Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Society (CAIS)

CAIS unites researchers who are collectively advancing state of the art theory and practice of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, law, governance and public policy. The research focuses on AI systems that address societal priorities in health care, smart cities and sustainability, and are fair, explainable, reliable and trusted. 

Centre for Bee Ecology, Evolution and Conservation

The mission of the BEEc is to foster interdisciplinary, innovative, collaborative and cutting-edge research to be used for the advancement of knowledge and implementation of policy changes to help sustain pollinators globally.

Centre for Feminist Research / Le centre de recherches f茅ministes 

The CFR promotes feminist activities and collaborative research at 91亚色 and works to establish research linkages between 91亚色 scholars and local, national, international and transnational communities. Feminist research is conceived of in broad terms, as being concerned with issues of women, gender, class, race, sexuality, ability and feminism.

Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages

This ORU supports research involving both traditional and contemporary knowledges, as care-taken, shared and created by Indigenous scholars located in the University and by Indigenous knowledge holders from communities. It aims to facilitate research and knowledge production and dissemination, by Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, that re-centres Indigenous knowledges, languages, practices and ways of being.

The mandate of this ORU, based in the Lassonde School of Engineering, is to establish itself as a nationally leading and internationally recognized research unit focusing on the science of computing and its realization to enable novel solutions and technologies.

Centre for Integrative and Applied Neuroscience (CIAN)

disease. One in three Canadians will experience a brain-related health disorder. The Centre for Integrative and Applied Neuroscience (CIAN) mobilizes research to address health, education, industry, and other applications important for the global community.  

The CRS is an interdisciplinary community of researchers dedicated to advancing the well-being of refugees and others displaced by violence, persecution, human rights abuses and environmental degradation, through innovative research, education and policy engagement.

CRESS facilitates research activity within the areas of planetary exploration, climate and environment, and space technology.

The CRBI brings together researchers to further understanding of the mechanistic details of how biomolecules interact with one another, the relationship between biomolecular interactions and cellular processes, and how biomolecular interactions can be used to diagnose and treat diseases.

The CRLCC is the bilingual research unit of Glendon Campus. It brings together the research activities of 91亚色 faculty and students who investigate various aspects of language contact at both societal and individual levels.

Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean

CERLAC is a 91亚色-based hub for inter- and multidisciplinary research on Latin America and the Caribbean, their diasporas, and their relations with Canada and the rest of the world.

The DIGHR furthers research, teaching, policy and practice around three main themes:  planetary health, global health and humanitarianism, and global health foresighting.

The GLRC engages in the study of work, employment and labour in the context of a constantly changing global economy.

The (IRDL) explores the diverse and evolving uses and implications of media and technology in formal and informal learning environments, and in digital culture more generally.

Institute for Social Research

The ISR undertakes research that engages interdisciplinary social issues through research methodologies that involve survey, quantitative and mixed methods research.

Institute for Technoscience and Society (ITS)

ITS is a global hub of critical and interdisciplinary research and knowledge mobilization on the relationship between technoscience and society, especially the configuration of social power underpinning scientific claims, medical practices, emerging technologies, and sites of innovation. 

This is Canada鈥檚 first interdisciplinary research centre in Jewish studies, bringing together a vibrant community of scholars and teachers to promote cutting-edge research in the field.

The Nathanson Centre focuses on the development and facilitation of a cross-disciplinary program of research and project initiatives to enhance knowledge of issues related to a variety of transnational phenomena that are rapidly changing society, law and governance.

LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research

The LaMarsh Centre is a collaborative group of faculty and students that supports community-engaged interdisciplinary research in health, education, relationships and development of infants, children, adolescents, emerging adults and families everywhere.

Muscle Health Research Centre

The MHRC provides a centralized and focused research emphasis on the importance of skeletal muscle to the overall health and well-being of Canadians.

OneWATER

One Water will greatly enhance our capacity to address the diverse aspects of the ongoing water sustainability crises, attract and train future leaders in the field, educate the public, innovate with industrial partners, and attract external competitive funding and endowments.

Risk and Insurance Studies Centre

The RISC is a national and international research hub that pursues a holistic approach to the field of insurance and related topics.

The Robarts Centre is a 21st-century research engine for the study of Canada and 鈥淐anada in the world.鈥�

Sensorium is a research centre for creative inquiry and experimentation at the intersection of media arts, performance and digital culture.

The City Institute at 91亚色

This interdisciplinary institute facilitates critical and collaborative research, providing new knowledge and innovative approaches to comprehending and addressing the complexity of the urban arena.

The Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and Its Diasporas

The Harriet Tubman Institute is the preeminent interdisciplinary centre for research, both historical and contemporary, on Africa and its global diasporas.

