Lanna Crucefix

How a concussion started a career

sgupta — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 08:22:03 +0000

How a concussion started a career sgupta Wed, 07/30/2014 - 04:22

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“The goal is to increase and improve the management and rehabilitation of the patients we treat and opportunities for research," says Michael Hutchison (photo by John Hryniuk)

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Kinesiology

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In the clinic and the lab, Michael Hutchison is making his mark

It was the second concussion he received as a University of Toronto Varsity Blues hockey player that really piqued Michael Hutchison’s interest.

“Although the injuries were identical in terms of the diagnosis, I felt completely different,” he says. “I wanted to know why.”

An undergraduate research placement eventually turned into graduate school and a postdoctoral position at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Hutchison is now a research associate in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education’s Concussion Program.

Focused on concussion in sport, the research program has three areas of focus: prevention, management and education. It works closely with U of T’s David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic.

“There is an inherent risk of injury in all sports,” says Hutchison, who is also an assistant coach for the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team. “But unlike a sprain, concussion is a brain injury that affects thinking and emotions, for which there is no predictable recovery pattern.”

Hutchison’s PhD research examined how concussions occur in professional hockey and involved the National Hockey League (NHL), the NHL Players’ Association and hundreds of hours of video. It also informed an NHL rule change, which he finds gratifying. “From a research perspective, you hope your work will translate into policy,” he says. More recent work from Hutchison’s time at St. Michael’s included a thorough examination of “knockouts” (head trauma) in Mixed Martial Arts fighting.

In his current role as a research associate, Hutchison devotes his time to research and is removed from the administrative and teaching responsibilities that come with being a professor. A PhD is required for the job, and some postdoctoral work is usually necessary to attain the skills for the role, he says.

Focusing entirely on research means Hutchison can develop a program specific to his interests while further honing his abilities and increasing his knowledge. He also collaborates with professors in the faculty to develop research and funding opportunities.

He says that as a research associate he’s been provided with a unique opportunity to develop a better rehabilitative model for concussion in the MacIntosh Clinic, where he is the director of the concussion program.

“The goal is to increase and improve the management and rehabilitation of the patients we treat and opportunities for research,” he says. “This position allowed me to help build and refine the program from an administrative and management perspective.”

Hutchison’s goal is continued involvement with the concussion program, and a professorship. “My passion is academia and research, and it’s unique to have a clinic here. Right now I have the best of both worlds.”

This article originally appeared in the magazine Edge, published by U of T's Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation. (Read more articles from Edge online.)

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How far away do you think that finish line is?

sgupta — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:14:17 +0000

How far away do you think that finish line is? sgupta Fri, 04/11/2014 - 05:14

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Assistant Professor Sam Maglio found that how we feel about objects or events depends on the direction we're facing (photo by Ken Jones)

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Forbes names alumnus to Top 30 Under 30 in music

sgupta — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:58:13 +0000

Forbes names alumnus to Top 30 Under 30 in music sgupta Wed, 01/29/2014 - 07:58

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Alumnus Derrick Fung is the founder and CEO of Tunezy (photo by Ken Jones)

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UTSC's Derrick Fung one of industry's key influencers

When all the songs are downloaded and the videos viewed, what’s left for a music lover to do?

For Derrick Fung, who graduated from University of Toronto Scarborough in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in business administration, the answer is clear. Turn to Tunezy, an innovative online music experience platform that’s changing the relationship between fans and musicians.

Forbes thinks he’s on to something: it named the entrepreneur to its 2014 Top 30 Under 30 in Music list for his influence in the music industry. Fung, co-founder and CEO of Tunezy, shares the list with red carpet regulars such as Drake, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.

With Tunezy, Fung pioneered connecting fans and their favourite musicians through unique experiences. It’s a win-win for both sides. Tunezy promotes musicians’ work through its extensive subscriber list, and encourages artists to sell their merchandise and digital goods through the platform.

Artists also sell experiences, which can range from personalized happy birthday songs to VIP pre-shows. Experiences can be created from fan wishlists, which are posted online for musicians to view and consider.

A music enthusiast who trained at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music, Fung combined his passion for music with his entrepreneurial drive early on. In high school he created a free sheet music sharing site that had over 50,000 registered members.

Fung’s determination and vision have been acknowledged through multiple awards, including Profit’s Top 20 Under 30 Entrepreneurs in Canada and U of T’s Gordon Cressy Leadership Award. Tunezy won Billboard's Innovator's Showcase in 2012. Fung has also parlayed his experience with Tunezy, and previous stints in the banking industry, to mentor students as UTSC’s Executive-in-Residence.

