As a new year emerges,聽YFile聽takes a look back on 2017 to share with readers a snapshot of the year鈥檚 highlights. 鈥淵ear in Review鈥 will run as a four-part series, and will feature a random selection of top news stories published in聽YFile. Here are the stories and highlights for January to March 2017, as chosen by聽驰贵颈濒别听editors.
January
Using a model similar to what meteorologists use to forecast weather on Earth and a computer simulation of the physics of evaporating ices, a new study, published in the journal by 91亚色 , Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering at the Lassonde School of Engineering, has found evidence that snow and ice features previously only seen on Earth, have been spotted on Pluto.
The breakthrough by CERN is related to the Big Bang theory
In this special YFile issue of , Physics Professor Scott Menary, of 91亚色's Faculty of Science, discusses his contributions to a game-changing research endeavour at CERN related to the Big Bang theory 鈥 the subject of a 2016 article in the journal聽Nature 鈥 further establishing the University鈥檚 reputation for excellence in physics.
Work by 91亚色鈥檚 communicators was recognized for excellence by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in its and competitions. The University鈥檚 brand campaign, news writing and a community relations campaign by the Faculty of Science garnered awards in the 2017 Accolades Awards that were announced in early January.
An international team of researchers and clinicians led by 91亚色 Professor Michael Riddell has published a set of guidelines to help people with type 1 diabetes exercise safely to avoid fluctuations in blood sugar. The research resulted in the first-ever set of consensus guidelines from leading experts.
Minister Helena Jaczek, Minister Steven Del Duca, PhD student Jesse Thistle, Premier Kathleen Wynne, PhD student Dessi Zaharieva and MPP Han Dong
91亚色 welcomed a delegation to the Keele campus that included Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca, Minister of Community and Social Services Helena Jaczek, and Trinity-Spadina MPP Han Dong on Jan. 23. 91亚色 was one of the first stops on the premier鈥檚 of post-secondary campuses in Ontario. The tour allowed the premier to connect directly with students about a range of topics including recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), the post-graduation job market, as well as research, teaching and learning at Ontario鈥檚 postsecondary institutions.
February
Ontario鈥檚 Lieutenant Governor The Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell made an official visit to 91亚色 on Feb. 3 for a tour of the campus and to meet with students and researchers. The tour included: a presentation on the 91亚色-led (BHER) project; an interactive demonstration of LUXX; a stop at Osgoode Hall Law School; a tour of facilities at the Sherman Health Science Research Centre; and, a roundtable discussion on the future of diversity, innovation and sustainability in Ontario with graduate and undergraduate students.
3D structure of protein
Researchers from 91亚色鈥檚 Lassonde School of Engineering have developed a new set of algorithms that rapidly generate 3D structures of proteins, and could revolutionize the development of new drug therapies. One of the lead researchers on the project, Lassonde Professor Marcus Brubaker, says the current cryo-EM (electron cryomicroscopy) technology for developing 3D protein structures is a lengthy, computationally demanding task requiring specific expertise. Currently, it can take days to weeks for certain results.
Philip Monk, director of the Art Gallery of 91亚色 (AGYU) since 2003, was among the eight winners of 2017 Governor General鈥檚 Awards in Visual and Media Arts, announced by the Canada Council for the Arts, Feb. 15. The award recognizes outstanding career achievement in the visual arts and Monk was the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award for his 40 years as a writer, curator, and director.
Governments partnered with 91亚色 U to invest $113 million
An infusion of $113 million from the Governments of Canada and Ontario and 91亚色聽will modernize labs in the Faculties of Science and Health, create a new building for the Schulich School of Business, and boost energy-efficient cooling and power for 85 buildings on 91亚色鈥檚 Keele Campus. The investment will create exciting opportunities for the next generation of researchers and students who inspire progress at home and around the globe.
Rick Waugh, chair of the 91亚色 Board of Governors, sent the following message to the community on Feb. 28:聽On behalf of the Board of Governors of 91亚色, I am delighted to announce that after an extensive search process that began in December 2015, Dr. Rhonda Lenton has been appointed 91亚色鈥檚 eighth President and Vice-Chancellor.
March
91亚色 PhD candidate Bruno V茅ras earned the Antonieta de Barros Award for the promotion of racial and gender equity in Brazil. The award recognizes 30 initiatives or communication projects promoting racial equality and overcoming racism. V茅ras was the director of the project "脕frica Aparece: Linguagem, Ensino Debates sobre a Cultura Afro-Brasileira" (Africa displayed: Language, Education and Debates on the Afro-Brazilian Culture).
The 91亚色 Lions men鈥檚 hockey team won its first Queen鈥檚 Cup championship in 13 years with a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Queen鈥檚 University Gaels at Canlan Ice Sports. The contest started out slow with an uneventful first period, but the action picked up considerably once the second period began and the game quickly became a classic.
Nernadra Singh was awarded the Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division), by the Governor General, the Right Honorable David Johnston
He's the chief of staff at Toronto鈥檚 Humber River Regional Hospital, a Kellogg-Schulich EMBA student at 91亚色 and also the recipient of the highly prestigious Meritorious Service Medal. Narendra Singh was awarded one of Canada鈥檚 highest honours, the Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division), by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada.聽Singh is working toward reducing the number of infant mortality rates in Guyana.
91亚色 was named in the second round of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Advanced Scholars Program, which awards funding to Canadian universities working to improve global talent exchange between Canada and other nations.
Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES) Professor Ellie Perkins took the lead on the winning project, 鈥淓cological Economics, Commons Governance, and Climate Justice,鈥 and earned a share of the $12.5-million award going to 23 Canadian universities.
91亚色 Professor Sushanta Mitra and his team at the Lassonde School of Engineering partnered with the public and private sector to develop a digital learning tool that aims to enhance academic success for high school students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The learning modules are built on Quanser鈥檚 trademarked qdex鈩 app development platform, and are specifically designed for rich STEM content.
Check back in the next聽edition of聽YFile聽for Year in Review:聽Top headlines at 91亚色, April聽to June聽2017.