U of T Scarborough

'A time to reflect and rest': Principal Linda Johnston shares holiday wishes

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:27:51 +0000

'A time to reflect and rest': Principal Linda Johnston shares holiday wishes rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 12/09/2025 - 10:27

Topic

In her second holiday message as University of Toronto vice-president and principal, U of T Scarborough, Linda Johnston paid tribute to the university community, looked back on their array of accomplishments and encouraged students, faculty, staff and librarians to enjoy the holidays.

Reflecting on the last year, Johnston highlighted the enormous progress made on numerous fronts: from the construction of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) – slated to open in fall 2026 – to continued efforts to forge a more sustainable campus and strengthen the community’s culture of caring.

“As we close the year, let me give my personal thanks to everybody for making UTSC the caring, thriving, creative community that it is,” said Johnston, a professor in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

"And remember: this is the time for everybody to take a pause, to reflect and to rest. Thank you for all that you do to make UTSC the place it is.”

‘Thank you all’: A holiday message from U of T President Melanie Woodin

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 20:23:47 +0000

‘Thank you all’: A holiday message from U of T President Melanie Woodin Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 12/04/2025 - 15:23

Topic

In a holiday message to the U of T community, President Melanie Woodin thanks faculty, librarians, staff, students and alumni for their encouragement during her first year as the university’s 17^th president.

She remarks that it has been a privilege to engage with the community about the university’s future.

“U of T is a place where we can think freely about what it means to be human, what it means to live in society, and about the wonders that nature has to reveal. And it’s a forum where we can talk openly and respectfully about the challenges and opportunities before us,” she says in a video message released today.

“With a new year on the horizon, let’s resolve to build on our history of excellence in service to society.”

“I wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season.”

Watch U of T President Melanie Woodin’s holiday message

ADHD awareness may increase false self-diagnosis among young adults: Study

lanthierj — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:33:54 +0000

ADHD awareness may increase false self-diagnosis among young adults: Study

lanthierj Mon, 11/24/2025 - 09:33

Cutline

A balanced approach to ADHD awareness and education could help reduce incidence of false self-diagnosis, according to research led by U of T Scarborough PhD student Dasha Sandra (photo by momcilog/Getty Images)

Don Campbell

Topic

Breaking Research

Psychology

Research & Innovation

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

A short session on the 'nocebo effect' can lessen the risk, researchers say

Growing awareness of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be leading some young adults to mistakenly believe they have the disorder, University of Toronto researchers have found.

In a study published in the journal Psychological Medicine, the researchers show that mental health awareness programs that are designed to help people recognize symptoms and seek support may also trigger false self-diagnosis.

However, a short educational session on the so-called “nocebo” effect – a phenomenon in which expectations about having a disorder can make symptoms seem worse – can lower the likelihood of mistaken diagnosis.

Dasha Sandra (photo by Don Campbell)

“We wanted to identify whether there are negative effects of awareness efforts and find a way to raise awareness in a more balanced way, so that people can learn about a disorder without the risk of unintended harms,” says the study’s lead author Dasha Sandra, a PhD student in U of T Scarborough’s department of psychology.

Sandra’s team conducted a randomized controlled trial with 215 young adults (ages 18-25) who did not meet clinical criteria for ADHD and had no prior ADHD diagnosis. Participants were assigned to attend one of three workshops: one on ADHD, one on ADHD that included a 10-minute lesson about the nocebo effect and a control group that learned about sleep.

Those who only received ADHD awareness information had a stronger belief they had ADHD immediately after the session and one week later even though their actual symptoms did not change. In that group, the share of people who rated themselves highly in self-diagnosis rose from 30 to 60 per cent immediately after that workshop and remained at 50 per cent a week later.

For the group who also received the nocebo education intervention, false self-diagnosis rates were cut in half right away and disappeared entirely after one week.

