The prestigious life sciences magazine, The Scientist, recently named Assistant Professor Milica Radisic of the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) and the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry (ChemE) as the “Scientist to Watch” for her research involving engineered cardiac tissue called the “heart patch.”
The idea for the heart patch first came to Radisic while working with rat stem cells as a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She applied an electric impulse to an individual cardiomyocyte and marveled at the results. Wondering if the same electric impulse would cause a group of cells to contract like a functioning heart, Radisic devised a system to supply oxygen to engineered cardiac tissue, and then applied electric stimulation. Eight days later, the culture of cells aligned and beat rhythmically like mature cardiac tissue.
Radisic is now applying the patch to cardiomycotes from human embryonic stem cells to make new tissue. She is also studying the patch’s ability to test new drugs and cell lines.
Highly respected by colleagues, Milica Radisic has earned an esteemed reputation as an innovative leader in her field and is known to be a great collaborator. At the age of 33, she has already made significant contributions to biomedical research, while at the same time raising a young family. She describes both her life in the lab and at home as very intense, but complementary.
Second-year Chemical Engineering student David Castelino has been named one of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20™ by Youth in Motion, a national charitable organization that develops and implements dynamic programs for youth.
Castelino was recognized for his development of a thin-film solar tile, which uses solar paint made from organic dyes to convert the sun’s rays into energy.
The development of this new technology began in grade five when Castelino, preparing for his first science fair, became interested in solar energy. Working with a solar kit purchased by his mother, Castelino started to explore how the sun’s rays were captured and made into a usable energy source.
“There has been a lot of focus on solar cells, but the biggest challenge is the cost and the ability to implement them in a wide-scale manner,” Castelino explained. This led him to begin exploring the use of organic solar cells as a less expensive alternative to traditional silicon-based cells, which in addition to being costly are more fragile.
As Castelino prepared for his grade 11 science fair, he focused on developing a more highly efficient organic solar cell that took its inspiration from plants, something he credits to his parents’ love of gardening. He struggled at times with the innovation until he was connected with University of Toronto Chemical Engineering Professor Tim Bender, whose research focuses on organic solar cells. That connection was facilitated by his sister, Rachel Castelino (ChemE 0T7+PEY), who was one of Bender’s students at the time.
In working with Bender, the younger Castelino developed a dye-sensitized solar cell that used natural plant pigments in place of synthesized dyes for converting light energy to electricity. As a result of his innovation, Castelino was able to build a cost-effective solar tile that could easily be manufactured in developing countries.
The invention not only won Castelino his local science fair, but led him to become a member of the 16-person Team Canada at the 2007 Intel International Science Fair in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There he was awarded a patent citation, which is recognition of original work by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, for his invention as well as Third Place in the Grand Award for Energy and Transportation.
Having just completed second year, Castelino is in the process of writing an academic article on his invention while exploring the possibility of obtaining a full patent. He is looking ahead to further research in the field through graduate studies.
“We are proud of David’s honour, and we congratulate him and his family,” said Professor Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “The world faces pressing challenges. David’s achievement demonstrates that U of T engineering students deliver innovative engineering solutions. It’s what engineers do, and what U of T engineers do best.”
This is the second time in the last two years that a student from the U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering has earned this prestigious recognition.
Top 20 Under 20™ is a national youth awards program presented by Youth in Motion, which celebrates and honours Canadians who have demonstrated a significant level of innovation, leadership and achievement but have not yet reached the age of 20.
Professor Emeritus Richard Soberman of the Department of Civil Engineering will present his ideas on how to improve transit in the GTA and across Canada at the 45th annual Canadian Transportation Research Forum in Toronto.
Soberman argues that transit needs to make a cultural shift, one that places customer needs first. In the past 25 years, population growth has far outpaced increases in the use of transit. Without a change in leadership style, says the retired department Chair, making a huge investment in a glitzy new transportation system won’t result in increased use by the public.
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This video was shown at the Engineers Canada Awards Gala in Vancouver on May 29, 2010. Video courtesy of Engineers Canada.
Engineers Canada honoured alumna Julie Payette (ECE, MASc. 9T0) with the Gold Medal Award.
In 1992, Julie Payette was selected by the Canadian Space Agency as one of four astronauts from a field of 5,330 applicants. She worked as a technical advisor for the Mobile Servicing System and flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1999. She served as Chief Astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency from 2000 to 2007, and visited the space station again in 2009 as a Mission Specialist aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. Julie Payette is a member of the Ordre National du Québec and holds 14 honorary degrees.
Julie Payette is one of six members of the U of T engineering community to receive Engineers Canada awards this year.
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This video was shown at the Engineers Canada Awards Gala in Vancouver on May 29, 2010. Video courtesy of Engineers Canada.
Mike Klassen (EngSci 1T0) is one of two students who received the Student Gold Medal Award from Engineers Canada. Like Jane Chui (EngSci 1T0), the other award recipient, Mike has shown incredible leadership as an engineering student. Mike served as Co-President of U of T’s Engineers Without Borders chapter, and played a key part in the creation of the Faculty’s new Energy Systems Engineering program and the Centre for Global Engineering. He also participated in the development of the Faculty’s “Promise to Future Generations.” In 2009, Mike spent three months in Zambia, assisting in projects to improve sanitation and reduce disease in the region.
Mike Klassen is one of six members of the U of T engineering community to receive Engineers Canada awards this year.
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This video was shown at the Engineers Canada Awards Gala in Vancouver on May 29, 2010. Video courtesy of Engineers Canada.
Along with fellow student, Mike Klassen (EngSci 1T0), Jane Chui (EngSci 1T0) received the Student Gold Medal Award. As an active member of the University community, Jane is involved in the NSight Mentor Program and the Asian University for Women’s Cybermentor Program. Jane also co-created the Faculty’s Peer Support Initiative to raise awareness of and promote mental health within the engineering community. She also founded the Citizen Engineer student club, dedicated to encouraging engineering students to become more involved in public policy.
Jane is one of six members of the U of T engineering community to receive Engineers Canada awards this year.