91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) is gaining recognition for its Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs), designed to assist newcomers to the country in navigating the complexities of the Canadian job market.

Within the Bridging Program, there are two options on offer: the Foundations Program, which includes courses created exclusively for IEPs, focusing on professional communication, leadership, internet technology (IT), as well as law and management skills in the Canadian context; and certificate programs focusing on either Canadian business or information technology, which allow students to gain a Canadian university credential and take courses toward professional accreditation. Both routes offer part-time and evening study options, along with flexible course selection, access to fee waivers, experiential education and career support.

Offering a comprehensive educational experience tailored specifically for IEPs seeking to enhance their career prospects in Canada, the programs benefit from financial supports from both the government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development, and the federal government, through Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada. Government funding goes toward supporting newcomers to access language development, career coaching and professional-level courses.

Art Noordeh is the academic director of the Bridging Program that, since its inception in 2010, has been instrumental in facilitating the career transitions of countless IEPs from diverse backgrounds and industries. 鈥淥ur aim,鈥� Noordeh says, 鈥渋s to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and contribute meaningfully to their chosen fields in Canada.鈥�

Over 1,400 newcomers have participated in the programs since they started, says Monica Brennan, the Bridging Program鈥檚 associate director. Currently, a new intake of over 80 students are beginning their IEP journey and adding to those numbers.

Brennan says participants have an option to continue at 91亚色 following the completion of the Foundations Program, where they can take additional university-level credit courses as visiting students in their chosen field or apply to join the certificate programs. To date, approximately 40 per cent of participants have gone this route.

Among the Foundation Program graduates is Neha Aggarwal, who completed the program in December 2023. Despite having professional experience and expertise in her native India, she faced challenges securing interviews for a data analyst position after coming to Canada. After enrolling in 91亚色鈥檚 Bridging Program for IEPs in 2023, she participated in networking seminars, technology summits, and career fairs that exposed her to industry professionals and peers with similar aspirations. She also participated in drop-in language classes on weekends.

With enhanced language and communication skills, Aggarwal secured a data analyst internship within just one month of enrolment, a testament to the program鈥檚 effectiveness in facilitating career transitions for IEPs. She has now joined the IEP Professional Certificate in Information Technology.

鈥淢y journey with the IEP program at 91亚色 has been a personal odyssey of growth and success,鈥� says Aggarwal, in a Foundations Program testimonial on the LA&PS website. 鈥淭his program has not just been a professional journey; it has been the best personal chapter since I arrived in Canada, setting the stage for continuous success and growth.鈥�

The professional certificate programs in both Canadian Business and IT have a long track record of success. The recently created Big Data & Data Analytics stream has been designed to quickly transition established IT professionals into the highest-demand skills of today鈥檚 workplace. The required course work includes deep theoretical knowledge, practical skills with current software packages and immersive project work in team environments. 鈥淭hese specialized IT skills can help relaunch the careers of IEP students on a new path well-aligned with the future of the Canadian economy,鈥� says Professor Stephen Chen of the School of Information Technology at 91亚色 U.

At a ceremony last month 鈥� attended by Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Phillips and Interim Dean of LA&PS Michele Johnson  鈥� recognizing newcomers who have graduated from the certificate programs or achieved career success, several attendees spoke 鈥� like Aggarwal 鈥� about the impact of 91亚色鈥檚 IEP programs.

鈥淭he program provided insights into the Canadian labour market, enhancing my understanding of industry trends and employer expectations. It equipped me with job search strategies, including resum茅 writing and interview preparation, to effectively compete in the job market,鈥� said IT graduate Dawit Gulta, who is currently working toward a graduate degree in big data and data analytics at 91亚色 U and is a Mitacs graduate student intern at the Sunnybrook Research Institute.

鈥淚 learned essential knowledge and methodologies through the specialized courses in public administration. The practicum course allowed me to practise in a real public sector work setting, which led to my current job,鈥� said student Eva Yuanyuan Han at the event. She joined the Ontario Ministry of Health as a resource analyst in May, graduating with a Certificate in Canadian Business in the Public Administration stream.

The graduates鈥� words spoke not only to how the Bridging Program for IEPs benefits individuals but also how it enriches Canada鈥檚 workforce with diverse talents and perspectives.

