Over the course of two weeks, several athletes with connections to 91亚色 took part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and walked away notable contributions that added to the collective success of Canada winning a country-best 27 medals this summer.

In the Women鈥檚 Canoe Single 200m event, 91亚色 U Faculty of Health student Katie Vincent became the first Canadian to ever win Olympic gold in any women鈥檚 canoe or kayak event. She did so while setting a new world record for best time. Vincent also won a bronze medal in the Women鈥檚 Canoe Doubles 500m for the second Olympics in a row.

Alumnae Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Parades earned a silver medal in Women鈥檚 Beach Volleyball, representing Canada鈥檚 first medal in the women鈥檚 event and the country鈥檚 best result in the sport overall. It was an even more impressive accomplishment given the pair have only been competing as partners since October 2022, and this marked their first Olympics together as a team.

As a member of Canada鈥檚 women's rugby sevens team, Asia Hogan-Rochester 鈥� who played with the 91亚色 Lions women鈥檚 rugby team in 2018 鈥� captured a silver medal during the Olympics, marking the country鈥檚 best Olympic result in the sport to date. 

Among other 91亚色-affiliated competitors at the 2024 Olympics, shooting athlete Shannon Westlake 鈥� a 91亚色 U alumna 鈥� ranked 32 in the qualification round of the women鈥檚 5m rifle three positions; accomplished judo athlete Shady Elnahas, who competed as a wrestler at 91亚色 U in 2017, made it to the round of 16; and beach volleyball player Dan Dearing, who played with the Lion鈥檚 men鈥檚 volleyball team from 2011 to 2013, nearly made it to the round of 16 with his partner.

The post 91亚色-University affiliated athletes impress at Paris Olympics appeared first on 91亚色.

W. Andy Knight, alumni

Knight, who received his PhD in political science from 91亚色, is a renowned and award-winning University of Alberta Distinguished Professor in the Political Science Department specializing in global governance, the United Nations and more. In addition to being a prolific author 鈥� with over 16 books, 80 chapters in edited volumes and 68 journal articles 鈥� he is a Fulbright Distinguished Chair in International and Area Studies at Yale University, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, as well as the inaugural provost fellow in Black excellence and leadership at his university.

Andre Smith, alumni

Smith, who completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting from 91亚色, is the founder and CEO of Flip & Floss, a digital platform that teaches and empowers today鈥檚 youth with financial literacy and money management skills. The company 鈥� founded in 2020 鈥� already has over 5,000 users and 1,000 workshops.

Previously, Smith has received the CBC Toronto Community Champions award (in 2020) and was the BMO Black Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Technology Industry.

Nadine Williams, alumni

Poet, author and arts educator Nadine Williams has published four collections of poetry, two children鈥檚 books and 16 volumes of literature for Black History Month that are part of Canadian school curriculums. She is frequently called upon as a speaker and presenter, having shared her work at Citizenship & Immigrants Canada ceremonies and at events with prestigious attendees like former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, Jamaica鈥檚 former prime minister Portia Simpson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She is also using an art installation project called The Fabric of Our Being to raise awareness about the United Nations鈥� International Decade for People of African Descent project.

Other recognitions Williams has received include being named on a list of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women in 2022, being given the 2024 Women Who Inspire Change Award from the Jamaican Canadian Association and earning a parliamentary mention for contributions to Black history in Canada.

Gervan Fearon, former faculty

Fearon, who once served as a 91亚色 associate professor and associate dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, is the current president of George Brown College in Toronto.

Fearon was recognized for his contributions as a prominent education advocate, driving and leveraging the transformative power of learning to improve social and economic mobility.

His career鈥檚 work has previously earned him the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Micha毛lle Jean Foundation Influencer Award and an appointment to the Order of Ontario.

Visit the the to find out more about the winners.

The post 91亚色 U community members among Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards winners appeared first on 91亚色.

