快播视频鈥檚 2025 Spring Convocation will honour two faculty members with Distinguished Research Professor and University Professor recognitions.

The Distinguished Research Professor title is awarded to a faculty member whose research has had a significant and lasting impact, both at 快播视频 and beyond. It is a recognition of scholarly excellence and leadership that has shaped fields of study and contributed meaningfully to the academic reputation of the University.

The University Professor honour is reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to teaching and research, alongside exemplary service to the University community. Recipients are recognized for their broad and sustained influence across all areas of academic life.

University Professorship

Paula Wilson, Faculty of Science

Wilson, a long-serving faculty member in the Department of Biology, has been recognized for her significant contributions to 快播视频鈥檚 academic mission, governance and community life.

Since joining York in 1998, she has held a range of senior administrative roles, including associate dean of student affairs, acting dean of the Faculty of Science, acting associate vice-president international, interim Chair of biology and, most recently, head of Bethune College.

She played a central role in developing undergraduate programs such as the biomedical science stream and the international bachelor of science, both of which have broadened access to science education. As a member of the Markham Campus Planning Group, she also supported the development of new professional graduate programs.

As head of Bethune College, she revitalized its role as an academic and social hub, launched new communications platforms, strengthened ties with the  and reimagined Academic Orientation Day to build student belonging.

A passionate educator and mentor, Wilson is a staunch advocate for removing barriers to learning. Her current scholarship, supported by a York Academic Innovation Fund grant, focuses on improving accessibility in undergraduate labs. Her pedagogical expertise and deep commitment to student success have had a lasting impact on the student experience at York.

While Wilson has received other teaching awards 鈥� including the Faculty of Science Excellence in Teaching Award and the President鈥檚 University-Wide Teaching Award 鈥� the University Professorship, she says, stands out.

"Receiving the University Professor recognition is the highest honour I could receive from York, so it means a lot to me and I鈥檓 deeply grateful for it. It has special meaning for me too, as a member of the teaching stream, as this honour rarely goes to teaching stream faculty," says Wilson. "I鈥檓 especially thankful for my colleagues who prepared the nomination and support letters, as these things take a substantial amount of time and energy 鈥� I feel like I am sharing this honour with them.

"Having the privilege to work with so many outstanding colleagues, students and staff members at York has made it both fun and a pleasure to come to work each day and to be honest, anything I have accomplished has been in collaboration with and because of them."

Courtesy of Yfile

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快播视频鈥檚 Asian Business & Management Program (ABMP) and the Faculty of Science were honoured with the ninth Canada China Business Excellence Academic Collaboration Bronze Award at the Canada China Business Council's 46th Annual General Meeting and Business Forum in Beijing.

The award celebrates visionary Canadian organizations advancing educational ties with China. It acknowledges the efforts of organizations that demonstrate leadership in cross-border collaboration and academic innovation. The award is a testament to the success of York's ABMP and Faculty of Science in fostering resilient academic partnerships with Chinese institutions. Despite complex geopolitical dynamics, ABMP and the Faculty of Science have strategically built sustainable collaborations that not only enrich students and faculty but also provide unique educational opportunities across borders in the post-pandemic era. Key collaborations that contributed to the award include the Global Perspectives program and the Career Bootcamp, both of which exemplify ABMP and Faculty of Science's adaptability in the face of challenges.

The Global Perspectives program, launched in 2022, is a virtual engagement initiative that has connected over 350 Chinese students with Canadian educators, focusing on global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A strategic partnership with the Jiangsu-Canada University Consortium, encompassing 29 academic institutions in China's Jiangsu province, has been instrumental in equipping students with cross-cultural skills and preparing them to tackle global challenges. These efforts have not only strengthened academic ties between 快播视频 and Jiangsu universities but also fostered bilateral co-operation in education and research.

ABMP and the Faculty of Science were among the first educational organizations to resume in-person engagement with Chinese students following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Career Bootcamp, tailored for Chinese undergraduates, combines theoretical learning with real-world application, helping students bridge the gap between classroom education and industry demands, while giving them an edge in an increasingly competitive job market. Beyond fostering career readiness, the program promotes intercultural interactions, shaping participants into cultural ambassadors and strengthening ties between Canada and China.

Hugo Chen, director of international collaborations and partnerships in the Faculty of Science, emphasized the broader impact of these partnerships: 鈥淚n fostering these collaborations, both countries are not only advancing academic excellence but also promoting international co-operation, cultural exchange and sustainable development.鈥�

As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, ABMP and the Faculty of Science's proactive approach 鈥� blending virtual and in-person initiatives 鈥� sets a powerful example of how academic collaboration can transcend borders and foster mutual understanding, said Elena Caprioni, ABMP director. 鈥淭hrough these efforts, we are shaping a future where Canada and China remain interconnected through shared values, knowledge exchange and a commitment to tackling the world鈥檚 biggest challenges.鈥�

This Bronze Award serves not only as recognition of past achievements but also as an inspiration to further strengthen academic and cultural ties that benefit both nations and contribute to global progress.

