The fund aims to promote equitable and inclusive funding to set roots for research projects and support future growth. The fund has two streams:

• The Open Research Fund provides three awards, at $25,000 each, to support funding for three Black scholars for a duration of 24 months.
  
• The Collaborative Research Fund provides three awards, at $25,000 each, to support Black early career researchers who plan to collaborate with a Black scholar on a 24-month research project.

Both funds are open to all Black scholars, but preference is given to emerging and early-career researchers to further their research projects.

Supported by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI) in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President Equity, People and Culture (EP&C), the fund was created to respond to and support the University鈥檚 commitment to addressing the systemic anti-Black racism and white supremacy that pervades academia.

"快播视频 is committed to excellence and inclusiveness in research, scholarship and knowledge creation,鈥� said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. 鈥淏lack scholars face significant barriers in academic research. The York Black Research Seed Fund signals our ongoing commitment and long-term support in advancing equity and inclusion and removing systemic barriers that have hindered the success of Black scholars.鈥�

The call is an important pilot project and represents 快播视频鈥檚 ongoing commitment to funding equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research and scholarship. An annual budget of $750,000 per year over three years will be dedicated to supporting Black, Indigenous, gender and disability research and knowledge mobilization.

鈥淏lack scholarship is vital to advancing knowledge and creation that will have a positive impact on the communities we serve,鈥� said Sheila Cote-Meek, vice-president equity, people and culture. 鈥淭he York Black Research Seed Fund is one step forward in addressing the challenges that Black scholars face in advancing their careers and will set in motion a future that promotes excellence and inclusiveness in research.鈥�

In addition to the York Black Research Seed Fund, the University has committed $100,000 to support the research activities at the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) and the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas, two organized research units (ORUs) based at 快播视频. This funding is provided in addition to the operational support funds made available to the ORUs from the Office of the VPRI.

CERLAC is a hub for inter- and multidisciplinary research on Latin America and the Caribbean, their diasporas and relationships with Canada and the rest of the world. The Harriet Tubman Institute is the preeminent, interdisciplinary centre for research, both historical and contemporary, on Africa and its global diasporas.

The deadline to submit an application for the Black Research Seed fund is Monday, March 21 by 4:30 p.m. EST. . Information about eligibility and criteria for the Black Scholarship Seed Fund and the University鈥檚 commitment to excellence and inclusiveness in research is available here on the Research and Innovation website.

Learn about Black Inclusion at 快播视频 including the University鈥檚 Framework, Addressing Anti-Black Racism: A Framework on Black Inclusion and The Action Plan on Black Inclusion: A Living Document for Action.

The post 快播视频 establishes research fund to support Black scholars appeared first on YFile.

Adrian Fagarasanu is a third-year computer science student who spent the summer working remotely at his dream co-op placement with European Space Agency (ESA) as a data systems intern. During this time, he was an integral part of the Application & Robotics Data Systems Division in Darmstadt, Germany. His work focused on remoulding the department鈥檚 technical vision of designing a Java plugin to interface two simulation software component layers in order to represent simulation kernel data in a Unity 3D rover visualization environment. Fagarasanu discovered major issues with the large task at hand and spent long hours working tirelessly to rethink and reimplement a feasible solution for the simulation build.

Fagarasanu left behind a foundation at ESA for further simulation plugin avenues to be explored with far more ease. 鈥淎drian Fagarasanu showed great motivation to solve the challenges presented when dealing with the given topic and worked highly independently,鈥� said Nicole Neis, mission data systems engineer in the Applications & Robotics Data Systems Section at ESA. 鈥淗is knowledge and competencies in computer science prepared him well for the tasks.鈥�

Prior to his work term at ESA, Fagarasanu had completed his first co-op placement at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for 12 months. His passion, grit, determination and resilience have been evident throughout both work terms and have been the driving force behind his impactful contributions and successes to the Space Industry. 鈥淥ver the four months I was employed at ESA, I had the pleasure of experiencing a profound growth in my professional understanding of the software engineering world through the inspired space industry lens,鈥� said Fagarasanu.

