Landmark

In photos: U of T marks opening of Indigenous landscape project at Hart House Green

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:34:50 +0000

In photos: U of T marks opening of Indigenous landscape project at Hart House Green

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 09/27/2024 - 09:34

Cutline

The pathway that extends along the east side of Ziibiing follows the trail of Taddle Creek, a buried stream running under the St. George campus that once served as a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples (photo by Polina Teif)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Ziibiing

Indigenous Initiatives

Kelly Hannah-Moffat

Scott Mabury

First Nations House

Hart House

Indigenous

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Landmark

Truth and Reconciliation

Subheadline

The Ziibiing space includes a central pavilion, amphitheatre and plantings of medicinal trees and shrubs

The University of Toronto commemorated the official opening of Ziibiing, an Indigenous landscape project that uses architecture, horticulture and storytelling to honour Indigenous cultures and provide a space for community members to gather, learn and host ceremonies on the St. George campus.

The opening celebration for Ziibiing, held Monday Sept. 23, included a traditional Elder’s opening, a welcome song and the burning of a sacred fire – the first fire to be lit in Ziibiing’s pavilion and one of several Indigenous ceremonial practices that are welcome on all three U of T campuses.

Here’s how the event unfolded through the lens of U of T photographers:

(photo by Polina Teif)

Michael White, director of First Nations House, tends to the sacred fire in the Ziibiing pavilion as Jenny Blackbird, resource centre and programs co-ordinator at First Nations House, looks on.

Ceremonial fires, smudging and pipe ceremonies are among the important Indigenous practices that take place on U of T’s three campuses.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Blackbird performs a traditional song to welcome U of T community members to the celebration.

(photo by Polina Teif)

The vision for Ziibiing was developed by an Indigenous Advisory Committee in collaboration with the Indigenous Design Studio at Brook McIlroy, who in turn consulted with Indigenous students, faculty, staff, the Council of Indigenous Initiatives Elders' Circle and representatives of local First Nations.

The project was born out of Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, the final report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which outlined the need for dedicated Indigenous spaces on campus.

From left: James Bird and Shannon Simpson (photos by Polina Teif)(photo by Polina Teif)

Several members of the U of T community spoke at the event.

“Our voices, traditions and histories are woven into the fabric of this new landscape, sending a clear signal that we are seen, that we matter and that we belong,” said Shannon Simpson, senior director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and a member of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation, in her remarks at the ceremony.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Ziibiing is named for the Anishinaabemowin word for “river,” a reference to the Taddle Creek waterway that once flowed through the area and served as a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples.

It’s an example of how Indigenous design and Western architectural disciplines can come together to assist in placemaking, according to James Bird, a Knowledge Keeper from the Nehiyawak and Dene Nation and PhD candidate in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

“In the practice of architecture, there are ways one can approach the creation of space and its activation through design," said Bird. “This alternative viewpoint assigns agency to the metaphysical aspects that exist within Indigenous cultures and in turn allows metaphysical relationships to be made into physical form.”

(photo by Polina Teif)

In her remarks to the event’s attendees, Kelly Hannah-Moffat, U of T’s vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture, said that, in addition to serving a vital role as a teaching and ceremonial space for Indigenous students, employees and Elders, Ziibiing will encourage the entire U of T community to “find innovative ways to Indigenize this institution.”

She noted the space has already hosted a recent land-based learning workshop that invited members of the U of T community to deepen their understanding of Indigenous world views, teachings and connections to the land. The workshop was organized by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, with future sessions scheduled for Oct. 22 and Nov. 19.

(photo by Polina Teif)

The Ziibiing pavilion is supported by 13 columns that symbolize the 13 moons of the year. They circle a fire pit where ceremonial fires may be lit and maintained by Indigenous firekeepers.

(photo by David Lee)

The creation of Ziibiing took place alongside the Landmark Project, which aimed to revitalize the historic core of the St. George campus.

Scott Mabury, U of T’s vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships, said U of T community members have already embraced Ziibiing, as well as the other new spaces, as evidenced by their increased use of the reimagined landscapes.

“We didn’t know what we didn’t have before,” he said.

Battery-powered EV chargers – co-developed at U of T – installed on St. George campus

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:34:25 +0000

Battery-powered EV chargers – co-developed at U of T – installed on St. George campus

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 09/20/2024 - 10:34

Cutline

The Level 3+ battery-powered EV charging stations are available in U of T's Landmark Garage, located beneath King's College Circle on the St. George campus (photo by Safa Jinje)

Safa Jinje

Topic

Breaking Research

department of mechanical and industrial engineering

Facilities and Services

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Landmark

Sustainability

Subheadline

The rapid-charging stations were developed by Canadian EV tech company Jule in collaboration with experts at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

The historic core of the University of Toronto’s St. George campus is now home to a pair of next-generation electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that utilize technology co-developed at the university.

The two new stations use direct current (DC)-sourced EV chargers boasting integrated battery energy storage systems – novel technology that minimizes strain on the electrical grid.

Located in the Landmark Garage beneath King’s College Circle, the chargers are rated Level 3+, meaning they can charge EVs in under 30 minutes, and bring the total number of EV charging stations in the garage to 50.

The technology underpinning the new charges was developed by Jule, an energy storage and EV solutions company co-founded by Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering alumnus Carmine Pizzurro, in collaboration with U of T faculty members.

Jule embarked on its first research collaboration with U of T shortly after its founding in 2009, teaming up with the Centre for Applied Power Electronics led by Professor Reza Iravani at the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering.

It also worked closely with the city's electric utility.

“One of our first collaborations was with Toronto Hydro, which led to us being the first company in the world to put lithium-ion batteries on the distribution grid to provide backup power during outages and reduce stress on the grid during peak periods,” says Pizzurro, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering at U of T.

