when told what information is most important.

The research has the potential to influence how parents, teachers and curriculum designers think about how children and adults learn. For instance, for children, the findings underline the benefits of play and immersive learning. For adults, defining a clear task or goal at the beginning of a class or workshop is important for learning outcomes.

“For me, when I’m hanging out with my five-year-old, I’m less worried now than I was otherwise about whether or not he is learning something if it doesn’t seem like he is paying attention,” says Finn.

Global activist - now a U of T PhD student - uses AI to combat sexual violence

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:52:22 +0000

Global activist - now a U of T PhD student - uses AI to combat sexual violence

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 01/14/2025 - 11:52

Cutline

PhD student Bukky Shonibare's research at the intersection of law, policymaking and technologies such as AI aims to ensure justice for women and girls, particularly as it relates to sexual violence (supplied image)

Adam Elliott Segal

Topic

Global Lens

Kelly Hannah-Moffat

Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies

Subheadline

Bukky Shonibare co-founded the #BringBackOurGirls movement after 276 school girls were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014 in Northern Nigeria

Nigerian activist Bukky Shonibare is hoping the ��߲ݴ�ý can help her bring an international fight for justice into the age of artificial intelligence.

As co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, launched after 276 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted in northern Nigeria by Boko Haram in 2014, Shonibare brought worldwide awareness to the issue by holding up a placard every day for five years – no matter where she was in the world.

Her efforts garnered global media attention, earned her an invitation to speak at the UN General Assembly and helped draw high-profile supporters to the cause, including former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.

Shonibare holds a placard for the #BringBackOurGirls campaign (supplied image)

“One of my supervisors called it affective justice,” says Shonibare, who completed a master’s degree in international human rights law at the University of Oxford and is now pursuing her PhD at U of T’s Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“We used emotions as sentiment to galvanize the world to pay attention to the young girls who had been abducted.”

At U of T, Shonibare is studying criminology and policy making, law and state power and research methods – and her research at the intersection of law, policymaking and technologies such as AI is focused on ensuring justice for present and future generations of women and girls, particularly as it relates to sexual violence. Her supervisors include Kelly Hannah-Moffat, a professor of criminology and sociolegal studies, and sociology, who is U of T’s vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture, and Kamari Maxine Clarke, a distinguished professor in the Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies and the Centre for Diaspora & Transnational Studies.

“One of the problems for survivors of sexual violence is sometimes you don't want to talk to a human being who will judge you,” says Shonibare, who grew up in Lagos and is a survivor of sexual abuse herself.

Her plan? Gather and preserve survivors' testimonies via an AI-powered virtual assistant she has named Keepit. That way they have the option of pursuing legal action in the future, she says.

“Keepit will rely on natural language processing, machine learning and cloud computing to understand, respond and provide support to survivors of sexual violence,” says Shonibare. “For example, a survivor might say, ‘Hey Keepit, I need to talk about what happened last night,’ and Keepit would respond with, ‘I'm here to listen. Take your time. You can start whenever you're ready.’”

Beyond voice and text empathetic conversation, Keepit will support evidence preservation, legal preparation and referrals for survivors.

In addition to her work with #BringBackOurGirls, which vows to continue its 10-year-old campaign until all of the women have been released, Shonibare is the executive director of Invictus Africa, a social enterprise that promotes human rights and gender equality through data-driven advocacy, while leveraging digital technology, engaging stakeholders and building capacity.

She also developed SheTV, an online TV and podcast platform dedicated to women and girls, and Adopt-A-Camp, which provided humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons.

The years of field work have taken their toll.

“I was going to a whole lot of dangerous places until one time when I had a near-death experience – and professionals advised me to pull back from the northeast because, at that time, Boko Haram was abducting a lot of humanitarian aid workers.”

In Chibok, they call her “Kwatuwa,” or female warrior, she adds.

Shonibare says goodbye to a group of schoolchildren at an internally displaced people camp in Nigeria (supplied image)

Hannah-Moffatt says Shonibare’s dedication to social justice and community betterment is inspiring.

“Bukky’s profound desire to make a positive social impact is reflected in her research on how digital technologies can empower and ensure the safety of women and girls,” says Hannah-Moffatt. “Her development of Keepit is a critical initiative that offers survivors a safe and empowering platform to share their stories through AI-powered, voice-activated technology.

“Her work not only advances technology but also uplifts and empowers women and girls by building a community that supports recovery and strength.”

Clarke adds that Shonibare’s work is not only on the cutting edge of new social justice developments but also offers important avenues for understanding the place and limitations of AI in a changing world.