Within the Lassonde community, Fagarasanu has helped facilitate the partnership between Lassonde and ESA and got involved in a variety of clubs and extracurricular activities. He also took part in national and global competitions, including the largest space and science hackathon, NASA Space Apps Challenge, where his team became one of eight honourably mentioned global winners.

Thalia Godbout, a third-year computer science student, discovered her passion for digital accessibility technology during her 12-month internship with the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Children, Youth and Social Services I&IT Cluster). During her work term with the Accessibility Centre of Excellence (ACOE) as an accessibility technology analyst intern, she provided consultations, training and created a wide array of educational resources that empowered Ontario Public Service (OPS) project teams across various ministries to develop user-friendly and accessible digital products.

鈥淏y the end of my placement, I developed a passion for this field and realized how much I love working with people and exploring how we interact with technology,鈥� said Godbout. She took the initiative to tackle new projects and went above and beyond what was expected of her. Thanks to her drive, Godbout was given new responsibilities including training new staff, independently leading client accessibility assessments, co-presenting at national accessibility week events and co-leading drop-in sessions for OPS staff.

鈥淭halia was an exceptional co-op student and will certainly be an asset to any team she joins in her future,鈥� said Erika Hartog, senior accessibility technology analyst at AOCE. 鈥淭halia鈥檚 quality of work and dedication to accessibility and inclusivity has dramatically helped the AOCE improve processes and increase digital accessibility awareness within the OPS.鈥�  

In addition to her exceptional workplace contributions, Godbout has been active at Lassonde and the broader 快播视频 community through her involvement in hackathons and assisting with fellow student career development through job search support.

about co-op at Lassonde.

The Nascent Co-op/Internship Students of the Year Award is sponsored by Nascent Digital and recognizes two students for their exceptional contribution to their respective host employer along with their involvement in the Lassonde community.

The post Lassonde students recognized for outstanding contributions at co-op placements appeared first on YFile.

In the February 2022 issue

What is the science behind semi-permanent tattoo technology? Faculty of Science chemistry Professor Chris Caputo鈥檚 research is revolutionizing this form of personal expression in new and interesting ways for a Canadian startup.

For the last decade, human rights experts Lorne Foster and Les Jacobs have been central figures in helping, through their research, to address systemic racism within some of Canada鈥檚 largest police departments

 
New research co-led by Luisa Sotomayor, an associate professor in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, and researchers at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University, reports that students lack affordable, adequate and sufficient housing options that would enable them to live close to their campus.

Faculty of Health Professor Ali Abdul-Sater鈥檚 passion for understanding the body鈥檚 immune response has led him to a discovery that he hopes will eventually relieve the suffering of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Using his expertise in mathematics and statistics, Professor Jianhong Wu is working to model the future impacts of COVID-19 and its variants.

快播视频鈥檚 flourishing entrepreneurship hub, YSpace, is drawing the attention of many international companies seeking a market foothold in Canada.

Launched in January 2017, 鈥淏rainstorm鈥� is produced out of the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation in partnership with Communications & Public Affairs; overseen by Krista Davidson, senior manager, research communications; and edited by Jenny Pitt-Clark, YFile editor, Ashley Goodfellow Craig, YFile deputy editor, and Alysia Burdi, YFile communications officer.

Podcast or Perish 

Schulich School of Business Professor Johnny Rungtusanatham, Canada Research Chair in Supply Chain Management at 快播视频, is a leading expert on the subject of supply chain disruptions. In the most recent episode of , Rungtusanatham discusses the impact of the huge storm in British Columbia, why stores are sold out of many goods during the pandemic, and what kinds of public policies could make supply chains more resilient.

Podcast or Perish is a podcast about academic research and why it matters. Join host Cameron Graham, professor of accounting at the Schulich School of Business, for a special 10-part series featuring extraordinary researchers and creators at 快播视频 and their innovative methodologies and approaches. A new episode is launched every month. 

Podcast or Perish is supported by 快播视频鈥檚 Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation in partnership with Schulich School of Business. 

The post Welcome to the February 2022 issue of Brainstorm appeared first on YFile.

By Elaine Smith

Research by Ali Abdul-Sater, a York Research Chair in the Regulatory Mechanisms of Inflammation, and an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health, has determined that a specific protein, TRAF1, holds the key to controlling inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and a specific mutation to the protein can reduce the amount of inflammation the joints experience. With funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Arthritis Foundation and 快播视频, Abdul-Sater and his research team are currently testing their findings in mice and hope the results will eventually translate to humans.