鈥淎t 91亚色, we are dedicated to empowering IEPs with the resources required to unlock their potential to excel and fulfil their dreams in Canada,鈥� says Noordeh. 鈥淭he transformative impact of the program helps them to overcome barriers and achieve significant career growth in the job market.鈥�

For more stories about graduates of the programs 鈥� including Dawit Gulta, who won a Dean鈥檚 Award for Research Excellence during his studies 鈥� visit the Bridging Program for IEPs website.

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In addition to work focused on the political economy of oil and gas in Alberta, Angele Alook 鈥� a professor in 91亚色's School of Gender, Sexuality & Women鈥檚 Studies and a member of Bigstone Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory 鈥� has been pursuing interdisciplinary projects that underscore how critical Indigenous Peoples鈥� rights and knowledge systems are to developing solutions to the climate crisis and achieving climate justice.

Among Alook鈥檚 efforts are serving as an academic delegate for the Indigenous Climate Action organization and as a member of the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council-funded Just Powers project, which looks to create socially just approaches to decarbonizing energy transitions.

Alook鈥檚 projects are often driven by the desire to champion Indigenous voices and knowledge systems. For example, for Just Powers, she directed a documentary called Pikopaywin: It is broken, which examines energy projects in Treaty 8 territory by sharing the perspectives and insights of Indigenous traditional land users, environmental officers and elders 鈥� notably from the Bigstone Cree Nation.

Recently, Alook attended the annual meeting of the United Nations' Local Communities & Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) Facilitative Working Group, which took place in Bonn, Germany. The event aims to facilitate the integration of diverse knowledge systems, practices, and innovations in designing and implementing international and national actions, programs, and policies in a manner that respects and promotes the rights and interests of local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

By attending the event, organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Alook鈥檚 objective was to produce a series of educational videos showcasing Indigenous climate leaders discussing false solutions, just transition and youth engagement 鈥� all critical elements to understanding climate progress and effectively moving the needle. Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change Professor Martha Stiegman and research assistant Ana Cardoso were also in attendance to support Alook with data collection, filming and note-taking.

"We are actively engaged in the Indigenous Peoples Caucus [of the United Nations] to uphold the principles of safeguarding Indigenous Peoples' rights, promoting ethical and equitable engagement with knowledge systems, ensuring direct access to Indigenous Peoples for climate finance, and advocating for full and effective participation," said Alook.

At the meeting, Alook and her team conducted interviews with youth representatives, elder knowledge keepers, policy experts and members of Indigenous organizations. Their conversations spanned regions, engaging with people from Chad, the Philippines, the Arctic Circle, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the M茅tis National Council, the Assembly of First Nations in Canada and the Indigenous Environmental Network in the U.S.

Alongside Alook, Stiegman and Cardoso was Indigenous student Ashton Gladue, who is currently pursuing a degree in communications and media studies in 91亚色 U's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. 

"It was a fantastic learning opportunity for Ashton," said Alook. "He got to be in UNFCCC spaces, learn about Indigenous research methods and film educational videos with Indigenous climate leaders from all over the world, including elders and youth."

She added, "There was a special moment when a well-known knowledge keeper and climate leader spoke directly to Ashton during filming. In that moment, we realized we weren't just filming an interview but experiencing intergenerational knowledge transfer and revitalization of knowledge systems."

Beyond that powerful interaction, Alook believes her team's participation in this event 鈥� and others like it 鈥� is an active demonstration of Indigenous research methodologies in action, and one that she hopes will contribute to the gradual decolonization of climate change policy.

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The latest issue of 91亚色鈥檚 nationally recognized, student-run literary magazine, Existere, features new fiction, non-fiction, art and poetry from a diverse array of Canadian literature鈥檚 rising stars. Available for purchase now at the 91亚色 Bookstore, Existere, vol. 43 includes work by Francesca Ekwuyasi, who was awarded the Writers鈥� Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers in 2022; acclaimed poet Ellen Chang-Richardson; Saeed Teebi, a finalist for the 2022 Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize; and Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize winner Fawn Parker. The issue's cover was created by Kate Sinclair, lead designer at Penguin Random House Canada.

While previous issues of Existere relied on open calls for international writers, the latest issue presents a curated mix of local and national contributors. The new approach is the result of intentional editorial direction and decision-making by new faculty advisors 鈥� Matthew Bucemi and Christopher Morris, both assistant professors in the Writing Department 鈥� and new student editors currently enrolled in the Writing Department.

