Harpreet Dhariwal, a passionate advocate for the use of technology to support student learning, passed away on September 25 following a recent illness.

Dhariwal, who served as Instructional Technology Specialist in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering since 2009 and worked for the University for 23 years, is being remembered for his genuine enthusiasm for his work and dedication to U of T Engineering.

“He was always willing to lend a helping hand and collaborate with others. Harpreet brought a sense of passion to what he did and won our Faculty’s Emerging Leader award this past spring, an honour that was truly deserved,” said Engineering Dean Cristina Amon.

That award recognized Dhariwal for his outstanding leadership in leveraging new developments in technology to benefit Engineering instructors and students. He not only implemented new technology but helped faculty members imagine and achieve innovative ways of using technology to improve teaching and learning.

Among the innovations Dhariwal introduced was the use of lecture capture technology, which allows instructors to record course lectures, including both slides and the lecturer simultaneously, for students to review again later. He remarked at the time that he was “… really enjoying this. I feel like we are pioneering a very exciting project, and it has been rewarding to have students and instructors come back to me with such positive feedback.”

Dhariwal was committed to studying the impact technology can have on student learning. He co-authored three academic papers on the use of technology in the classroom and presented on the subject at conferences in Canada and internationally. He was also instrumental in organizing the Engineering Educational Technology Workshop at U of T in May 2011.

Dr. Avi Hyman, U of T’s Director of Academic & Collaborative Technologies, and Institutional Strategist for Academic Technologies at the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation, remembers Dhariwal’s commitment to collaboration.

“Over the past few years, our work increasingly overlapped, and I am grateful for the advice and support Harpreet gave me. He was definitely a go-to guy. I even had a chance to travel with him to a conference not that long ago, and I am very happy that we got a chance to get to know each other on a more personal level,” said Hyman.

Dhariwal was first hired as a Computer System Analyst in 1989, where he worked in the Office of the Vice President, Development and University Relations. He also worked in Student Information Systems before moving to U of T Engineering in 1996. There, he worked in a variety of capacities, including as Manager of the Center for Computer Integrated Engineering and Senior IT Manager for Engineering Computing Facilities, before becoming the Faculty’s first Instructional Technology Specialist in 2009.

To honour his memory, the University of Toronto’s flags will be lowered to half-mast on all three campuses on September 28, when Dhariwal’s life will be celebrated in a funeral service with friends and family in attendance.

A small instrument resembling a mini-chocolate grater may not look like much to the untrained eye, but an object like this is a glimpse into the future of medicine.

On October 10, as part of its 50th Anniversary celebration, the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) is hosting ‘Tomorrow’s Technology Showcase,’ a world’s fair of biomedical engineering devices at the frontier of medicine.

The showcase is a part of a free, one-day international symposium, ‘Defining Tomorrow: Advancing the Integration of Engineering and Medicine.’

The event brings to Toronto speakers such as James Fawcett of Cambridge University, a world-leading researcher on nervous system and spinal cord repair, and Miguel Nicolelis of Duke University, a pioneer in neural interfaces for overcoming paralysis.

International thinkers will present alongside the incredible talent U of T has to offer, including engineering Professors Milos Popovic (IBBME) and Molly Shoichet (ChemE/IBBME), to name a few.

But not everything about the day will be academic.

Sponsored by the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI),  companies such as GE Healthcare, STEM CELL, and Octane Biotech, as well as IBBME’s commercialization partners, not-for-profit organizations CCRM and (UHN’s) Techna, will display biomedical devices that will define our future.

The ‘Aggrewell,’ something looking like a cross between a penny holder and a grater, is one such device. Developed by a former IBBME Research Associate as a tool to grow stem cells in uniform colonies, Aggrewell is currently produced by STEM CELL, a company that primarily sells products to scientists conducting stem cell research in areas such as cancer, heart disease and more.

Another  of the day’s presenters will be Interface Biologics Inc. (IBI), whose biomaterial product, Endexo™, has recently been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in AngioDynamic catheters in the United States.