“This work is at the cutting edge of sociolegal studies and provides ways to think about not only violence but the importance of information, inquiry and political action,” she says. “Her work has the potential to transform justice possibilities for women and underserved communities around the world.”

Shonibare, for her part, sees it as an evolution of her years working on the front lines.

“The impact of my research will be to show ... how technology, particularly AI, can be used to ensure justice for survivors of sexual violence.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bukky Shonibare (@bukkyshonibare)

Why do we prefer curves over straight edges? Researchers probe the brain for clues

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:06:08 +0000

Why do we prefer curves over straight edges? Researchers probe the brain for clues

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 01/10/2025 - 12:06

Cutline

Researchers found regions in the brain that are sensitive to scenes people perceive to be curvy, but only when they are judging its beauty (supplied image)

Michael Pereira

Topic

Breaking Research

Graduate Students

Psychology

Faculty of Arts & Science Staff

Subheadline

“Artists and designers are way ahead of scientists. They already use organic, curvy lines to evoke a sense of comfort, aesthetic pleasure and hominess”

For over 100 years, psychologists have known that most people prefer curviness over angularity in practically everything – from lines and shapes to faces, paintings and interior spaces.

Moreover, the phenomenon has been observed across cultures, in infants and even in great apes.

Yet, it remains unclear what it is about our perception of curvature that translates into this widespread preference.

“Now we have this advantage that we can probe the brain to see the mechanisms that are really driving this process,” says Oshin Vartanian, an associate professor in the department of psychology at the ��߲ݴ�ý who is appointed to Defence Research and Development Canada.

Using brain imaging data and computational measures of curvature, Vartanian worked with U of T PhD student Delaram Farzanfar, Dirk Bernhardt-Walther, a U of T associate professor of psychology, and an international group of collaborators to solve the mystery.

For the study, published recently in Scientific Reports, participants completed two tasks when presented with images of curvy and angular interior spaces. They judged each as either “beautiful” or “not beautiful” and decided whether they would choose to “enter” or “exit” the space.

Researchers found that there are regions in the brain that are sensitive to scenes participants perceive to be curvy, but only when they are judging its beauty. When a participant is asked to decide whether they would enter or exit the space, those regions are not sensitive to perceived curvature.

This observation suggests that the context within which we perceive curvature makes a difference in how our brain responds to it.

The regions of the brain that lit up to scenes participants perceive to be curvy, in the fusiform gyrus, are involved in higher-order visual processing like object recognition. They are also sensitive to the perception of faces.

In other words, these findings suggest that the region of our brain that specializes in distinguishing one face from another might also be sensitive to processing curvature in other contexts – such as looking at architectural spaces.

Examples of the experimental stimuli (n = 200). The stimuli in the top and bottom rows were categorized as “curvilinear” and “rectilinear” respectively by the two experts in Vartanian et al. The number underneath each stimulus represents its associated computational curvature value (supplied image)

Researchers also found that images of spaces that participants perceived as curvy did not always match with computational measures of those same spaces. However, a region in the primary visual cortex shows sensitivity to computational curvature, regardless of the task.

“It’s entirely possible that when a person looks at an image, they form a mental representation that’s three-dimensional,” Vartanian says. Such a representation eludes mathematical measurements of two-dimensional images.

Bernhardt-Walther adds that, going forward, researchers need to have a broader view of what parts of an image translate into a sense of curviness that people perceive as aesthetically pleasant.

“Artists and designers are way ahead of scientists. They already use organic, curvy lines to evoke a sense of comfort, aesthetic pleasure and hominess,” says Bernhardt-Walther. “Our work provides a scientific underpinning for their intuitions and may guide them on using curvature more deliberately as a design element to generate aesthetically pleasing forms or, alternatively, to use angularity to challenge and engage the viewers.”

Farzanfar, meanwhile, says the research is not only relevant to the work of neuroscientists and psychologists, but to artists, designers, architects and city planners.

“I think as we understand how spaces impact our mood and cognition, we can create better environments for our health and enrich the experience of modern life for many people,” she says.

Astronomers discover actively forming galaxy that may resemble a young Milky Way

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:38:22 +0000

Astronomers discover actively forming galaxy that may resemble a young Milky Way

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 01/09/2025 - 11:38

Cutline

A massive cluster of galaxies called MACS J1423 includes a young galaxy, nicknamed Firefly Sparkle, that may resemble our own Milky Way in its early life (photo by NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Chris Willott of NRC-Canada, Lamiya Mowla of Wellesley College and Kartheik Iyer of Columbia University)

Topic

Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics

Milky Way

Space

Subheadline

U of T astronomer Roberto Abraham says a galaxy nicknamed "Firefly Sparkle" by researchers likely has the same mass as our Milky Way galaxy did in its infancy

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has detected and “weighed” a galaxy – seen 600 million years after the Big Bang – that is similar to what our Milky Way galaxy might have looked like at the same stage of development.

