A Message from Dean, Cristina Amon

Welcome to the new academic year! Two faculty members, 588 graduate students, 1,256 undergraduate students from nine Canadian provinces and 55 countries join our U of T Engineering community. We also welcome back our largest-ever cohort of 539 PEY students returning for their Fourth Year. The learning opportunities and challenges they faced this past year will prepare them well for their future Engineering careers. The 2009-2010 academic year brings exciting opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and learning that build upon our 136-year history.  I look forward to our continued strengthening of our programs, innovation, and contributions as a leading Engineering Faculty.  I am grateful for your extraordinary engagement and commitment, which will ensure a rewarding year.

September 11, 2009

Back to Class with Orientation Week

Welcome message from Engineering Society President

Jimmy Lu outlines priorities to expand and refine services.

New programs for Orientation 2009

Tours, research talks, and leadership workshops were introduced to help First Year students transition successfully.

What's New

H1N1 and student absences

Faculty must make reasonable accommodations for students who are unable to attend classes or complete academic requirements due to suspected or actual H1N1 illnesses. Alternative arrangements will be determined by the course instructor in consultation with divisions. Please read the Provost’s Office memo: www.provost.utoronto.ca/public/pdadc/200910/13.htm and preparedness updates www.preparedness.utoronto.ca.

EngSci volunteer helps those in need

Vivian Hui (EngSci 1T2) provides meals and facilitates conversation at a local homeless shelter through the Eyes of Hope student group.

MinE student builds home

Cherisse Diaram (Min 1T2) works with staff, faculty, alumni, and students in the U of T Engineering Habitat for Humanity Campaign.

Engineering Science celebrates 75 years

Faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Skule™ Idol in October and attend the Engineering Science 75th Anniversary Celebration in December.

Honours and Awards

Nine Engineering professors inducted into the Canadian Academy of Engineering

CAE inducted Dean Cristina Amon and Professors Barry Adams (CivE), William Bawden (CivE), Michael Collins (CivE), Masahiro Kawaji (ChemE), Javad Mostaghimi (MIE), Chul Park (MIE), Jonathan Rose (ECE), and Willem Vanderburg (CivE) on July 13.

Faculty honoured by Royal Society of Canada

CivE Professor and VP Research Paul Young received a medal for outstanding research in earth sciences, and ECE Professor George Eleftheriades is one of 11 new fellows.

Thirteen Engineering staff receive U of T Stepping Up Awards

Congratulations to: Renzo Basset, Linda Espeut, Susan Grant, Leslie Grife, Lesley Mak, Liam Mitchell, Shannon Osborne, Austra Ozolins, Nisha Panchal, Deborah Peart, Rosanna Reid, Sarah Steed, and Rosemary Tersigni.

U of T among world's best for cited research papers, ScienceWatch.com says

The data cover 22 fields of study, including Engineering; U of T finished 13th overall for papers cited from January 1, 1999 to April 30, 2009.

Best Paper Award

MIE Chair Jean Zu and a Postdoctoral Researcher received this award for their paper 'Design of a tissue resonator indenter device for measurement of soft tissue viscoelastic properties using parametric identification.'

Research

Funding opportunities

• Canadian Foundation for Climate & Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) – Special 2009 grants competition
• NSERC/ESS Geo-Mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program
• NSERC 2010 research grants competition information sessions at U of T

Governance

2009-2010 Faculty Council Meetings

• Oct. 7, 2009
• Nov. 25, 2009
• Feb. 24, 2010
• May 26, 2010

Time: 12:10 - 2:00 p.m. | All meetings take place in the Michael E. Charles Council Chamber (GB202).

Engineering in the News

Infrared technology created by IBBME professor aids motor-impaired

Tom Chau found a way for people with severe motor impairments to communicate with the use of an infrared camera. Top Toronto newspapers picked up the new invention.

PhD student featured in Optics and Photonics News

Michelle Xu (ECE) urges scientists to “slow down” and think about the potential consequences of their work. Xu's research is supervised by Stewart Aitchison, Vice-Dean Research ... Optics and Photonics News

ECE professor touted as Canada's hope for affordable household solar energy

Ted Sargent is developing solar panels that can be painted onto almost anything - a wall, a roof, even a sweater ... Green Living

Engineering grads behind breakthrough simulator technology

Careesa Liu (EngSci 0T7) and Sujoy Ghosh Hajra (ECE 0T7 + PEY) are enabling the world's first patient-specific virtual neurosurgery in Halifax. Major TV stations and newspapers highlighted their technology ... CTV News

Regenerative stem cell breakthrough

John Davies (IBBME) and his team isolates special stem cells from human umbilical cord tissue and conducts experiments to show that stem cells can be used to regenerate tissue.

ECE adjunct professor cited in Toronto Star

Engineers like Ali Hussein study dozens of of CN Tower lightning hits each year to help global power firms protect their equipment ... Toronto Star

MIE lab's biofuel project featured in Canadian Manufacturing

To aid Canadian automakers, Auto21 recently injected $150,000 into a second-generation biofuel project, led by MIE Professor Murray Thomson, that analyzes biofuels for potential sustainable transportation fuel ... Canadian Manufacturing

Chair of CivE discusses unique challenges of building new town near Algerian oil field

Brenda McCabe comments on SNC-Lavalin's special position to design every aspect of a new urban community that will house 80,000 people in eastern Algeria, featured in the Globe.

IBBME professor's research featured in Globe

Warren Chan says nanoscience could offer new approaches to medical imaging. The story was featured on the front page July 16.

ECE grad returns to Earth

Julie Payette (MASc 9T0) completed her second International Space Station visit earlier this summer, on board Space Shuttle Endeavour. The Montreal Gazette and the Globe ran stories on Payette in July.

MIE professor on CBC News

Mariano Consens speaks about Ontario's future move to computerized patient files and how it's crucial to safeguard its security, similar to bank records.

Washington Post talks with MIE professor

Greg Jamieson provides input on the implications of automated systems that override human operators; cites case of Washington's Metrorail crash in June 2009 that killed nine people and injured dozens ... Washington Post

Research has potential to improve cameras

New research by Professor Ted Sargent (ECE) and team adds to potential for innovative advancements of electronic devices.

Newsletter Archives

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The Engineering Newsletter is a twice-monthly summary of key headlines, events and opportunities for faculty and staff in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. If you have questions or comments, please contact: barbara@ecf.utoronto.ca.

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