Faculty of Arts & Science

Geoffrey Hinton recognized with 2024 VinFuture Grand Prize

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 20:16:24 +0000

Geoffrey Hinton recognized with 2024 VinFuture Grand Prize

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 12/09/2024 - 15:16

Faculty

St. George

Artificial Intelligence

Department of Computer Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

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Geoffrey Hinton (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Geoffrey Hinton, a University Professor Emeritus of computer science at the University of Toronto, has been named one of five recipients of the 2024 VinFuture Grand Prize.

The US$3-million prize is presented by the Vietnam-based non-profit VinFuture Foundation in recognition of scientific advances that support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Hinton, widely regarded as the "godfather of AI," was recognized for his research on neural networks and deep learning algorithms. He shares the VinFuture Grand Prize with Université de Montréal's Yoshua Bengio, Stanford University's Fei-Fei Li, NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun (Jensen) Huang and Facebook AI Research scientist Yann LeCun.

In a video message, Hinton said he was honoured to share the award with such an esteemed group of researchers – including his fellow A.M Turing Award-winners Bengio and LeCun. “The three of us spent our whole lives developing the technology of neural networks,” Hinton said. “I’m very happy to see that the VinFuture Prize recognizes the contributions of Jensen Huang in developing the kind of compute and software required for artificial intelligence, and Fei-Fei Li in providing the big data that was needed to prove that it worked.”

The recognition comes on the heels of Hinton receiving the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics.

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Nisrin Elamin recognized by American Anthropological Association

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 17:52:38 +0000

Nisrin Elamin recognized by American Anthropological Association

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 11/29/2024 - 12:52

Faculty

St. George

Department of Anthropology

Faculty of Arts & Science

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Nisrin Elamin (photo by Diana Tyszko)

Nisrin Elamin, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Arts & Science's department of anthropology, has received the Sam Dubal Memorial Award for Anti-Colonialism and Racial Justice from the American Anthropological Association.

This award honours anthropologists who have demonstrated a deep commitment to anti-colonial and racial justice in any world region.

Elamin's research traces the spatialized geography of imperial power in Sudan and beyond, while also paying attention to processes and dynamics that threaten to destabilize such power. Her insights and analyses have taken on greater importance ever since war erupted between different factions of Sudan’s military coup regime in April 2023.

Since 2023, she has played a leading role in developing the Sudan Solidarity Collective with U of T students. The Collective has raised around $350,000 for volunteer-run emergency response rooms in the areas hardest hit by Sudan's war, as well as farmers’ unions.

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Marie-Josée Fortin receives 2024 Massey Medal from Royal Canadian Geographical Society

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 17:39:54 +0000

Marie-Josée Fortin receives 2024 Massey Medal from Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 11/28/2024 - 12:39

Faculty

St. George

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Faculty of Arts & Science

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Marie-Josée Fortin (supplied image)

Marie-Josée Fortin, a University Professor in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been awarded the 2024 Massey Medal by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

The Massey Medal is presented annually in recognition of outstanding career achievement in the exploration, development or description of the geography of Canada.

Fortin, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Spatial Ecology, is recognized for her groundbreaking work in spatial ecology, a field that examines how the spatial distribution of organisms, populations and landscapes affects ecological dynamics. Her research has unified spatial analysis, ecological theory and statistical network frameworks to model species’ spatial interactions; it has also been used to propose novel ways to maintain species’ persistence in the face of climate change.

“I am tremendously honored that this prestigious Canadian award has recognized my expertise in spatial analysis and empirical research of Canadian ecosystems,” Fortin said.

"Marie-Josée Fortin has made essential contributions to knowledge and practice in the field of spatial ecology," said Antoinette Handley, acting dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. "Her pioneering insights launched the field of spatial analysis in ecology, and her discoveries have transformed how spatial ecological data are analyzed. I extend my warmest congratulations to Professor Fortin on her receipt of this year’s Massey Medal."