Nicknamed the Firefly Sparkle, this young galaxy is gleaming with star clusters – 10 in all – that may be signs that early galaxies form by fragmenting into giant star clusters, with some surviving today as globular clusters.

The lead co-authors of the study, published in Nature, are Wellesley College’s Lamiya Mowla and Columbia University’s Kartheik Iyer – both former postdoctoral researchers at the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Roberto Abraham (supplied image)

Roberto Abraham, professor and chair of the David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics in U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science, is also part of the CAnadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) team behind the research.

He recently shared his insights on the new discovery with the Faculty of Arts & Science news team.

How is Webb helping us understand things about the universe that we didn’t know before?

Webb’s resolution and sensitivity allows us to study extremely distant objects – like those gleaming star clusters that initially drew us to the Firefly Sparkle galaxy – in crisp detail. We’re also able to “zoom in” due to a natural effect known as strong gravitational lensing. In this case, a galaxy cluster in the foreground enhanced the Firefly Sparkle galaxy behind it, acting like a giant magnifying glass.

With Webb, we can go back in time and look at distant objects like the Firefly Sparkle and see objects in it that may be young globular clusters, which are seen today as dense groups of millions of ancient stars. Witnessing things that are ancient today being born in the distant past is mind-blowing. Seeing 10 of them forming this way makes the Firefly Sparkle a goldmine for understanding the earliest phases of formation and growth in galaxies.

Using Webb’s images and data, the researchers concluded that the Firefly Sparkle had the same mass as our Milky Way galaxy would have if we could “turn back time” to weigh it as it was assembling.

For the first time, astronomers have identified a still-forming galaxy that weighs about the same as our Milky Way if we could “wind back the clock” to weigh our galaxy as it developed. The newly identified galaxy, the Firefly Sparkle, is in the process of assembling and forming stars, and existed about 600 million years after the Big Bang (photo by NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Chris Willott of NRC-Canada, Lamiya Mowla of Wellesley College and Kartheik Iyer of Columbia)

Why is knowing the “weight” of the Firefly Sparkle galaxy important?

It gives us a glimpse of how much young galaxies weighed when the universe was very young. Today’s galaxies are way more massive. We’ve known this for a while, but Webb lets us figure out how they get more massive and how they get so many stars within them. In some models, the stars form slowly via internal processes, while in other models they form in small galaxies that crash together and grow bigger. Galaxies like the Firefly Sparkle tell us that both things are happening, but the latter process is probably dominant.

In 2022, the CANUCS team used Webb to identify the most distant globular clusters known in what they dubbed “the Sparkler galaxy.” How does this new discovery build upon the previous one?

The little points of light – “sparkles” – seen in the Sparkler galaxy we studied in 2022 were four billion years old when their light was emitted, which was similar to the age of the universe then. Nine billion years later, in today’s universe, we know exactly what they look like: today’s globular clusters. With the new Firefly Sparkle galaxy, we’re closer to the starting point of growth, so we’re not 100 per cent sure what the little points of light in the galaxy evolve into.

You could say that looking at the Sparkler galaxy was like looking at a toddler: you’re pretty sure a toddler is going to eventually grow up to look like an adult. But with Firefly Sparkle, it’s like looking at an embryo: all sorts of animals have similar-looking embryos, so in this case what those sparkles turn into is more ambiguous.

What are you excited to look for next with Webb?

It’s more like, what am I not excited to look at next with Webb? All the data and images coming from Webb fill me with a sense of giddy joy – it feels a bit like the universe is letting us in on some pretty big secrets and we’re lucky to be alive right now.

In this case, we need to find more examples of systems similar to the Sparkler and the Firefly Sparkle to be totally confident that these little points of light in the Firefly Sparkle are indeed very young globular clusters. What we’ve got now is a spectacular starting point. Canada has a long history of galaxy formation and globular cluster research, so I look forward to seeing us continue along that path. 