Bucemi, whose professional experience in publishing includes serving as a founding managing editor for Sutherland House, wanted to lead the magazine in this different direction. Having taken on the role of faculty advisor in Summer 2023, he leveraged his experience and connections to implement a new approach that prioritized experiential education and community engagement.

With Bucemi鈥檚 guidance, students reimagined the magazine鈥檚 mandate to emphasize dynamic art that reflects Canada鈥檚 equally dynamic communities. Students actively identified local and national artists and directly solicited submissions that fit the new mandate.

Morris, a published poet and former technical writer, also lent expertise to Existere鈥檚 student editors who implemented the magazine鈥檚 reimagined vision. 鈥淲ith Dr. Bucemi鈥檚 insights from his time as an editor and with student leaders who truly love art, literature and collaboration, Existere has quickly become a unique professional development opportunity for 91亚色 students, as shown by the high quality of this latest issue," said Morris.

Earlier this summer, the magazine's student leadership team hosted a launch party on 91亚色 U's Keele Campus to celebrate the release of the new issue. Held at Founders Assembly Hall, more than 50 guests were in attendance to hear readings from contributors and to help the magazine raise over $400 for future publications.

Reflecting on their achievement, the student leadership team expressed gratitude and pride. 鈥淲e know how difficult it can be to navigate school and Existere,鈥� they said, 鈥渆specially while we found our footing with the revamp鈥� We truly feel we鈥檝e made something amazing this year.鈥�

Existere was founded and first published at Vanier College in 1978. The journal is currently stewarded by 91亚色鈥檚 Writing Department as a venue to showcase emerging and established Canadian talent 鈥� and as a place for 91亚色 students to gain valuable, hands-on, pre-professional experience in editing and publication production.

To support the magazine, visit .

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Following the fifth annual Critical Social Science Perspectives in Global Health Research (CPGH) Workshop, 91亚色鈥檚 Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and the CPGH steering committee have awarded four 91亚色 U researchers this year鈥檚 $7,000 CPGH Seed Grants to initiate novel and innovative ideas that take a critical social science approach to global health research.

The recipients and their projects are:

• Agn猫s Berthelot-Raffard, a professor in the Faculty of Health, "Towards Gender-Inclusive Social Innovation in Community Care: Lessons from Experiential Knowledge in Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Caribbeans";
• Christo El Morr, a professor in the Faculty of Health, "An AI-Driven Tool for Disability Rights Monitoring"; 
• Andrew Dawson, a professor in the Department of Sociology at Glendon College, "Trust and Compliance: A Cross-National Investigation of the Relationship between Trust in Political Institutions and Healthcare Systems"; and
• Raju J. Das, a professor in the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, "Scorching Sites: Examining the Health Impacts of Climate Change on Construction Workers."

The CPGH Seed Grants support 91亚色-based research that contributes to the research themes of the Dahdaleh Institute: planetary health; global health and humanitarianism; and global health foresighting. The grants are meant to encourage faculty to develop fuller grant proposals for fall Tri-Council funding and other grant deadlines. This year's recipients will present the progress of their research at next year鈥檚 CPGH Workshop. 

Watch a full recording of the workshop . For more information about CPGH, visit the project page.

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When political science major Sara Harsini heard 91亚色 was hosting a Model European Union (EU) for university students nationwide, she signed up to participate and convinced her third-year classmate, Nawal Alhawari, to join her.

The Model EU, a simulation of the work done by the European governing body, was held this spring and organized by Heather MacRae, an associate professor in 91亚色 U鈥檚 Department of Politics. Sponsored by the Delegation of the European Commission in Canada, it brought 55 students from across the country to the Keele Campus to experience politics and diplomacy in action.

鈥淚t was an excellent experiential education exercise,鈥� MacRae said. 鈥淭he students had to do advance work, both reading and research, and then they put it into action. They learned a lot about how the EU works and a lot about climate change.鈥�

The event was the second of its kind to be held in Canada; last year, it was held in Ottawa. According to MacRae, the goal going forward is to have universities assume the role of hosting.

The Hungarian Consulate hosted the opening reception, an event that brought students and diplomats together to hear an opening speech by EU ambassador Melita Gabri膷 and to discuss the issues of the day. Many of the conversations centred around the European Green Deal 鈥� the EU climate law requiring a 55 per cent reduction of emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 鈥� since it was the focus of the weekend鈥檚 sessions. The students were tasked with creating a resolution, addressing how they would achieve its goals.

