St. George

Jo Bovy awarded Steacie Prize for research into the lives of galaxies

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 15:33:26 +0000

Jo Bovy awarded Steacie Prize for research into the lives of galaxies

Research & Innovation

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 01/10/2025 - 10:33

Faculty

St. George

David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics

Faculty of Arts & Science

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Jo Bovy (supplied image)

Professor Jo Bovy, a galactic astrophysicist in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics, has been awarded the Steacie Prize for 2024 for his research into galactic dynamics, galaxy formation and evolution, dark matter and astrostatistics.

The Steacie Prize is Canada’s most prestigious early career research award. It is given annually in recognition of outstanding scientific work carried out in Canada in the natural sciences or engineering. The prize is named in memory of E.W.R. Steacie, a physical chemist and former president of the National Research Council of Canada.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive this prize as it is great recognition of my work,” says Bovy, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Galactic Astrophysics. “As someone working in a field with few immediate practical applications, I personally find it rewarding to see that pure, curiosity-driven research into our cosmic origins and the fundamental nature of matter is appreciated by the wider community.

“As well, at this point in my career, my own success is deeply intertwined with that of the amazing group of U of T undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working. So, this is really honouring their fantastic work as well.”

Bovy’s research is helping build our understanding of how galaxies like our own evolved over the 14-billion-year lifetime of the universe – from their birth as fluctuations in the density of matter only fractions of a second after the Big Bang to the building blocks of the cosmos we see today containing as many as hundreds of billions of stars.

“I am excited to begin a new year by congratulating Professor Bovy for receiving the distinguished Steacie Prize,” says Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. “His research is helping reveal our place in the Milky Way Galaxy and the cosmos. It is thrilling work, richly deserving of this recognition.”

Daniel Drucker receives Frontiers of Knowledge Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 18:56:11 +0000

Daniel Drucker receives Frontiers of Knowledge Award

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 01/09/2025 - 13:56

Faculty

St. George

Department of Medicine

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

Sinai Health

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

Daniel Drucker (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Daniel Drucker, a senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health and a University Professor in the department of medicine in the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, is one of four researchers to be honoured with the prestigious Frontiers of Knowledge Award.

Presented by Spain's BBVA Foundation, the award recognizes scientists and innovators whose contributions are helping guide humanity's response to pressing global challenges.

Drucker and collaborators were recognized for uncovering the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a gut hormone that has enabled the development of novel therapeutics to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and opened up new avenues of exploration for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

He shared the prize with Professors Joel Habener of Harvard Medical School, Svetlana Mojsov of Rockefeller University and Jens Juul Holst of the University of Copenhagen. The four researchers previously won the 2023 VinFuture Special Prize for Innovators with Outstanding Achievements in Emerging Fields.

"What I'm most excited about going forward are new innovations in the field that will bring GLP-1 drugs to many millions of people who currently can’t access these medicines, enabling the health benefits to be extended not just to rich countries that can afford them, but to people all over the world," Drucker said.

Past recipients of the Frontiers of Knowledge Award include U of T University Professors Emeriti Stephen Cook and Geoffrey Hinton – with Hinton among 31 Frontiers of Knowledge laureates who went on to win Nobel Prizes.

Read the BBVA Foundation announcement

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U of T Engineering professors, alumni honoured by Engineering Institute of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:00:21 +0000

U of T Engineering professors, alumni honoured by Engineering Institute of Canada

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 01/08/2025 - 14:00

Faculty

Alumni

St. George

Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

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L-R: Milos Popovic, Deepa Kundur and Ali Dolatabadi (photos courtesy of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering and department of mechanical and industrial engineering)

Three faculty members and two alumni from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering have been recognized by the Engineering Institute of Canada.

Deepa Kundur, professor and chair of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, Ali Dolatabadi, professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering, Milos Popovic, professor and director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, and George Anders, a PhD alum and adjunct professor at the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, were elected EIC fellows in recognition of their excellence in engineering and services to the profession and to society.

John Bianchini, an alum of the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry, received the Julian C. Smith Medal in honour of contributions to Canada.

“These accolades from the Engineering Institute of Canada reflect the impact our faculty and alumni are having on the profession nationwide as researchers, industry and academic leaders, and educators,” said Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “On behalf of the faculty, congratulations to these outstanding professors and alumni on their well-deserved recognition.”