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Lynette Ong receives SSHRC's 2024 Insight Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 19:18:30 +0000

Lynette Ong receives SSHRC's 2024 Insight Award

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 11/25/2024 - 14:18

Faculty

St. George

Department of Political Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

SSHRC

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Lynette Ong (supplied image)

Lynette Ong, a professor in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s department of political science and the Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, has received the 2024 Insight Award from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

One of SSHRC’s annual Impact Awards, the Insight Award recognizes scholars whose work has made a significant contribution to knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world.

A renowned scholar of authoritarianism, contentious politics and development in China, Ong has conducted on-the-ground research in the country since the late 1990s. She says she’s pleasantly surprised at winning the Insight Award.

“I’d like to thank the people who have helped me along the way,” says Ong, a faculty fellow at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology & Society and acting director of the Munk School’s Contemporary Asian Studies program. “As an inherently private person, I need to adjust to this public recognition. I just hope I can pay it forward and mentor other young researchers.”

“Lynette’s courageous research has taken her to areas that many would hesitate to explore,” says Antoinette Handley, acting dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science and professor of political science. “Her scholarship has provided valuable perspectives and ongoing insights into the workings of political repression in China. It is my pleasure to congratulate her on this significant recognition from SSHRC.”

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42 U of T researchers receive new or renewed Canada Research Chairs

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:37:11 +0000

42 U of T researchers receive new or renewed Canada Research Chairs

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 11/15/2024 - 11:37

Faculty

Mississauga

St. George

Canada Research Chairs

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

OISE

Rotman School of Management

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

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Forty-two faculty members from the University of Toronto have been awarded Canada Research Chairs in support of their research.

Awarded by the Government of Canada, Canada Research Chair positions are designed to reinforce academic research and training excellence with a view to improving depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthening Canada’s international competitiveness and helping to train the next generation of highly skilled people.

“I’m delighted to congratulate all the University of Toronto faculty members who have been appointed Canada Research Chairs or had their positions renewed in the Fall 2024 cohort,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “From molecular psychiatry and causal machine learning to mental health and homelessness in Indigenous women and two-spirit people, these U of T scholars are advancing knowledge in important areas and generating solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

The latest cycle of Canada Research Chair appointees from U of T includes 20 new and 22 renewed positions:

New Canada Research Chairs

Husam Abdel-Qadir at Women’s College Hospital and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Outcomes
Claudia dos Santos at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Accelerated Translation for Critical Care
Mikaela Gabriel at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Indigenous Women & 2-Spirit Mental Health and Homelessness
Christina Guzzo in the department of biological sciences at U of T Scarborough – Tier 2 in Single Virus Particle Analyses
Clement Hamani at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Translational Research
Kristin Hope at University Health Network and the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Leukemic Stem Cell Biology
Stephen Hwang at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Homelessness, Housing and Health
Angela Jerath at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of anesthesiology and pain medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Acute Care Health Technology and Practice Innovations
Jude Kong in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Community-Oriented Artificial Intelligence & Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases
Deepa Kundur in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Cybersecurity of Intelligent Critical Infrastructure
Azadeh Kushki at Bloorview Research Institute and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Neurodiversity and Personalized Health
Enid Montague in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Human-Centered Automation
Kathryn Rozen-Gagnon in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Arbovirus Infection and RNA Biology
Ahilya Sawh in the department of biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in 4D Genomics
Helen Tran in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 2 in Polymer Chemistry
Andrea Tricco at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 1 in Knowledge Synthesis for Knowledge Users
Linbo Wang in the department of computer and mathematical sciences at U of T Scarborough – Tier 2 in Causal Machine Learning
Amy Yu at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Data-driven design of stroke systems
Nur Camellia Binte Zakaria in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Mobile Health Solutions
Yu Zou in the department of materials science and engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Materials and Manufacturing for Extreme Environments