91亚色 Centre for Asian Research

The YCAR is a community of researchers who are committed to analyzing the changing historical and contemporary dynamics of societies in Asia, understanding Asia鈥檚 place in the world, and studying the experiences of Asian communities in Canada and around the globe.

The CVR pursues world-class interdisciplinary research and training in visual science and its applications.

91亚色 Emergency Mitigation, Engagement, Response, and Governance Institute (Y-EMERGE) 

Y-EMERGE works to transform the way societies understand, manage and govern crises, disasters, and emergencies through community-engaged scholarship, real-world research, and evidence-based training for effective emergency management.

The vision of YU-CARE is to promote graceful aging by approaching the subject with active and positive responses to changes and challenges throughout the process on a societal and individual level.

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Steeves is a professor in the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Health; a member of the Centre for Vision Research (CVA); a core member of Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA); and a Tier I 91亚色 Research Chair in Non-Invasive Visual Brain Stimulation. Prior to accepting the role of associate vice-president research, Professor Steeves served as associate dean of research and graduate education for the Faculty of Science from 2018 to 2021 and as director of the 91亚色 MRI Facility.

91亚色 appoints Jennifer MacLean as AVP innovation & research partnerships

With more than 10 years in Canadian innovation, MacLean is a thought leader in industry and research partnerships, and in driving innovation for entrepreneurs and startups. Prior to accepting the role of associate vice-president research & partnerships, she was vice-president, research and innovation, of Aspire Food Group, a scaleup for low-cost, high density, ethical food-grade protein production. She has also worked in leadership roles at NGen, Canada鈥檚 advanced manufacturing supercluster; SOSCIP, an industry-academic research consortium; and Mitacs.

Funding Annoucements

Announced in August 2021, the partnership aims to support the long-term success of Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Canada. With significant investment from the federal government, the partnership will provide better access to education and opportunities to promote Black entrepreneurship. Partners include Black Creek Community Health Centre, Black Creek Community Farm, Schulich Executive Education Centre, 91亚色-TD Community Engagement Centre and 91亚色鈥檚 entrepreneurship hub, YSpace.

In December 2021, the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation launched the Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Clusters (CIRC) program to fund six proposals. The projects will advance groundbreaking research to support areas of importance, including disaster and risk governance, artificial intelligence (AI) and society, digital cultures and financial technologies.

In February 2022, 91亚色 announced the Black Research Seed Fund to provide funding and mentorship support for Black academics. The fund contains two streams: the Open Research Fund, which has awarded three Black scholars $25,000 each to support their research for 24 months; and the Collaborative Research Fund, which has awarded $25,000 each to three early-career Black researchers who plan to collaborate with a Black scholar on a 24-month project.

91亚色鈥榮 Indigenous Research Seed Fund provides emerging and established Indigenous scholars with support for research that advances excellence in Indigenous knowledge, languages and ways of knowing and being. The first call for applications was administered by the University鈥檚 Indigenous Council and announced in May 2022. Ten scholars were awarded grants, receiving a total of $204,298. An additional $795,000 will be committed over three years.

In June, more than 40 research projects at 91亚色 received a combined $16 million in funding from SSHRC, including $10 million in Partnership Grants. The funding supports long-term research projects in anti-homelessness, global health, 2SLGBTQ+ poverty and Indigenous rights and reconciliation.

Research Partnerships

91亚色 formalized partnerships with a number of municipalities in the 91亚色 Region. In June, the University signed a . Under this memorandum of understanding, 91亚色 and the municipality will work together to build on shared priorities. These include 91亚色鈥檚 Markham Campus and a commitment to a wide range of projects to enhance experiential learning and employment opportunities, continuing and professional development and research and innovation. 91亚色 also an MOU with the Town of Aurora to address common goals of mobilizing new knowledge and learning experiences for 鈥渟mart communities.鈥�

YSpace announced an expansion into the northern 91亚色 region with the Towns of Georgina and East Gwillimbury. The collaboration will support entrepreneurs in gaining the skills, tools and networks they need to be successful within these dynamic and rapidly growing municipalities.

Strategic Research

This organized research unit (ORU) is the first of its kind at 91亚色. Led by inaugural Director Deborah McGregor, a 91亚色 professor and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Justice at Osgoode Hall Law School, the ORU advances Indigenous and decolonizing research.