Sandra says the findings show how mental health awareness can reframe normal experiences as hidden signs of mental health problems, causing people to falsely identify with a disorder they don’t have. She adds this may happen because a diagnosis can make for a comforting explanation for random, unexpected challenges.

“Believing you have a disorder can help make sense of confusing or messy experiences that are actually completely normal,” says Sandra, whose past research has examined the placebo effect. “This could be especially true for young adults.”

The study is the first to examine how false self-diagnosis from ADHD awareness can occur and persist over time – and the first to show the benefits of incorporating explanations of the nocebo effect into mental health education.

The nocebo effect has long been observed in medicine. While patients in drug trials often report side effects from placebo pills simply because they believe they’re taking real medication, teaching them about the nocebo effect has been shown to reduce those responses.

Sandra’s team applied this approach to mental health by creating a 10-minute lesson with information and techniques to curb the nocebo effect. These included explaining, for example, that issues like irritability, fatigue and poor concentration are common among undergraduates (and not necessarily a sign of mental illness).

Such insights could help young people view these as normal experiences rather than signs of ADHD, Sandra says, and can easily be integrated into awareness programs and online resources.

She emphasizes that people should not be discouraged from seeking help, but should rather be helped to interpret their experiences accurately as part of a balanced approach to mental health awareness.

“It’s documented that there is currently an overdiagnosis of ADHD. At the same time, awareness is growing because ADHD remains underdiagnosed in some populations, particularly women and adults,” says Sandra.

While awareness is essential, Sandra cautions that its unintended consequences should not be ignored. “A false self-diagnosis might prevent someone from getting an accurate diagnosis or addressing the real challenges in their life," she says. "It also diverts scarce resources from those who need help due to an underlying neurodevelopmental condition that needs proper assessment.”

She adds the solution isn’t to scale back mental health education, but to refine it.

“We’re not saying that mental health awareness is uniformly bad. The positive benefits are well documented. The key thing is how much awareness and what kind people should get.”

The research was supported by an Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, funding from Fonds de Recherche du Quebec Société et Culture and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

U of T ranked 2nd in the world in latest QS sustainability rankings

lanthierj — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:16:19 +0000

U of T ranked 2nd in the world in latest QS sustainability rankings

lanthierj Thu, 11/20/2025 - 08:16

Cutline

The University of Toronto placed second in the world and first in Canada in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 (photo by Matt Volpe)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

Climate Positive Campus

Lawson Climate Institute

President Melanie Woodin

Alumni

Current Students

International

QS World University Rankings

Research & Innovation

Subheadline

The university is recognized for climate leadership, social impact and innovative governance

The University of Toronto has been named one of the top two universities in the world for sustainability by QS World University Rankings: Sustainability – for the fourth year in a row.

The annual ranking by London-based firm Quacquarelli Symonds – which has awarded U of T the No. 1 spot twice – evaluated nearly 2,000 universities on how effectively they address urgent environmental, social and governance challenges. Sweden’s Lund University moved up two spots from last year’s ranking to first place. Rounding out the top five were University College London, the University of Edinburgh and the University of British Columbia.

Melanie Woodin (supplied image)

“The University of Toronto is profoundly committed to building a more sustainable world,” said U of T President Melanie Woodin. “The challenges involved are complex and urgent but together we are showing that progress is possible and there is reason to hope.

“U of T's continued strength in the QS sustainability rankings is a testament to the passionate dedication of our students, faculty, librarians, staff and alumni in achieving a better future for all humanity.”

Woodin pointed to several university-wide initiatives driving U of T’s momentum – from its commitment to making its three campuses climate positive by 2050 and major investments in green infrastructure, to the launch of the Lawson Climate Institute and a growing range of sustainability-focused research and learning opportunities.

“At U of T, we’ve transformed our three campuses into a giant ‘living lab’ for learning, discovery and innovation in sustainability," said Woodin.

“We have received countless requests for information and advice from universities and organizations around the world who are inspired by our example.”