Students worked in pairs to represent the governments of the 27 EU nations. Alhawari and Harsini chose to represent Austria, because they wanted to embody a nation that was forward thinking in its environmental policies. After researching green policies and Austria鈥檚 contribution to the EU, they were delighted to meet a representative from the Austrian Consulate at the reception.

鈥淚t was fantastic to meet him and discuss Austria鈥檚 green policies,鈥� said Harsini. 鈥淎 major part of our success came from his commentary and insights.鈥�

Gabriele Alexandru, head of the political, press and information section at the EU Delegation to Canada, gave the opening talk the following day, before the students got to work on their Green Deal resolutions. The event was entirely student run, with a pair from the University of Victoria acting as Chairs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to hone so many skills, including negotiation, co-operation, public speaking and research,鈥� MacRae said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an extra benefit getting to know people interested in similar issues from across the country. We鈥檙e building a community of European scholars.鈥�

This was the first time Alhawari and Harsini had participated in a simulation exercise. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are considering trying a Model United Nations simulation next.

鈥淲e always have a notion that government work takes too long, but this shed light on the fact that every nation鈥檚 voice had to be heard,鈥� said Harsini. 鈥淣ow, I understand why it takes time.鈥�

Added Alhawari, 鈥淭he actual Green Deal already exists, so we were just adding to it. I realized that if the real EU was able to forge an agreement, so could we.鈥�

MacRae liked the idea of giving students a sponsored opportunity to learn more about the EU.

鈥淭here is an EU study tour each summer, which our students can take part in, but it is expensive,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ince not all students can afford to go to Europe, we bring Europe to them.鈥�

J.J. McMurtry, dean of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), believes the exercise was extremely valuable.

鈥淧articipating in opportunities such as the Model EU simulation is a vital component of experiential learning and internationalization at LA&PS,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese experiences enhance students鈥� understanding of global affairs, cultivate critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills. By actively participating in these activities, our students not only enrich their academic pursuits but also develop the necessary competencies to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world.鈥�

By giving students a greater understanding of European governance, MacRae is helping to fulfil the University Academic Plan's goal of advancing global engagement and bring its new Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy to life.

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91亚色鈥檚 Singing Our Stories project, led by Professor Andrea Emberly, aims to amplify the voices of refugee and newcomer children and youth through music and collaborative arts creation.

Partnering with refugee settlement agencies COSTI and CultureLink, as well as international research leaders in applied community music, Singing Our Stories mobilizes arts- and music-based programs to support the well-being goals of refugee children and youth.

Supported by a $447,000 grant from Canada鈥檚 Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council, the project explores how music-making, songwriting and storytelling can foster young people鈥檚 well-being, cultural resilience and individual resilience. At the same time, it looks to challenge discriminatory assumptions about their experiences and addresses systemic barriers to their well-being during displacement, migration and resettlement.

鈥淢usic is key to disrupting these barriers because it provides a tangible and creative way for young people to reclaim and tell their own stories and share insight into their own lived experiences,鈥� explains Emberly, an ethnomusicologist and 91亚色 Research Chair in Children鈥檚 Musical Cultures.

The goal is for participants to begin healing, participate more fully in their own communities and cultures, and even begin to change prejudiced stereotypes held about them by others.

Among its efforts has been the Singing Our Stories festival, held in June at 91亚色 and community venues in Toronto, where children and youth from ongoing programs shared their music and arts. Part of the festival included a five-day residency called Common Ground Voices, running concurrently with the festival dates, led by world-renowned choral conductor and peace activist Andr茅 de Quadros from Boston University. The residency invited musicians, artists and creative individuals, particularly those affected or impacted by war and conflict, to participate in creative arts as a means to dialogue about peace-building in the current world.

Residency participants collaborated with children鈥檚 and youth refugee choirs in a final performance at the Aga Khan Museum Theatre, showcasing the power of music and arts in amplifying the voices of displaced communities and fostering understanding and dialogue.

鈥淏y telling their own stories," says Emberly, "children and young people help to shape the future of our communities.鈥�

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A major new declaration co-initiated by 91亚色 professor and philosopher Kristin Andrews affirms there is strong scientific evidence that not just mammals and birds, but potentially all vertebrates and many invertebrates, possess conscious experiences.