鈥淲e are planning to use TRAF1 to develop new therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases,鈥� Abdul-Sater says. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 wish rheumatoid arthritis on anyone; it is one of the most painful chronic diseases and it becomes progressively worse. For some sufferers, it can take hours just to get their joints moving each morning.鈥�

Abdul-Sater calls TRAF1 鈥渢he Swiss army knife of proteins鈥� because it serves different functions in different immune cells. He discovered that TRAF1 can control or limit inflammation by preventing certain immune cells (macrophages) from producing too many cytokines that destroy the joints; on the other hand, previous research indicated that TRAF1 is also known to activate other immune cells (lymphocytes) and enhance their ability to produce antibodies or cytokines that damage the joints. The key is to find a way to stop TRAF1 from activating lymphocytes while preserving its ability to limit inflammation and cytokine production.

It turns out that TRAF1 is a scaffold, or a platform, from which these signals are sent out. Abdul-Sater found that each of its functions used a different type of scaffold, so he was able to disrupt one function while leaving the other intact. In fact, he discovered a specific genetic mutation that does just that: it prevents immune cells from overproducing antibodies while suppressing its joint-destroying cytokine production, thus reducing inflammation and keeping the joint intact.

Using the genetic engineering tool that allows scientists to modify the genes of a living organism, Abdul-Sater and his team are currently creating this mutation in mice to determine whether they are protected from rheumatoid arthritis. If they are, he hopes to move forward toward using this discovery to create therapeutics for people currently living with rheumatoid arthritis.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not ready yet for interventions in humans,鈥� he says. 鈥淥ur next step would be to collaborate with medicinal chemists to develop a small molecule that can be taken as a drug and then, hopefully, move on to clinical trials. Drug formulation is a long process. We started from the ground up in finding a way to target this key protein.鈥�

Abdul-Sater says research of this nature requires a real love for the work.

鈥淭o stick it out, you have to have passion,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here are lots of setbacks and long hours, but the reward is the joy of discovering something new and seeing it make a difference in the world.

鈥淚 have had excellent support from my department and my Faculty, and I feel lucky to get paid for doing something I love,鈥� he adds.

The post Working toward treatment for rheumatoid arthritis appeared first on YFile.

By Krista Davidson

A 快播视频 research team is collaborating with Inkbox, a Toronto-based startup that uses semi-permanent tattoo technology, to better understand the science behind their revolutionary tattoo technology. The science could support the development of semi-permanent tattoos with different colours. in January 2022 for U.S. $65 million.

Chris Caputo is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Metal-Free Materials for Catalysis. His research focuses on developing greener and more sustainable chemistry by eliminating the need to use expensive and toxic transition metals.

In 2015, Caputo met the Inkbox CEO and co-founder, Tyler Handley, and later became the company鈥檚 director of research and development before joining 快播视频, where he continued to work with the company to develop their technology with the help of York鈥檚 Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI).

Inkbox鈥檚 revolutionary technology is different than a normal tattoo because it is a fruit-based extract that stains the epidermis layer of skin instead of being injected into the dermis layer, allowing the dyed skin to slough over time and enable the disappearance of the tattoo.

鈥淲e really wanted to understand the mechanism of how and why this fruit extract turns your skin dark blue when applied, so we could take that development a step further towards new colours,鈥� says Caputo. 鈥淥ur research at York has been fundamental to identifying the chemistry behind the process of developing new colours and helping Inkbox expand their R&D pipeline.鈥�

Caputo was able to hire a team of researchers, one of which is now employed at Inkbox, and avail of the University鈥檚 state-of-the-art synthetic chemistry wet lab.

鈥淎 collaboration with Chris's group, funded by Mitacs and NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) Collaborative Research & Development grants, has allowed Inkbox to do molecular-level research that would otherwise have been impossible with the budget of a startup company,鈥� said Ian Mallov, manager, Formulation & Regulatory Affairs at Inkbox Tattoos.