The six-story, 9,012-square-metre, 50-classroom building, which earlier this year for its sustainability and occupant wellness features,聽聽on 91亚色 U鈥檚 Keele Campus. Its twisted appearance is meant to symbolize the school鈥檚 twist on the traditional mission of continuing studies 鈥� that is, to solve Canada鈥檚 most pressing labour challenges by connecting employers to a highly skilled talent pool through its unique program offerings.

"Our new building has been purpose-built to give our learners and instructors what they need to thrive," said Christine Brooks-Cappadocia, assistant vice-president of continuing studies, "whether that鈥檚 excellent teaching and learning spaces, a place to feed your baby, a prayer room, gathering spaces or, most critically, community that welcomes and celebrates your growth."

For the third annual Architecture & Interiors Awards, a three-person jury of U.S. industry experts spent hours reviewing the nearly 200 submissions received from commercial architecture and design firms around the world to determine the 34 winning projects. The School of Continuing Studies Building emerged a standout, with one juror noting its "subtle singularity" and "understanding of the site and relationships."

"This award is a recognition that this is good design for both the physical environment but also in career-focused education," said Brooks-Cappadocia. "We are thrilled to celebrate this win with Perkins&Will and our community of learners and employers."

The post Continuing Studies Building recognized for innovative design appeared first on 91亚色.

Ricci's book was awarded the 鈥� given to the best book in the field every two years 鈥� for its new approach to women鈥檚 and gender history and its findings that have the potential to shape future research and advocacy.

Countercurrents was also shortlisted for the prize, an annual book prize awarded by the Canadian Historical Association to a non-fiction work of Canadian history believed to have made the most significant contribution to an understanding of the Canadian past.

In recognition of its focus on Quebec, the book was also named a finalist for the , a literary contest celebrating authors of published works relating to the province's political landscape.

Countercurrents looks to write a new history of feminism that incorporates parallel social movements into the overarching narrative of the women鈥檚 movement. Case studies compare and reflect on the histories of the Quebec Native Women鈥檚 Association, the Congress of Black Women, the Front de lib茅ration des femmes du Qu茅bec, various Haitian women鈥檚 organizations and the Collectif des femmes immigrantes du Qu茅bec 鈥� and the political work they did.

鈥淎manda Ricci's history of diverse Montreal feminist groups gives us a new perspective on contemporary feminist activism," wrote reviewer Denyse Baillargeon from the Universit茅 de Montr茅al. "Clear and complex, Countercurrents shows that the roots to this vast social movement run deeper than we thought, and that its aspirations and struggles go well beyond the borders of Quebec.鈥�

Bringing to light previously overlooked archival and oral sources, Ricci introduces a new cast of characters to the history of feminism in Quebec. The book presents a portrait of the resurgence of feminist activism, demonstrating its deep roots in Indigenous and Black communities, its transnational scope, and its wide-ranging inspirations and preoccupations.

For more information about the book and where to purchase it, visit the .

The post Prof's book examining Montreal feminist movement earns acclaim appeared first on 91亚色.

Not long ago, self-driving cars were merely the stuff of science fiction. Today, however, researchers across the globe are diligently working to integrate autonomous vehicles (AVs) into everyday life. Among these trailblazers is a team of students from 91亚色鈥檚 Lassonde School of Engineering who achieved a second-place win in the Self-Driving Car Student Competition at the 2024 American Control Conference in Toronto last month.

One of the most prestigious conferences in the field of control systems, it brings together experts from academia, government, and industry to share creative ideas and network with like-minded individuals. The Self-Driving Car Student Competition, sponsored by Quanser 鈥� a company that designs and manufactures engineered lab equipment 鈥� provides an opportunity for student researchers to apply their critical thinking skills and solve technical challenges faced by autonomous vehicles.

The competing team from Lassonde, known as Full Throttle 鈥� Spacecraft Dynamics Control and Navigation (SDCN), was led by Mingfeng Yuan, a postdoctoral researcher working under the supervision of Jinjun Shan, a professor in the Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering.