Lanna Crucefix is a writer with the University of Toronto Scarborough.

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Inventing a new brand name? Choose your vowels carefully

sgupta — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 06:34:30 +0000

Inventing a new brand name? Choose your vowels carefully sgupta Fri, 01/17/2014 - 01:34

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Different vowel sounds suggest different characteristics, says Assistant Professor Sam Maglio (photo by Ken Jones)

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A simple shift in a vowel’s sound can change the way people think and make decisions about objects – leading to a greater connection between a brand’s name and product features a business wants to highlight, says new research from the University of Toronto Scarborough.

“When you see a table, you call it a table and know what to expect,” says Sam Maglio, an assistant professor in UTSC’s Department of Management. “But since there’s no such reference for a new product, businesses need to find an engaging brand name that attracts consumers and helps them make sense of what they’re buying. We found vowel sounds can achieve that.”

The study looked at two different types of vowel sounds, defined by the highest point the tongue lands in the mouth as the sound is said. “Front vowel” sounds such as those in bee or bay, are made with the tongue forward, while the tongue is to the rear of the mouth with “back vowel” sounds such as but or boot.

“Previous work has shown that cross-culturally, people associate front and back vowel sounds with specific expectations,” says Maglio. “Front sounds are matched with notions of sharpness, brightness and being small, while back sounds are associated with dullness, darkness and being large.”

Maglio and the research team – which included University of Toronto Mississauga psychology post-doctoral fellow Cristina Rabaglia – found that vowel sounds go beyond what people think about objects, for instance if they should be big or small.

Vowel sounds can in fact influence how people process and prioritize information to make decisions related to the object.

"These speech sounds can influence how people think," says Rabaglia. "This clarifies our psychological relationship with the fundamental building blocks of language."

"We're not talking about a big distance in your mouth, but the sounds are very psychologically salient," she says, noting that many languages make this distinction.

“Since the right brand name can make or break a new product’s success, generating the best name is vital for business,” says Maglio. “By using appropriate vowel sounds, you can highlight the product features you want your customers to value – leading to potentially greater consumer interest or increased sales.”

The team found that when faced with back vowels, people tended to make decisions that valued the desirability of an object over its feasibility (buying a delicious food that was shelved across a store rather than a less tasty one that happened to be close at hand).

With back vowels, people preferred primary over secondary features: hand lotion that worked well but was in unattractive packaging over average lotion with pretty packaging. They also prioritized long-term over short term benefits, such as a massage that was initially painful but offered months of relief versus one that was soothing but only for a few days.

The opposite preferences occurred when people were provided with foods, lotions and massages that had front vowels in their names.

“The smallest components of words, the building blocks we use to make words, are very subtle,” says Maglio. “But they’re capable of changing the way we think about those named objects.”

The research is published online in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

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Underwater "tree rings" show 650 years of sea ice change

sgupta — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 15:51:50 +0000

Underwater "tree rings" show 650 years of sea ice change sgupta Tue, 11/19/2013 - 10:51

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Researchers with sample of arctic algae (photo courtesy of Jochen Halfar)

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Governor General honours U of T's Alicia Brown

sgupta — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 10:30:32 +0000

Governor General honours U of T's Alicia Brown sgupta Wed, 11/13/2013 - 05:30

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Alicia Brown with Governor General David Johnston (photo by Cpl Carbe Orellana, Rideau Hall ©Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada represented by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (2013)

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New alumna is track star and dedicated volunteer

When Alicia Brown’s feet touch the track, the world fades away.

“There’s something very liberating about running,” says the recent University of Toronto Mississauga graduate. “When I’m on the track, I shut everything out and exist in the moment. There’s no other way to give it 100 per cent of my being.”

Brown was recently named one of eight academic all-Canadians by Canadian University Sport (CIS). The award celebrates student-athletes who have maintained an average of at least 80 per cent over the academic year while competing for one or more university teams. Brown graduated in June 2013 with an honours BA in communications, culture and information technology.

Brown was in Ottawa on November 12 to attend a commendation for the academic all-Canadians at Rideau Hall, held by Governor General David Johnston.

"It’s an honour to be receiving an award from the Governor General for both academic and athlete merit. I've worked so hard to be a strong student, as well as a strong athlete," says Brown. “I’m very proud to be a Varsity Blue and have grown tremendously from my experiences at U of T, both on and off the track.”