Renewed Canada Research Chairs

Jeffrey Ansloos in the department of applied psychology and human development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) – Tier 2 in Indigenous Studies of Health, Suicide, and Environmental Justice
Martin Beaulieu in the department of pharmacology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Molecular Psychiatry
Jennifer Campos at University Health Network and the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 2 in Multisensory Integration and Aging
Arthur Chan in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Atmospheric Chemistry and Health
Warren Chan at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Nanobioengineering
Leah Cowen in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Microbial Genomics and Infectious Disease
Maria Drout in the department of astronomy and astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 2 in Time-Domain and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics
Natalie Enright Jerger in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Computer Architecture
Michael Garton at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Synthetic Biology
Maria Hupfield in the department of visual studies at U of T Mississauga – Tier 2 in Transdisciplinary Indigenous Arts
Noah Ivers at Women’s College Hospital and the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Implementation of Evidence Based Practice
Jonathan Kelly at the U of T Institute of Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Collaborative Robotics
Vincent Kuuire in the department of geography at U of T Mississauga – Tier 2 in Immigrant Well-being and Global Health
Hyun (Kate) Lee in the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Biomolecular Phase Transitions
Heather McFarlane in the department of cell and systems biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 2 in Plant Cell Biology
Sharmistha Mishra at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine - Tier 2 in Mathematical Modeling and Program Science
Dilip Soman at the Rotman School of Management – Tier 1 in Behavioural Science and Economics
Yu Sun in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Micro and Nano Engineering Systems
Michael Thaut in the Faculty of Music – Tier 1 in Music, Neuroscience, and Health
Neil Vasdev at the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) and the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Radiochemistry and Medical Imaging
Kimberley Widger in the Faculty of Nursing – Tier 2 in Pediatric Palliative Care
Ding Yuan in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Systems Software

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Peter Solomon and Jim Phillips honoured by American Society for Legal History

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:42:11 +0000

Peter Solomon and Jim Phillips honoured by American Society for Legal History

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 11/13/2024 - 12:42

Faculty

St. George

Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies

Department of Political Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Law

landscape

Peter Solomon (left) and Jim Phillips (Phillips by Dewey Chang)

Peter Solomon, a professor emeritus in the Faculty of Arts & Science's department of political science, Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies (CrimSL) and the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and Jim Phillips, a professor in the Faculty of Law who is cross-appointed to CrimSL, have been elected honorary fellows of the American Society for Legal History.

The highest recognition conferred by the society, honorary fellowships are given to distinguished historians whose scholarship has shaped the discipline of legal history.

Solomon was honoured for his work as the foremost authority on Russian law. His books and articles – considered classic references for scholars working on Soviet legal history – are credited with challenging conventional assumptions about Russian law and transforming interpretations, approaches and sources.

Phillips was recognized for his contributions to Canadian legal history as a teacher, scholar and editor-in-chief of the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History. A leading figure in the field of Canadian legal history, Phillips has made the history of law a dynamic tool for interrogating Canada’s past, present and national identity.

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Sylvia Bashevkin receives Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:27:29 +0000

Sylvia Bashevkin receives Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:27

Faculty

St. George

Department of Political Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

University College

landscape

Sylvia Bashevkin (supplied image)

Sylvia Bashevkin, professor emeritus in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and former principal of University College, is one of six recipients of the 2024 Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

The annual awards are given on Oct. 18, marking the day in 1929 when Canada’s highest court of appeal declared that the legal definition of the word "person" included both women and men. The awards are given to individuals who inspire the next generation to continue the tradition of courage, integrity and hard work exemplified by the “Famous Five” – the five women activists whose legal challenge led to the landmark ruling.

Bashevkin was recognized for her research on the political marginalization of women and her findings on how female candidates were often placed in unwinnable legislative seats.

“These six women are an exemplary representation of the legacy of the Famous Five, evident through their dedication, passion, and commitment to making our country a better place to learn and to thrive,” said Marci Ien, Canada’s minister for women and gender equality and youth. “Their stories are reminders that when women succeed and offer inspiration to others, everyone across Canada benefits.”