Cristina Amon and Carlos Da Silva (fourth and fifth from left, respectively, in the front row) pose with students and staff in the Thermal Management Systems lab (photo by Aaron Demeter)

Pizzurro went on to install Jule’s first battery-powered fast chargers in northern Canada as part of a collaboration with Natural Resources Canada.

But the company needed to address a longstanding challenge with lithium-ion batteries: they’re temperature-sensitive and must be able to operate reliably in both hot and cold environments if they are to help power a net-zero future.

To tackle this issue, Jule in 2018 expanded its partnership with the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering to include University Professor Cristina Amon and senior research associate Carlos Da Silva of the Advanced Thermofluids Optimization, Modelling and Simulation (ATOMS) laboratory in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering.

The ATOMS experts have been developing computational models and experimental characterization to optimize Jule’s battery thermal management systems – work that is being carried out in a state-of-the-art battery testing facility that received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and Ontario Research Fund.

“Thermal management is an issue that impacts both aspects of Jule’s EV fast charging technology: the power electronics to enable the charging, as well as their unique integrated battery storage system,” says Da Silva, who is also executive director of the U of T Electrification Hub. “Thermal management is critical for mitigating battery degradation. It requires regulating the temperature in such a way that you keep the battery within an optimal range that will extend its life span.”

Jule’s fast chargers use energy stored in batteries, rather than drawing it directly from the electrical grid in the manner of traditional fast chargers. That means they don’t cause grid overloading during peak usage times and can be charged during off-peak hours when electricity is less costly; they also don’t require significant investments in electricity upgrades.

“The battery storage system is charged using current from the electrical grid, which is alternating current (AC); and then this larger battery, which uses direct current (DC), charges the smaller battery in the electric vehicle,” says Amon. “It is more efficient to fast-charge from a stationary battery to an EV – DC to DC – than it is to fast-charge an EV from the electrical grid, which requires converting AC to DC power.”

Jule’s Level 3+ charging station can provide up to 200 kilowatts of power output, yet only needs 45 kilowatts of input power. Amon says this rapid charging speed can help alleviate range anxiety among EV users: “Some drivers fear that EV batteries may not have enough energy to reach a desired destination. But if charging time is much closer to the time required to fill up a tank of a gas-powered car, that can reduce this worry.”

L-R: Professor Reza Iravani, Jule co-founder Carmine Pizzurro, U of T Electrification Hub Executive Director Carlos Da Silva, University Professor Cristina Amon and U of T Engineering Dean Christopher Yip (photo by Safa Jinje)

The Level 3+ stations are joining 48 Level 2 chargers that are already available for public use at the Landmark Garage.

This increases the campus’s charging capacity to over 25,000 charges per year, which can eliminate over 700 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to U of T’s Sustainability Office.

“Hosting these first-of-their-kind EV chargers right here on campus extends beyond providing a new and exciting sustainability service to our community,” says Ron Saporta, U of T’s chief operating officer, property services and sustainability. “It represents just one example of how we are supporting the intersection of research, learning and commercialization of sustainable innovations developed by members of our very own U of T community.”

The charging stations will also serve as a living lab to test future thermal innovations jointly developed by U of T Engineering researchers and Jule.

“Having these chargers on campus enables us to have a greater capacity to test the system in ways we are limited by doing in a lab setting,” says Da Silva.

The year in pictures: U of T News looks back at 2023

mattimar — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:58:42 +0000

The year in pictures: U of T News looks back at 2023

mattimar Tue, 12/19/2023 - 09:58

Cutline

Dancer Deanne Hupfield at the inaugural All-Nations Powwow co-hosted by U of T Mississauga’s Indigenous Centre and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Acceleration Consortium

Geoexchange

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Joe's Basketball Diaries

UTogether

Artificial Intelligence

Entrepreneurship

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Undergraduate Students

University Health Network

The University of Toronto marked many memorable milestones across the three campuses in 2023.

From co-hosting an inaugural All-Nations Powwow to guiding the future of artificial intelligence and advocating for social justice around the world, members of the U of T community and their partners made an impact well beyond the classroom in 2023.

And photographers at U of T News and elsewhere at the university were often on hand to capture the action.

Here are just a few of the special moments that shaped U of T this year:

(photo by David Lee)

The Landmark Project has transformed the historic core of U of T’s St. George campus around King’s College Circle into a greener, more accessible and pedestrian-friendly space.

Front Campus is also now home to Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system, which will generate renewable energy and store surplus heat in the summer for use in the cold winter months. The system will save the university an estimated 15,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually – a key part of U of T’s climate-positive plans and among the reasons it was recently named the most sustainable university in the world.

(photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Following Geoffrey Hinton’s departure from Google, U of T News travelled to his home in London, England, for an in-depth conversation with the U of T University Professor Emeritus of computer science about the dangers posed by unchecked advances in AI, the role he and others played in creating the technology and the importance of responsible development.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Abby-Gayle Isadora Allen celebrated completing the Support, Engage, Experience University of Toronto Mississauga program this year by dancing beside Juno Award-winning singer Liberty Silver during the graduation ceremony.

The innovative program aims to make university education more accessible to Black youth who are underrepresented at Canada’s post-secondary schools. Students in Grade 11 and 12 earn a university half-credit and two Ontario Secondary School Diploma credits, have a co-op experience and are mentored by a senior U of T undergraduate student while simultaneously completing their high school semester.

Similar programs operate at U of T Scarborough and the St. George campus, which introduced SEE U of T, the inaugural version of this access program, four years ago in collaboration with the Toronto District School Board.

(photo by Luis Mora)

Jaivet Ealom, a U of T student, author, a member of the persecuted Rohingya minority and refugee advocate, shared his harrowing escape to Canada in U of T News and U of T Magazine.