The New 91亚色 Declaration on Animal Consciousness, unveiled on April 19 at a conference at New 91亚色, states that the empirical evidence indicates 鈥渁t least a realistic possibility鈥� of conscious awareness in reptiles, amphibians, fish, cephalopod mollusks like octopuses, decapod crustaceans like crabs and lobsters, and even insects. Andrews co-initiated the declaration along with Jeff Sebo from New 91亚色 and Jonathan Birch from the London School of Economics.

鈥淩ecent research has shown stunning evidence of consciousness-related behaviours in a wide range of animals,鈥� says Andrews, a professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. 鈥淭he declaration affirms that we can no longer assume these creatures are insentient or incapable of feeling.鈥�

The declaration 鈥� which has already been signed by more than 80 leading scientists and philosophers across disciplines 鈥� focuses on the most basic form of consciousness 鈥� the subjective experience of being an organism and the ability to feel sensations such as pain, pleasure and hunger. While higher-order consciousness involving self-awareness is not attributed, the statement says it would be 鈥渋rresponsible to ignore鈥� the possibility that these animals can have positive and negative experiences.

For Andrews, the 91亚色 Research Chair in Animal Minds who has studied animal cognition for more than 30 years, the evidence from recent studies on seemingly conscious behaviours in creatures including bees, crayfish and wrasse fish is compelling.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen bumblebees exhibiting placid, playful behaviours for no apparent reason other than enjoyment,鈥� she says. 鈥淐rayfish show anxious behaviours that change when given anti-anxiety medication. Wrasse fish seem to recognize bodily markings when shown a mirror.鈥�

Such findings challenge the assumption that invertebrates and cold-blooded animals are insentient automata. The declaration argues that when there is a realistic chance an animal has conscious experiences, we are ethically obligated to consider its welfare interests.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 mean we can鈥檛 ever eat them or use them,鈥� clarifies Andrews. 鈥淏ut it does mean we need to recognize they likely can feel pain and pleasure, and minimize the negative experiences we impose on them.鈥�

While the declaration doesn鈥檛 prescribe policies, Andrews hopes it will prompt wider consideration of how human activities impact invertebrates. She points to the need to include cephalopods and crustaceans under animal welfare regulations in Canada, alongside chickens, pigs and fish.

More profoundly, Andrews sees an opportunity for new scientific insights by studying consciousness across a broader range of organisms. 鈥淚f even simple animals like worms or flies are conscious in some way, they could provide a revelatory model for understanding the fundamental nature of consciousness, without the confounding factors like language that make human consciousness so complex.鈥�

By expanding our 鈥渃ircle of moral consideration,鈥� as Andrews puts it, the declaration opens perspectives on the richness of subjective experiences pervading the natural world. 鈥淚t offers the possibility of feeling a wider, deeper connection to all the creatures around us.鈥�

Andrews and her colleagues hope The New 91亚色 Declaration will be an impetus for more research, greater ethical deliberation and, ultimately, a heightened societal valuation of the experiences of non-human minds.

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For centuries, the Indian Ocean has been a vital maritime highway, facilitating the movement of people, goods and ideas across a vast region stretching from East Africa to Southeast Asia. Yet the artistic legacies born from these cross-cultural exchanges remain relatively understudied compared to other parts of the world. Zulfikar Hirji, a professor of anthropology at 91亚色, is on a mission to change that.

This past April and May, Hirji co-organized the pioneering Arts of the Indian Ocean conference, which brought together 75 scholars, artists and curators from diverse backgrounds to explore the region鈥檚 rich artistic heritage across mediums, geographies and eras.

鈥淭he Indian Ocean constitutes one of the world鈥檚 most historic hubs of maritime trade and artistic exchange, but it remains one of the most understudied areas in terms of the arts,鈥� says Hirji. 鈥淪cholars and artists working in and on the region provide vital insights into how it has been continually shaped by aesthetic and material exchanges.鈥�

The conference鈥檚 wide-ranging program reflected the Indian Ocean region鈥檚 incredible cultural diversity. Presentations spanned topics such as Indonesian textiles, Japanese majolica tiles influenced by the Indian independence movement and the monumental Arabic inscriptions of royal palaces in East Africa.