The report, , identifies AI as a key area of growth for the University. Launched in November 2021, it is the result of the task force鈥檚 work to develop ideas and examine options for building and featuring 91亚色鈥檚 research strengths in AI. Key recommendations from  include expanding 91亚色鈥檚 faculty strength through strategic cluster hiring of researchers with interests in core technical topics; developing interdisciplinary curriculum initiatives, with new academic programs and research partnerships across 91亚色鈥檚 faculties; and establishing a University-resourced platform such as an organized research unit (ORU), to serve as a showcase to attract students, partners and donors.

A Place of Online Learning for the Adjudication of Researchers Inclusively and Supportively (POLARIS) is an online asynchronous education and learning hub to foster equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the adjudication of professors in research and on search committees. POLARIS is offered through a collaboration of the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation; Office of the Vice-President Equity, People and Culture; and the Provost鈥檚 Office. It offers six core online modules on EDI for faculty adjudications that can be completed at their own pace.

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Now, at 26, he鈥檚 turned that passion into his career. 

Joshi is a producer and president of Fae Pictures. Working out of Los Angeles and Toronto, he and his team are building an impressive track record of movies and TV series.

And, as he gears up to start production on Queen Tut, a full-length feature film about an Egyptian teenager who travels to Toronto to become a drag queen, he鈥檚 helping the next generation of film, TV and digital professionals to get the hands-on experience they need by involving them in his work. 

鈥淪tudents at 91亚色 have great opportunities to learn this craft by creating their own productions. I really benefited from that. There is room for making mistakes and getting great feedback from our professors. But with this opportunity to work with my team on Queen Tut, they鈥檒l be on a real-world production that is financed, has a distribution plan, and investors we have to answer to. If you make a mistake on a student film, it鈥檚 part of the learning process. But if you make a mistake on a larger, commercial set, like Queen Tut, there are bigger ramifications, so they get a taste of the world they will experience when they graduate.鈥�

This kind of real world is enabled by Cinespace Studios鈥� new management team who renewed their commitment to 91亚色 with a $3.12 million gift in November 2021.

The investment that began with the Mirkopoulos family created a dedicated space called the 91亚色 Motion Media Studio in the Cinespace facility in Etobicoke for students of 91亚色鈥檚 School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) to use state of the art technology and interact with the pros. And Cinespace has some serious cred 鈥� acclaimed series like The Handmaid鈥檚 Tale and Umbrella Academy are made there. 

Joshi got a similar experience in between third and fourth year at 91亚色 when Ingrid Veninger, an AMPD professor and highly regarded film director, hired him to work on the production team of her feature, Porcupine Lake. 

鈥淚t was a bigger budget than anything I鈥檇 worked with and a working environment where there were higher risks, because you were building something that was commercial that had worldwide distribution. I remember having to do things like booking a hotel room for one of our production executives. A simple thing, but if that guy showed up and he didn鈥檛 have a hotel room and was stranded for the night, that would be bad form. There is a lot to do on a production and this was a great opportunity to work with Ingrid and learn from her and build my producing ability.鈥�

Veninger, who is also associate director of the Motion Media Studio, agrees that it鈥檚 essential for students to see that a production is not just about the big names in the credits. 

鈥淪ometimes students don鈥檛 have a full sense of the different pathways to this industry. I see students鈥� eyes light up when they get on a set at Cinespace and see people in the production offices, carpentry and art department, and they start to think, 鈥楾his is how I can access this world. It鈥檚 not just about directing, writing, cinematography, or editing.鈥欌��

Cinespace President and Co-Managing Partner Ashley Rice, who got the film and TV production bug when she was 11, is a firm believer in learning by doing. 鈥淲e can read about what it is to drive a car, but actually driving one requires you to get behind the wheel. The 91亚色 Motion Media Studio at Cinespace provides the vehicle for the students to drive.鈥�

On the more macro scale, Motion Media Studio Director (and AMPD professor) Ken Rogers points to the disruption-innovation that is changing the traditional film and TV industry 鈥� how Netflix and an increasing number of streaming platforms鈥� demand for quality content is transforming the screen industry. 

鈥淭oronto is a global centre for film and television production. 91亚色鈥檚 Department of Cinema and Media Arts has a world-class reputation for producing talented screen industry professionals for the region. 91亚色鈥檚 strategic partnership with Cinespace helps prepare our students to enter this changing environment, and to upskill professionals already working in the field. We are creating a training hub for workforce development that will help make a vital contribution to the economic development of Toronto and Ontario.鈥�

Rice agrees, noting that in 2021, Ontario had a record $2.88 billion in total production activity, with a goal to grow the industry to $5 billion in the next few years.

鈥淲e can achieve this by enabling workforce development. Cinespace is dedicated to supporting initiatives to create visible pathways to jobs in our industry. Working with 91亚色 to educate future filmmakers is very much a part of this cause.鈥�

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