“You are the most important generation in history. If you don’t get it right, nobody after you will.”
That was the challenge issued to 140 U of T Engineering students by Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Honourable Glen Murray, on March 30.
Engineers think differently, he explained. “What you think is important, are things that others wouldn’t even think of.”
It is that kind of mind- and skill-set, he went on to say, that allows engineers to innovate, prosper in the marketplace, and change Canada’s economy – even the world. It all starts with an idea.
Minister Murray’s remarks were part of a special seminar called myPatent. Organized by the Electrical & Computer Engineering Leaders of Tomorrow working group (ECE LOT), myPatent is an opportunity to guide and inspire students to take their ideas beyond the lab and into the marketplace through a series of workshops and seminars.
In addition to Minister Murray, students heard from a variety of dynamic speakers, including:
- Peter Fonseca, former Ontario Minister of Labour and Minister of Tourism;
- Wilson Teixeira, President of WAT Group Inc. and Able Translations Ltd.;
- Adjunct Professor Joseph Orozco, Director of U of T Engineering’s The Entrepreneurship Hatchery; and,
- Hadi (ECE 1T2) and Marwan Aladdin (ECE 1T1), Co-founders of CoursePeer Inc. and Angstron Technologies Inc.
U of T Engineering’s enriched undergraduate experience has helped students such as Hadi Aladdin, the Mentorship Chair for ECE LOT, become a full-fledged entrepreneur. Aladdin created myPatent this fall to help students succeed in the marketplace, whether it be advice on filing a patent, prototyping or starting a business.
“You can’t learn business, you can only learn from the mistakes other people made in the business world,” said Aladdin. “I wanted the series to be a concentrated dose of practical advice from the experience we gained.”
“We at U of T Engineering recognize the important contributions that our researchers and students – both former and present – can make to Ontario’s knowledge economy,” said Acting Dean Yu-Ling Cheng, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, who opened the session.
“First, we educate and inspire a new generation of leaders who will bring their skills, knowledge and passions into the marketplace and society. Second, the research and discovery that is generated here can create new businesses, new industries and new possibilities,” she said.
The advice coming from speakers at the March 30 session was practical, but also inspirational. As Minister Murray concluded, “You’re the best educated generation, you live in the most open society in Canada, and have access to the best technology. We’re counting on you to go out and change the world.”
Neural imaging – maps of brain functions – is a primary tool used by researchers hoping to transform the lives of people living with chronic neurological conditions such as epilepsy. At present, researchers often require several different imaging techniques to fully map brain functions, making research and treatment of these conditions expensive and inefficient.
Using cutting-edge illumination technology, Professor Ofer Levi and his research students from the Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) and The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) have developed a new cost-effective neural imaging system. It allows researchers to make much more complex maps of the brain with just one camera and one imaging system. The team’s initial findings, released this week in Biomedical Optics Express, demonstrate that this new technology may one day transform the way researchers view the human brain.
Developed from the same technology that lights up our cell phones and computers, this unique system uses Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSEL): low-cost, easily tested, miniature microchip lasers mounted on an extremely fast, sensitive camera, which allows the operator to switch the lasers on and off with extraordinary speed and precision. This rapid light manipulation (at a rate of approximately 1x/millisecond) means that the brain can be mapped with greater sophistication and precision – much more quickly. Results published in Professor Levi’s article, for instance, demonstrate that this imaging technology is able to classify both veins and arteries simultaneously – something never before accomplished.
Hart Levy, co-author of the article and recent graduate of ECE and IBBME, looks forward to seeing the results of further testing. “It’s amazing to develop something that’s going to be used to help people,” he said.
Professor Levi asserts that this new, “agile system” is only the beginning; he plans to adapt the technology into a portable model, which would enable researchers to conduct studies with “freely behaving,” or non-anesthetized, animals. While other portable neural mapping systems already exist, Professor Levi’s multi-modality technology mean that blood flow, oxygenation and florescence – the three components of the human brain that researchers look at, which currently requires three different imaging systems – can be mapped simultaneously.
Professor Levi’s research collaborators, IBBME Professor Tom Chau, Dr. Peter Carlen at Toronto Western Hospital, Dr. Taufik Valiant at Toronto Western Hospital, and Dr. Bojana Stefanovic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, are keeping a close eye on this technology towards its potential future applications. Dr. Carlen’s lab, for example, participated in experiments to map epileptic seizures in living animals. Although this new technology requires further testing, Dr. Carlen said, “its potential is enormous and exciting.”
Professor Levi’s imaging system may someday enable researchers to pinpoint metabolic changes in the brain that occur just moments prior to an epileptic seizure, or may help doctors map the brain’s “areas of eloquence,” those areas that need to remain untouched, prior to surgery on epileptic patients. Currently these areas are mapped electrically, over sometimes-extended periods of time and with great discomfort to the patient.