As the only Canadian team at the competition, the Full Throttle 鈥� SDCN team's award-winning performance highlighted their technical expertise and capacity to represent Canada on a global stage.

The team also included PhD candidates Hunter Schofield and Yida Zang, MASc candidate Amal Haridevan and undergraduate students Hao Zhang and Yiqun Ma.

鈥淪elf-driving cars are complex systems, and it鈥檚 impossible for a single person to design and debug the entire system on their own in a short period of time,鈥� says Yuan. 鈥淭he success we achieved at this competition was a result of the unity and full commitment of our team.鈥�

The competition was structured into three distinct phases, starting with an initial pool of 40 teams, representing 28 universities and 15 countries.

First, teams developed and validated solutions using a cutting-edge digital twin platform for self-driving cars. This phase was followed by the implementation of solutions on actual hardware.

The final and most difficult challenge took place at the American Control Conference, where teams navigated a complex circuit with a fully operational self-driving car. This stage required expert-level programming, as teams ensured their car demonstrated impeccable driving accuracy and appropriately responded to street signs, traffic lights and various obstacles.

The high-pressure environment put the team鈥檚 programming and problem-solving skills to the ultimate test.

鈥淓vents like this are incredibly valuable for the student experience,鈥� says Yuan. 鈥淭hey foster team spirit and provide an opportunity to apply our knowledge in a practical setting.鈥�

In addition to the educational experience gained by participating students, this competition allowed the Full Throttle 鈥� SDCN team to meaningfully contribute to the exciting future of the AV market.

鈥淎utonomous vehicles are revolutionizing the transportation industry due to their potential to enhance safety, improve driving efficiency and increase vehicle accessibility,鈥� explains Yuan. 鈥淭he applications for AVs are vast, diverse, and have the potential to reshape cities, economies and our daily lives.鈥�

The post Lassonde students achieve top spot in self-driving car competition appeared first on 91亚色.

The Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) recently announced Mickel A. Allen, a research and administrative support assistant in the Lassonde School of Engineering's Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, as the recipient of their Unsung Hero Award. Presented at CARA's Canadian Conference on Research Administration held in St. John's, N.L., the award recognizes Allen's dedication and contributions to the field of research administration.

The award is presented annually to CARA non-executive members who, although not always in the spotlight, have made significant impacts through their volunteer work with the organization and beyond.

鈥淎s a volunteer-led association, CARA is deeply grateful for the contributions of research administrators like Mickel Allen," said Dominique Michaud, president of CARA. "Her generous sharing of time and expertise on various committees and her efforts in cultivating national and international connections have been crucial for the synthesis and dissemination of knowledge within the profession.鈥�

Allen鈥檚 industry service and leadership were highlighted in her selection for this award. Her contributions to the CARA organization include serving as an ambassador on both national and international stages and volunteering on the editorial committee. Additionally, she played a key role as a co-facilitator for the 2021 CARA West Regional Conference and the 2023 CARA National Conference, and has been deeply involved in workshops, webinars, virtual conferences and the Mohawk College/CARA partnered Certificate in Research Administration.

"As an immigrant and woman of colour from Jamaica, being named an 'unsung hero' is profoundly meaningful," said Allen. "It represents a journey marked by resilience, dedication, and excellence within a diverse and often challenging environment. I aspire to embody the quiet heroism that lies in steadfast commitment, navigating new territories, and championing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion."

Recently seconded to the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation as an Organized Research Unit centre co-ordinator, Allen is also a member of the Office of Research Services' Research Administration Network, where she works to forge collaborations between 91亚色 and other higher education institutions in both Canada and the Caribbean.

"Receiving the Unsung Hero Award is not only a recognition of individual excellence," she said, "but also a testament to the collective values upheld at Lassonde and across the University."