Read the U of T Engineering story

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PhD candidate James Macek recognized by Bank of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:56:09 +0000

PhD candidate James Macek recognized by Bank of Canada

Academic Achievement

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 01/07/2025 - 13:56

Students

St. George

Department of Economics

Faculty of Arts & Science

Graduate Students

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James Macek (photo by A. Macedo)

James Macek, a PhD candidate in the department of economics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has received the Bank of Canada’s Graduate Student Paper Award for 2024.

The annual award aims to promote high-quality research in subject areas relevant to the Bank of Canada's mandate.

Macek was recognized for his research into housing policy and affordability, which examines how re-thinking minimum lot size and building smaller housing units could eliminate the housing shortage and reduce the cost of buying a home. “It’s an incredible honour to receive this award from the Bank of Canada,” Macek said. “I’d like to thank my supervisor Nathaniel Baum-Snow, advisors William Strange, Kevin Lim [and] Joseph Steinberg, the faculty and colleagues. I could not have achieved this without their tremendous support, care, and collaborative discussion. They make me feel valued.”

"James Macek’s research into how policy changes can make housing more affordable is relevant to everyone,” said Professor Ettore Damiano, chair of the department of economics. “I am pleased the Bank of Canada has recognized James’s accomplishments and, on behalf of all our faculty, offer him our heartiest congratulations.”

Read the department of economics announcement

FAS

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Ted Witek honoured by Yale School of Public Health

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:17:30 +0000

Ted Witek honoured by Yale School of Public Health

Teaching

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 12/23/2024 - 14:17

Faculty

St. George

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

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Ted Witek (supplied image)

Ted Witek, professor and chair of the doctor of public health program in U of T's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, has received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Yale School of Public Health.

Presented since 1988, the annual award celebrates Yale alumni who have demonstrated leadership in public health as outstanding teachers, researchers or practitioners; exceptional contributions to public health practice; and sustained contributions to community and society.

Witek, who graduated from Yale's master of public health program in 1982, was honoured for his "extraordinary level of achievement in all these areas and a very distinguished career in public health."

Witek's research on the health impacts of sulfur dioxide, which he initiated at Yale, played a pivotal role in shaping revisions of the Clean Air Act administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He later wrote a textbook on pharmacology and therapeutics in respiratory care, and has published more than a hundred manuscripts and chapters. He was named director of Dalla Lana's doctor of public health program – the first such degree offering in Canada – in 2020.

“The ability of public health to make an impact is what drove me to that discipline,” says Witek.

Read the Dalla Lana School of Public Health story

Read the Yale School of Public Health story

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Rea Beaumont recognized with King Charles III Coronation Medal

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:32:14 +0000

Rea Beaumont recognized with King Charles III Coronation Medal

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 12/20/2024 - 09:32

Faculty

St. George

Faculty of Music

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Adjunct Professor Rea Beaumont (supplied image)

Rea Beaumont, adjunct professor of piano in the Faculty of Music and a celebrated pianist and composer, has been awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal.

The award, which was created to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023, is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada.

Beaumont was recognized for her contributions to Canadian music, arts and culture as well as her dedicated efforts to build a diverse and inclusive music scene. A world-renowned pianist, her music has highlighted important global social issues such as climate change, environmental destruction and society's emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic.

She is also an influential scholar, having published a book on Canadian composer Barbara Pentland in addition to numerous articles and lectures, and holds a doctor of musical arts from the University of British Columbia.

She accepted the medal from Robert Oliphant, member of parliament, on behalf of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.

Beaumont was previously awarded the SOCAN Foundation / MusCan Award of Excellence for the Advancement of Research in Canadian Music in 2021.

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Africa Health Collaborative scholars recognized at 2024 Family Medicine Forum

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:00:32 +0000

Africa Health Collaborative scholars recognized at 2024 Family Medicine Forum

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 12/19/2024 - 11:00

Faculty

St. George

Department of Family and Community Medicine

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

Princess Acheampong (L) and Jennifer Wilson (supplied image)

Jennifer Wilson, a lecturer in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's department of family and community medicine, and Princess Acheampong, a lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, have been recognized with the top prize at the Big Ideas Soapbox competition held during the 2024 Family Medicine Forum in Vancouver.

