A Message from Dean, Cristina Amon
In the recent Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings, Engineering at the University of Toronto rose two places. We now rank 8th in the world and remain in first place for the third consecutive year among Canadian universities in the Engineering and IT category. While no one survey captures all of our strengths, this confirms our global reputation as the premier engineering institution in Canada and among the world’s very best. This rewarding assessment from our peers, acknowledging our excellence in research and engineering education, enhances our ability to recruit talented students and exceptional faculty. Congratulations! We can all take pride in this achievement and for supporting the accomplishments of our faculty, students and alumni.
This newsletter highlights some of the Faculty’s initiatives that foster a culture of entrepreneurship. Spin-off companies and organizations are a natural outcome of our entrepreneurial spirit. Many Engineering alumni and faculty now lead companies of their own. From tissue engineering to aerospace companies, highway design to nano research, read about seven alumni who continue to build upon their education with us. The innovative technologies and creative ideas developed within our Faculty then lead to sustained connections with industry and outside organizations as well as strengthen our profile nationally and across the world.
October 16, 2009
Volume 3, Issue 3In this issue:
Entrepreneurship
What's New
Honours and Awards
Events
Governance
Research
In the News
Entrepreneurship: Inventions and Innovations
Entrepreneurs in the Faculty
Profiles of seven of our innovative, enterprising alumni
- Allan Carswell EngPhys 5T6
Founder, Optech Inc.
Laser application field pioneer, Allan placed first laser radar on Mars, works with NASA, and will be inducted into the Engineering Alumni Hall of Distinction
- Mark Fox Engineering Science, 1975
MIE Professor | Co-founder and Chairman, CEO Novator Systems Ltd. | Co-founder, Carnegie Group Inc.
Mark's company Novator Systems pioneered online retail services and software since 1994
- Gino Palumbo MMS 8T3, MASc 8T5, PhD 8T9
President, CEO, and Co-Founder, Integran Technologies Inc.
Gino founded Integran in 1999 and holds the first U.S. patent issues in nanotechnology and has contracts with the U.S. Air Force and NASA
- Michael Sefton ChemE 7T1
ChemE and IBBME Professor | Chief Scientific Officer and Director, Rimon Therapeutics Ltd.
Distinguished University Professor and pioneer of tissue Engineering, Michael also co-founded Rimon Therapeutics
- Xerxes Wania MASc 9To
President and CEO of Sidense Corp
Xerxes created four successful start-ups in the past nine years, including Sidense Corp., provides non-volatile memory intellectual property targeted to Logic CMOS processes
- Glynn Williams EngSci Aero 7T8
Founder and CEO of Reliance Aerotech Inc.
Reliance Aerotech a leading independent North American company in aerospace; Glynn inducted into the Engineering Hall of Distinction in 2008
- Helen Wojcinski CivE 8T7
President and founder of Wojcinski and Associates Management Consulting
Manager of design for the western extension of the 407 ETR, the largest single Civil Engineering contract awarded in Canadian history, Helen received Arbor Award in 2009
Entrepreneurship series 2009-2010
Speakers inspire and cultivate culture of entrepreneurism among students
Q & A with Professor Emeritus Joseph C. Paradi
Entrepreneur extraordinaire leads and motivates students and faculty alike
Pierre Lassonde to teach entrepreneurship course at MinE
This fall, world-renowned philanthropist and entrepreneur Pierre Lassonde to present a specialized course in leadership, business and entrepreneurship to the class that bears his namesake
MEng ELITE Certificate - Engineering business/entrepreneurship courses
ELITE Courses inspire learning in leadership, motivation, innovation, and global opportunities
Alum inspires new generation of human-technology interactions
K.C. Smith, ECE Professor Emeritus, behind “multi-touch” method widely used in iPhone and revolutionized applications
Engineering plans Canada’s largest career fair
U of T's Science and Engineering Career Exposition, You're Next! 2010, is anticipated to be Canada’s largest one-day career event
Entrepreneurship and Engineering: A successful combination
Biz Skule™ launch provides opportunities for alumni to learn and reconnect
Spin-off companies
Please review to ensure your spin-off company is on our list
Invention disclosures
All inventors at U of T are required by policy to fully and completely disclose the invention to the University. All rights to the invention are then jointly owned by the University and the inventor, in most cases