The post 91亚色 U staff member wins research administration award appeared first on 91亚色.

Three researchers from the Lassonde School of Engineering at 91亚色 have received support for innovative interdisciplinary research projects from the Lassonde Innovation Fund (LIF), an initiative that helps advance work that addresses global challenges and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

This year鈥檚 LIF initiatives focus on a range of topics, spanning from green roof innovation to exploring planetary skies. Through these projects, faculty members are committed to advancing scientific research and creating solutions for a more just and sustainable world.

Learn more about this year鈥檚 LIF projects below.

Project: 鈥淎ssessing Hydraulic and Thermal Performance of Green Roof鈥� by Magdalena Krol

Krol, an associate professor of civil engineering, will leverage her expertise, and that of civil engineering Professor Usman Khan, as well as the testing capacity of the , to compare the performance of conventional roofs against green roofs.

Green roofs have the ability to both mitigate flood risk by retaining storm water and reduce energy costs of buildings and homes. Currently, there is limited research that critically evaluates the performance difference between conventional and green roofs, creating a significant knowledge gap in urban sustainability.

This project 鈥� a first of its kind 鈥� aims to bridge the gap by constructing modules of both roof types and monitoring their behaviour under realistic conditions such as fluctuating temperature, precipitation and humidity. Using various tools and technologies, data will be collected over time to analyze specific performance indicators, including storm water retention and energy dissipation.

Establishing a thorough understanding of green roof efficiency is crucial for further development of design guidelines and encouraging the adoption of these systems in urban areas.

Project: 鈥淚nterpretable Learning of Bio-signaling Systems via Data-driven Graph Analysis鈥� by Gene Cheung

A professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Cheung鈥檚 initiative will build on existing research exploring the use of a graph-based tool to evaluate and classify biological signals, as well as evaluate the response of cells, in the eye.

In collaboration with Andrew Eckford, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, as well as Yuji Nakatsukasa, an associate professor at the University of Oxford, the researchers will apply their expertise to refine the graph-based classifier to determine exactly which cells are responding to particular visual information.

This advanced tool has the potential to increase understanding of the visual system, helping inform the development of assistive technologies for visual impairments. The project also serves as a foundation for future work that aims to extend analyses to more diverse and complex biological signals.

Project: 鈥淧erceiving Planetary Skies through Space, Time, and Experience鈥� by John Moores

Moores, an associate professor in the Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering, will pursue a project that blends art and science to create space-themed immersive experiences inspired by data gathered from planetary skies. This research is driven by the idea that engaging with planetary data in a more captivating way can help reshape our understanding of other planets.

Moores will work in collaboration with Sarah Rugheimer, an associate professor in the Faculty of Science; Jennifer Steeves, a professor in the Faculty of Health; and Ian Garrett, an associate professor in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.

The project includes three objectives: utilizing radiative heat transfer techniques to model alien skies, developing immersive exhibits that simulate exotic space environments, and analyzing individuals鈥� psychological and physiological responses to these space-themed displays.

This interdisciplinary research promises to investigate, inform and inspire, fostering a deeper connection between space and humanity, while advancing understanding of planetary skies.

The post Profs receive Lassonde Innovation Fund support for cutting-edge research appeared first on 91亚色.

The 91亚色 SDGs-in-the-Classroom Toolkit, designed to assist the interdisciplinary infusion of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in academic curriculums, recently earned a prestigious spot as an international finalist for the Green Gown Awards, which recognize exceptional sustainability initiatives. It serves as culmination of the pioneering journey to create it.

The seed of the SDG toolkit began in 2021 with Provostial Fellow and Professor Cheryl van Daalen-Smith. She wanted to create shared practices to promote and enable the infusion of all 17 SDGs into classrooms across 91亚色 campuses and disciplines.