The competition recognizes concepts that have the potential to make a difference in clinical practice, faculty development, education, patient care and outcomes and health policy.

Wilson and Acheampong were recognized for their presentation, "Equity-focused global health partnerships can transform health systems." The idea was born out of the collaboration between KNUST and the department of family and community medicine, for which Wilson is the U of T faculty lead. The collaboration is part of the Africa Health Collaborative, an initiative that brings together U of T, leading African universities and the Mastercard Foundation.

The award-winning presentation was supported by U of T's Jamie Rodas and Katherine Rouleau, KNUST's Ellis Owusu-Dabo and Kofi Akohene Mensah, and University College Dublin alum Olivia Wilson.

Read the Africa Health Collaborative announcement

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U of T's Sustainability Pathways Program recognized by Quacquarelli Symonds

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:32:20 +0000

U of T's Sustainability Pathways Program recognized by Quacquarelli Symonds

Teaching

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 12/18/2024 - 10:32

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The University of Toronto's Sustainability Pathways Program, an initiative of the President's Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability (CECCS), was shortlisted for a 2024 QS Reimagine Education Award.

Given by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the Reimagine Education Awards honour innovative pedagogical approaches that boost learning outcomes and employability, as well as effective methods of teaching sustainability.

U of T's Sustainability Pathways Program was shortlisted in the category of sustainability literacy. The program combines courses, co-curricular activities, campus-as-a-living lab projects and capstone leadership training to educate students across U of T's three campuses.

“Our goal is to ‘reach the rest’ – students who would not otherwise engage with sustainability as part of their degrees," said John Robinson, CECCS co-chair and professor in the School of the Environment and Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. "This approach is helping to shape the next generation of sustainability leaders, regardless of their field of study, while also providing a transformative educational experience for students.”

The recognition comes after U of T was named the most sustainable university in the world by QS for the second year in a row.

Read the CECCS announcement

Watch the CECCS video about the Sustainability Pathways Program

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Luc Tremblay and Joëlle Hajj recognized by Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:18:41 +0000

Luc Tremblay and Joëlle Hajj recognized by Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology

Academic Achievement

Teaching

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 12/16/2024 - 11:18

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

landscape

Luc Tremblay (L) and Joëlle Hajj (photo by Gerome Manson)

Luc Tremblay, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, and Joëlle Hajj, an alumna who completed her PhD in Tremblay's research group, have been recognized by the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS).

Tremblay, who is director of the Centre for Motor Control at KPE, received the Brawley and Elliott Award for Excellence in Supervision and Mentorship, which recognizes faculty members for their longstanding commitment to supporting trainees in achieving their academic and career goals.

“I am very grateful to the SCAPPS community and thank all of the amazing students I had and still have the chance to work with,” said Tremblay. “I will endeavour to continue honouring the exceptional legacy of my own supervisors, Professors Emeriti Luc Proteau and Digby Elliott."

Hajj, who is now a post-doctoral fellow at Lund University in Sweden, was one of the recipients of the Franklin Henry Young Scientist Award.

Read the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education announcement

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U of T named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2025

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:57:54 +0000

U of T named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2025

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 12/13/2024 - 10:57

Division of People Strategy

Human Resources & Equity

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The University of Toronto has been named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. for the 19th consecutive year.

The competition recognizes employers with exceptional human resources programs and forward-thinking workplace policies. Winners are announced in a special magazine distributed online in The Globe & Mail.

U of T was recognized for supporting the families of its employees through an array of resources, including the dedicated Family Care Office, on-site child care options and a variety of family-friendly spaces; encouraging employees to keep fit and stay healthy with subsidized memberships to fitness facilities, health benefits coverage that extends to retirees with no age limit; and encouraging employees to save for the future with generous contributions to a defined benefit pension plan.

"The world is changing so fast that employers must constantly evolve to meet their employees’ needs", said Kelly Hannah-Moffat, U of T's vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture.

"It is both a core responsibility and a privilege to provide connection and wide-ranging supports for our world-class employees. I’d like to thank all our faculty, librarians, and staff for cultivating inclusive and responsive working and learning environments across our three campuses."

Read the Division of People Strategy, Equity and Culture announcement

Read the Globe & Mail story

PSEC

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