Courtesy of YFile

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An asteroid first discovered more than 20 years ago has now received a new name: Asteroid (700818) Pauldelaney.

The naming honours 快播视频 Professor Emeritus Paul Delaney, who was a faculty member in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science, for 35 years before retiring in 2021. Delaney was the director of the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory and the inaugural Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy at 快播视频. His passion for teaching and community engagement led to him receiving the Sandford Fleming Medal for excellence in science communication and the Qilak Award for Astronomy Outreach and Communication.

The discoverer of the asteroid, Canadian astronomer Dave Balam, who is a former colleague and longtime collaborator of Delaney鈥檚, led the naming effort.

鈥淚鈥檝e known Paul since his graduate student days at the University of Victoria,鈥� said Balam, who is now based at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, B.C. 鈥淎side from my personal friendship with Paul, I decided to name the minor planet owing to his public outreach activities for the public understanding of astronomy and current astronomical events.鈥�

Balam first discovered the asteroid (initially named 2003 OE34) on July 31, 2003, using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope located on Mauna Kea mountain in Hawaii. The object is in a typical main asteroid belt orbit, located midway between the planets Mars and Jupiter, and orbiting the sun about every four and a half years. It鈥檚 considered small, likely a little less than one kilometre in diameter, and while no image exists, it鈥檚 probably irregularly shaped, like a potato.

The naming of small asteroids is overseen by a committee of the International Astronomical Union called the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN). Namings become official after their publication in the , in which Delaney鈥檚 appears in the Nov. 4 issue.

Delaney joins a distinguished group of 快播视频 faculty members who have had asteroids named after them, including: Professor Michael Daly, Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering; Professor Patrick Hall, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science; the late Professor Emeritus Kim Innanen, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science; and the late Professor Richard Jarrell, Department of Science, Technology & Society, Faculty of Science.

Courtesy of YFile

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Congratulations to Biology Professor Elizabeth Clare for being elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

Induction to the RSC is one of the country鈥檚 highest honours in the arts, social sciences and sciences. The RSC College recognizes the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership; members of the College are individuals who are at an early stage in their career and have demonstrated a high level of achievement.

Clare鈥檚 RSC membership recognizes her global leadership in developing and applying novel technologies to monitor biodiversity. Her research pioneered the use of airborne DNA to study biodiversity at continental scales. Clare is a popular science communicator volunteering for multiple STEM mentoring groups, and she hosts the for university students.

The RSC will celebrate new fellows, members and award recipients at an official event hosted by Simon Fraser University from Nov. 7 to 9.

Read the full story in YFile.

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At 快播视频鈥檚 Faculty of Science鈥檚 annual Science Summer 2024 Undergraduate Research Conference, students competed and received awards in recognition of oral and poster presentations on summer projects that covered topics like dark matter, mathematical disease modelling, antibiotic resistance and beyond.

More than 40 students conducting summer research in York鈥檚 Faculties of Science, Environmental & Urban Change, and Liberal Arts & Professional Studies attended the conference.

Participants 鈥� including two Queen's University students working with 快播视频 professors 鈥� had received funding earlier in the year for their summer research positions from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Summer Research Awards, the Earle Nestmann Undergraduate Research Awards or the York Science Scholars Awards.

The projects culminated at the conference, where each student gave either a poster or oral presentation that was judged by faculty members, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.

The conference 鈥� and the work leading up to it 鈥� are meant to give students hands-on opportunities to engage in research, noted Rui Wang, dean of the Faculty of Science, at the event. He stressed other benefits, too. 鈥淪haring your ideas and findings with fellow researchers, and building connections that lead to fruitful friendships and collaborations, are an important part of being a scientist. Enjoy these moments and use them to learn about yourself and grow as a researcher.鈥�

The students who received awards for their oral presentations were:

• Harry Parmar, a health sciences student at Queen鈥檚 University, won first place for the project 鈥淓xamining Functional Properties of Frontal Eye Field in the Macaque Monkey,鈥� supervised by Jeffrey Schall, a biology professor in the Faculty of Science.
• Vesta Tajik, an environmental biology student in York鈥檚 Faculty of Science, won second place for the project 鈥淒ocumenting the impacts of an inter-basin river diversion on Lake Nipigon (Ontario, Canada),鈥� supervised by Joshua Thienpont, a professor in the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change.
• Alrishia Agard, a biomedical science student in York鈥檚 Faculty of Science, won third place for the project 鈥淎ssessing the impact of road de-icers on the osmoregulatory physiology of Chironomus riparius larvae,鈥� supervised by Andrew Donini, biology professor in the Faculty of Science.