鈥淲e were dealing with a blank canvas because nobody in the world has ever looked at this challenge before. It鈥檚 been a wonderful and exploratory project where we could take the time to refine our hypothesis and reach our goal towards achieving different colours,鈥� said Caputo.

To date, Inkbox has filed several patents on the research undertaken through this collaboration. Caputo continues to collaborate with Inkbox and a small team of researchers, led by Sanjay Manhas, Charley Garrard and Nico Bonanno, who are currently working on projects at York. With the new Bic acquisition, Inkbox can expand its revolutionary technology to broader markets with new offerings.

鈥淐hris has guided this research toward developing new tattoo ink dyes and understanding the mechanism of action of the current active dye. This has contributed significant value in terms of intellectual property for the company,鈥� said Mallov.

Caputo's research, which includes developing efficient synthetic strategies, is supporting sustainability for Inkbox by finding ways to significantly reduce waste materials and energy needed to produce new dyes. This work supports the University鈥檚 goals in elevating York鈥檚 contributions to the United Nation鈥檚 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 12 which calls for sustainably managing natural resources, reducing and managing waste better, and promoting sustainable lifestyles and company practices.

The experience has been particularly eye-opening for Caputo and his team about the possibility of modifying molecules and manipulating dyes to support sustainability for other commercial products.

鈥淲e鈥檝e potentially unlocked new properties for a natural product by taking a systematic synthetic chemistry approach. It has made me think about what other naturally occurring feedstocks we can apply this to for the generation of more sustainable dyes in the future,鈥� said Caputo.

The post A collaboration with a York researcher is changing the 'forever' of tattoos appeared first on YFile.

By Krista Davidson

For the last decade, human rights experts Lorne Foster and Les Jacobs have been central figures in helping, through their research, to address systemic racism within some of Canada鈥檚 largest police departments. Recently, the pair announced they are joining forces with the Waterloo Regional Police Service to collect and analyze race-based data to further their research on anti-racism in policing.

The multi-year collaboration with the Waterloo Regional Police will develop an extensive data collection system across all police-citizen interactions, including the use of force, stop and question, traffic stops, charges, arrests and releases to support a more holistic approach to addressing instances of systemic racism within the service.

鈥淭he Waterloo Regional Police Service are thinking ahead. They want to better understand how to collect and use race-related data and analyze it to identify concrete measures for addressing systemic racism,鈥� says Jacobs, a professor emeritus at York鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) and the York Research Chair in Human Rights and Access to Justice. Jacobs is also vice-president of research and innovation at Ontario Tech University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

With Foster, a professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration at LA&PS, director of the Institute for Social Research and the York Research Chair in Black Canadian Studies & Human Rights, the duo is more than equipped to support the Waterloo police. They are the principal architects behind the 2017 , which aims to identify and monitor systemic racism and racial disparities within the public sector. The act outlines what race-related data can be collected and how it can be used. It is the first and only race data standard in Canada.

The act continues to serve as an important milestone in Canada because it emphasizes the importance of disaggregating data to identify patterns of systemic racial disparities. It has significance for many public sectors but has relevance for the justice sector, including police services in Ontario.

The first major project by Foster and Jacobs was a comparative research analysis with police forces in Ottawa and this created a landmark racial profiling study, which took place from 2013 to 2015. This was followed by a second study from 2016 to 2019, with each study collecting about 125,000 traffic stops for a combined data set of 250,000. The dataset has since increased multifold and continues to grow.

They have also worked with the Toronto Police Services on a project focused exclusively on racial disparities in the use of force incidents. Their Waterloo, York and Peel police service collaborations went beyond the use of force to examine racial disparities and bias across all police-civilian interactions to better understand how race data research could be used to find concrete measures for addressing systemic racism.

鈥淏efore these collaborations, police services didn鈥檛 systematically collect race data, so their findings were colour blind. Groups, particularly those in government, begin to recognize that if they truly wanted to eliminate systemic racism in society, they needed to collect data that could help them to advance racial equity,鈥� says Foster.

The disaggregated race data provides a starting point for police services to look constructively from an evidentiary perspective. Foster and Jacobs take a two-pronged approach to their research collaborations with the police departments.