Ealom fled his home country of Myanmar in 2013. Before arriving at U of T, he had travelled through six countries and three continents seeking asylum – surviving a near-drowning and multiple detentions along the way.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

U of T hosted the 14^th annual Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) conference in May, which brought together global scholars, artists, Elders and independent professionals working in the field of Indigenous Studies. The event covered themes from food sovereignty to contemporary Indigenous cinema and language revitalization.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Brokoslaw Laschowski, a research scientist at the KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, and assistant professor in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, and his team are developing AI-powered wearable technology for medical applications.

Known as the “bionic professor,” Laschowski is passionate about developing assistive technology such as bionic prosthetic legs and exoskeletons to help individuals with physical disabilities.

In his spare time, he’s helping students from Ukraine flee the Russian invasion and war to come to U of T to continue their studies.

(photo by Chai Chen)

Charlotte Wargniez graduated from U of T Scarborough at the age of 17 with a major in environmental geoscience and a minor in applied climatology.

She wrapped up her degree with many impressive accolades – including the Rose Sheinin Award, given to the highest-performing woman student in science across U of T’s three campuses and an excellence and leadership award from U of T Scarborough's department of physical and environmental sciences.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

The Acceleration Consortium at U of T, an institutional strategic initiative, was awarded a $200-million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund to revolutionize the speed and impact of materials discovery – all with a focus on building a sustainable future.

The funding – the largest federal research grant ever awarded to a Canadian university – supports the consortium’s work on “self-driving labs” that combine AI, robotics and advanced computing to discover new materials and molecules at a fraction of the usual time and cost.

With a strong plan of equity, diversity and inclusion guiding project implementation and research design, the initiative will commercialize ethically designed technologies and materials to benefit society and train today’s scientists with the skills they need to advance the emerging field of accelerated materials discovery. It will also allow the consortium to examine critical issues regarding the application of the technology, including from environmental and Indigenous perspectives.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Niloofar Ganji, a PhD student in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, is changing the world in more ways than one.

Ganji not only conducts groundbreaking research on a critical condition affecting premature infants – she is deeply committed to activism for social change in her home country of Iran.

As an executive member of U of T Students for a Free Iran (UTSFI), she has organized many events at the university in support of the anti-regime movement in Iran. She hopes to use her knowledge and expertise in pediatrics and healthcare to work for the Iranian people one day.

(photo supplied)

When a catastrophic series of earthquakes hit Türkiye and Syria earlier this year, students from the Turkish Students Association (pictured) at U of T Scarborough rallied together to collect funds and in-kind donations on campus.

They were among the many U of T community members across the three campuses who pitched in to help raise awareness and funds in the wake of the disaster.

(photo by Nithya Thayaal)

U of T celebrated the graduation of more than 21,000 students from the university’s three campuses in 2023 – including the U of T Scarborough student pictured above.

Friends and family looked on as many of those graduates crossed the stage inside Convocation Hall during convocation ceremonies held in spring and fall.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Peter Ma, an undergraduate math and physics student in the Faculty of Arts & Science, is dedicated to searching for life beyond our planet by drawing on his passion for science – and artificial intelligence in particular.

He became the youngest member of a team of international researchers at the University of California, Berkeley who are searching the stars for extraterrestrial intelligence and was lead author on a paper published earlier this year in the journal Nature Astronomy.

From left to right: William Lou, Joseph Wong, Sam Ibrahim and Aleer Aleer-Leek (photo by Polina Teif)

In the first episode of the second season of the award-winning series Joe’s Basketball Diaries, host Joseph Wong sits down with Will Lou, writer and co-host of the Raptors Show podcast, Sam Ibrahim, a business leader, philanthropist and major supporter of U of T Scarborough, and Aleer Aleer-Leek, a U of T student and Varsity Blues basketball player, to talk about community and sports.

In future episodes, Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, and a professor in the department of political science and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and guests take the conversation beyond the court as they discuss topics ranging from sustainability to inclusion.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Studying at U of T gave Alicia Corbiere an opportunity to re-engage with her culture when she began learning from Indigenous professors and studying Anishinaabemowin. She also connected with her community by joining First Nations House and the Indigenous Students’ Association.

After graduating with a degree in criminology and Indigenous studies from the Faculty of Arts & Science in the spring, Corbiere went on to study Indigenous law at U of T’s Faculty of Law.

(photo by Polina Teif)

The leafy, green lettuce that many members of the U of T community are eating in their salads, sandwiches and hamburgers is not just locally grown – but grown on the St. George campus by a student-led startup in partnership with U of T Food Services.

Lyrata co-founders Leo Hua (pictured), Carol Lin and Adnan Sharif say they are bringing innovations to the field of sustainability – including 3D-printed soil.

What’s new at U of T: Landmark transformation, new dining options and more

mattimar — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 20:16:05 +0000

What’s new at U of T: Landmark transformation, new dining options and more

mattimar Mon, 10/02/2023 - 16:16

Cutline

The Landmark project has transformed the historic core of U of T’s St. George campus into a greener, more accessible and pedestrian-friendly space (photo by David Lee)

Topic

Students, faculty, staff and librarians may have noticed some dramatic changes across the University of Toronto’s three campuses this fall.

From new academic pathways to more food options and greener spaces, here are four new things that U of T students need to know as they immerse themselves in university life.

New buildings and spaces

Students moved into Harmony Commons, a new 746-bed residence at U of T Scarborough (photo by Don Campbell)

Students at U of T Scarborough moved into a new, 746-bed Harmony Commons residence and enjoyed revamped outdoor spaces. At U of Mississauga, a multi-year, $8.5-million renovation project upgraded the Leacock Lane townhome residences, while a new science building that will provide additional wet-laboratory space is scheduled to open this fall.