With files from Space Telescope Science Institute/NASA

Reimagining the curb: U of T alum helps cities design smarter streets

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:26:17 +0000

Reimagining the curb: U of T alum helps cities design smarter streets

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 12/20/2024 - 10:26

Cutline

Marian Mendoza, who earned an honours bachelor of arts in geography and international relations at U of T, is among a new generation of city-builders using data and emerging technologies to build more inclusive and sustainable cities (supplied image)

Topic

Geography and Planning

Victoria College

Subheadline

Marian Mendoza is a product operations specialist at CurbIQ, a Toronto company that's helping cities wield data to better manage curbsides

For Marian Mendoza, curbsides aren’t simply where road and sidewalk happen to meet – they’re dynamic urban spaces with the potential to boost sustainability, inclusion and mobility.

An alum of the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Faculty of Arts & Science, Mendoza is a product operations specialist at CurbIQ, a Toronto-based company that offers a digital platform to help urban centres gather information about curbsides and optimize their use.

“Cities are finally starting to see the value of this real estate and taking steps to make the most of it,” says Mendoza, who earned her honours bachelor of arts in geography and international relations in 2019 as a Victoria College member.

Curbside management has become increasingly important as 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 – a distance roughly equal to that between U of T’s St. George campus and Whitehorse, Yukon.

By providing cities with the tools to analyze real-time and historical data, CurbIQ helps municipalities and large urban institutions that manage roadways – such as universities and airports – make strategic, data-informed decisions to better optimize curbside space.

“A city can use CurbIQ to see that certain on-street parking spaces are underutilized,” says Mendoza. “And this could help decision-makers to consider converting those spaces into alternative curbside uses, such as a dedicated lane for transit or active transportation – improving accessibility and mobility in general for the city.”

CurbIQ digitizes curb regulations, integrates usage data from multiple sources and centralizes the information into a single platform (Image courtesy of Arcadis)

Since its founding in 2019, CurbIQ has had an impact in cities across Canada and around the world.

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’s CaféTO program, which created curb lane patios for restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Edmonton, Alta. and Arlington County, Va., CurbIQ was used to optimize management of parking spaces.

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 – reducing congestion, lowering carbon emissions and improving traffic flow.

“I’ve 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,” 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.

“But I’m a firm believer that technology doesn't replace human expertise; it just gives us the data and confidence to make better decisions.”

CurbIQ's platform has been used in cities across Canada and around the world (image courtesy of Arcadis)

Mendoza says the skills she developed at U of T have stood her in good stead as she establishes herself among a new generation of city-builders using data and advanced technology.

“U of T taught me to be curious, ask questions and develop strong research skills,” says Mendoza. “You’re free to ask any questions you want, and you have guidance from professors to explore and nurture your research interests.”

Mendoza’s work at U of T included an independent research project on multimodal transportation in Portland, Oregon, conducted under the mentorship of Michael Widener, chair and professor in the department of geography and planning. “As 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,” says Widener.

“She always brought to class a wonderful mix of intellectual curiosity and positivity,” adds Don Boyes, a professor, teaching stream and associate dean, teaching and learning, who taught Mendoza in several courses. “It’s great to see her doing so well in her chosen field.”

In addition to the support of professors and peers, Mendoza is grateful for the numerous scholarships she received at U of T, which included the William G. Dean Scholarship in Geography Field Research.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had,” says Mendoza. “Scholarships gave me the freedom to explore a career path that wasn’t a straight line.”

U of T community members recognized with Order of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:01:38 +0000

U of T community members recognized with Order of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 12/19/2024 - 11:01

Cutline

(photo by Sgt Johanie Maheu)

Adam Elliott Segal

Topic

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

Alumni

Anthropology

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Hospital for Sick Children

Faculty of Dentistry

Faculty of Law

Institute of Medical Science

Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology

Subheadline

"Each in their own way, they broaden the realm of possibilities and inspire others to continue pushing its boundaries"

A pediatric surgeon who pioneered techniques to keep children’s hearts pumping. An anthropologist whose work has explored how land development shapes communities. A leading mathematician also renowned for scholarship on Indian philosophy.

These are a few of the ��߲ݴ�ý community members who were recently recognized by the Order of Canada.

The Governor General announced 88 new appointments to the Order of Canada on Dec 18, including three promotions. They include George Trusler, 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; Tania Li, a University Professor in the department of anthropology in the Faculty of Arts & Science; and Vijaya Kumar Murty, a professor in the department of mathematics in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“Members of the Order of Canada are builders of hope for a better future,” Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said in a statement. “Each in their own way, they broaden the realm of possibilities and inspire others to continue pushing its boundaries. Thank you for your perseverance, fearless leadership and visionary spirit, and welcome to the Order of Canada.”

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours. It recognizes individuals whose achievements and service have had an impact on communities across Canada and beyond.

Here is a list of U of T faculty, alumni, supporters and friends who were appointed to, or promoted within, the Order of Canada in the latest round:

Current and former faculty

Steve Arshinoff, 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 U of T.