鈥淥ur research methodologies are distinctive because we鈥檙e very committed to the idea that if race data is collected, it has to be made public. Secondly, it is important to involve racialized communities and to talk to them about what they want from the research project so we can better address what the community needs,鈥� says Jacobs. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not replaying the past and laying blame, but about figuring out how to make the future better.鈥�

鈥淥ur research points to a baseline that enables people to have a constructive rather than polemical dialogue,鈥� adds Foster.

While each police service in Ontario is different, Foster and Jacobs have identified similarities, particularly with recommendations on specific training and other strategies that will benefit the departments, including the use of early warning technology 鈥� a data-based police management tool that detects officers who display problematic behaviour, body-worn cameras and targets for reducing racial profiling in traffic stops.

鈥淥ne recommendation we made for Ottawa, which had a disproportionately high number of traffic stops among Black and Middle-Eastern males, ages 16 to 24, was to create a target to bring down traffic stops for those groups by 20 per cent per year,鈥� explains Foster.

Their key recommendation, however, is police departments should continue to collect and analyze race data in the future.

鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the progress that Les and I have made with police forces in Ontario. It is not an insignificant change. In the end, our research will make our society a little more inclusive and bring the justice sector closer to eliminating systemic racism and discrimination, and advancing racial equity,鈥� says Foster.

The post Researchers help Canada鈥檚 largest police services eliminate racial profiling in policing appeared first on YFile.

By Krista Davidson 

Toronto鈥檚 city-wide rental housing shortage has created significant barriers for post-secondary students in securing safe and affordable housing. While strong demand for student housing has prompted the development of luxury condo-style private residences in recent years, many students find the new private student accommodations expensive and beyond reach. As a result, many students attending Toronto academic institutions must work multiple jobs and hustle to pay expensive rents. Others are subjected to precarious and informal rental agreements that preclude them from tenants鈥� rights and expose them to hazards such as overcrowding and unsafe living arrangements. 

The research, published in , examines the experiences of 139 students attending Toronto鈥檚 four universities (OCAD University, Ryerson University, University of Toronto and 快播视频) through focus groups that took place in 2018 and 2019. The focus groups identified students鈥� experiences with housing, including how students accessed housing, their preferences, and how their housing situation impacted their academic standing, as well as their mental health and economic well-being.

The research, which is supported with funding from the presidents of the four Toronto Universities through the StudentDwellTO project and a Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant, found that inadequate housing experiences affect students to the degree that it significantly impacted their quality of living. Although student status is assumed as a full-time occupation, many students spend an inordinate amount of time in the 鈥渉ustle economy,鈥� juggling multiple part-time jobs, complex responsibilities, and trying to address their housing insecurity and financial stress.

Furthermore, it found that student housing struggles were normalized and forced students to be resourceful in securing basic housing needs. The research found that housing struggles further marginalized students and reproduced social hierarchies in class, gender racialized and ageist divides. 

鈥淔or years, we have turned a blind eye on the living situations of students, sometimes with the belief that students who live in inadequate conditions must 鈥榩ay their dues,鈥� or that it is a 鈥榬ite of passage.鈥� The research shows that for many students 鈥� including those from low-income backgrounds 鈥� the housing hustle has become a central part of their university experience. Given Toronto鈥檚 expensive rentals, many young people may continue living 鈥榟ouse poor鈥� following their graduation,鈥� says Sotomayor.

The research debunks common presumptions about post-secondary students that take for granted parental economic support and homogenous middle-class backgrounds.

鈥淪tudents are a particularly vulnerable group in the housing landscape because they don鈥檛 have strong housing rights or a voice in planning processes and policies that affect them. Their identities are often generalized as middle-class, yet many students are first generation or from very marginalized households,鈥� adds Sotomayor. 鈥淪tudents are also less likely than other groups to find the support they need from politicians or cities. While students contribute substantially to the economic, social and cultural life of the city, they are essentially invisible to local governments.鈥� 

Research calls for more support and involvement for student housing options

The paper calls on universities to advocate on behalf of students, as well as engage students to have a say in planning and policy related to student housing. Universities and municipalities need to work together to prioritize and license rooming houses around campus to ensure students have safety and affordability.   