On the St. George campus, meanwhile, the Landmark project has transformed the historic core around King’s College Circle into a greener, more accessible and pedestrian-friendly space, and has allowed for the installation of Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system. The system stores surplus heat in the summer for use in the cold winter months, saving the university an estimated 15,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually – a key part of U of T’s plan to make the campus climate positive by 2050.

The Leacock Lane townhome residences at U of T Mississauga were upgraded (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Scott Mabury, U of T’s vice-president of operations and real estate partnerships, said the goal of Landmark – with its car-free plazas and green spaces, including Ziibiing, an Indigenous landscape near Hart House – was to create a campus space that would engage the U of T community now and into the future.

“We really wanted to reconnect the university community with its heritage,” said Mabury, who added that workers would be busy planting throughout the fall.

“These public plazas are places where U of T community members can enjoy themselves, engage with the university, connect with ideas and, when needed, sit in quiet contemplation and rumination.”

The Landmark project includes an Indigenous landscape near Hart House (photo by David Lee)

The area outside Convocation Hall, meanwhile, is now known as Alumni Plaza, named in honour of U of T’s alumni community. It features over 2,000 granite paving stones, each inscribed with the names of donors who supported the project.

Mabury said the plaza will soon become a key part of the university experience for graduating students from all three campuses.

“This was for the whole University of Toronto – including U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough – because every student will graduate in that landscape and in that environment,” he said.

Mobile ordering and new places to eat

Bottega at U of T Scarborough (photo by Don Campbell)

It is now easier than ever for University of Toronto students to grab something tasty to eat – with a host of new dining options that have emerged across the three campuses.

At U of T Mississauga, Dana Hospitality is putting the focus on local food made from scratch –sandwiches and salads to go, soups made from local ingredients and house-made stocks, locally sourced meats and poultry and in-house pizza.

U of T Scarborough, meanwhile, has a new café open in the Humanities Wing. Bottega features grab-and-go sandwiches and pastries, as well as bubble tea and more.

At St. George, new food stops include Kung Pow at Robarts and Fresco Fresca at the Medical Sciences Building, the latter of which features Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired salads influenced by Israeli-born British chef and food writer Yotam Ottolenghi.

“It’s a healthier mindset of how food should be prepared,” said Jaco Lokker, U of T’s director of culinary operations and executive chef. “Most of the foods are either roasted or grilled. We’re poaching the fish instead of pan frying it.”

He added that sustainability remains a top priority for U of T when developing new culinary concepts and sourcing ingredients, which is why he is continuing to work on expanding menus to feature more plant-based foods. To that end, food services began working this summer with a student startup called Lyrata Inc. to grow a variety of lettuce on campus.

“They’re growing Boston and romaine lettuce and we’ve started growing some red leaf and Greenleaf lettuce,” Lokker said, adding that he expects as much as 50 per cent of the St. George campus’s lettuce will be grown in its own backyard.

“We pick up the lettuce at Earth Sciences Center Greenhouse, bring it across the street to New College clean it and use it.”

Also on the St. George campus, retail and dining locations in the Medical Sciences Building, Sidney Smith Hall, Chestnut Residence, New College and Campus One have transitioned to a cashless payment system – credit or debit cards, TBucks, meal plan dollars – or students can order in advance using the Transact Mobile Ordering app.

“It’s almost like UberEats in your building,” Lokker said.

Expansion of U of T’s Navi

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Navi, U of T’s chat-based virtual assistant, has expanded its scope beyond mental health resources to offer general assistance to students, staff, faculty and librarians across the three campuses.

Short for navigator, Navi now provides information on admissions, housing, financial aid, careers, and more through the same easy-to-use chat interface. For example, users can ask Navi about resources such as study supports, finding community and how to connect with a register.

The information shared with Navi is completely anonymous and users are reminded that the resources and supports provided do not replace workshops or one-to-one conversations with experts.

Another change to note: U of T’s My SPP has been renamed U of T Telus Health Student Support. The service provides students with 24-7 immediate counselling support over the phone in English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and aims to match students with a counsellor who can support their preferred language.

Global leadership opportunities at U of T

A new tri-campus Minor in Global Leadership program kicks off this fall.

The new program – the first global-focused program at U of T that intentionally brings students together from across all three campuses – prepares students to become globally confident future leaders who recognize and embrace diversity, face challenges with empathy and champion respectful collaboration in a globalized world. It includes a core series of three global leadership courses to be taken in students’ second, third and fourth years.

The global leadership minor will equip students with practical skills and global fluencies through group work, experiential learning and a capstone project. There will be opportunities to become part of a diverse interdisciplinary community of students interested in leadership and global change, learn dynamic and collaborative approaches to problem solving and more.

U of T ranked 2nd in the world in first-ever QS sustainability ranking

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 14:40:25 +0000

U of T ranked 2nd in the world in first-ever QS sustainability ranking

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 10/26/2022 - 10:40

Cutline

(Photo by Matthew Volpe)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Global Lens

Geoexchange

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Climate Change

Faculty of Arts & Science

School of the Environment

Sustainabilty

The University of Toronto has been ranked second in the world and first in Canada in the inaugural QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, which assesses universities for their environmental and social impact.

The new ranking, released this week by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds, placed U of T second out of 700 post-secondary institutions around the world. Only the University of California, Berkeley ranked higher.

In the two broad areas comprising the ranking – which tracks how post-secondary institutions are taking action to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges – U of T was ranked third in the world for environmental impact and seventh for social impact.

“The University of Toronto community is delighted to be ranked second in the world by QS for our leadership in sustainability,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “Our faculty members make a massive contribution to global scholarship pertaining to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Our students are deeply committed to long-term leadership in the field, as reflected in their extensive engagement in the huge range of sustainability-related learning opportunities we offer.