Sylvia Bashevkin, a professor emerita in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & 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.

Zulfiqar Bhutta, 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’s 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.

Sandy Buchman, 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 U of T.

David Chitayat, head of the prenatal diagnosis and medical genetics program at Mount Sinai Hospital, physician at SickKids and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s 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.

Stacy Churchill, 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.

Dafna Gladman, 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 U of T.

Daniel Haas, 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’s 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 U of T.

Tania Li, a University Professor in the department of anthropology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was named an Officer of the Order for her contributions as one of Canada’s leading anthropologists. Her research – including groundbreaking work in understanding how international land development and corporate agriculture generate unintended poverty – has had a profound interdisciplinary impact, shaping policy and advancing human rights and sustainability initiatives.

Vijaya Kumar Murty, a professor in the department of mathematics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions as one of Canada’s leading mathematicians. A former director of the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences at U of T, he has advanced knowledge in various mathematical fields, including analytic number theory. He is also a renowned scholar of Indian philosophy.

Greg Ryan, 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.

Valerie Sue Tarasuk, 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 U of T.  

George Trusler, 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 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.

Alumni and Friends

J. Anthony Boeckh, 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’s mental health care system. He is also a founding trustee of the Fraser Institute.

Carol Cowan-Levine, who earned her master’s in social work from U of T, was recognized with the Order of Canada for her leadership role in social work and the establishment of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Her extensive volunteer work has impacted government, health care institutions and the non-profit sector in Ontario.

Stan Douglas, 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 U of T’s Hart House as part of the Hart House Permanent Collection.

Donald Dippo, who earned a master of education and PhD from U of T, 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.

R. Douglas Elliott 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.

Aura Kagan, a speech language pathologist who earned a PhD from U of T, was named an Officer of the Order for contributions that profoundly shaped care for people living with aphasia – a disorder that disrupts the ability to speak, understand, read, and write – including groundbreaking methods to help individuals communicate more effectively.

Jeffrey J. McDonnell, who earned a bachelor of science from U of T 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.

Maureen Jennings, who earned a master’s degree at U of T in 1967, was named a Member of the Order for her achievements as an historical crime author, most notably for the creation of the Detective Murdoch series – which inspired the long-running TV show Murdoch Mysteries – and for her contributions to Canadian history regarding women's roles during the Second World War.

Karen Levine, 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 Hana’s Suitcase, which has educated young readers worldwide about the Holocaust.

Sam Shemie, who completed his pediatric cardiology fellowship at U of T, 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.

Walter Schneider, who earned a degree in literary arts from U of T 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’s top-selling organization.

– With files from Mariam Matti

Read about more U of T community members recognized with the Order of Canada in recent years

Researcher, entrepreneur ... and DJ to the stars? U of T alum perfects the mix

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:22:20 +0000

Researcher, entrepreneur ... and DJ to the stars? U of T alum perfects the mix

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 12/16/2024 - 09:22

Cutline

Amir Alam says U of T provided the foundation he needed to succeed as a DJ, a cancer researcher and an entrepreneur (photo by Kemeisha McDonald)

David Goldberg

Topic

City & Culture

Alumni

Woodsworth College

Subheadline

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

Amir Alam’s arrival at the ��߲ݴ�ý began with a friendly bet.

After watching a DJ spin records for a raucous crowd one evening as a teenager, 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.

“The first choice was always U of T – even before my family immigrated from Iran to Toronto, I remember hearing U of T was the ‘Ivy League School of Canada,’” says Alam, who earned his honours bachelor of science degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science in 2015 as a member of Woodsworth College.

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.

Yet, despite the excitement that came with touring the world, Alam – aka DJ Crunch – says he missed belonging to the community that many students experience during their first year at university.

“When 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.”

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.

Amir Alam looks through albums at Play De Record on Spadina Avenue, a store he worked at part-time during his U of T studies (photo by Kemeisha McDonald)

Alam also took on mentorship roles and immersed himself in campus life. Beginning in third year, he worked as a lab assistant at SickKids’ Brain Tumour Research Centre alongside Gelareh Zadeh, a neurosurgeon-scientist at University Health Network (UHN) and a professor in U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

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.

But new opportunities and challenges were about to change Alam’s trajectory once more.

He drew on his chemistry experience – and interest in street fashion – 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.

“My scientific background in the labs at U of T, SickKids and UHN definitely helped me when I was developing the concept,” says Alam. “I knew what I wanted and I had the vocabulary to communicate with the lab.”

The company continues to grow. He’s developing a new, sustainable product that repels stains before they happen.