A strong Canadian showing

U of T led a strong showing for Canadian universities in this year’s ranking. It was joined in the top five by UBC, while McGill University and Western University ranked ninth and 24th, respectively.

An offshoot of the QS World University Rankings, the sustainability ranking measures how effectively institutions are addressing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s methodology draws on more than 50 indicators with assigned weights, grouped into three broad categories: environmental impact, social impact and governance.

U of T’s performance remained strong across the board. It ranked third in the world for both environmental impact and social impact, which respectively assess sustainability-focused education and research, and institutional commitments to equality and inclusion.

Sustainability across the three campuses

U of T’s performance is bolstered by major sustainability initiatives across its three campuses.

At St. George, work is underway on a multi-year shift to electric power at the central steam plant and the implementation of Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system, which will reduce emissions by an estimated 17,000 tonnes.

At U of T Mississauga, Project SHIFT is completing deep energy retrofits, electrification upgrades and steam-to-hot-water conversions designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6,000 tonnes.

Gurtaj Bajwa, building engineer, monitors geothermal systems in the Instructional Building at the University of Toronto Mississauga (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Meanwhile, U of T Scarborough is advancing clean-tech innovation through the Environmental and Related Technologies Hub (EaRTH), a partnership helping expand the sector in east Toronto and supporting projects such as a net-zero vertical farm.

The EaRTH District at U of T Scarborough aims to transform the eastern GTA into a hub for green-tech innovation

Expanding research, teaching and influence

Guided by the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS), the university is deepening its academic leadership in sustainability.

Hundreds of faculty researchers contribute to climate-focused work across more than 120 research units and interdisciplinary initiatives. Students, meanwhile, have access to more than 2,000 undergraduate courses and over 115 graduate programs with sustainability content.

A self-cleaning coating developed by researchers at U of T is tested on solar panels at the Exam Centre (photo by Donglin Que)

One of the most significant undergraduate efforts is the Sustainability Pathways Program, which now reaches 86 per cent of students through coursework, experiential learning and campus-as-a-living-lab opportunities. This year, the program introduced a new Sustainability Leadership tier, giving students formal recognition – and up to $2,000 in awards – for taking on real-world sustainability leadership roles on and off campus.

Beyond the classroom, U of T is working closely with local, regional and internal partners to accelerate local climate action. In collaboration with the City of Toronto, the university is supporting youth engagement and climate education through TransformTO as well as the launch of a new pilot climate hub.

On the global stage, U of T plays a leading role in several international sustainability networks as a steering member of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) and member of the U7+ Alliance.

As part of this year’s COP30 Action Agenda, U of T and Cambridge University, as co-conveners and founders of the Network of Networks, were together tasked with leading the higher education sector globally in developing accelerated solutions for “education, capacity-building, and job creation to address climate change.”

Researchers investigate contaminants in traditional Indigenous food sources

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:57:00 +0000

Researchers investigate contaminants in traditional Indigenous food sources

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 11/19/2025 - 15:57

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Élyse Caron-Beaudoin, an assistant professor in U of T Scarborough, is collaborating with Marc-André Verner, a professor at Université de Montréal, and Julian Napoleon, a biologist, agrologist and member of Saulteau First Nation, on a research project that aims to advance knowledge on the safety of traditional food sources (supplied image)

Topic

Our Community

Indigenous

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

Initiated at the request of First Nations leaders in northeastern B.C., a study co-led by U of T's Élyse Caron-Beaudoin aims to support Indigenous health and food security

An interdisciplinary research project co-led by the University of Toronto’s Élyse Caron-Beaudoin is working to assess potential contamination in traditional Indigenous food sources in northeastern British Columbia – an effort that could help communities make informed decisions about their health, food security and land stewardship.

Traditional foods are central to Indigenous culture, nutrition and food security – but communities in northeastern B.C. have harboured concerns that industrial expansion and energy industry activity may be threatening their food sources and the health of people living in the area.