“And as an institution, U of T has made it a top priority to ensure that sustainability permeates our entire mission of research and teaching, while setting an example in our own operations.”

The QS sustainability ranking evaluates all universities eligible for the QS World University Rankings and takes into account data on reputation, research publications, third-party data concerning alumni impact and publicly available national-level data.

The ranking is based on 37 indicators grouped into eight lenses that each fall under the two broad categories of environmental impact and social impact. The environmental impact category comprises the lenses of sustainable education, sustainable institutions and sustainable research, while the social impact category includes employment and opportunities, equality, life quality, impact of education and knowledge exchange.

Canada had a particularly strong showing in the ranking, with two universities in the top 10 (the University of British Columbia placed third) and five in the top 50.

In a blog post, Quacquarelli Symonds noted the ranking goes beyond looking at universities’ commitment to sustainability and focuses on evidence of progress “from the impact that alumni are making in science and technology to solve climate issues, to the impact of research being done across the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.”

It also noted that the ranking “evaluates the social and environmental impact of universities as [centres] of education and research, as well as major employers with the operational sustainability challenges of any large and complex organisation.”

As an institution, U of T has undertaken several high-profile sustainability initiatives in recent years, including a commitment to divest from fossil fuel investments and a pledge to achieve a climate-positive St. George campus by 2050. The latter includes the construction of Canada’s largest urban geoexchange field – in connection with the Landmark Project – that will enable U of T to curb emissions by 15,000 tonnes per year.

U of T Mississauga is embedding sustainability into every facet of campus life, as outlined in its Sustainability Strategic Plan featuring 102 targets and more than two dozen goals. Its New Science Building, for example, will feature a geothermal system that will cover 90 per cent of the building’s energy load.

In fall of 2023, U of T Scarborough is opening the country’s largest passive house student residence, continuing its commitment to developing low carbon infrastructure and embedding social procurement in its campus operations. The campus’s accessible and sustainable open spaces are also being reimagined through the award-winning Valley Land Trail, research and teaching farm, and other green spaces.

U of T’s longstanding commitment to sustainability also pervades its research and teaching. The university offers more than 3,000 sustainability-oriented undergraduate courses and more than 100 graduate and PhD programs with sustainability-related content. Undergraduate students in all degree programs can also take part in the Sustainability Pathways program, which lets them take clusters of courses and pursue co-curricular activities that help them incorporate sustainability learning into their respective disciplines.

Both undergraduate and graduate students can also enroll in “Campus as a Living Lab” and “Community-Engaged Learning” courses that allow them to contribute to real-world sustainability initiatives at U of T or with private and public sector partners.

“We are very pleased to be recognized for our ambitious sustainability programs and activities,” said John Robinson, co-chair of the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS) and a professor in the School of the Environment and Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. “It is important for the higher education sector to step up its efforts to contribute to the sustainability transition and our goal is to make sustainability part of the core identity of U of T in research, teaching, operations and external partnerships.

“Two of our flagship sustainability initiatives – committing to become climate-positive in our operations on the St George campus by 2050 and making sustainability curricular and co-curricular opportunities available to all undergraduate students – reflect this commitment and are part of a suite of activities across our three campuses.

“Much more remains to be done, and we are dedicated to further expansion of our sustainability ambitions.”

Overall, U of T continues to be one of the world’s top-ranked public universities in the five most closely watched international rankings: U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities, Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities, and National Taiwan University World University Rankings.

Good for you, better for the planet: U of T cyclists pedal toward a more sustainable future

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:13:42 +0000

Good for you, better for the planet: U of T cyclists pedal toward a more sustainable future

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 10/20/2022 - 16:13

Cutline

Beth Austerberry, executive director of Bikechain, helps Walid Maraqa, a grad student in biostatistics, perform basic maintenance on his bike (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Climate Positive Energy

Cycling

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Cell and Systems Biology

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Art & Science

One of Ayush Sharma’s first stops upon moving to Canada to attend the University of Toronto was Bikechain on the George campus.

An international student from Delhi, Sharma says he had barely been in Toronto a week before visiting the educational bike repair space for students.

“I enjoyed cycling back home in India and I wasn’t sure how to go about doing it in Toronto,” says Sharma, who is completing a major in biodiversity and conservation biology and a minor in geographic information systems. “It’s a big city and it seems a little intimidating – and bikes are expensive.

“I wasn’t really sure where to start.”

Bikechain proved to be a great landing pad. The non-profit organization, which has been around since 2005, not only offers free workshops on how to fix a flat tire, do-it-yourself bike repairs and free bike rentals to students – it’s part of a supportive and growing local cycling community in and around campus.

“People come here on a basic level to fix their bike,” says Beth Austerberry, executive director of Bikechain. “A lot of people also come here because they want to learn.”

Bikechain is a non-profit on the St. George campus that offers free workshops on how to fix a flat tire, do-it-yourself bike repairs and free bike rentals to students (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

While Toronto is often criticized for its car-focused infrastructure, there’s no denying the rapidly growing popularity of cycling as a healthy, sustainable mode of transportation – a future that U of T is actively supporting through research, infrastructure and community building efforts.

On the St. George campus alone, there are 36 Bike Share Toronto stations – part of a larger, city-wide network of 680 stations and 7,185 rental bikes (U of T Scarborough also has a Bike Share station near the bus loop on Military Trail). There are also bike lanes that run through the campus along University Avenue, College Street, St. George Street, Wellesley Street, Bloor Street, Hoskin Avenue and Harbord Street, among others.

U of T is also adding hundreds of new above-ground and below-ground spaces to park your bike as part of as part of the Landmark Project, which will transform the historic heart of the St. George campus into a greener, more pedestrian friendly space on top of a massive underground geoexchange system that will significantly reduce campus emissions.