The catheter is manufactured using a biomaterial developed by IBBME’s Director, Professor Paul Santerre.  The biomaterial reacts to the catheter in such a way that it prevents blood coagulation, virtually eliminating the risks of blood clots  – a serious danger for kidney dialysis patients, as an example – without drug additives.

Tomorrow’s Technology Showcase will be held at U of T’s Chestnut Conference Centre (89 Chestnut St.) on October 10, 2012.  Space is limited for this free event, so register early and before October 1.

Brazilian student Raphael de Abreu Alves e Silva’s priority during his upcoming year at U of T Engineering is to make friends. As the affable 25-year-old explains, engineering is about innovation and the best innovation is often a result of collaboration.

“At U of T, you see other cultures. And when you have more cultures, it’s better,” he said. “You can take the best of everyone’s approach. There’s not just one way to do things.” De Abreu Alves e Silva – one of about 40 international students attending a welcome breakfast on September 18 at the Galbraith Building – is a control and automation engineering student at the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo.

He is taking electrical engineering and business courses at U of T this academic year, thanks to the Brazilian government’s Science Without Borders program. The four-year program, launched in 2012, aims to send 100,000 Brazilian university students to study at top universities around the world.

This year, 700 students have come to Canada, with 129 choosing U of T, and the vast majority of those studying in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

“You have chosen a fantastic Faculty. We consistently place at number one in Canada,” U of T Engineering Dean Cristina Amon told the students in her welcoming remarks at the breakfast. “And we have a very strong position internationally. But what is most important is the ability we have to recruit you – students who are among the best and brightest in the world.”

Indeed, the Faculty is educating and developing global leaders, including those taking part in U of T’s international exchange program. U of T partners with 130 universities around the world, swapping students for various lengths of time.

“It gives them the confidence they can compete in the world and gives them a network of peers to potentially collaborate with,” said Miranda Cheng, Director for the Centre for International Experience. “They become our ambassadors when they go home.”

Speaking at the welcome breakfast, Swedish environmental engineering exchange student Sara Eriksson, said she chose to spend a semester here exploring chemical and mechanical engineering after reading rave reviews from other Lund University exchange students about their time at U of T.

The 22-year-old is still uncertain what she’ll do when she graduates in 2014, but she’s sure studying in a globally-recognized engineering program will give her an advantage no matter what she decides.

“I’ve heard so many good things about U of T Engineering. It has a good reputation around the world,” she said.

For 21-year-old Michael Thorn, a biomedical engineering student at Marquette University in Wisconsin, USA, the initial draw was U of T Engineering’s status as a world-class engineering university.

“I also looked over professors’ areas of expertise and research projects,” said Thorn, who will spend part of his term working with an engineering professor on the design for a medical device. Like Eriksson, Thorn has yet to decide on a career path but expects the interdisciplinary nature of study in the Faculty will help him narrow down options.

Meanwhile, de Abreu Alves e Silva said when he graduates in 2015, he is keen to continue in academia, getting his MA and PhD and perhaps becoming a professor or researcher himself. “Here is a good place to do research,” he said, smiling as he looked around the room at his fellow international students.

U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering kicked off their $200-million campaign with an ‘Afternoon of Engineering Innovation’ which showcased innovative, visionary and entrepreneurial ideas from students and faculty. The event, attended by more than 600 alumni, donors, faculty, students, staff and members of the Engineering community, featured lectures, industry panels with alumni, and student exhibits at Convocation Hall and the Bahen Centre.

Professor Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, announced the success to date of the Faculty’s campaign, which has already secured more than $80-million towards its $200-million goal – the largest-ever fundraising initiative for an engineering school in Canada. “U of T Engineering is Canada’s best engineering Faculty. Our goal is to build on our reputation for excellence, and establish ourselves into the very top ranks of the world’s leading institutions for engineering education, research and innovation,” said Amon. “This campaign will engage our global network of alumni and friends to build a preeminent Faculty that will nurture the U of T world-class engineer of tomorrow.” In her address, Amon outlined the campaign’s five areas of focus: developing global engineering leaders; nurturing engineering innovation and entrepreneurship; revolutionizing biomedical engineering and human health; advancing information communications technology; and reshaping the future of energy, the environment and sustainability.