It wasn’t an easy five years. Along with her classes, Brown was an active volunteer, dedicating hours to the Erindale Campus African Student Association, the Ottawa Food Bank, and to coaching and organizing track and field events.

And then there was her training: up to 25 hours a week, including 14 hours just on the track.

The work has paid off, though. In her 2012-13 season, Brown was named the most valuable female performer in track events by Ontario University Athletics (OUA). In OUA and CIS events, she won the 300m as well as the 4x200m and 4x400m relays, helping the 4x200m team to a CIS and Canadian record. U of T recognized her achievements by naming her female athlete of the year.

“Alicia is determined to be the very best she can be,” says Carl Georgevski, head coach for Varsity Blues Track & Field. “She is an outstanding athlete, an excellent student and, most importantly, an exceptional young woman."

Although Brown is running against some of the best in Canada, her main challenger is herself. “Track allows you to be self-competitive and to pit yourself against your own times and your own achievements,” she says.

But it takes more than just physical strength to run 300m in less than 40 seconds. Brown says her biggest gains on the track happened after she made a conscious decision to make changes in her life.

“It’s hard, but I remind myself that positive change and improvement are closely related,” she says. Her key phrase for these moments is: “If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting the results that you have been getting.”

Brown is dedicating this year to training. She hopes to continue representing Canada in track over the next three years while she works towards her long-term goal of making the Canadian Olympic team for 2016.

She’s also looking to complete a master's degree in professional communications. “I’m interested in business marketing as well as public and media relations.”

Currently, she’s training for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in summer 2014 and getting ready for the Pan American Games in Toronto in 2015.

“I hope I will get the opportunity to compete for Canada on national soil,” Brown says. “That would be incredible.”

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Synthetic biology jamboree comes to U of T

sgupta — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 10:39:36 +0000

Synthetic biology jamboree comes to U of T sgupta Wed, 10/02/2013 - 06:39

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International Genetically Engineered Machine conference

After a long summer over centrifuges and pipettes, a group of University of Toronto students are ready to pit their genetic know-how against 50 teams from universities across North America.

At the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, hosted at U of T from Oct. 4 to 6, teams will be presenting the most innovative ideas in one of science’s newest fields: synthetic biology.

Synthetic biologists create and recombine DNA fragments to build new working biological systems in living cells, ideally causing organisms to respond in desired ways. Results can be used to find new solutions for issues in fields from health care to the environment.

Teams choose their own projects and may use sets of standard DNA components provided by iGEM or develop their own. In previous years, teams have worked on projects such as the Arsenic Biotector, which can help detect arsenic contamination in water.

This year, the 15 members of the U of T team focused on isolating the genetic code within E. coli that allows the bacteria to use proteins to form protective biofilms by sticking to each other, and surfaces, when stressed.

“Biofilms are relevant to health care as they can form inside things like catheters, blocking them and rendering them useless,” says Boris Dyakov, the team’s lab manager and a third-year biology specialist in the Faculty of Arts & Science. “Most research around biofilms is about removal but we spent the summer trying to make them!”

Sergio Peisajovich, an assistant professor in the Department of Cell & Systems Biology and an iGEM organizer, says the competition has dual purpose.

“Teams explore new ideas and are also asked to submit any DNA developed as part of their project to iGEM’s Registry of Standard Biological Parts,” he says. “Synthetic biology is a new field, and these teams are essentially contributing building blocks to increase our overall knowledge but also our capability to implement that knowledge.”

Teams are judged based on the novelty, quality and social utility of their ideas, as well as how much of the original idea was implemented. Teams are also required to evaluate any potential problems or ethical issues that could result, something Peisajovich says is vital to consider as the synthetic biology field develops.

“One of the most interesting aspects of iGEM is that the ideas come from students,” Peisajovich says. “This student-driven philosophy is unusual in science, but you can see from the projects what unique and creative ideas result from it.”

Seemi Qaiser, a second-year molecular genetics student who is also studying global health and psychology, admits that the learning curve was steep.

“I was practicing my molecular biology skills, learning new techniques and running actual experiments at the same time,” says Qaiser (pictured right). “But seeing everything come together for a great project under the team leaders has been amazing.”

iGEM began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) during a summer course where students designed blinking cells. This year, more than 200 teams will be competing world-wide and regional winners will proceed to the World Championship in Cambridge, Massachusetts in November.