At U of T Scarborough, cycling admittedly requires a bit more planning than it does on the St. George campus – but there are enviable upsides, too.

Hanno Rein, an associate professor in the department of physical and environmental sciences at U of T Scarborough, says he discovered a particularly scenic cycling route to campus that he felt compelled to share via a blog post.

“The nice thing about it is that there are no cars around, so the entire trip is all trails,” he says. “I wanted to encourage others to commute by bike, even if it is in Scarborough.”

Rein, who also teaches in the David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics and the department of physics on the St. George campus, says he loves cycling because of the environmental and health factors.

“It’s very enjoyable,” he said. “It’s the nicest commute I can think of.”

However, he’s also quick to point out that infrastructure for cyclists could be better and safer.

Many U of T students, staff, faculty and librarians treat cycling as a year-round activity in Toronto (photo by Daria Perevezentsev)

At U of T Mississauga, BikeShare offers 48-hour bicycle, helmet and lock rentals to U of T Mississauga students free of charge. Located in the Student Centre extension, BikeShare has commuter-style bikes and mountain bikes for rent and is open until the end of October. The program also offers educational repairs similar to Bikechain, providing tools for basic fixups.

Cyclists at U of T Mississauga also have access to the 3.4-kilometre Nature Trail Loop along Credit River and nearby Erindale Park offers a scenic route for cyclists and mountain bikers in the area. Meanwhile, the City of Mississauga is considering the implementing a system similar to Bike Share Toronto to expand transportation options. The system would include stations with bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters.

Southern Ontario’s snowy winters can pose a challenge to bicycle commuters on all three campuses – though many are increasingly treating it as a year-round activity.

Tony Harris

Tony Harris, a professor in the department of cell and systems biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, says he appreciates being available to avoid traffic on his commute and likes that he’s reducing his environmental footprint by not driving.

His approach to slush and snow?

“I think it’s really important to find good routes that are safe,” he says, adding that it takes him about 30 minutes to bike to the St. George campus from his home. “In the winter, you have to be more cautious about slippery conditions.”

A long-time cycling commuter, Harris adds that he’s perfected the art of cycling during a Toronto winter.

“I wear my normal clothes and then my fleece and I have a yellow cycling jacket on top,” he described. “I wear two pairs of gloves and that really helps my hands. I have an inner glove that’s a running-type glove and then I wear a fleece glove over top. I also wear a toque underneath my helmet. “One other thing is long underwear.

“Having two layers everywhere seems to be the key.”

His advice to students who are new to cycling? Map out your routes.

“Before you head out, find where the dedicated cycling lanes are. If there aren’t dedicated cycling lanes, find one-way side streets that allow you to avoid the busier streets and cars,” he says.

U of T researchers are also playing a key role in helping to map out the university’s transportation future with sustainability – and cycling – in mind.

Marianne Hatzopoulou

Marianne Hatzopoulou, a professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Arts & Science, belongs to a research team that’s trying to understand how U of T commuters’ habits and other personal choices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

The project, funded by the Climate Positive Energy research initiative, will launch a travel survey in January to collect data from students, staff, faculty, and librarians to understand how they commute to campus every day.

“The second part of the project is to quantify the carbon footprint of commuting and the greenhouse gasses associated with commuting to U of T to measure what our footprint is from transportation,” explained Hatzopoulou.

“The third element is to run some experiments to understand what would make people switch their mode of transportation, especially those who are driving.”

Hatzopoulou’s team wants to understand where there are opportunities to promote more sustainable and active modes of transportation and where the challenges lie.

“There’s a lot of research out there that actually quantifies the benefits of cycling as a mode of transportation,” she says.

As for Sharma, riding his bike around campus not only introduced him to the city, it saved him precious time traveling between classes on the St. George campus – not to mention lowering his carbon footprint.

Most importantly, he says, it has helped him find a community through Bikechain, where he is now a co-president and runs workshops.

“There is a mix of undergraduate, graduate, PhD students as well as faculty and non-U of T students,” he says of the group. “Bike shops in general can be dominated by cis males and it can be an unwelcoming space for other people, but Bikchain has always been an inclusive and open space for everyone.

“That’s one of the main reasons I’ve stuck with the community for so long.”

What’s new in construction and renovations across U of T’s three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 20:26:28 +0000

What’s new in construction and renovations across U of T’s three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 09/22/2022 - 16:26

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Students will notice construction activity and new spaces across U of T's three campuses as the university builds for the future (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn, renderings by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc., Handel Architects and Core Architects)

Topic

As students, faculty, staff and librarians make their way across the University of Toronto’s three campuses this fall, they’ll see major changes underway to enhance their experience and boost sustainability.

They include the ongoing Landmark Project to revitalize the historic core of the St. George campus, construction of a new residence building at U of T Scarborough and construction of an interdisciplinary centre at U of T Mississauga.

Here are a few important updates on key construction and renovation projects that are currently underway across the three campuses.

St. George

(Rendering courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.)

The St. George campus is being transformed.

The Landmark Project will make the historic core of the St. George campus more pedestrian-friendly, adding new walkways, gardens, landscaping, public seating and improving accessibility. When it’s all done, an underground garage below King’s College Circle will also house 60 electric vehicle parking spaces and new storage capacity for more than 125 bikes.

At the same time, U of T is building Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system beneath King’s College Circle. It will store surplus heat in the summer for use in the cold winter months, saving the university an estimated 15,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually – a key part of U of T’s plan to make the campus climate positive by 2050.

As a result of the ongoing work, access to certain buildings will be affected during the fall term. For example, the north plaza entrance of the Medical Sciences Building is closed. Students are encouraged to use the access doors on King’s College Road or Queen’s Park.