What's New
U of T Engineering 8th in world
Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings in Engineering and IT place U of T Engineering first in Canada, fifth in North America, and eighth in the world
U of T team's 'lab on a chip' to detect breast cancer
Aaron Wheeler (IBBME) and research team developed device to help diagnose and monitor breast cancer. Original story appeared Oct. 7 on first cover of Science Translational Medicine
Vote for hydraulophone invention
ECE Professor Steve Mann's hydraulophone among top 10 worldwide designs nominated by Smithsonian for National Design Museum
Two faculty alum move on in Skule™ Idol
Anne Bornath (EngSci 9T1) and Joseph Likushi (EngSci 8T2) will take the stage with Isabel Bayrakdarian December 17 during EngSci's 75th Anniversary celebration
Formula SAE races to other end of the world, and back again
U of T Formula SAE team recently traveled to Germany to compete, played host to the largest student-run Shootout event in North America at Mosport Raceway
•Formula SAE team travels to Germany
•Team runs largest student-run Shootout event
Tech Tip: Increase efficiency by using keyboard shortcuts
By Katherine Carney
Most of us are familiar with more common shortcuts that cut, copy, and paste text, or undo our mistakes, but there are more ways to make your keyboard work for you. For example, to switch between open programs, use ALT + TAB, instead of clicking on task bar objects. Also use ALT + F4 to quit programs without using your mouse.
Keyboard shortcuts can save you time and increases productivity and they also help reduce strain when you pause to use your mouse. For more Windows keyboard shortcuts, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126449. For Mac keyboard shortcuts, go to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343
Honours and Awards
NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation
Professor Elizabeth Edwards (ChemE) and industrial partner, Geosyntec Consultants, receive award
Three CivE grad students recognized by SSHRC
Chris Bachmann, Peyman Berjis, and Michael Hain among 13 U of T students to receive special SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships
Engineering Events |
||||
|
||||
Oct. 23 |
MIE Seminar: The Implications of Sustainability and Climate Change on Engineering |
|||
Governance
2009-2010 Faculty Council Meetings
Save the Date: 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)
Research
NSERC 2010 grants competition
The Office of Research Services updated its website to include important information on the NSERC 2010 grants competition including discovery, research tools, and instruments
Engineering in the News
Microchip breakthrough detects type and severity of cancer
Using nanomaterials, Engineering Professor Ted Sargent and Pharmacy/Medicine Professor Shana Kelley and their research team developed new, portable device to better detect cancer. The news was picked up by every major outlet across the globe
Building cities that work
CivE Professor Eric Miller discusses new role as Cities Centre Director in the August issue of The Civilian
Engineers prepare to show musical talents at Skule™ Idol
Metro News profiled Isabel Bayrakdarian's (EngSci 9T7) many talents, including her career as renowned soprano
U of T team's 'lab on a chip' may detect breast cancer
Aaron Wheeler (IBBME) and research team have developed a device that may lead to pocket-sized detectors to help diagnose and monitor breast cancer. Original story appeared Oct. 7 on first cover of Science Translational Medicine and has since been making headlines across the globe.
Electron beam nanolithography garners more press in Laboratory Product News
The opening of the new ebeam facility greatly enhances U of T's nanotechnology research capacity
Faculty research spotlight on Global National
In Part 1 of the Small Wonders series on Oct. 7, Aaron Wheeler, IBBME, explains how a new breakthrough in breast cancer research could eliminate painful biopsies with a computer chip, and Michelle Xu, ECE, talks about the inevitable future of nano technology. Oct. 8, Part 2 of the series features EngSci Nano Major Ante Lausic, who discusses the strength of the tiny, nano-infused coating/sample which will eventually be used in cars, planes, and computers.
Newsletter Archives
Did you miss a past issue of the Engineering Newsletter? Revisit past articles and catch up on Faculty news on the Engineering homepage.
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.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/uoftengineering