To address these concerns, Caron-Beaudoin, an assistant professor in U of T Scarborough’s department of health and society, is collaborating with Marc-André Verner, a professor at Université de Montréal, and Julian Napoleon, a biologist, agrologist and member of Saulteau First Nation, to test for contaminants in food sources near First Nations communities in the Peace River Valley, including Saulteau and West Moberly First Nations.

The project was initiated at the request of local First Nations leadership, with Napoleon – who owns Amisk Farm, a small-scale vegetable market farm on Saulteau First Nation reserve – bringing both scientific expertise and lived experience to the project.

“We are a land-based people and our country foods are a defining component of our culture,” Napoleon said. “The safety of these foods – especially for our mothers, babies and children – is essential to our cultural survival.”

The project involves the creation of a biobank of traditional food samples, including wild berries, mushrooms, medicinal plants, fish and game. The samples are sent to Montreal, where levels of 22 different trace materials are measured. Isotopic tracing is then used to determine whether the metals are naturally occurring or the result of industrial activity.

In addition to food sampling, the team will recruit a cohort of 100 to 150 Indigenous adults living both on and off reserve and will assess their exposure to metals using blood, urine and hair samples. They will also collect and test tap water samples.

Caron-Beaudoin says it’s important to promote the consumption of traditional foods, particularly in populations that are burdened by food insecurity, as such foods are nutritious, affordable and foster deep connections to culture and community.

“But the problem that we have in northeastern British Columbia is that because of the expanding industrial activity – whether it be oil and gas, mining, hydroelectricity – a lot of people are more and more hesitant to consume traditional foods because they're worried that it might have been contaminated by all this industrial activity,” she says. “And that's really a fair and a valid concern.”

The project is supported by $876,000 in funding over five years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Indigenous leadership is central to its design and implementation, in keeping with the principles of ownership, control, access and possession (OCAP), which prioritize Indigenous data sovereignty and respect for First Nations’ world views, knowledge and protocols.

“Everything that we do has to be approved by those partners, including all the questionnaires, the consent forms, the way we collect the data, who owns the data, who uses the data and in what way,” Caron-Beaudoin says.

The researchers hope the project will provide First Nations in the Peace River Valley the information they need to safeguard traditional food sources if contamination is detected – or peace of mind in the event that it is not.

They note the region is part of Treaty 8 territory, with First Nations’ traditional way of life – including consumption of traditional foods – protected under the treaty.

“If there are samples that are concerning, the Nations with whom we're partnering will be able to use that as a leverage with the province to have better regulation and protection of traditional foods,” says Caron-Beaudoin.

Add new author/reporter

David Blackwood

In photos: U of T marks Remembrance Day 2025 across its three campuses

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:06:17 +0000

In photos: U of T marks Remembrance Day 2025 across its three campuses

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 11/11/2025 - 13:06

Cutline

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Members of the University of Toronto and wider community gathered at Remembrance Day services across the three campuses to pay tribute to those who served and lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts – and to honour those who continue to serve today.

On the St. George campus, hundreds assembled outside Soldiers’ Tower as a recital was performed on the tower’s 51-bell carillon.

Peter MacLaurin, chair of the Soldiers’ Tower committee, offered an Indigenous land acknowledgement and words of welcome – which included paying homage to the contributions of Brig. Oliver Martin, a veteran of the First and Second World Wars who was the first Indigenous person to attain the rank of brigadier in Canada’s military.

U of T President Melanie Woodin then paid tribute to U of T alumni, students, faculty, librarians and staff who have served Canada.

The service also featured a performance of the Naval Hymn, a wreath laying and a recitation of the poem In Flanders Fields, written by U of T alum Lt.-Col. John McCrae in 1915.

At U of T Scarborough, a Remembrance Day ceremony was held in The Meeting Place, with the Highland Creek Colour Guard from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 participating in the event for the first time. The ceremonies also included remarks by Linda Johnston, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, and performances by the UTSC Concert Band and Concert Choir & String Orchestra.