The University College entrance on King’s College Circle will also be affected. But students can enter through the doors on the east side of the building on Hart House Circle or through the newly renovated University College Quadrangle, which can be accessed through the north and west sides of the building.

U of T Scarborough

(Illustration by Handel Architects and Core Architects)

Three major construction projects are in progress on the U of T Scarborough campus.

Work on a new residence building that overlooks Military Trail and Ellesmere Road is ongoing. The new space will feature 750 beds, along with a dining facility and food services, a rooftop garden and terrace, and spaces for lounging and studying.

(Image courtesy Formline Architecture and LGA Architecture Partners)

Indigenous House, which has recently started construction, will provide a space for Indigenous community members to meet and pursue research. It features a large gathering room to host indoor ceremonies, additional office space, a student lounge, library and outdoor learning garden.

The campus library is getting a complete makeover. Rolled out in three phases that will end in 2025, the first phase will see the addition of a lounge with pivoting glass doors, allowing the area to easily convert into an event space.

U of T Mississauga

“Kiinwin Dabaadjmowin” by Indigenous artists Philip Cote and Tracey Anthony (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

On the west side of the U of T Mississauga campus, construction of the New Science Building is underway. When it opens in June 2023, it will expand U of T Mississauga’s wet research capacity while adding faculty, administration and graduate student space.

In the William G. Davis building, the Student Services Hub is taking shape in the former library space. Also slated for opening in summer 2023, the space brings together student affairs groups, the International Education Centre, Career Centre, Accessibility Services and Centre for Student Engagement.

In the Maanjiwe nendamowinan building, U of T Mississauga is deepening its commitment to the Indigenous community and U of T’s Calls to Action with a new Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Office, featuring a showpiece window treatment by a local indigenous artist.

Nearby on the campus green, the Indigenous Centre has erected another new point of interest – a tipi for use in ceremonies, learning opportunities and events. It will remain in front of the Maanjiwe nendamowinan building until April 2023.

U of T’s geoexchange project to reduce carbon footprint of heritage buildings: The Globe and Mail

mattimar — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 15:52:58 +0000

U of T’s geoexchange project to reduce carbon footprint of heritage buildings: The Globe and Mail

mattimar Tue, 02/22/2022 - 10:52

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(Photo by David Lee)

Topic

The University of Toronto’s geoexchange project demonstrates it’s possible to reduce the environmental footprint of heritage buildings in the city’s downtown core, according to Scott Mabury, U of T’s vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships.

“The goal is making heritage buildings more efficient than they were ever imagined to be,” Mabury told The Globe and Mail, adding that that he “hopes builders across the country eventually see the project as proof that the carbon footprint of old structures can be manipulated.”

The geoexchange system – installed alongside U of T’s Landmark Project, which aims to make the St. George campus greener, more walkable and more accessible – involves drilling boreholes deep into the ground to store of surplus heat generated by nearby mechanical systems in the summer for use in the winter.

Ron Saporta, chief operating officer, property services and sustainability, told the Globe that “adapting the old St. George campus buildings to new heat pumps can take a lot of work, as it involves updating electrical panels and mechanical systems.”

It’s estimated that the system will reduce the university’s greenhouse gas emissions by 15,000 metric tons per year. “This geo-exchange system will help us have a much lighter touch on the world, and if we can do it here, we can do it anywhere,” Mabury said.

U of T's geoexchange project to cut emissions by 15,000 tonnes per year: blogTO, CBC

geoff.vendeville — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 19:08:11 +0000

U of T's geoexchange project to cut emissions by 15,000 tonnes per year: blogTO, CBC

geoff.vendeville Thu, 02/03/2022 - 14:08

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The St. George campus, currently undergoing construction in connection with the Landmark Project, is the site of a giant geoexchange system that will store surplus heat in the summer for use in the cold winter months (photo by David Lee)

Topic

The geoexchange project being installed deep under the University of Toronto's Front Campus is drawing attention locally and beyond Ontario.

“It may not get the same level of attention as the massive skyline-transforming towers popping up around Toronto, but a project of astounding scale is taking shape deep below the University of Toronto's St. George Campus,” blogTO recently reported.

As blogTO notes, the project – which uses the Earth to store surplus heat in the summer for use in the cold winter months – doubles as a learning opportunity for students. “We've designed the mechanical room in such a way that we can actually host lectures in there,” Ron Saporta, U of T's chief operating officer, property services and sustainability, told U of T News. “In the future, engineering students won’t just read about geoexchange in textbooks, they’ll be able to physically see how it works.”

Marc Couture, director, sustainability and energy management, spoke to Radio-Canada, CBC's francophone counterpart, about the project.

It requires digging 250 metres under the surface, he said. “That's half the height of the CN Tower,” he said.

“This installation will allow us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by about 15,000 tonnes per year. So, for us, that's about 20 per cent of the total for the University of Toronto St. George campus.”

'He’d be thrilled to see this': U of T's massive geoexchange project built on pioneering work of late prof

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 22:41:28 +0000

'He’d be thrilled to see this': U of T's massive geoexchange project built on pioneering work of late prof

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 01/27/2022 - 17:41

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U of T is constructing Canada's largest urban geoexchange field under King's College Circle – a technology built in part on the pioneering work of Engineering's Frank Hooper (illustration by Nicolas Demers)

Tyler Irving

Topic

Our Community

Climate Change

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Landmark

St. George

Sustainability

When Jim Wallace joined the University of Toronto back in 1978, one of the first people he met was Frank Hooper.

“I took over a course that Frank had been teaching a while, and he was gracious enough to give me a copy of his notes,” says Wallace, a professor emeritus of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “Not long after that, he and his wife had me over for dinner. He was so supportive and helpful to the new guy.”

