Four undergraduate students from 91亚色鈥檚 Faculties of Science and Health were among 17 individuals selected from across Canada to participate in the 2024 Ward Family Summer Student Research Program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

The 12-week program offers students an opportunity to work alongside leading scientists in the field of pediatric disability and developmental differences.

The 91亚色 students and their summer research projects are:

Vivien Ayllon-Kovacs

Ayllon-Kovacs is entering her third year in biomedical science (honours). Her research focuses on the relationship between brain activity and connectivity and language impairments across neurodevelopmental disorders. Her summer project explored the use of the Oral and Written Language Scales, 2nd edition (OWLS-II) tool to determine the relationship between oral language and brain measures in neurodivergent children compared to typically developing children.

The study found that the OWLS-II is effective for measuring language functionality, and that some brain regions may have a different influence on language functionality in both subject groups.

Huda Jirreh

Jirreh recently graduated with a BSc in biomedical science (honours) from 91亚色. She is interested in exploring the clinical applications of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology as a means to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. During the Ward research program, she designed a BCI-controlled music instrument in collaboration with other researchers, clinicians, and music therapists.

Following the completion of the summer program, Jirreh will conduct a case study to analyze the effectiveness of using the instrument in music therapy to improve attention in children with cerebral palsy.

Sajeela Rana

Rana is entering her third year of biomedical science, minoring in psychology. During the Ward summer program, she conducted a systematic chart review of patients from Holland Bloorview鈥檚 psychopharmacology clinic, allowing her to gain a deeper grasp on the holistic aspects of client and family care. This work inspired her research question examining the relationship between financial barriers to care and burnout for caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

She hopes that, in the near future, comprehensive care can consist of support for caregivers鈥� mental health, respite access and financial resource navigation to reduce caregiver strain.

Zahra Wakif

Wakif is a third-year student in psychology (specialized honours). She is interested in accessible care with a focus on mental health, and aspires to recognize and alleviate inequities in healthcare. Much of her work is around children鈥檚 health, development, resilience and social inclusion, with a focus on children with developmental delays or differences. Wakif鈥檚 summer research project focused on identifying the current diagnostic facilitators and barriers that community pediatricians across Ontario face in conducting autism assessments. The research aims to help develop toolkits for clinicians that would encourage more assessments and improve diagnosis and care access for families.

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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.

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Thanks to new funding from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges & Universities, the Faculty of Science is launching a new micro-credential in Vaccine Production and Quality Assurance in Winter 2025 at 91亚色鈥檚 Markham Campus.

The provincial funding comprises $50,000 from the and $75,000 from the , which will go toward the creation of the new micro-credential that will prepare trainees for jobs in vaccine biomanufacturing and processing.

鈥淥ur new programs in vaccine production and biotechnology aim to bridge talent gaps in the pharmaceutical industry in Canada and to offer students and professionals a variety of training options for upskilling for industry jobs,鈥� says Hovig Kouyoumdjian, associate dean of curriculum and pedagogy in the Faculty of Science.

Spearheaded by Kouyoumdjian and faculty members Jade Atallah, the Markham biotechnology graduate program director, and Luz Adriana Puentes J谩come in the Department of Biology, the micro-credential in Vaccine Production and Quality Assurance will provide accelerated, experiential and industry-centred training on the fundamentals of vaccine production, including emerging technologies.

鈥淚t will be offered as an eight-week, blended program, shaped by input from a variety of industry partners,鈥� says J谩come. 鈥淭he micro-credential offers more rapid, vaccine-focused training relative to the new Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology and Master鈥檚 in Biotechnology Management programs, which are broader in scope and completed in one year or two, respectively.鈥�

With the new funding, the Faculty of Science will also purchase new equipment that will not only benefit student training in the micro-credential but also the Master鈥檚 in Biotechnology Management and Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology programs starting this fall at Markham Campus. The equipment will include cell culture tools for various expression systems (bacterial, yeast, insect and mammalian cells) and novel vaccine platform technologies (DNA, RNA and recombinant proteins) that are highly aligned with current advancements in the vaccine industry.