U of T Mississauga's Service of Remembrance was held outside the Davis Building. Alexandra Gillespie, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Mississauga, offered remarks and placed a wreath during the ceremony.

Here's how the U of T community marked Remembrance Day 2025 through the lenses of photographers:

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Attended by hundreds of U of T community members, the 2025 Remembrance Day ceremony at U of T St. George featured acknowledgements of the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by the Canadian Forces, as well as the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Cpl. Kevin Zhao, left, a student in the Faculty of Music and member of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Band & Bugles, played the Last Post during the ceremony on the St. George campus. Piper Rory Sinclair, right, followed with a rendition of the Lament.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Melanie Woodin, U of T's 17^th president, and Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T’s Governing Council, paid their respects.

(photos by Harry Xu; Johnston by Don Campbell)

U of T Scarborough's Remembrance Day ceremony, held in The Meeting Place, included a march by the Highland Creek Colour Guard from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 and remarks from Linda Johnston, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Alexandra Gillespie (centre), U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Mississauga, Richard Waters (left), representative of United Steelworkers Local 1998 and Faisal Halabeya (right), PhD student of physics and president of the U of T Mississauga Association of Graduate Students, laid wreaths at U of T Mississauga's Service of Remembrance.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Maj. John D. Stewart, an alum of Woodsworth College at U of T, laid a wreath at the Soldiers' Tower on the St. George campus.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Members of the Hart House Chorus performed the Naval Hymn at the beginning of Remembrance Day ceremonies on the St. George campus. Later, during the placing of wreaths, the choir performed the elegy They Are at Rest and the British hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Dianne Saxe, councillor for the City of Toronto's Ward 11 – University-Rosedale (front row, left), and Chrystia Freeland, member of Parliament for University-Rosedale and Canada's special envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine (front row, right), were among the government representatives to attend the ceremony on the St. George campus. Jessica Bell, member of provincial parliament for University-Rosedale, was also in attendance.

U of T to mark Remembrance Day across its three campuses on Nov. 11

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:45:10 +0000

U of T to mark Remembrance Day across its three campuses on Nov. 11

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 11/07/2025 - 10:45

Cutline

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

The University of Toronto community will gather on Nov. 11 to observe Remembrance Day, which this year marks the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

All three campuses have planned events to honour soldiers and veterans who served in the First and Second World Wars, as well as other conflicts – and all U of T community members are welcome to attend.

U of T will also lower flags across the three campuses to half-mast to acknowledge those who have served, including U of T students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Here’s more information on the ceremonies at U of T St. George, U of T Scarborough and U of T Mississauga:

St. George

The Service of Remembrance takes place at Soldiers’ Tower on the St. George campus. Proceedings begin with a carillon recital by composer-performer Naoko Tsujita at 10:10 a.m., with the official ceremony commencing at 10:30 a.m.

The ceremony will include a land acknowledgement, a reflection on Remembrance Day, a performance of the Naval Hymn by the Hart House Chorus and a recitation of “In Flanders Fields,” written by U of T alum and physician John McCrae. There will also be a commemoration of the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and a presentation about how Canada helped liberate northwestern Europe. Wreaths will be laid by representatives of the university and the broader community.

U of T President Melanie Woodin is scheduled to attend, as are other dignitaries including local MP Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s special envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

U of T Scarborough

The Remembrance Day ceremony at U of T Scarborough begins at 10:40 a.m. in The Meeting Place, Science Wing.

In addition to a wreath laying and a moment of silence, the ceremony includes performances by the UTSC Concert Band and Concert Choir & String Orchestra. For the first time, the Highland Creek Colour Guard from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 will also participate in the event.

Linda Johnston, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, is scheduled to attend and deliver remarks.

U of T Mississauga

The Service of Remembrance at U of T Mississauga starts at 10:45 a.m. outside the Davis Building, near the flagpole. There will be a reading of “In Flanders Fields” during the ceremony, which will last approximately 20 minutes.