Alam has also dabbled in filmmaking, running a music festival, making his own music and working in artist relations.

He says he enjoys having multiple projects on the go – and is open to whatever comes next.

The most valuable skill Alam developed at U of T? Perseverance, he says, and making use of all the university has to offer.

“The reputation of the school speaks for itself internationally, but what really matters is learning how to use the tools around you to succeed.”

Now a mentor in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Venture Mentoring Service, 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.

“You'll fail at some things, and you’ll succeed at others, but it's the only way to truly discover what you're passionate about.”

In photos: Geoffrey Hinton’s Nobel week in Sweden — and at U of T

mattimar — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:42:24 +0000

In photos: Geoffrey Hinton’s Nobel week in Sweden — and at U of T

mattimar Fri, 12/13/2024 - 10:42

Cutline

Geoffrey Hinton delivers a speech during the Nobel Prize banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, Sweden on Dec. 10 (photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Department of Computer Science

Artificial Intelligence

Geoffrey Hinton

Nobel Prize

It was a whirlwind week for the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Geoffrey Hinton, who travelled to Sweden to officially accept the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics alongside a jam-packed schedule of receptions, lectures, talks, ceremonies, banquets and media engagements.

The U of T University Professor emeritus of computer science known as the “godfather of AI” received the prestigious award during a formal ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall — the main event during Nobel Week, held from Dec. 6 to 12 in Stockholm and Oslo.

He shared the honour with John J. Hopfield of Princeton University for foundational work that paved the way for today's rapid advances in artificial intelligence, which some have called “the next industrial revolution.”

From the days leading up to the ceremony to the celebrations overseas and back home in Toronto, here are a few highlights and behind-the-scenes glimpses of a historic moment for Hinton and the rest of the U of T community.

(Photo by Jennifer Cressman)

After arriving in Stockholm on Dec. 5, Hinton takes part in a panel discussion at the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) on AI development, humanity and the future. He is joined by IVA fellows Kristina Höök, Anders Sandberg and Staffan Truvé, and moderator Anette Novak.

On Dec. 6, Hinton signs the guest book at the Nobel Prize Museum, where he donated an early Boltzmann machine – a chip about the size of a postage stamp that can be used to recognize elements in data.

Continuing a Nobel tradition dating back to the event’s 100th anniversary in 2001, Hinton signs the underside of a chair at the Nobel Prize Museum’s restaurant, joining the names of fellow laureates etched into history.

(Photos by Jennifer Cressman)

During a news conference at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Dec. 7, Hinton pauses to snap a personal photo, capturing a moment of his historic week.

(Photo by U of T staff)

In his Nobel Prize lecture in physics on Dec. 8, Hinton talks about how decades of his fundamental research, and that of his co-laureate, paved the way for the development of artificial neural networks and machine learning.

Hinton explains the significance of the Boltzmann machine, which he based on an invention of his co-laureate that was known as the Hopfield network.

(Photo by Pontus Lundahl/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)

Hinton and John J. Hopfield shake hands after delivering their Nobel Prize lectures.

Since the 1960s, the laureates have participated in a roundtable discussion for television’s Nobel Minds. At the taping on Dec. 9, Hinton was joined by David Baker, Demis Hassabis, Gary Ruvkun, Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson.

The following day, Hinton officially accepted his Nobel Prize in Physics.

(Photo by Jonas Borg)

Hinton poses with Ulrika Gustafsson, his Nobel attaché, prior to the formal ceremony on Dec. 10.

The event, which was livestreamed from Stockholm Concert Hall, was watched around the world.

Congratulations to Canada’s own Geoffrey Hinton — “Godfather of AI”, Professor Emeritus, and now, Nobel laureate. pic.twitter.com/CON0AtXokq
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 10, 2024

(Photos by Diana Tyszko, Matt Hintsa, Sobica Vinayagamoorthy and Shauna Rempel)

On Dec. 10 in Toronto, U of T community members shared in the moment via Nobel ceremony watch parties that were held across U of T’s three campuses.

Hinton receives his Nobel Prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during the ceremony.

(Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)

Hinton sits next to Anna Sjöström Douagi, acting CEO of the Nobel Foundation, during the Nobel Prize banquet on Dec. 10.

“If the benefits of the increased productivity can be shared equally, it will be a wonderful advance for all of humanity,” Hinton told the audience, before repeating his warnings about the near- and longer-term dangers posed by rapid, unfettered progress of the technology. See the complete text of Hinton's acceptance speech.