鈥淕iven the focus of these biotechnology postgraduate programs on applied training, the new equipment will support a curricular delivery that is hands-on and highly experiential in nature,鈥� says Atallah. 鈥淥ur students will complete their training with the knowledge and skills they need to secure in-demand jobs in the biotechnology and vaccine production industry.鈥�

鈥淲e are grateful to the Ontario Ministry of Colleges & Universities for supporting the creation and enhancement of these important programs at 91亚色,鈥� says Kouyoumdjian.

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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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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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Spring Convocation for 91亚色鈥檚 Class of 2024 ran from June 7 to 21, and featured ceremonies at both the Keele and Glendon campuses.

This year鈥檚 Spring Convocation began on June 7 with a ceremony at 91亚色鈥檚 Glendon Campus, and continued with a dozen more in the following weeks at the Keele Campus. More than 7,000 graduands received their degrees during ceremonies overseen by the 14th chancellor of 91亚色, Kathleen Taylor.

View photos from the Class of 2024 ceremonies below:

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A research paper by master's student Ethan Owen, from 91亚色's Faculty of Science, was recently published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation. Titled "," Owen's first-ever published study involved scouring 43 sites across California鈥檚 deserts with his team to understand how the density of native shrubs affects local wildlife.

Armed with high-resolution satellite images and citizen science data sourced from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) 鈥� an international, open-access network and data infrastructure funded by the world's governments 鈥� the researchers set out to uncover hidden patterns in these rugged landscapes.

The team's findings showed that areas with higher shrub density had significantly more abundant, rich, and diverse reptile and amphibian communities, proving the shrubs are indispensable for the creatures' survival by creating microhabitats that offer cooler temperatures and crucial hiding spots.

鈥淭hese shrubs are more than just plants; they are lifelines,鈥� explains Owen. 鈥淚n the central drylands of California, they provide essential shelter, food, and protection for a variety of reptile and amphibian species, helping them survive the extreme conditions.鈥�

But the study didn鈥檛 stop at counting reptiles and amphibians. Owen鈥檚 team looked at different levels of aridity to see if the relationship held up. 鈥淚t was fascinating to see that regardless of how dry the area was, the presence of these shrubs consistently boosted the diversity and abundance of the local wildlife,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t really underscores their importance in these arid ecosystems.鈥�

Owen believes the implications of this research are profound, offering valuable insights for conservationists and land managers alike. 鈥淏y maintaining and promoting native shrub species, we can support biodiversity, even in the face of climate change,鈥� he says.

As the natural world continues to suffer the consequences of global warming, Owen hopes that research like his will serve as a reminder that even small interventions 鈥� like protecting existing shrubs or planting new ones 鈥� can have significant positive impacts on the health and diversity of the Earth鈥檚 ecosystems.

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Mike Wessinger, co-founder and executive Chair of PointClickCare, the most widely used cloud-based health-care software provider in long-term and post-acute care, spoke to Faculty of Science graduands about his path to success, and offered advice on how they might navigate their own way to a life of accomplishment.

Wessinger shared with graduands that a question he is often asked is, 鈥淲hat is the secret to success?鈥� With the aim of leaving graduands with advice to take with them on their journey ahead, he shared that the answer 鈥� for him 鈥� is hard work and determination, above all else.

鈥淚ntelligence and emotional quotients do matter,鈥� he stressed. 鈥淏ut, in my experience, the people [with great success] are those people who have the highest grit quotient. If they see a wall, they go over, under, around or through it.鈥�

As Wessinger shared his professional journey, he illustrated how he faced 鈥� and overcame 鈥� some walls himself throughout his career. Among the first barriers was when he graduated from university as young man with no prospects, no money and the feeling that he was unemployable. He knew he wanted to be a success at something, but was unsure what direction to take. 鈥淚 had to figure out how I was going to make something of myself,鈥� he said. A break came when his brother helped him find a sales job in the long-term and post-acute care industry. He seized the opportunity and began applying himself. 鈥淚 knew it was time to really buckle down and really get to work,鈥� he said.

Wessinger familiarized himself quickly with everything he could about the industry he鈥檇 joined in order to not only excel in his sales job but find a way to revolutionize it. He hustled 鈥� often sleeping at the office and rarely taking time off 鈥� until he felt he was successful enough for a new challenge: starting his own business.