Alexandra Gillespie, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Mississauga, will be in attendance, delivering remarks and laying a wreath during the ceremony.

With a passion for sci fi, U of T undergrad finds her calling in space policy

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 13:40:19 +0000

With a passion for sci fi, U of T undergrad finds her calling in space policy

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 11/06/2025 - 08:40

Cutline

Leah Wolfe, an undergraduate student at U of T Scarborough, recently presented research along with the U of T Aerospace Team at the 2024 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation Forum (supplied photo)

Tina Adamopoulos

Topic

Our Community

Black Research Network

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Political Science

Space

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

A political science student at U of T Scarborough, Leah Wolfe is focused on translating space data and science into policy and law

As a child, Leah Wolfe was captivated by the characters and worlds of science fiction novels like Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Frank Herbert’s Dune.

Yet, the idea of pursuing career in space studies seemed as distant as the galaxies she read about.

“You read sci-fi as a kid, but I never thought of it as anything more than fantasy or something engineers do,” says Wolfe, who is now a fourth-year political science specialist at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

While Wolfe began her undergraduate studies planning to become a neurosurgeon, her focus soon swung to political science. At the same time, she carried a worn copy of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos everywhere she went – a book that helped her grasp “the technical side of space.”

Her evolving academic journey reached a critical juncture – one that would lead to her current focus on translating space data and science into policy and law – when she reached out to the U of T Aerospace Team.

“[I] emailed them about joining a project,” Wolfe says. “It reinvigorated my love for politics and for bridging two fields that don’t seem interconnected at all.”

(supplied image)

Founded in 2004, the University of Toronto Aerospace Team (UTAT) is an award-winning interdisciplinary network of undergraduate and graduate students who design and build drones, rockets and satellites – and promote aerospace sustainability through policy and law.

As a member of the team, Wolfe has researched aerospace policy through the lens of environmental outcomes.

Last year, the team travelled to Nevada to present their research to academics, space-defence specialists and industry professionals at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation Forum.

The study, published by the AIAA, examined how the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) drone regulations affect the potential for trucks and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to work together in last-mile delivery. It focused on energy use and sustainability, as well as issues such as safety, data privacy, public perception and environmental factors.

Using computer modelling, the researchers found that while UAVs could make deliveries greener, current rules and impacts – including noise pollution and wildlife disturbances – limit their benefits, highlighting the need for smarter regulations and improved technology to make drone delivery more sustainable.

FAA rules currently allow small commercial drones to fly as fast as 160 kilometres per hour. But the UTAT team’s model found that the speed would ideally be much lower. For a drone weighing 13 kilograms and carrying a small load of up to two kilograms of cargo, the ideal speed is between 72 to 90 kilometres per hour.

“We found that maximum ground speed regulations provided by the FAA were greater than what is optimal for energy usage,” Wolfe explains. “Public acceptance of drones is also a major hinderance to widespread integration, which directly affects companies that wish to use them for last-mile delivery.”

Wolfe notes that FAA regulations could guide private companies in improving drones’ energy efficiency.

“Our recommendations demonstrated that you could lower a lot of these thresholds,” Wolfe says. “You’d still be able to have very accurate, efficient deliveries while also not using too much energy.”

The forum was Wolfe’s first international conference. She remembers buzzing with excitement and, naturally, a bit of anxiety.

“When you are surrounded by so many people who understand the depth of the technical side, and you’re the only political science or policy person, you start thinking, ‘Am I out of my depth?’” Wolfe says. “Afterwards, a woman who worked at NASA for 20 years came up to me and said, ‘You did amazing and you should always have confidence in yourself.’ That was so reassuring.”

Amid a busy schedule, Wolfe also supports initiatives that elevate other Black scholars.