Researchers at U of T, partner hospitals receive $35 million in provincial support

lanthierj — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:57:47 +0000

Researchers at U of T, partner hospitals receive $35 million in provincial support

lanthierj Wed, 12/11/2024 - 13:57

Cutline

The performance of lithium ion batteries that power electric vehicles, like the ones plugged into these chargers, can be degraded by temperature fluctuations – a limitation researchers at U of T Engineering are working to change (photo by koiguo/Getty Images)

Tyler Irving

Topic

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Leah Cowen

Sinai Health

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Unity Health

Cell and Systems Biology

Anthropology

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Biochemistry

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Chemistry

Computer Science

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Hospital for Sick Children

Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Mathematics

Physics

Psychology

University Health Network

UTIAS

Subheadline

From better batteries to preventing memory loss, nearly four dozen projects at U of T and its partner hospitals are being supported by the Ontario Research Fund

Researchers in the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Thermal Management Systems (TMS) Laboratory are working to improve the way battery systems handle heat and develop structural battery pack components. 

“Whether they are being used for electric vehicles or for stationary energy storage systems that reduce strain on the grid, lithium-ion batteries are transforming the way we use electricity,” said Carlos Da Silva, senior research associate at the TMS Lab in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and executive director of U of T’s Electrification Hub.

“Unfortunately, today’s batteries are still sensitive to temperature: if they get too cold or too hot, it can degrade their performance and even present safety risks. We are working on new technologies that make batteries more resilient to thermal fluctuations.”

The battery-related research is among nearly four dozen projects at U of T and its partner hospitals that are receiving almost $35 million in support through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence (ORF-RE) and the Ontario Research Fund – Small Infrastructure (ORF-SIF). (See the full list of projects and their principal researchers below).

"Research at the ��߲ݴ�ý and at all universities and colleges across Ontario is the foundation of the province’s competitiveness now and in the future,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“This investment protects and advances cutting-edge, made-in-Ontario research in important economic sectors and helps ensure universities can continue to train, attract and retain the world’s top talent."

At U of T Engineering’s TMS Lab, researchers led by Cristina Amon, a University Professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering, are working on two funded projects. They are developing advanced computational modelling and digital twin methodologies that predict and optimize how heat flows through battery packs. The methodologies are carefully calibrated and validated through industry-relevant experiments in the lab.

Senior Research Associate Carlos Da Silva, left, and University Professor Cristina Amon, right, chat in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering's Thermal Management Systems Laboratory (photo by Aaron Demeter)

These methodologies will help battery designers anticipate and prevent thermal management challenges before they arise. It can also enable them to optimize the design and deployment of fire mitigation measures, such as ultra-thin heat barriers, within their battery systems.

The team is also collaborating with Ford Canada and several other companies in the energy storage space. For example, they have worked with Jule (powered by eCAMION) on the development of direct current electric vehicle fast chargers with integrated battery energy storage systems, one of which was recently unveiled on the U of T campus.

“We are grateful for this ORF-RE funding, which will accelerate our research and help us further expand our partnerships, ensuring that battery thermal innovations have a seamless transition from the lab to the marketplace,” Amon said.

“As a result of this work, the next generation of batteries will be safer and more resilient than ever before, which is especially important in colder climates like ours here in Ontario.” 

Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence:

Cristina Amon in the department of mechanical & industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Powering Ontario’s grid transformation and electric vehicle fast charging with thermally resilient battery energy storage & Next-gen electric vehicle battery systems: Lightweight, thermally performant and fire safe for all climates
Morgan Barense in the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – HippoCamera: Digital memory rehabilitation to combat memory loss
Aimy Bazylak in the department of mechanical & industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering – RECYCLEAN: Critical minerals recycling & re-manufacturing for the energy transition
Ian Connell at University Health Network and the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – MRI-compatible innovations for neuromodulation
Simon Graham at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Technological innovations for clinical MRI of the brain at 7 tesla
Clinton Groth in the Institute for Aerospace Studies in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Hydrogen as a sustainable aviation fuel – combustion research to remove impediments to adoption in gas turbine engines
James Kennedy at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Clinical utility and enhancements of a pharmacogenomic decision support tool for mental health patients
Shaf Keshavjee at University Health Network and the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Advanced solutions to human lung preservation and assessment using artificial intelligence
Aviad Levis in the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science – AI and quantum enhanced astronomy
JoAnne McLaurin at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of laboratory medicine & pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Conversion of astrocytes to neurons to treat neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and the eye
R. J. Dwayne Miller in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science – PicoSecond InfraRed Laser (PIRL) “cancer knife” with complete biodiagnostics via spatial imaging mass spectrometry
Javad Mostaghimi in the department of mechanical & industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – A new generation of compact, transportable mass spectrometers for rapid, in-field sample analysi
Xiao Yu (Shirley) Wu in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy – Molecular dynamics modeling and screening of excipients for designing amorphous solid dispersion formulations of poorly–soluble drugs