鈥淲e had papers covering everything from ceramics to digital arts, from prehistory up to the contemporary period, from East Africa all the way to Japan,鈥� Hirji says. 鈥淚t really gave a sense of the vibrancy and depth of artistic production across the region over centuries.鈥�

Notably, the conference prioritized including voices and perspectives from the Global South, breaking from the tradition of knowledge about the region being produced primarily from a northern viewpoint. Participants hailed from countries including India, Singapore, Mauritius and Mozambique.

鈥淚t was unprecedented in terms of the partnerships we built across Toronto to fund and host this event,鈥� notes Hirji, citing collaborators such as the University of Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum. 鈥淗aving that diversity of perspectives was crucial.鈥�

A key theme was the threat climate change poses to the Indian Ocean鈥檚 cultural heritage and coastal communities. Several artists raised concerns about rising seas, erosion and flooding putting historic sites and traditions at risk of being lost forever without documentation and conservation efforts.

鈥淭hese are issues that artists in the region are really grappling with,鈥� Hirji says. 鈥淭heir work sounds an alarm about the need to address these environmental impacts before it鈥檚 too late.鈥�

Looking ahead, Hirji hopes to establish the conference as a biennial event and publish an edited volume of selected papers to further scholarly engagement with Indian Ocean arts. But most of all, he wants to inspire more research and creative work illuminating the region鈥檚 incredible cultural riches.

鈥淭he Indian Ocean world has been a crucible of creativity for millennia,鈥� Hirji says. 鈥淏y bringing greater attention to its artistic legacies, we can better understand the diverse societies that have shaped human history across this vast maritime region.鈥�

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Ten 91亚色 researchers have been named new 91亚色 Research Chairs (YRCs), an internal program that supports outstanding faculty members as they produce research and excel in their wide-ranging areas of study, including cognitive neuroscience, gender justice and molecular ecology, among others.  

鈥淭he 91亚色 Research Chairs program enables the University to celebrate and champion our exceptional research community as they pursue discovery, invention and innovation at the highest level in their respective fields, from using artificial intelligence to track and capture space debris to leveraging extended reality technologies for theatre and performance, and so much more,鈥� said President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. 鈥淚 extend a warm congratulations to the new Chairholders whose leading expertise, bolstered by this program, holds the potential to create significant impacts both in Canada and globally.鈥�  

This year鈥檚 YRCs are the 11th cohort to be appointed 鈥� as of July 1 鈥� since the program was first launched by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI) in 2015.

鈥淭he new YRC appointments demonstrate the University鈥檚 continued commitment to research excellence and scholarship in all its forms, supporting the intensification and application of new knowledge for the benefit of our local and global communities,鈥� said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. 鈥淭he YRC program also aligns with the University鈥檚 Strategic Research Plan, 'Knowledge for the Future: From Creation and Discovery to Application,' which aims to enhance 91亚色鈥檚 research strengths and accelerate the growth of our global impact.鈥�

Five of the 10 new Chairs are funded by VPRI, while the other five are funded by Connected Minds: Neural and Machine Systems for a Healthy, Just Society 鈥� a major, $318-million, 91亚色-led research initiative focused on socially responsible technologies.

The YRC program is designed to offer a similar level of support as the federal government鈥檚 Canada Research Chairs program, which funds the work of world-class researchers and their teams at institutions across the country.

The YRC program consists of two tiers, both with five-year terms. Tier 1 is open to established research leaders at the rank of full professor. Tier 2 is aimed at emerging research leaders within 15 years of their first academic appointment.

Below are the new Chairholders and their respective fields of study.

Tier 1 91亚色 Research Chairs

91亚色 Research Chair in International Gender Justice and Peacebuilding

Annie Bunting, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
A professor of law and society, Bunting鈥檚 research as a YRC will examine the intersection of gender violence and international justice in conflict zones in Africa, with a particular focus on affected youth, sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers, and issues that involve and centre survivors鈥� experiences.

91亚色 Research Chair in Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

Pina D鈥橝gostino, Osgoode Hall Law School
As a YRC, D鈥橝gostino, an associate professor of law and director of Connected Minds, will explore the role of intellectual property law in society鈥檚 increased adoption of emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI), and the potential benefits and harms of a technology-driven society.

91亚色 Research Chair in Space Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

George Zhu, Lassonde School of Engineering
Zhu, a professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Space Engineering Design Laboratory, aims to develop swarm robotics technology through his YRC program. This technology involves a group of robots working together to autonomously clean up space debris in Earth orbits, which can negatively affect space exploration and satellite safety.