Building the Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship is a core priority. Located on St. George Street, beside Simcoe Hall and Convocation Hall, the centre will be a landmark building at the University of Toronto. The nerve centre for the Faculty’s collaborative learning and interdisciplinary research, it will feature dynamic, flexible environments that foster collaboration, encourage active learning and accelerate innovation. “To continue attracting preeminent faculty and outstanding students we need to build an environment that fosters creativity and inspires 21st-century learning and innovation,” said Amon.

“Today’s campaign launch was a window on the kind of limitless innovation and creativity that takes place every day at U of T Engineering,” said David Palmer, U of T’s Vice-President of Advancement. He applauded campaign chair George Myhal (IndE 7T8) for his extraordinary leadership, and his generosity. Myhal, a U of T Engineering alumnus and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Partner of Brookfield Asset Management, has given a $5-million gift to the Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship. “I received an outstanding education from U of T that I am thankful for,” said Myhal. “Given changes to technology and its impact on our lives, engineering will have a higher profile and more importance in the world than when I was a student. It’s important for the Faculty to play a part in this new era for engineering.”

Dean Amon also recognized Bill (ChemE 6T7) and Kathleen Troost for their $2-million gift towards space for the Institute for Leadership  Education in Engineering (ILead). “Bill and Kathleen Troost’s gift will provide a home for ILead and allow leadership education at U of T Engineering to take a significant step forward,” she said.  She also acknowledged Peter Allen (CivE 6T2) for his $1-million gift to the new building. “Peter Allen believes in the vision for the Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and his gift is an inspiration to faculty, students and future donors,” said Amon. Dean Amon spoke of Paul Cadario (CivE 7T3) – who is a Distinguished Senior Fellow in Global Innovation at the Faculty and the Munk School for Global Affairs – for his dedication and his $1-million gift to the Centre for Global Engineering (CGEN). “Paul Cadario’s gift to CGEN is a reflection of his life’s work helping to build prosperous, sustainable and peaceful societies.” Also at the event, Dean Amon acknowledged Walter Curlook (MMS 5T0, MASc 5T1, PhD 5T3) who provided a $1-million gift toward lab space. “Walter Curlook’s gift will build vital state-of-the-art lab space benefiting our students and faculty.

The campaign for U of T Engineering is an integral part of U of T’s $2-billion Boundless campaign, which has secured more than $1.1-billion to date. Through the Boundless campaign, U of T seeks to address the pressing global challenges that affect us all, by preparing global leaders who have the skills to work across borders, boundaries and disciplines.

To find out more about the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering’s Boundless campaign and to read the case for support, visit:http://boundless.utoronto.ca/division/faculty-of-applied-science-engineering/

Professor Emeritus Levente Diosady (ChemE) has been named as one of 23 new Fellows of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST). Professor Diosady is the first chemical engineer to be inducted and one of only four Fellows from Canada.

Fellows of the academy exemplify the best minds of food science and technology internationally. It is composed of elected Fellows from all parts of the world and serves to promote high standards of ethics and scientific endeavours among food scientists and technologists.

It is also a source of information to support international activities related to food science and technology. The Academy acts in an advisory capacity to the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), a global scientific organization representing more than 200,000 food scientists and technologists from more than 70 countries.

Professor Diosady makes what little food exists count for more by fortifying food with micro-encapsulated nutrients. One of his successes was double-fortifying salt with iodine and iron, which cured a million children in India of anemia. Currently, he plans to develop a protein-enriched soft drink called LiveADE to be used in developing countries as a source of protein, micronutrients and safe drinking water.