鈥淎s a society, we are very focused on home ownership and students are often overlooked because they don鈥檛 participate in the market as homeowners. We tend to overlook people who pay rent and perceive them as transient, but those are precisely the housing needs we need to focus on,鈥� explains Sotomayor.

As a result, more student-led groups have organized for better student housing. One such group, the York Village Housing Association, which constitutes students, provides up-to-date information to incoming and other students on how students can secure affordable and safe housing, and what to look out for when renting. 

Some cities, such as Montreal, have demonstrated success in safe, affordable housing for students through co-operatives that enable students to share in the responsibility of house maintenance. Other recommendations include intergenerational initiatives, in which students live with seniors and pay low-cost rent in exchange for providing support around the home. 

Research that contributes to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals 

The research and advocacy work in supporting affordable student housing supports the University鈥檚 goals in elevating York鈥檚 contributions to the UNSDGs, specifically, SDG 1 which calls for mobilizing policies to end poverty, ensure equal rights to resources and build resilience of the poor from all kinds of disasters. 

鈥淚f students鈥� needs aren鈥檛 met, it can impact housing for other groups. Students often share housing and split the rent. This can outbid others, including seniors and low-income families that rely on affordable housing,鈥� says Sotomayor.

The post University students in Toronto experience exploitation and discrimination in housing options聽 appeared first on YFile.

By Elaine Smith

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Faculty of Science mathematics and statistics Professor Jianhong Wu has been working non-stop with both federal and provincial agencies and a National Modelling Task Force to project the spread of the disease and its variants throughout the country 鈥� a testament to both his expertise and 快播视频鈥檚 leadership in mathematical modelling.

Wu, a Distinguished Research Professor at 快播视频, is one of Canada鈥檚 most prolific researchers for publications in COVID-19 and mathematical modelling and joins several other York faculty members who helped lead the way with research in the area (SciVal, 2021).

It鈥檚 nothing new to Wu, who is . He was tasked in 2003 with leading a national network of mathematicians and researchers to model the path of SARS-1. In 2020, the Fields Institute asked him to organize a national modelling Task Force for COVID-19, and he responded to the call by simply reactivating and expanding the network.

鈥淥ver the last two decades, my research time has been spent on establishing and leading national teams from one pandemic to another,鈥� says Wu, whose work focused on big data and neural networks prior to the SARS outbreak.

Sitting on multiple provincial, national and international panels, Wu is also a member of the Ontario Modelling Consensus Table that builds consensus 鈥� using research results of multiple modelling teams from across Ontario universities 鈥� about the projected COVID-19 cases and the disease burden on the health system under a range of intervention scenarios. This consensus has been providing critical data to inform the government鈥檚 policy about closures and re-openings: how to do so and how quickly to do so. By integrating mathematical modelling and stochastic optimization, Wu鈥檚 group suggested optimal pathways and likely scenarios for escalating or de-escalating social distancing, and estimated the costs and benefits of each 鈥� factoring in economics and mental health.

鈥淔rom SARS-1 onward, we鈥檝e been working with a variety of stakeholders on collecting data of population contacts, drug resistance, vaccine efficacies, waning and vaccination priorities, and health-care system,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淭he data quality and accessibility has been much improved in Ontario this time, as well as the co-ordination of efforts from different research groups. Each of these modelling teams has a different collection of expertise and that helps cross-validation, which is important when the disease moves so fast and our knowledge about the disease advances fast.鈥�

Wu鈥檚 group has also incorporated artificial intelligence into its work, facilitating the real-time processing of 鈥渢he huge amount of data to identify vulnerable populations and hot spots."

鈥淎I and Mathematics don鈥檛 have emotion, and they allow us to think several steps ahead,鈥� says Wu, 鈥渂ut with the disease moving so fast, it has been a challenge to convince the decision makers to take a proactive approach rather than being reactive, and, unfortunately, sometimes with a delay.鈥�

Being at the forefront of pandemic modelling isn鈥檛 something Wu anticipated when he arrived at 快播视频. Born in China, he came to Canada to pursue post-doctoral research in Alberta with an international expert in mathematical biology. He joined York鈥檚 Department of Mathematics and Statistics in 1990 and became the nation鈥檚 youngest Senior Canada Research Chair in 2001. Some of his ongoing research concerns the impact of Lyme disease. He is working to predict the tick-borne infection risk worldwide and looking at how its trajectory is being affected by global warming. In 2017, he was awarded the , and has been leading a large York-Sanofi collaboration to evaluate the cost and benefits of various immunization programs.