A community of practice was formed with over 60 educators and the decision was made that a toolkit could be a useful communal resource. Tracy Bhoola, a SDGs project coordinator and manager in the Graduate Supervisory Support Hub and former ESL instructor, as well as doctoral student and research assistant Nitima Bhatia, were enlisted to create a comprehensive online tool that would help faculty across 91亚色 better integrate SDGs into learning environments through discussions, lessons or curriculums.

But what should that toolkit look like?

Bhoola and Bhatia first turned to faculty, creating a survey asking participants what they would want out of the SDG toolkit, how they would use it, and what would make it most user-friendly.

鈥淲e wanted to know how we can make things easier and simpler for everybody so that they can access it,鈥� says Bhatia.

The survey provided two guiding principles: faculty wanted relevant resources to be accessible in three clicks or less, and that they be organized by discipline and individual SDG.

鈥淭hat forced us to make sure we were organized and ask, 鈥楥ould we get people what they wanted,鈥欌�� says Bhoola.

The pair began researching what toolkits may already exist at other academic institutions to gain inspiration from how they were organized. They found nothing comparable to what they had in mind for 91亚色. As for possible resources to include in the toolkits, most were only applicable to elementary education 鈥� not college or university.

It fell then to Bhatia and Bhoola to be something of pioneers, investing uncountable hours to not only find existing resources and materials, but then adapt them for the university level curriculums. Along the way they leveraged their unique experiences and perspectives as teacher and student to aid the project, assessing resources based on how they might use them.

The pair also continued to draw on faculty feedback, not just from the survey but ongoing collaborations. 鈥淭hey needed to be involved because if people are asked questions and are involved in each step of the process, they're invested more,鈥� Bhoola says.

After six months of work, the SDGs-in-the-Classroom Toolkit launched in June 2022, featuring lesson plans, case studies, classroom support materials, reports, course design guidance and more.

Since its launch, the toolkit has been accessed by educators and students from over 50 countries, expanding its pool of collaborators along the way. Within Canada, for example, George Brown College reached out to partner on expanding the toolkit鈥檚 experiential education section, the University of Calgary鈥檚 Haskayne School of Business added to the business section, and the University of British Columbia contributed to the wellness section. International institutions have reached out to provide content as well.

鈥淚t's nice to have that collaboration and build on that community, so it's not just the 91亚色 community 鈥� it鈥檚 beyond,鈥� says Bhoola.

The external collaborations following the toolkit鈥檚 launch have been important too in contributing to one of the team鈥檚 major ongoing goals. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just that we got these resources and we created this toolkit and that鈥檚 it,鈥� says Bhatia. 鈥淲e wanted it to be a living and breathing thing.鈥�

As the toolkit moves forward and evolves, that鈥檚 something Bhoola and Bhatia want to remind internal collaborators too, urging faculty to continue sharing how they鈥檙e using the toolkit, what resources they like and if there鈥檚 something missing that they would like to see.

As Bhatia and Bhoola reflect on the year since the tool launched 鈥� and the recent Green Gown Awards finalist nomination 鈥� they feel grateful for the engagement. 鈥淚t validates our efforts, and the hours upon hours that we've put into it,鈥� says Bhoola.

It also gives them a push, says Bhatia. 鈥淚t keeps inspiring us, giving us the motivation and encouragement to keep going.鈥� Bhoola agrees: 鈥淚t reinforces our commitment towards the SDGs and our toolkit.鈥�

That commitment remains strong, especially as both are very cognizant of the stakes and potential impact the SDGs can have.

鈥淚f we can help bring those to them, or put them into the classroom, that's what's going to drive the change in the future,鈥� says Bhoola. 鈥淲e need to make sure that we're constantly there for teachers and students so that they can right the future.鈥�

The post 91亚色 SDG toolkit earns prestigious nomination聽 appeared first on 91亚色.

Zoe M. Savitsky, a doctoral candidate at 91亚色鈥檚 Osgoode Hall Law School, was named a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar for work that promises to examine the ways corporations gained the power of expression and how they have expanded and defended that power. The recognition marks not just a professional accomplishment for Savitsky but one reflective of a new chapter in her journey.