Already celebrated as a trailblazer for women in engineering, U of T Engineering Dean Cristina Amon has been named one of Canada’s 25 most influential women by Women of Influence Magazine.

The recognition is designed to honour and celebrate women who have demonstrated, over the last year, strong and unyielding leadership in one of five distinct sectors. Dean Amon was recognized in the public sector category, where she joins Carol Stephenson, Dean of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University, and Karen Stintz, Toronto City Councillor and Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission, among others.

“I am honoured to be recognized as a woman of influence and be associated with these 24 remarkable and visionary women,” said Dean Amon. “For me, through this opportunity, I hope to serve as an example to young women who might be considering a career in engineering.”

The ranking was based solely on quantitative criteria. Nominees were ranked by a uniform system dependent on measurable factors, including how many boards they currently sit on, recent promotions and awards.

“Creating access to role models is the most compelling reason why these achievers must be celebrated,” explained Carolyn Lawrence, President and CEO of Women of Influence. “The women we profile have made an important impact in their chosen fields, and they are all using their influence to change the world, for the better. It is important that they are recognized because they serve as role models for Canadian women and girls.”

At U of T, Dean Amon has worked actively to promote Engineering to young women. This has been accomplished through a variety of outreach initiatives, including Skule™ Sisters, Go Eng Girl, and Women Empowered in Engineering.

“Few professions foster the spirit of innovation as engineering does, translating so many ideas into devices and technologies that improve people’s lives in meaningful ways. Today, perhaps more than at any time before, we can see how engineering has the power to influence every part of our world and aspect of our lives: engineering is driving economic development, engineering is driving biomedical innovation and engineering is the key to solutions for environmental sustainability,” said Dean Amon.

“These are exciting times for the engineering profession and we need many more engineers. However, to become an engineering student, a strong foundation in high school math and science is needed. Young women often have to overcome societal pressures to give up on math and science. Women can excel in both areas and young girls often have a blazing curiosity about how things work and a boundless creativity – both key characteristics of successful engineers. But, as they become teenagers, cultural pressures can encourage them to pretend not to be interested in math and science,” said Dean Amon.

For Dean Amon, a career in engineering was born out of an interest in how devices work at an early age.

“When I was a girl, I loved trying to discover how things worked. I took gadgets and gizmos apart. I remember once when I was five my parents had what I recall as a giant radio. It was as big as a 15-inch television. Once when they were out, I took it apart. I was convinced there were little people in there acting out the dramas, singing the songs and reading the commercials,” she said.

Prior to joining U of T in 2006 as Dean and Alumni Chair Professor in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Dean Amon was the Raymond J. Lane Distinguished Professor of Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research has advanced the engineering foundation of heat transfer enhancement by flow destabilization, nano-scale thermal transport in semi-conductors, and hemodynamics mass transport in biological systems. She has made pioneering contributions to concurrent thermal designs, innovation in electronics cooling and transient thermal management of wearable computers.

Dean Amon has delivered keynote lectures worldwide and contributed 12 book chapters, one textbook and more than 280 refereed articles in the education and research literature. She has served the engineering profession with exceptional dedication; her many roles have included Founding Chair of the Global Engineering Dean’s Council and Chair of AAAS Engineering. She was inducted into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Canadian Academy of Engineering, Spanish Royal Academy of Engineering, and Royal Society of Canada, and is a Fellow of several technical societies including AAAS, ASEE, ASME and IEEE.

Among her many awards and honours, Dean Amon has been recognized by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) with the 2011 SWE Achievement Award, the highest award given by the Society, for her outstanding contributions to the field of engineering over more than 20 years. She was also the recipient of the 2010 Award for the Support of Women by Engineers Canada, the 2011 YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction award and the 2009 ASME Heat Transfer Memorial Award.

You can vote for who will be on the cover of the special issue of Women of Influence Magazine, which will profile the top 25, starting today and ending on September 24. Visit the Women of Influence website  for more information and to vote.