The students who received awards for their poster presentations were:

• Yash Shrestha, a health sciences student at Queen鈥檚 University, won first place for the project 鈥淧robing Late-LTP following selective inhibition of TrkC-PTP蟽 complex in a mouse model,鈥� supervised by Steven Connor, a biology professor in the Faculty of Science.
• Michael Petosa, a biomedical science student in York鈥檚 Faculty of Science, won second place for the project 鈥淎 New Route to Pyridine-Substituted Piperidines,鈥� supervised by Arturo Orellana, a chemistry professor in the Faculty of Science.
• Shahen Alexanian, a computer science and mathematics student in York鈥檚 Lassonde School of Engineering, won third place for the project 鈥淓valuating the Introduction of a Variational Autoencoder into a Multi-omics Workflow,鈥� supervised by Xin Gao and Hannah Jankowsi, mathematics and statistics professors in the Faculty of Science.

Read more about the students and their projects in the conference program booklet.

Courtesy of YFile

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Congratulations to Professor Huaiping Zhu, who was honoured this year by the Canadian Applied and Industrial Mathematics Society (CAIMS). He received the 2024 CAIMS-Fields Industrial Prize, and presented the Industrial Research Prize Lecture at the , held June 24-27, 2024.

Zhu, based in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, is a leader in infectious disease modelling. He directs the Centre for Disease Modelling (CDM) and Laboratory of Mathematical Parallel Systems (LAMPS) at York, as well as the pan-Canadian One Health Modelling Network for Emerging Infection (OMNI). Through his work in CDM, LAMPS and OMNI, he has advanced the understanding of pandemic dynamics and provided timely guidance for public health policy.

His CAIMS Industrial Research Prize Lecture focused on modelling studies for the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases in Canada. Warming, climate variability and extreme weather events are expected to drive an increase in frequency and intensity of mosquito-borne disease (MBD) outbreaks globally. In Canada, this will mean an increased risk of endemic and emerging MBD outbreaks, such as West Nile virus, dengue and other MBDs with origins in tropical regions. To characterize the incidence and spread of mosquito-borne diseases among people and animals, the West Nile virus surveillance system has adopted a One Health approach involving experts from human, animal and environmental domains.

In his lecture, Zhu presented data-driven modelling for Culex mosquito populations, as well as a dynamic study of models for the threshold conditions for an outbreak and recurrent outbreaks. He also discussed the risk of MBDs in Canada if warming continues, and how modelling studies will contribute to early warning capacity for emerging infectious disease outbreaks as a key adaptive response to climate change.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wessinger and his partners decided to build their own solution, one that was ahead of its time: an electronic health records software that wouldn鈥檛 be installed on-site, but hosted on servers with clients accessing them through the internet. 鈥淲e had no idea we were talking about software as a service (SaaS),鈥� Wessinger said. 鈥淧eople couldn鈥檛 sell SAS back then. Nobody was talking about the cloud. We fundamentally changed the game.鈥�

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jeffrey Schall

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

Joel Zylberberg

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

Read the full story in .

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Congratulations to PhD graduate Jennifer Porat, who has received one of this year鈥檚 Governor General鈥檚 Gold Medals, which recognize the outstanding scholastic achievements of graduate students in Canada. She is among three recipients at York.

Porat earned a PhD in biology following the completion of her bachelor of science degree at 快播视频. Both degrees were pursued under the mentorship of Professor Mark Bayfield in the Department of Biology. Her research focused uncovering novel functions for RNA-modifying enzymes and understanding the mechanisms by which they promote RNA function and stability to carry out different cellular processes.

Porat credits Bayfield and his support for her decision to pursue graduate studies at 快播视频 and her positive experiences at the University. She also expresses gratitude to the Faculty of Graduate Studies 鈥� notably, its funding of conference travel that she urges other students to take advantage of.

鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly grateful to be receiving this honour,鈥� says Porat. 鈥淚鈥檝e been fortunate enough to conduct research that I am passionate about, so it is very gratifying to learn that other people are excited about my work as well.鈥�

Porat will continue that work as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University, still focused on RNA biology, in hopes of one day running her own lab.

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During the Faculty of Science Spring Convocation ceremony on June 14, 2024, Mike Wessinger will receive an honorary degree from 快播视频. He is among eight individuals receiving honorary doctorates during the 2024 Spring Convocation ceremonies at York in recognition of their contributions to community building, advocacy for social justice and philanthropy.

Wessinger is the current executive Chair of the board for PointClickCare 鈥� a software provider helping long-term and post-acute care providers 鈥� which he co-founded and served as chief executive officer of from 1995 to 2021. Throughout his leadership, he led the company to become the first cloud-based health information system for the senior care industry, and North America鈥檚 largest care collaboration network.

In his role as executive Chair, Wessinger continues to champion corporate culture, enhance governance, recruit diverse talent, and partner with internal and external boards and teams to solve critical health-care challenges. Outside of PointClickCare, he is also co-chair of the C100 board of directors, where he actively leverages his years of experience to coach and mentor leaders at the helm of rapidly scaling tech companies.

Read the full story in .

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