Initially, that business was selling existing electronic health records and financial software technology to nursing homes across Canada, but over time he found himself underwhelmed by the product he was selling. This technology is just not working, he thought at the time. It's not making a big impact on these organizations. He believed the long-term and post-acute care space 鈥� and especially the seniors who lived within 鈥� deserved something more.

Wessinger and his partners decided to build their own solution, one that was ahead of its time: an electronic health records software that wouldn鈥檛 be installed on-site, but hosted on servers with clients accessing them through the internet. 鈥淲e had no idea we were talking about software as a service (SaaS),鈥� Wessinger said. 鈥淧eople couldn't sell SAS back then. Nobody was talking about the cloud. We fundamentally changed the game.鈥�

Not everyone shared that sentiment at the time. As Wessinger moved ahead with PointClickCare, it was the year 2000, shortly after the infamous dot-com bubble had burst, a time when many were wary of internet-based businesses. As Wessinger approached venture capitalists and banks with his startup idea, he joked that doors tended to close the instant he explained his mission to put seniors' health records online.

Wessinger had to find a financial solution somehow, and he found it close to home. 鈥淭he only people that were kind of enough to fund us go by the name of 鈥楳om,鈥� 鈥楧ad,鈥� 鈥楿ncle,鈥� 鈥楢unt鈥� and 鈥楩riend from Hockey Team,鈥欌�� Wessinger said. With that came not just the usual high financial stakes of making a startup succeed but personal stakes, too. 鈥淚 felt this enormous obligation to be successful,鈥� he said.

Two decades later, PointClickCare is now one of the largest privately held software companies in Canada, with over 1,500 employees, and serving over 22,000 skilled nursing facilities across North America. 鈥淭he thing I'm most proud of is that there are some two million seniors today that I know are getting the right care because they're utilizing our software,鈥� he said.

While the journey of a startup firm may be succinctly summarized in an honorary degree recipient鈥檚 address, the reality is a long road full of challenges, long hours and 鈥� sometimes 鈥� sacrifices. While Wessinger told graduands hard work is the 鈥渉ack to success,鈥� he offered some cautionary advice as well, for the ambitious. 鈥淧eople that are like me 鈥� forward-looking, a leader of an organization, trying to do something incredible 鈥� live in the future,鈥� he said. While that can help those looking to advance their careers and businesses realize their goals, it can come with a risk, he noted.

Living, mentally, in the future all the time can remove a person from the present. 鈥淵ou have to stop and live in the now because that鈥檚 all you have,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can remember my family would see me at the dinner table and sometimes say, 鈥榃here are you?鈥� I'd say, 鈥業'm right here.鈥� They鈥檇 say, 鈥楴o you鈥檙e not.鈥� They were right. I wasn鈥檛. I was somewhere else. Along the way, as you're achieving great things, remember to stop and celebrate and live in the present.鈥�

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91亚色 neuroscientist Jeffrey Schall has been appointed a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Translating Neuroscience, alongside two renewals 鈥� Gillian Parekh and Joel Zylberberg 鈥� for existing CRCs, announced by the Government of Canada on June 14.

The CRC program is a major investment by the federal government (up to $300 million+ per year) to attract and retain world-class talent at Canadian universities. The program also provides training opportunities for the next generation of highly skilled personnel through research, teaching and learning.

The new and renewed CRCs at 91亚色 are:  

Jeffrey Schall is a newly appointed Tier I CRC in Translating Neuroscience and a professor in the Faculty of Science

Schall鈥檚 research aims to further understand the complexities of the brain and how it enables decision-making processes for actions and experiences: how people decide what to do, how people control when they do it and how people know if they did what they meant to do. Insights from Schall鈥檚 research could improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions like dementia and schizophrenia.  

Gillian Parekh is a renewed Tier II CRC in Disability Studies in Education and an associate professor in the Faculty of Education

Parekh is examining how schools respond to disability in order to improve student success. She and her research team are gathering and analyzing new data to develop strategies that will shed light on how 鈥渁bility鈥� is used to justify student organization within schools and the inequitable distribution of in-school resources and opportunities.