His research interest includes big data and informational analytics, and he is the funding co-chair for a major global conference on this topic.

鈥淒uring peaceful times, it鈥檚 my hobby,鈥� he says.

However, these aren鈥檛 peaceful times and COVID-19 is currently a priority. Wu鈥檚 stellar work serves to demonstrate York鈥檚 impact on COVID modelling, which will continue to support efforts for future outbreaks and pandemics, COVID-19 related or otherwise.

鈥淒uring a pandemic like this, our theories confront reality,鈥� Wu says 鈥� and big data analytics is a part of his tool kit.

The post Projecting COVID鈥檚 trajectory all in day鈥檚 work for leading York researcher appeared first on YFile.

By Elaine Smith

As 快播视频鈥檚 hub for entrepreneurs and startups, YSpace is committed to fostering innovation in its many forms and stages.

鈥淲e develop programs to help companies get launched and develop traction,鈥� says Nafis Ahmed, entrepreneurship manager for YSpace, which, to date, has supported 410 ventures that have generated $33.8 million in revenue and created 606 jobs. 鈥淲e have credibility and a network of relationships that we鈥檝e been building for five years that can assist. Once a company joins YSpace, they are part of a select community and can connect with each other and with mentors at any time.鈥�

Increasingly, YSpace programs draw international companies seeking a foothold in Canada in food service, technology and other sectors.

鈥淕iven Toronto鈥檚 diversity of cultures and the Greater Toronto Area鈥檚 growing reputation as the leading Canadian entrepreneurial hub, it is an extremely attractive proposition for international businesses interested in breaking into the North American marketplace,鈥� says Amir Asif, York's vice-president of research and innovation.

Enhancing internationalization is a major priority and a multipronged effort at the University.

鈥淚nternationalization and global engagement include supporting global entrepreneurship. YSpace is a perfect vehicle for making that happen,鈥� adds Vinitha Gengatharan, executive director of York International, the University鈥檚 globalization arm.

YSpace began its international outreach in 2020 with an accelerator program for Chilean food and beverage companies eager for an introduction to the Canadian marketplace. YSpace worked with the Pro-Chile Trade Commission to mentor startups entering the United States about the differences in marketing their products in Canada.

鈥淭he companies said they wished they had received similar guidance when they were trying to get traction in the United States,鈥� says Judy Chang, YSpace program adviser. 鈥淯nderstanding the cultural nuances and different regulations is invaluable.

鈥淎s we helped the Chilean companies, we realized we could apply this knowledge to other countries by offering similar workshops, mentorship and a networking-cum-pitch opportunity."

YSpace tailors its approach to working with newcomers 鈥� whether they are startups or mature small enterprises 鈥� to their needs. The hub鈥檚 recent work with Korean companies, for instance, grew out of an inquiry from an entrepreneur with a Korean background who connected YSpace with the Korean Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA)

KOTRA asked YSpace to put together a 12-week program focusing on assisting Korean companies to validate an approach to the Canadian marketplace, engage in conversations with potential investors and understand the appropriate way to sell products to local consumers. The program also included a mentorship component, giving each company the opportunity to work one-to-one with a successful entrepreneur who could review their plans.

鈥淭he ultimate goals we set for them were to determine if Canada was a good market for them and what they could bring to Canada was unique,鈥� says Ahmed. 鈥淥nce they decided it would be viable, we wanted them to create a pilot for building a customer base.鈥�

Ellen Kim, research analyst and project associate at KOTRA Toronto, says, 鈥淲e developed a great partnership with YSpace by co-hosting the 2021 Canada Acceleration Program for Korean startups. The YSpace team and community have actively offered amazing support to the Korean startups so they can have better ideas about entering the Canadian market. Mentors from YSpace have built such a meaningful relationship with each Korean startup, which contributed a lot to the success of our three-month program. Unlimeat and HeyIam 鈥� two promising Korean startups 鈥� found great partners and business connections in Canada by joining this program.