Hooper, who was also a professor emeritus of mechanical and industrial engineering, died in May 2021. He was an accomplished researcher in energy systems – and his legacy includes seminal work on ground-source heat pumps.

Today that technology is being demonstrated on an unprecedented scale as U of T constructs Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system at the heart of its St. George campus, which is being built in connection with the ongoing Landmark Project.

“He’d be thrilled to see this coming to fruition,” says Wallace. “They’ve done an amazing job.”

Professor Emeritus Frank Hooper receives an award from the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition at the U of T Faculty Club in 2011 (photo courtesy U of T department of mechanical and industrial engineering)

Heat pumps are based on the same general principles as refrigerators and air conditioners. In all of these systems, a working fluid circulating in a closed loop transfers heat from one source to another with the help of a compressor.

While refrigerators and air conditioners work in only one direction, heat pumps are reversible: in the summer, they extract heat from inside buildings and push it outside, while in the winter they do the opposite.

“The challenge is that the bigger the temperature difference between the inside and outside air, the less efficiently the heat pump works,” says Wallace, whose areas of expertise also include energy systems.

“And once the outside air goes below 0 C, you start to have problems with frosting. At a certain point, air-to-air heat pumps basically become useless, and that’s the case a lot of the time in Canada.”

Luckily, the atmosphere is not the only medium that can be used to exchange heat with the air inside buildings: the Earth works as well. At sufficient depth – one or two hundred metres underground – the temperature remains constant year-round at about 10 to 12 C. This is an ideal level at which to reject waste heat in the summer, but also to recover it again in winter.

“Essentially, you’re using the earth as a storage battery, but not for electricity – for heat,” says Wallace.

Such systems are known as ground-source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps or geoexchange systems, and Hooper was among the first to prove that they would be feasible in the Canadian context.

In the late 1940s, Hooper collaborated with what was then called Ontario Hydro on a demonstration project. The team designed and installed a ground-source heat pump for a newly built home in Port Credit, Ont., west of Toronto. The results were reported in a 1952 paper titled “An experimental residential heat pump” in the Canadian Journal of Technology.

“Hooper’s study was the first to show with actual data that ‘ground coils in suitable soils offer a satisfactory heat source in Ontario,’” says Wallace.

The work was later continued by organizations such as the National Research Council of Canada. Ontario Hydro led the creation of a Canadian Standards Association committee that developed technical standards for the design and installation of ground source heat pumps.

“One of the key things they were looking at was how to ensure that you get nice even contact between the pipe and the ground around it,” says Wallace.

“If you have voids, such as pockets of air, it makes the heat transfer less efficient, so you need to fill them with sand or other materials. Today, there are established standards for how to do that, but back then it was pretty new.”

In modern buildings, both ground source heat pumps and the air-to-air variety are common. But a lot of historic buildings still in current use predate this technology – including many of those that make up the U of T’s St. George campus. Retrofitting them with efficient ground source heat pumps could make a big difference to their energy use.

Ron Saporta knows this well. As U of T’s chief operating officer, property services and sustainability, he is overseeing the construction of the largest urban geoexchange system in Canada.

“This project represents the beginning of our transition to a climate-positive future,” says Saporta. “It serves as a demonstration project for our city to show how you can start to decarbonize not only new buildings, but even the most historic ones.”

Over the past two years, construction teams have drilled more than 370 wells underneath Front Campus, in the middle of King’s College Circle. Each one of them contains a U-shaped pipe that reaches a depth of 250 metres, about half the height of the CN Tower. The total length of piping works out to 185 kilometres, more than enough to stretch from Toronto to Buffalo, N.Y.

Eventually, this closed-loop piping system will be filled with a mixture of glycol and water, and connected through a new set of heat pumps to U of T’s existing building heating and cooling systems. By reducing the load on these systems, it is estimated that the new geoexchange system will prevent the equivalent of 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year from reaching the atmosphere.

The installation also offers a tremendous learning opportunity for engineering students in the form of a new subterranean classroom.

“We’ve designed the mechanical room in such a way that we can actually host lectures in there,” says Saporta. “We’re also planning to colour-code the pipes so it will be easier to understand which one does what. In the future, engineering students won’t just read about geoexchange in textbooks, they’ll be able to physically see how it works.”

Saporta adds that although it is the largest of its type, the new geoexchange system is by no means the only one at U of T. Similar systems are already in place under the Environmental Science and Chemistry Building at U of T Scarborough and the Instructional Centre at U of T Mississauga. Another one is under construction beneath what will be a new field at Roberts Street.

Wallace knows that Hooper would approve of both the large-scale application of heat pumps and the chance to train a new generation of engineers in the technology.

“He was a wonderfully gracious man,” says Wallace. “Just so welcoming, so helpful and eternally optimistic. He’d be really pleased about what all this represents for the future.”

Landmark

In photos: U of T marks opening of Indigenous landscape project at Hart House Green

Battery-powered EV chargers – co-developed at U of T – installed on St. George campus

The year in pictures: U of T News looks back at 2023

What’s new at U of T: Landmark transformation, new dining options and more

New buildings and spaces

Mobile ordering and new places to eat

Expansion of U of T’s Navi

Global leadership opportunities at U of T

U of T ranked 2nd in the world in first-ever QS sustainability ranking

Good for you, better for the planet: U of T cyclists pedal toward a more sustainable future

What’s new in construction and renovations across U of T’s three campuses

St. George

U of T Scarborough

U of T Mississauga

U of T’s geoexchange project to reduce carbon footprint of heritage buildings: The Globe and Mail

Read more at the Globe and Mail

U of T's geoexchange project to cut emissions by 15,000 tonnes per year: blogTO, CBC

Read more at blogTO

'He’d be thrilled to see this': U of T's massive geoexchange project built on pioneering work of late prof