Before becoming a PhD student at 91亚色 U in 2023, Savitsky approached her legal work in an altogether different manner. For over a decade, she had a successful legal career in the United States working in high-impact government and non-profit organization litigation and leadership roles, including at the Oakland City Attorney鈥檚 Office, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

As a Trudeau Scholar, Savitsky will pursue work rooted in experiences from her legal career, notably her time with the Oakland City Attorney鈥檚 Office. There, Savitsky collaborated with in-house teams, other local and state governments, non-profits, civil society groups, and the private bar on litigation involving local, national and multinational corporations 鈥� such as opioid companies, fossil fuel companies and real estate companies 鈥� whose actions harmed Oaklanders. Many of those cases centred on allegations that the corporations in question had engaged in false, deceptive or misleading speech that caused real-world harm.

Savitsky found herself considering larger questions around how modern systems of litigation sometimes allow corporations to 鈥済et away鈥� with harmful deception. As she noted, it has often taken decades for litigants to win cases about corporate deception, if they ever do, citing as examples cases about how tobacco companies misled the public about the health risks of tobacco; how paint companies continued advertising lead paint despite their knowledge that it was a dangerous neurotoxin; and how the opioid industry understated the risks and harms and oversold the benefits of its products.

鈥淢y current project is very much an extension of all of that work,鈥� says Savitsky of the work she will now pursue through her scholarship, which examines how corporations became legal persons with speech or expression rights, and how corporations have expanded and defended those rights in the litigation ecosystems of the United States and Canada.

鈥淚 hope to understand how things came to be as they are today in the world of transnational corporate accountability and, in particular, to understand the history and context for how it is often challenging to hold corporations meaningfully accountable for their contributions to some of the most existential problems facing the world today.鈥�

The decision to pursue academic work led Savitsky to Canada, eager to grow as a scholar and learn from people outside the United States who were working on corporate accountability, but it wasn鈥檛 easy to move away from a professional and personal support system built over decades. 鈥淟eaving that network 鈥� which includes people who have become not just colleagues but close friends 鈥� for a new country and context was hard,鈥� says Savitsky. 鈥淏ut as my scholarship draws on the issues and themes I had the opportunity to work on in my litigation career, I will continue to get to engage with many of the people I collaborated with and learned from in the past.鈥�

Nonetheless, she saw the move as worthwhile. 鈥淥pportunities like the Trudeau Scholarship will allow me to build anew in this new context, in addition to how I鈥檝e already had the chance to start building meaningful new relationships at Osgoode and at 91亚色 more broadly,鈥� Savitsky says.

The recent recognition from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation should prove a significant stepping stone in accomplishing that.

The Trudeau Foundation Scholarship is a prestigious, three-year leadership program that provides doctoral candidates with skills to translate their ideas into action, for the betterment of their communities, Canada and the world.

It also provides a strong communal element through fellows and mentors who are leaders in respective disciplines and offer scholars important guidance as they move forward in their careers.

鈥淔rom the beginning, my interest in the Trudeau program has been because of its people,鈥� says Savitsky. 鈥淚 appreciate the resources the scholarship provides to PhD candidates, but the people are the fundamental heart, and draw, of the foundation. Of course, I am also thrilled that the Trudeau Foundation鈥檚 scientific cycle centres the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is at the core of my doctoral work.鈥�

Savitsky hopes that through her work, now supported by the Trudeau Scholarship, she can make a positive impact in the field of corporate accountability 鈥� and beyond. 鈥淚 also hope the story I plan to tell through my doctorate is informative to people outside of the legal academy, including to those in other academic disciplines, such as political science, and to those actively working 鈥� whether for governments, for non-profits and NGOs, in civil society, as community leaders and so on 鈥� to make the world a better, safer, healthier place overall,鈥� she says.