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Florian Dendorfer recognized by University of St. Gallen

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:36:00 +0000

Florian Dendorfer recognized by University of St. Gallen

Academic Achievement

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 10/24/2024 - 10:36

Faculty

St. George

Department of Economics

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

Florian Dendorfer (photo by Adriano Macedo)

Florian Dendorfer, an assistant professor, teaching stream in the department of economics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has won the Best PhD Thesis in Economics Prize from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Dendorfer's thesis featured theoretical and empirical work in industrial organization, exploring topics that included how quickly Airbnb guests learn about the qualities of new listings through reviews.

“Pursuing a PhD is a struggle: you start out small and grapple with doubts about whether your work is worthwhile," said Dendorfer, who currently teaches ECO204 (Microeconomic Theory and Applications) and ECO380 (Markets, Competition and Strategy) at U of T. "Many attempts amount to nothing, and a lot of ideas end up in the trash. It’s incredibly rewarding to see all that work come to fruition and to have my thesis recognized by my alma mater with this prize."

“It’s always exciting when junior faculty members distinguish themselves and their research early on in their careers,” said Professor Ettore Damiano, chair of the department of economics. “All of us appreciate confirmation that we attract the world’s best and brightest to the University of Toronto and are very proud to have Florian here at the department.”

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Andrei Yudin recognized by American Chemical Society

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:50:09 +0000

Andrei Yudin recognized by American Chemical Society

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 10/16/2024 - 10:50

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemistry

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

Andrei Yudin (supplied image)

Andrei Yudin, a professor in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been recognized with a 2025 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

The annual award recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of organic chemistry that have become apparent during the preceding half-decade.

“Since 2006, my research group has been involved in the study of amphoteric molecules. They show both electrophilic and nucleophilic reactivity,” said Yudin. "This chemistry has allowed us to prepare a broad range of structures with useful properties. It is our work in this area that is being recognized.”

Yudin, who will accept the award and deliver a lecture about his work at the 2025 ACS National Meeting in Washington, D.C. next summer, said he finds inspiration in the elegance of chemical structures and the diverse ways in which they react with one another. “I like the inherent logic of organic chemistry," he said.

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Geoffrey Hinton wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 20:54:37 +0000

Geoffrey Hinton wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 10/08/2024 - 16:54

Faculty

St. George

Artificial Intelligence

Department of Computer Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

Vector Institute

landscape

(photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Geoffrey Hinton, a University Professor Emeritus of computer science at the University of Toronto, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Awarded since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Physics is one of five prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel and honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field.

Hinton, widely regarded as the “godfather of AI,” shared the prize with John J. Hopfield of Princeton University for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.

Hinton was recognized for his use of the Hopfield network – a neural network invented by his co-laureate – as the foundation for a new network called the Boltzmann machine that can learn to recognize elements within a given type of data.

“On behalf of the University of Toronto, I am absolutely delighted to congratulate University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton on receiving the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “The U of T community is immensely proud of his historic accomplishment.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lauded Hinton for being both “a stalwart in the field” of AI and an “outspoken advocate” for its responsible use. “Canada is at the forefront of AI technology thanks to trailblazers like Dr. Hinton,” Trudeau said in a statement. “His curiosity for discovery and contributions to innovation will inspire generations to come. On behalf of all Canadians, I congratulate him on his remarkable achievement.”

Hinton, who joined U of T as a professor of computer science in 1987, said he was "flabbergasted" at the accolade. “I had no expectations of this,” said Hinton, who is also chief scientific adviser at the Vector Institute, which he co-founded. “I am extremely surprised and I'm honoured to be included.”

Hinton's Nobel Prize is the latest in a long list of honours which includes the Association for Computing Machinery’s A.M. Turing Award in 2019 – widely considered “the Nobel Prize of computing” – alongside collaborators Yann LeCun and Yoshua Bengio, election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, a Royal Medal from the Royal Society, Companion of the Order of Canada and Fellow of the Royal Societies of Canada and London.

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Read the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announcement

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