U of T researchers launch interactive air pollution map for Pan Am Games
A group of researchers from the University of Toronto and the Allergy, Genes and Environment (AllerGen) Network have launched an interactive map that tracks air pollution across Toronto for the Pan Am Games. The tool uses data from new AirSENCE devices, which are a type of inexpensive air quality monitoring system that the U of […]
Mark Fox named U of T Distinguished Professor of Urban Systems Engineering
Professor Mark Fox (MIE) has been named a University of Toronto Distinguished Professor of Urban Systems Engineering, an honour that recognizes his exceptional career achievements and promise. Awarded by the U of T Office of the Vice-President and Provost, Fox holds the title for a five-year term, beginning July 1, 2015. He is one of […]
Solar energy pioneer receives U of T’s highest academic rank
Ted Sargent, ECE professor and vice-dean, research for the Faculty, has been appointed to the rank of University Professor by U of T. University Professor is U of T’s highest academic rank, recognizing unusual scholarly achievement and pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge. The number of such appointments is limited to two per cent […]
Megacity metabolism: is your city consuming a balanced resource diet?
New York is an energy hog, London and Paris use relatively fewer resources and Tokyo conserves water like a pro. These are just a few of the findings from a new study on “megacity metabolism”—the world’s first comprehensive survey of resources used and removed in each of the planet’s 27 largest metropolitan areas. Led by engineers […]
Engineering alumni startup Nanoleaf creating green jobs in Toronto, China
It started with a viral campaign for the world’s most energy-efficient light bulb in 2013. Now, international media are also calling Nanoleaf a “green job” leader. Founded by University of Toronto engineering alumni Gimmy Chu (ElecE 0T6), Tom Rodinger (IBBME PhD 0T7) and Christian Yan (ElecE 0T6), the company has grown from its days as a crowdfunded venture working from […]
Traffic emissions may pollute 1 in 3 Canadian homes
A trio of recently published studies from a team of University of Toronto engineers has found that air pollution could be spreading up to three times farther than thought—contributing to varying levels of air quality across cities. Past research on air pollution from vehicle tailpipes has shown poor air quality anywhere between 100 to 250 […]
U of T Engineering Supermileage Team wins Shell Eco-marathon in Detroit
Eighty-nine engines revved in Motor City this weekend, but they weren’t racing for gold—they were racing for green. The University of Toronto Supermileage team won this year’s Shell Eco-Marathon Americas in Detroit, Michigan, with an efficiency of 3,421 miles per gallon—the equivalent of 6.82 millilitres of gasoline per 10 kilometres. That’s less than five tablespoons […]
Alternative energy MOOC captures global audience
Originally published in the 2015 issue of Momentum Magazine. When he began instructing at U of T Engineering 37 years ago, Professor James Wallace (MIE) taught a few dozen students at once in campus classrooms. Now with the introduction of massive online open courses— MOOCs—he’s using a state-of-the-art camera an internet connection to teach thousands of students simultaneously from […]
Where you live could mean “greener” alternatives do more harm than good
Whether it’s swapping your car for an electric vehicle, or your natural gas furnace for geothermal heating, transitioning from fossil fuels to electric-powered technology is widely believed to be the best way to lower carbon emissions. But according to U of T civil engineer Chris Kennedy (CivE), knowing where the electricity comes from to power […]