Other applications may include helping researchers create brain-interface technology that would allow researchers “to decode [disabled children’s] intentions in the absence of speech and gestures,” said Professor Chau in a statement. Professor Levi and his former U of T graduate student, Elizabeth Munro (IBBME MASc 0T9), submitted a patent for the new technology adaptations through the University of Toronto Innovation Group in January.
Civil Engineering Professor Emeritus Ezra Hauer explained why he feels older drivers have an unfair reputation as bad drivers in the latest issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
In the paper, Professor Hauer argued that the only groups to have 10 or more accidents for every million miles (or 1,609,000 kms) they drive are those under 19 or over 82 years old. Though older drivers involved in an accident have a higher fatality rate than other drivers, Professor Hauer argues that is likely due to elderly drivers being frailer than the rest of the population.
Speaking to Bloomberg Businessweek, Professor Hauer explained that data surrounding elderly drivers are skewed by a variety of factors. “Old farts that we are, we also tend to report the accidents more often. Young bucks tend not to report,” Professor Hauer told Bloomberg reporter Ashlee Vance.
You can read the full story on the Bloomberg Businessweek website, as well as subsequent stories from The Toronto Star and the International Business Times.
A research team led by University of Toronto Professor Hoi-Kwong Lo has found a new quantum encryption method to foil even the most sophisticated hackers. The discovery is outlined in the latest issue of Physical Review Letters.
Quantum cryptography is, in principle, a foolproof way to prevent hacking. It ensures that any attempt by an eavesdropper to read encoded communication data will lead to disturbances that can be detected by the legitimate users. Therefore, quantum cryptography allows the transmission of an unconditionally secure encryption key between two users, “Alice” and “Bob,” in the presence of a potential hacker, “Eve.” The encryption key is communicated using light signals and is received using photon detectors. The challenge is that Eve can intercept and manipulate these signals.
“Photon detectors have turned out to be an Achilles’ heel for quantum key distribution (QKD), inadvertently opening the door to subtle side-channel attacks, most famously quantum hacking,” wrote Dr. Charles Bennett, a research fellow at IBM and the co-inventor of quantum cryptography.
When quantum hacking occurs, light signals subvert the photon detectors, causing them to only see the photons that Eve wants Bob to see. Indeed, earlier research results by Professor Lo and independent work by Dr. Vadim Makarov of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have shown how a clever quantum hacker can hack commercial QKD systems.
Now, Professor Lo and his team have come up with a simple solution to the untrusted device problem. Their method is called “Measurement Device Independent QKD.” While Eve may operate the photon detectors and broadcast measurement results, Bob and Alice no longer have to trust those measurement results. Instead, Bob and Alice can simply verify Eve’s honesty by measuring and comparing their own data. The aim is to detect subtle changes that occur when quantum data is manipulated by a third party.
Specifically, in Measurement Device Independent QKD, the two users send their signals to an untrusted relay – “Charlie” – who might possibly be controlled by Eve. Charlie performs a joint measurement on the signals, providing another point of comparison.
“A surprising feature is that Charlie’s detectors can be arbitrarily flawed without compromising security,” says Professor Lo. “This is because, provided that Alice and Bob’s signal preparation processes are correct, they can verify whether Charlie or Eve is trustworthy through the correlations in their own data following any interaction with Charlie/Eve.”
A proof-of-concept measurement has already been performed. Professor Lo and his team are now developing a prototype measurement device independent QKD system, which they expect will be ready within five years.
As a result of implementing this new method, quantum cryptography’s Achilles’ heel in the fight against hackers has been resolved. Perhaps, a quantum jump in data security has now been achieved.
Professor Lo is a faculty member in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Department of Physics. His team includes Senior Research Associate Dr. Bing Qi, who is based in Professor Lo’s laboratory, and Professor Marcos Curty of the University of Vigo in Spain.
You can read the paper by visiting this link.
On March 27, U of T recognized students for their outstanding extra-curricular contributions to improving the university’s community with the 2012 Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Awards. The Faculty of Applied Sciences & Engineering is pleased to present the 17 U of T Engineering students who were celebrated for their leadership.
As President of Engineers Without Borders at the U of T, Amir has been involved in key issues such as international development and poverty. He has played a major role in supporting new leadership programs in engineering and Engineering Science.
As Founder and Chair of the Social Change and Youth Challenge, Michelle organized a two-day conference to educate young people about the complexities of global challenges and their capacity to create change in their local communities. She was also Co-President of Engineers Without Borders.
Janice piloted the Engineers Without Borders Volunteer Program, which recruited more than 60 students to commit to a minimum of 10 hours of volunteer work. She organized activities for young children to help demystify engineering, especially for girls.