Tier 2 91亚色 Research Chairs

91亚色 Research Chair in Law and the Histories of Empire

Rabiat Akande, Osgoode Hall Law School
Akande, an assistant professor of law, will conduct research that examines how 19th- and 20th-century colonial powers governed racial and religious difference and explores the living legacies of that history. Her YRC program seeks to advance the understanding of the law鈥檚 role in European imperialism.

91亚色 Research Chair in Visual Cognitive Neuroscience

Erez Freud, Faculty of Health
Through the YRC program, Freud, an associate professor of psychology, will investigate the developmental brain processes that enable tasks such as hand movement and grasping in children. His research will examine how these processes might differ in children with autism, providing new insights into brain specialization.

91亚色 Research Chair in Software Engineering for Foundation Model-powered Systems

Jack Jiang, Lassonde School of Engineering
Jiang, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, will use his YRC position to develop advanced engineering tools and processes aimed at facilitating the construction and enhancing the quality and trustworthiness of various generative AI systems like ChatGPT and Copilot.

91亚色 Research Chair in Molecular Ecology and Behavioural Genetics

Sandra Rehan, Faculty of Science
Rehan, a professor of biology, researches the evolution of bees and their role in biodiversity. As a YRC, Rehan will employ advanced DNA technology to investigate bee behaviour and genetics. 

91亚色 Research Chair in Art, Technology and Global Activism

Laura Levin, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design
An associate professor of theatre and performance studies, Levin鈥檚 YRC program explores the artistic use of emerging technologies, like extended reality and AI, to address growing political polarization and misinformation and to develop imaginative methods for bridging political divides.

91亚色 Research Chair in Philosophy of Representation

Kevin Lande, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
An assistant professor of philosophy, Lande鈥檚 research as a YRC explores how the mind works, arguing that humans鈥� creative ability to combine simple ideas to create more complex ones extends beyond thought and language.

91亚色 Research Chair in Relationships and Sexuality

Amy Muise, Faculty of Health
An associate professor of psychology, Muise鈥檚 research as a YRC tests high-quality listening and leverages interdependence in romantic relationships to combat sexism and reduce harmful gender-based attitudes.

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Canadian music industry icon Jason "Kardinal Offishall" Harrow accepted his honorary degree from 91亚色 at the June 20 convocation ceremony by reciting spoken word poetry 鈥� infused with his signature hip-hop lyricism 鈥� to graduands of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.

The former 91亚色 student, born to Jamaican immigrant parents and hailing from Scarborough, Ont., spoke of his decision to hit pause on his post-secondary studies to follow his creative passion. "I left the halls of this institution in pursuit of my dreams and never thought that I would be welcomed back in this manner," he said of the full-circle moment.

Harrow repeatedly touched on the difficulties of being an artist in a world built around money, where professional success is often defined by one's financial worth. "They say art is when you listen to the universe and magic is when the universe listens to you," he said. "Either way, being a successful magician is not based on how much money you can accrue."

Through a series of artful rhymes, Harrow urged graduands to shift their mindset around education, career and finances 鈥� to avoid looking at their university degree as a means to get rich; to avoid choosing their career path based on what will pay them back the fastest; and to think about the difference between making an impact and making money. "You didn't spend all this time here at this beautiful institution," Harrow said, "to enter into the workforce looking for restitution."

Indeed, it wasn't financial gain Harrow was after when he decided to risk it all to chase his creative calling. It was the prospect of living his truth, and it led him to the fulfilling career he has today, working in artist development and creative direction at record labels and continuing to make music and collaborate with other artists, some of whom he namechecked during his moment at the mic 鈥� Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Run-DMC, Rihanna, LL Cool J, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Will Smith, among others.

Harrow then asked rhetorically, "Which one do you want 鈥� passion or purpose, freedom or finance?" before sharing one lesson his professional journey has taught him. "When you move with passion and living your purpose," he said, "you will achieve a sense of freedom and it won't be by chance."

The honorary degree recipient ended his speech by emphasizing to graduands the critical importance of remembering their purpose and holding onto their creative spirit as they embark on their careers, despite the inevitable pressures to do otherwise.

"Be proud of your degrees and all the hard work that it took to get here. These words are just a starter pistol 鈥� the beginning of a race to get clear," Harrow said. "Once your spirit gains clarity, you will know you have arrived. It has been said that a creative adult is the child who survived."

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