The post Doctoral student named Trudeau Scholar appeared first on 91亚色.

91亚色 Professor Spiros Pagiatakis received the Canadian Geophysical Union鈥檚 J. Tuzo Wilson Medal, which recognizes a Canadian scholar鈥檚 outstanding contributions throughout their career to the geosciences 鈥� the study of the Earth 鈥� and counts as the highest national honour earned by those in the field.

鈥淚 am deeply honoured and privileged to be awarded the highest accolade of geosciences and join the previous 45 laureates,鈥� says Pagiatakis of the medal, which was given to him in recognition of a lifetime of contributions to the advancement of knowledge and education in Canadian geosciences. He is only the third 91亚色-affiliated person to receive the award.

Pagiatakis joined 91亚色 U in 2001, after already having made a nearly decade-long impact in the field as a lead senior research scientist for the federal Department of Natural Resources Canada. In both his professional and academic careers, Pagiatakis has dedicated himself to the study of the Earth as observed from terrestrial and space platforms, with highly innovative work and discoveries starting from the Earth鈥檚 inner core motions. He has specialized in measuring and understanding the planet鈥檚 geometric and physical shape, and how its internal forces 鈥� like plate tectonics 鈥� bend form, deform and more, as well as how its atmosphere and gravity operate.

Pagiatakis has tackled innovative research questions across the spectrum of geodesy and Earth sciences, with groundbreaking findings that led to the recent recognition.

Among Pagiatakis鈥檚 innovations in the field, he pioneered a better understanding of deformation of the Earth due to the dynamics of ocean tides, as well developed the first map of Canada and the U.S. showing how gravity changes with time due to the rebounding of the Canadian land mass due to climate change and the melting of the ice since the last ice age glacial maximum, some 23 thousand years ago.

Since joining 91亚色 U, his interests have shifted to space science, which has led to important discoveries highlighting how dynamics in the Earth鈥檚 lower and upper atmosphere influence, impact and shape climate science.

Pagiatakis's work has been recognized and funded by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada, the GEOIDE National Centre of Excellence, the Carbon Management Canada National Centre of Excellence, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Ontario Innovation Trust and Natural Resources Canada.

Pagiatakis's impact has also extended beyond research by influencing future generations in the field, notably at 91亚色. He was one of a handful of pioneers who created the first engineering programs and accreditation at 91亚色 U, which ultimately led to the founding of the Lassonde School of Engineering, where he served as the inaugural associate dean of research and graduate studies for five years. He has also led the development of innovative methods of teaching in a virtual classroom environment and in blended course delivery to university students and engineering professionals before online teaching became commonplace.

A lifetime of efforts aren't limited to the administrative, however. Pagiatakis has been a passionate teacher, deeply invested in collaborating and supervising graduate students to help guide the next generation of pioneers in the field of geophysics. Former students 鈥� many of whom now work for top organizations like NASA, the European Space Agency and the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, and in academia in Canada and abroad 鈥� credit him for providing high-quality graduate education, training and mentoring opportunities in an equitable, safe, welcoming and encouraging environment built on trust, where acceptance, openness, motivation, enthusiasm and curiosity have been paramount.

For his part, Pagiatakis is reluctant to take too much credit for what he has accomplished. 鈥淢y graduate students are the heart, the soul and inspiration of our research; without them nothing would be possible鈥� he says.

Nonetheless, as one of his J. Tuzo Wilson Medal nominators emphasized, Pagiatakis 鈥渋s one of those exceptional scientists who do not shy away from various administrative and organizational duties someone has to undertake in order to keep science healthy.鈥� His dedication to doing just that 鈥� keeping his field of science thriving with his career, academic work and mentorship 鈥� are what now have earned him the recognition his students would agree he鈥檚 long deserved.

The post Professor recognized for exemplary lifetime contributions to the study of Earth appeared first on 91亚色.