Ontario Research Fund – Small Infrastructure Fund:

Celina Baines in the department of ecology & evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Impacts of environmental change on organismal movement
Sergio de la Barrera in the department of physics in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Facility for quantum materials and device assembly from atomically thin van der Waals layers
Michelle Bendeck in the department of laboratory medicine & pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – 4D quantitative cardiovascular physiology centre
Laurent Bozec in the department of laboratory medicine & pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – 21st Century challenge for Dentistry: Breaking the cycle of irreversible dental tissue loss
Mark Chiew at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Next generation computational MRI for rapid neuroimaging and image-guided therapy
Haissi Cui in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science – A molecule to mouse approach to study the intracellular localization of genetic code interpretation in mammalian cells
Andy Kin On DeVeale at the University Health Network and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Sarcopenia and musculoskeletal interactions (sami) collaborative hub
Ali Dolatabadi in the department of mechanical & industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Advanced cold spray facility
Spencer Freeman at the Hospital for Sick Children and the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Imaging biophysical determinants of the innate immune response
Liisa Galea at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Institute of Medical Science in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Sex and sex-specific factors influencing brain health across the lifespan
Maged Goubran at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – AI platform for mapping, tracking and predicting circuit alterations in Alzheimer’s disease
Eitan Grinspun in the departments of computer science and department of mathematics in the Faculty of Arts & Science – A computer graphics perspective on entanglement of slender structures
Levon Halabelian in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Enabling a high-throughput drug discovery pipeline for targeting disease-related human proteins
Ziqing Hong in the department of physics in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Ultra-sensitive cryogenic detector development for dark matter and neutrino experiments
Eno Hysi at the Unity Health Toronto and the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Structural and functional assessments of diabetic skin microvasculature using photoacoustic imaging
Lewis Kay in the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Helium recovery system for the biomolecular NMR facility
Xiang Li in the department of chemistry and the department of physic in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Real-time multi-faceted probes of quantum materials
Qian Lin in the department of cell & systems biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – 2p-RAM for whole-brain single-neuron imaging of behaving zebrafish to study neural mechanisms of cognitive behaviours
Xilin Liu in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Integrated circuits for wireless brain implants with multi-modal neural interfaces
Stephen Lye at the Sinai Health System and the department of physiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) analytics platform
Caitlin Maikawa in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Biointerfacing materials for drug delivery lab
Emma Master in the department of chemical engineering & applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Accelerating biomanufacturing innovation through enhanced capacity for scale-up and downstream bioprocess engineering
Roman Melnyk at the Hospital for Sick Children and the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – The H-SCREEN: A platform for high throughput and high content imaging-based small molecule screens for disease modulation
Juan Mena-Parra in the department of astronomy & astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts & Science – An advanced laboratory to enable novel radio telescopes for cosmology and time-domain astrophysics
Seyed Mohamad Moosavi in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Machine learning for nanoporous materials design
Enid Montague in the department of mechanical & industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Automation and equity in healthcare laboratory
Michael Norris in the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Infrastructure for structural and functional virology research hub
Amaya Perez-Brumer in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – 3P lab: Centering power, privilege and positionality for health equity research
Monica Ramsey in the department of anthropology at the ��߲ݴ�ý Mississauga – Ramsey Laboratory for Environmental Archaeology (RLEA): How human-environment interactions shaped plant-food
Arneet Saltzman in the department of cell & systems biology in the in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Heterochromatin regulation in development and inheritance
Mina Tadrous in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy – Developing a centre for real-world evidence to improve the use of medications for Canadians
Shurui Zhou in the department of electrical & computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Improving collaboration efficiency for fork-based software development
Olena Zhulyn at the Hospital for Sick Children and the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Targeting translation for tissue regeneration and repair
Christoph Zrenner at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Next-generation real-time closed-loop personalized neurostimulation

U of T’s Geoffrey Hinton receives Nobel medal, diploma at Stockholm ceremony

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:05:05 +0000

U of T’s Geoffrey Hinton receives Nobel medal, diploma at Stockholm ceremony

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 12/10/2024 - 15:05

Cutline

U of T University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton receives his Nobel Prize in Physics from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm (photo by Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency/AFP/Getty Images)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Global Lens

Artificial Intelligence

Computer Science