World Toilet Day: U of T engineers reinventing hygienic toilets for developing world
This story is Part 1 of an eight-part series, Global Engineering Impact, running throughout fall 2015. Today, November 19, is World Toilet Day, but if you were able to celebrate it, you should consider yourself lucky. Worldwide, about 2.5 billion people — a third of the global population — have no access to safe sanitation. This […]
U of T Engineering post-doc wins Polanyi Prize for research into more efficient solar materials
Dr. Riccardo Comin, a post-doctoral fellow in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, has won the 2015 John Charles Polanyi Prize for Physics for his research into a rapidly emerging new class of materials, called perovskites, that could lead to more efficient solar cells and lighting. The Polanyi Prizes are given […]
Molly Shoichet receives national Fleming Medal for outstanding scientific outreach
University of Toronto engineering professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, IBBME) has received the 2015 Fleming Medal and Citation from the Royal Canadian Institute in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the public understanding of science. Shoichet joins the prestigious ranks of other distinguished recipients, including environmental activist David Suzuki, U of T chemistry professor and Nobel […]
Tiny device from U of T Engineering startup helps the visually impaired navigate daily life
This story originally appeared on U of T News. There’s a story behind the Buzzclip — a clip-on device that detects obstacles in the path of blind and partially sighted people and uses vibration to alert them to obstructions ahead. And the story begins in India. That’s where Arjun Mali spent years volunteering with his family at a blind […]
Discovery of ‘slithering sperm’ could improve infertility treatments
Engineers from the University of Toronto have discovered that human sperm can adapt their swimming style to their environment. While they usually gyrate in a three-dimensional, corkscrew-like motion, the team was the first to observe sperm slithering along a surface using a two-dimensional, snake-like motion. The discovery could offer a new way to select the […]
Improving defibrillator accessibility to save more lives
This story is Part 7 of a seven-part series, U of T Engineering in the City, running throughout fall 2015. Walking through an office building on St. George Street, Christopher Sun (EngSci 1T3+PEY, IndE PhD candidate) quickly spots a portable automated external defibrillator (AED), conveniently tucked near the side of the entrance. From 8 a.m. to […]
Meet undergrad Frank Gu, a U of T Engineering intern lighting up Nanoleaf
How does a second-year engineering undergraduate student nab a coveted internship with a global lighting startup like Nanoleaf? It helps to offer critical thinking, creativity and boundless energy — but having the boss share your intellectually impressive hobby doesn’t hurt. When Nanoleaf CEO Gimmy Chu (ElecE 0T6) met electrical engineering student Frank Gu (Year 2 ElecE), he discovered that the young applicant was a member of […]
Regenerative medicine conference puts spotlight on U of T engineers
If you or someone you know has benefited from a bone marrow transplant, then you may be more knowledgeable about stem cells and regenerative medicine (RM) than you think. Bone marrow transplants, a procedure used in treating cancer that has been around for the last 40 years, is just one of the applications of stem […]
Engineering alumni startup Nanoleaf launches new product for Apple home system
Nanoleaf, the fast-growing startup from U of T Engineering alumni, launched a new product Oct. 27 tied to Apple’s HomeKit line. “We’ve received Apple’s approval to join the HomeKit ecosystem,” said Nanoleaf spokesperson Leslie Chen. The Nanoleaf Smarter Kit combines “the world’s most energy efficient smart bulb” and a stylish, connected hub with Apple’s Siri-enabled HomeKit, Chen said. This will […]