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How fundraisers like Run For The Cure support research

sgupta — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:43:39 +0000

How fundraisers like Run For The Cure support research sgupta Wed, 09/25/2013 - 07:43

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The University of Toronto is celebrating its fourth year as host of the CIBC Run for the Cure (U of T News file photo)

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At the CIBC Run for the Cure Oct. 6, people will gather at the University of Toronto and across Canada, sporting sensible footwear, pink hats, wigs and boas to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Some of the women who take part may carry the genetic mutations BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 — mutations which increase their susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer.

Now, backed by funds from Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF), Ontario region, U of T researcher and neuroscientist Gillian Einstein is embarking on research that might change their lives.

“Breast cancer research is now such an established field that we’re able to look not just at the mechanisms of the disease, but at the effects of treatment,” Einstein says.

Given the increased cancer risk, women who carry the BRCA1 or 2 mutations are often counseled to have their ovaries removed as a preventive measure. Einstein has received funding from CBCF to study what happens to women’s cognition, including memory and attention, after their ovaries are removed. The study will eventually follow 275 women over 10 years.

“There are very few studies looking at the effect of ovarian removal on cognition,” says Einstein. “There are neuropsychological studies six months post-surgery, and epidemiological studies looking at 35 years later. That’s a huge gap of time over which we know nothing about what could be happening to the brain.”

Ovaries are the primary source of estradiol, one of the three forms of estrogen made by women. Although estradiol levels decrease in menopause because of ovarian aging, removing a woman’s ovaries eliminates almost all of the estradiol from her body.

Women that have their ovaries removed as a preventative measure will be potentially living without estradiol for many years, Einstein says.

“We associate ovaries with reproduction, but they also make this estrogen that affects every single body system, from the bones to the heart to the brain,” says Einstein. “Removing the ovaries means more than losing your fertility – there are repercussions to the whole body.”

Women need to know this information in order to make a properly informed choice about a life-altering decision, as well as to protect themselves after the decision is made, says Einstein. She believes so strongly in the importance of this research that she funded much of the research necessary to gain preliminary data for her grant application out of her own pocket. Not only will the project uncover fundamental information about the importance of this estrogen for younger women, but it will affect the quality of life of those who carry the BRCA mutation, she says.

“I’m very grateful to CBCF-Ontario for this funding because it’s opened up huge arenas of important research for women’s health.”

The CIBC Run for the Cure will be taking place on the University of Toronto Front Campus. Participants may choose to walk or run a one-kilometre or five-kilometre route. Last year, more than 18,000 people raised more than $4.2 million for the Toronto run. Across Canada, more than 170,000 took part in the run in support of breast cancer research, education and awareness.

Women who carry the BRCA1 or 2 mutations and are interested in joining Einstein’s research study can email her at gillian.einstein@utoronto.ca for more information.

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U of T students help victims of Bangladesh factory collapse

sgupta — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 10:08:54 +0000

U of T students help victims of Bangladesh factory collapse sgupta Wed, 09/18/2013 - 06:08

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Fariha Ekra with Rozina Akter, 25, who had to sever her own arm in the collapse of the Rana Plaza (all photos by Fariha Ekra)

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University of Toronto Scarborough student Fariha Ekra was born in Bangladesh and often returns for visits - but her most recent trip was a far cry from the usual joyous family reunion.

This time, Ekra was delivering $9,000 to victims of the Savar garment factory collapse.

“I’d always wanted to start a charitable organization, but I didn’t know what issue to address,” says Ekra, who is in her third year. “When I heard about the tragedy in Savar, I knew I had to do something about it.”

Ekra and fellow U of T student, Lamees Mussa, founded Young Canadians for Global Humanity in April 2013 to raise awareness of issues and focus on disaster relief, poverty relief and health. (Read more about Young Canadians for Global Humanity.)

Although Mussa and Ekra were both working full-time at internships, they managed to raise $9,000 in just under two months by selling buttons and using social media and word-of-mouth to spread their message. It was difficult, Ekra says, but worth it.

Awareness-building was funded by money Ekra earned through her part-time job, as well as donations from family and friends. But an important part of the group's mandate is that 100 per cent of the public's donations go to the cause, says Ekra.

“The donors put money in our hands and we put the money in the hands of the victims, with no third party,” she says. “I think that really encouraged people to give.”

Paying for tickets out of their own funds, Ekra and her father travelled to the Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed in Bangladesh this August to deliver the money. The experience was eye-opening.

“I spoke with all 122 people in the hospital and asked about their experiences,” says Ekra. “Just hearing their stories and seeing their condition helped me understand their situation. Most were between the ages of 20 to 25 and to see someone my own age going through this was tragic.”