Joel Zylberberg is a renewed Tier II CRC in Computational Neuroscience and an associate professor in the Faculty of Science

Zylberberg and his research team train artificial intelligence (AI) to see and respond to images in the same way as the human brain. By teaching AI to process visual information like the brain鈥檚 visual cortex, deep learning algorithms could lead to the creation of devices that help visually impaired or blind people see again, in addition to potentially advancing technology for self-driving cars. 

91亚色鈥檚 Chairholders received $2,400,000 and are part of a $94,500,000 investment in 121 new and renewed CRCs at 39 institutions across Canada. For the full list, visit the .

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Five monetary awards were presented to teams of upper-year students at 91亚色's 2024 Spring Capstone Day, a public event hosted by the Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom (C4) in celebration of innovation, creativity, ambition and impact.

Held on April 26, this year鈥檚 Spring Capstone Day drew more than 350 members of the 91亚色 community and external visitors to 91亚色's Scott Library Collaboratory. There, attendees learned about the work of the 225 presenting students, whose capstone projects 鈥� finishing-year projects where student teams work with external clients to solve real-world problems 鈥� focused on innovative and sustainable design solutions, aiming to address societal issues, advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create positive change. This biannual project showcase is an invaluable opportunity for students to share their experience and develop professional skills to enhance their career-readiness.

鈥淔or three hours, the entire Collaboratory was sparkling with conversations between project partners; 91亚色 staff, professors and librarians; and students from every Faculty at 91亚色," said Danielle Robinson, co-founder and co-lead of C4, a high-impact experiential education course intended to uniquely prepare students for the next phase of their career. "Our collective focus was on launching these students out into the world as the powerful changemakers they are ready to be.鈥�

An important day for all participating students, Robinson described it as similar to a graduation or a professional debut, where students get dressed up and present their work to attendees and judges.

According to Mahogany Lopez, a Faculty of Science student whose team won the Sustainability Award, the day was bittersweet. "It marked the end of my journey with the C4 class, where I made new friends and had an amazing time," she said. "However, I was happy to see our project well-received and to witness the impressive work of different groups. This experience emphasized the value of interdisciplinary learning and collaboration in solving real-world problems."

Donna Nguyen, a student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, whose team won the Community Impact Award, appreciated the event for shining a spotlight on student work: "This event and this win was important to me as a student because our hard work was acknowledged and it signified that our ideas genuinely made an impact on the community," she said.

Faculty of Health Professor Asal Moghaddaszadeh, who acted as a project shepherd, guiding students through their project journey in the C4 class, believes the Capstone Day event is pivotal for the University.

"It's about instilling teamwork, fostering community partnerships and preparing students to tackle workforce challenges boldly," she said. "Additionally, by working in interdisciplinary teams, students learn the importance of collaboration across diverse Faculties, enriching their problem-solving skills."

Lassonde School of Engineering student Mehrshad Farahbakhsh agreed, calling Capstone Day a "transformative experience."

"It taught me the value of collaboration and how diverse perspectives can lead to innovative solutions," said the international student, whose team won the Innovation Award for their project focused on making the automotive industry more sustainable. "Each member of our group brought a unique background and approach to the table, which allowed us to brainstorm innovative solutions."

The awards students were competing for included the YSpace-sponsored Innovation Award, with a prize of $100 for the winning student team; and the GHD-sponsored Community Impact Award and Honda Canada Foundation-sponsored Sustainability Award, both offering prizes of $1,500 to the winning teams and $500 to the runners-up.

The day's award winners were determined by a committee of 16 91亚色 judges 鈥� from YSpace, Alumni Engagement and the Office of Sustainability. The full list of award winners and project titles are as follows:

• Innovation Award winner: "Finding Our Way through Sustainable Choices (Weins Auto Group)" by Team BF;
• Community Impact Award winner: "Fostering Food Sovereignty (HiGarden)" by Team BE;
• Community Impact Award runner-up: "Policy Pal (Engage)" by Team AC;
• Sustainability Award winner: "Reconstructing Education (Sensorium)" by Team AA; and
• Sustainability Award runner-up: "Saving the Planet (Independent)" by Team BD.

For more information about these projects, the winners and the Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom, visit the聽C4 website or email聽c4class@yorku.ca.

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