鈥淲e hope our partnership strengthens the bilateral ties between Korea and Canada,鈥� adds Kim.

The KOTRA program culminated in a pitch evening for five companies 鈥� one food services company and four technology businesses 鈥� that offered them the opportunity to test their offerings and their newly acquired understanding of the Canadian business milieu with investors. Now, these companies are fine-tuning their offerings based on the feedback they received and deciding when or if they will enter the Canadian marketplace.

鈥淚t was a great opportunity for KOTRA to co-operate with YSpace in 2021,鈥� says Sunjoon Mun, manager of KOTRA Toronto. 鈥淲e hope many Korean startups find their business opportunities in Canada with the continuous support of YSpace."

The team at YSpace encourages international startups to take advantage of their offerings.

鈥淏y working with us, startups new to the Canadian market gain access to reliable resources and a vetted network of mentors and supporters,鈥� says David Kwok, director of YSpace. 鈥淲e have an exclusive  with over 30 different offerings unique to our members.

鈥淥ur roster of experts and seasoned entrepreneurs comprises people who are community driven. These vetted networks will provide pro-bono support. Meanwhile, working with the University provides companies new to the Canadian marketplace a level of credibility with potential partners and access to top talent,鈥� says Kwok.

Kwok says that in addition to its training programs, YSpace can connect startups with policymakers or government for additional insight on procurement processes and also put them in touch with a steady stream of York talent from more than 100 countries, pursuing a wide range of professional or research-oriented programs, and at various stages in their careers.

鈥淲e continue to refine and tune our own systems and strategies to help international companies better in the long run,鈥� adds Kwok.

YSpace is York鈥檚 entrepreneurship hub at Innovation York in the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. Innovation York facilitates and maximizes the commercial, economic and social impacts of research and innovation, and creates a culture of engaged scholarship and experiential learning. Visit to learn more.

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The award is given annually by The Marshall McLuhan Initiative that was affiliated for its first decade (2007-17) with St Paul鈥檚 College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. The University of Manitoba is Marshall McLuhan鈥檚 first post-secondary alma mater, where he earned the Gold Medal in Arts for 1933 and an MA in English literature in 1934.

Powe was nominated by Adjunct Professor at Gonzaga University Alexander Kuskis, publisher of the since 2010 鈥� the official blog of the .

"Indeed, I can think of no one better qualified among the Marshall McLuhan community of interest at this time, because of his numerous published books, several of which directly deal with Marshall McLuhan, with whom he had studied at the University of Toronto; because of his teaching of McLuhan鈥檚 visionary commentaries on culture, technology, and media; and because of his contributions to the worldwide McLuhan community through his presentations, writings, participations in conferences, symposia, public presentations, and media appearances," Kuskis wrote in a letter to nominate Powe. "He follows Marshall McLuhan in being an exemplary public intellectual."

Powe has been teaching in the English Department at 快播视频 since 1995. He is a writer, poet, novelist, essayist and critic. His influential writings on Marshall McLuhan, Northrop Frye and Pierre Trudeau have been widely praised, as have his poetry and novels, including Outage and These Shadows Remain, longlisted for the ReLit Prize. His current research has been into visionary and mystical traditions. He has also been involved in literacy initiatives involving both 快播视频 and Frontier College.

Powe is a fellow of the McLuhan Centre at the University of Toronto, as well as an honorary member of the High Table at Massey College.

Kuskis goes on to note he met Powe 25 years ago when he attended a convention Powe organized at 快播视频 called "Marshall McLuhan: What If He Was Right?" He notes that by that time, he had read several of Powe's early published books, and has followed up with every published book of his thereafter to the present day.

"B.W. deserves to be better-known, as at present he is one of the best unheralded Canadian authors in this country," wrote Kuskis. Recognition with this award would reflect Powe's total body of work, and not just for writing books and articles but also for his teaching, scholarly activity, McLuhan community engagement, public appearances, presentations and book readings, he said.

"I sincerely hope that this year鈥檚 Medium and the Light Award can reward him for his lifetime of hard work, commitment, and considerable achievements," said Kuskis.

The award winner will be announced during the 23rd Annual Convention of the Media Ecology Association (MEA) this summer.

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