Ekra says that while many of the victims were receiving funding to cover their surgical costs and food, cash was scarce.

“Many were the only earners in their family and although they themselves are getting food, they can’t help their families,” she says. “The cash we provided paid for costs such as their children’s tuitions.”

A double major in public policy co-op and sociology, Ekra plans to attend law school. She also sees a long future with Young Canadians for Global Humanity. For its next project, the group is planning to send to school a dozen children who have lost a caregiver in the collapse.

“We’re hoping to provide them with the opportunity of choice, something their parents don’t have,” says Ekra. “Education may help shield them from vulnerability to situations like the factory collapse by providing the education to choose another path in life.”

While there, Ekra interviewed and filmed hospitalized workers, and the president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). She plans to use the footage to create a documentary to raise awareness and funding.

More than 1,000 people died in the 2013 Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in the Dhaka suburb of Savar, and another 2,500 injured were rescued from the building.

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Vote Compass launches in Australia

sgupta — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:10:45 +0000

Vote Compass launches in Australia sgupta Tue, 09/03/2013 - 07:10

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Vote Compass, an online electoral literacy tool, launched in time for Australian election on Sept. 7 (Big Stock photo)

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By the time they go to the polls on Sept. 7, more than one million Australians will have used the Vote Compass, an online electoral literacy tool, to explore how they fit in Australia’s political landscape.

Developed and run by a group of U of T PhD students, Vote Compass launched its Australian edition in partnership with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for the country’s 2013 federal election. (Learn more about Vote Compass)

“It’s been a huge success,” says Clifton van der Linden, founder and executive director of Vote Compass. “It’s our first genuine international foray and speaks well of the tool’s global relevance.”

Within the first 72 hours of its launch, Vote Compass was the most visited page on the ABC website. In just three days, 500,000 people answered questions to see how they were plotted on the Australian political spectrum, and how their opinions aligned with the platforms of the major political parties.

Vote Compass made a splash on social media as well, with the #VoteCompass hashtag trending on Twitter across Australia for the first 48 hours after it was launched.

Similar to the Canadian experience, van der Linden believes the tool’s popularity speaks to a desire for people to learn more about public policies, without the grandstanding. “We’re leveraging the potential of the internet in such a way as to offer the public an opportunity and new way to be engaged in politics,” he says.

Vote Compass brings the technical and methodological expertise around the application, but relies on partnerships with academics for the political and electoral context. “This ensures the tool is actually speaking to the issues that matter most to voters and how those issues are dividing party policies,” says van der Linden.

The Vote Compass team includes three other PhD candidates in U of T’s Department of Political Science: Yannick Dufresne (communications), Gregory Eady (analytics) and Jennifer Hove (research).

Together, they worked with seven academics from the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney to develop the 30 questions that make up the questionnaire. As well as standard topics such as education, budget and health care, the Australian version includes questions about asylum seekers, natural resources and indigenous peoples.

Jennifer Hove, Vote Compass’s director of research, is responsible for developing the questions and gathering information about party platforms. She says Vote Compass tries to represent the political debate with a good range of issues, viewpoints and ideologies.

One challenge is to ensure the questions are representing important public policies while remaining accessible to a broad spectrum of voters, she says. “We want to hook as many different kinds of people as we possibly can and engage people who maybe wouldn’t otherwise be politically interested.”

Hove says Vote Compass has added value for both participants who want to learn more. “Citizens are given new access to dig into party positions on issues,” she says. “Through Vote Compass, they can understand more about the parties and compare their platforms.”

The sheer number of participants also means Vote Compass has access to an unprecedented amount of data about public perceptions of politics. The entire team is involved in analyzing and packaging the data to be used in reports, political analyses and commentary by ABC and academic partners.

“As an electoral literacy tool, one of Vote Compass’s critical functions is to give voice to the electorate,” says van der Linden. “We have a responsibility to use that data to reflect the voice of voters in an effort to hold politicians accountable to the publics they represent.”

The innovative application, which is being touted as a Canadian success story by the Canadian High Commissioner in Australia, is now in its seventh edition. It was used in the last US presidential election as well as federal and provincial elections in Canada.

“Vote Compass doesn’t tell people how to vote,” says van der Linden. “But it makes people think about public policies in a fun way that lets them learn something about both the parties and themselves.”

Vote Compass was part of the inaugural cohort of the Creative Destruction Lab at the Rotman School of Business and The Next 36 Pilot Program. Van der Linden says these programs both contributed to its growth.

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