As President of the Engineering Society, David represents 4,800 students and helps administer a budget of more than $1 million. He spearheaded the development of a website that allows all students to view past exams and courses, which is now used by most U of T Engineering undergraduates.
As Chair of the Industrial Engineering Club, Stephanie oversees all academic, social and professional events run by the club. As a volunteer she helped raise $50,000 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, including organizing its Walk of Smiles event.
Damian’s motto of “getting involved, taking risks and being committed” is exemplified by his many activities, including Ombudsman for the Engineering Society, co-editor of the Frosh Handbook, a senior worker during orientation week and as a paddler for the Dragonboat team.
Tulika has organized Women in Science & Engineering workshops dealing with scholarships, and working with Engineers Without Borders, she has educated high school students on issues of poverty and water scarcity.
Moontasir considers Innis College his home-away-from-home. He was elected to the Residence council as Senior House Representative, then as Vice-President and is now Executive Social Director. He founded the Innis engineering mentorship program and helps to organize numerous extra-curricular activities, including house Olympics, Film Club and the College’s Christmas fundraiser.
Sami has created a real sense of community as Chair of the Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Council by participating in the Leaders of Tomorrow program that included a university-wide debate on a carbon tax. He also founded the Chem Book Program for first-year students.
Wayne co-founded a non-profit group called Nspire Innovation Network which held a national business and technology conference where inspirational leaders such as Harry Rosen and Isadore Sharp spoke. And he helped create Skule™ Points, an incentive system for Engineering students.
Graham is an innovative volunteer and organizer for the Chemical Engineering Graduate Students’ Association. He was a key contributor to the success of the graduate-student recruitment weekend and both his commitment and enthusiasm are contagious in the department.
Andrew’s extra-curricular activity is as diverse as it is extraordinary. He’s head of the U of T chapter of World Vision, musical director of the Engineering jazz band, plays in the brass quintet and hockey on the Innis College intramural team, and volunteers at a weekly soup kitchen.
Marc has made the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering a more inclusive place. He chaired a national conference on women in engineering and as president of the LGBTQ group in the faculty, has brought visibility to a marginalized sector of the engineering population.
Wen led the design team for Tetra, a volunteer organization that develops assistive devices for the disabled. And in her role as Director of seminars for the Sustainable Engineers Association, she spearheaded a series for students on sustainable development.
As the director of Skule™ Nite, Jonathan led a team of more than 100 students and helped nurture their creative contributions. He was the writer and creator of the Engineering Science Dinner Dance video and has organized orientation and Godiva week events.
Kathryn has been a student ambassador for the mechanical engineering program and is currently the only female engineering Don at New College. She has been an advocate of the Professional Experience Year (PEY) internship program, an executive member of Skule™ Orchestra and a writer for The Cannon newspaper.
Sabrina co-founded the Curriculum Enhancement program at Engineers Without Borders, which reached 2,100 students to promote critical thinking and design of appropriate technology in the curriculum. She has been class representative for two years and was a member of the Academic Board.
With the lights up and curtains parted, March 14 meant it was time to get Skule™ Nite 1T2 started.
From opening night to March 17, bursts of laughter and loud cheers emanated from the Hart House Theatre. The room was brimming with students, faculty, staff, alumni and proud parents – all brought together to watch the cast and crew pour their hearts out on stage.
Skule™ Nite has become a much-beloved U of T Engineering tradition, and one of the biggest annual events on campus. This year marks the 91st anniversary of the student-run musical revue and comedy sketch show, and they most certainly did not disappoint.
Cast and crew – most of whom were from U of T Engineering, but also included students from Law and Arts & Science – weaved together a show that featured students in programmable glow-in-the-dark suits, 10 expertly conducted musical numbers and 22 hilarious sketches that even saw engineering programs battle each other as super heroes.
As the program pamphlet warns viewers: “Skule™ Nite is written with the sole purpose of making laughs and dropping jaws,” the show saw them making fun of engineering students’ fear of failing exams, the seemingly impossible deadlines, the rivalries between programs and light-hearted jabs at Arts & Science students.
Skule™ Nite is a remarkable feat, considering students were balancing heavy course-work while undertaking a large production that had them attending to every minute detail, from sketch writing, orchestra arranging, to light designing, to choreography, to costume sewing, and even vocal directing.
“It’s honestly like nothing else I’ve ever experienced,” said Jonny Sun (EngSci 1T1 + PEY), Skule™ Nite Director. He and the Skule™ Nite members had been crafting the show since last May. And on the weekend before their big debut, they performed four run-throughs of the two-and-a-half hour show.
After nearly a year’s worth of work to get Skule™ Nite perfect, it was no wonder that the highlight for Sun was the curtain going up on opening night. “There’s something really special about hearing the audience react to something you’ve worked on for so long, for the first time,” he said, adding, “The opportunity to do something this creative is so great and valuable in engineering, and I loved every minute of working on this show.”