She is a student organizer of the recent Possibilities & Refusals in Black Canadian Studies Symposium. Hosted by the Black Canadian Studies Association and led by Nicole Bernhardt, an assistant professor of political science at U of T Scarborough, the event celebrated the launch of the Journal of Canadian Studies special issue: “Nah! On the Possibilities of Ongoing Refusals in Black Canadian Studies.”

Wolfe also mentored local youth through the Imani Black Academic Mentorship Program, which promotes access in higher education for Black students in the Scarborough community. An Imani Mentor of the Year Award recipient, Wolfe supported Grade 7 and 8 students with tutoring and guidance on education and career planning.

With her sights set on graduate school to continue her studies in space law, Wolfe credits her time at U of T Scarborough for shaping both her academic focus and commitment to community.

“The U of T Scarborough community is so close-knit,” Wolfe says. “The community and opportunities I’ve had here has made it one of the most fulfilling four years of my life.”

U of T grad blends neuroscience, art and community across three continents

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 19:44:14 +0000

U of T grad blends neuroscience, art and community across three continents

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 10/31/2025 - 15:44

Cutline

Bhavana Akilan is graduating with a major in neuroscience and double minor in health humanities and psychology from U of T Scarborough (photo by Don Campbell)

Topic

Subheadline

Bhavana Akilan says her time at U of T Scarborough - and experiences as a Laidlaw Scholar - shaped her belief in research as a collaborative, culturally grounded practice

From using deep learning to decode brain signals in India to launching a mental health collective in Kenya and directing a documentary in Toronto, Bhavana Akilan’s journey at the University of Toronto Scarborough has spanned disciplines, continents and communities.

As she graduates with a bachelor of science in neuroscience with minors in health humanities and psychology, Akilan says her time at U of T has shaped her understanding of how the sciences, humanities and social sciences can intersect.

“I've collected such diverse experiences throughout my undergrad and with my creative changes in choosing my programs,” she says. “I feel like the sciences need the arts and the arts need the sciences.”

Some of Akilan’s most transformative experiences were made possible through the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, which empowers exceptional and enthusiastic undergraduate students to pursue research projects.

As part of the program, Akilan carried out a summer research project at SASTRA Deemed University in the town of Thirumalaisamudram in southern India, where she worked on a neuroscience project that used deep learning to detect early-stage Alzheimer’s disease using EEG (electroencephalogram) brain signals.

It was one of several research opportunities tied to Akilan’s interests in neuroscience and psychology: she also worked as a research assistant in the Therapeutic Interventions for Psychosis Lab, led by Michael Best, assistant professor in the U of T Scarborough’s department of psychology, and spent two years as a work-study research assistant with Roy Gillis, associate professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). By doing so, she gained hands-on experience with study participants and honed her research and communication skills.

Those skills would come in handy for Akilan’s Leadership-in-Action project – part of the Laidlaw Scholars Programme – in Murang’a, Kenya, where she collaborated with KULE Foundation International.

At first, Akilan planned to make a podcast related to mental health, and with the aid of a translator, interviewed 25 women in Swahili and Kikuyu. Many had never been asked about their mental health before and struggled to find words to express their experiences. But a recurring theme emerged: the women wanted a support system and safe space to share experiences and prevent tragic outcomes.

This prompted Akilan to abandon the podcast and instead help the women organize a mental health collective. She helped arrange for them to meet at a local high school but imposed no strict schedules or organizational hierarchy, offering only her support and encouragement.

Faith emerged as an important factor, with many women stating that prayer strengthened their mental health – so Akilan prompted discussions with questions like, “When you pray, what is at the front of your mind?”

She also incorporated creative expression including poetry, song and dance as tools of expression and healing. Each month, a member led a session on something that brings them joy. The women now gather for activities such as beadmaking, jewellery making and knitting (they’ve been making sweaters for students in the high school).

Upon her return to Toronto, Akilan incorporated the women’s stories into a research zine that sought to reframe mental health as a collaborative process rooted in relationship, decolonial values and creative expression. The zine garnered Akilan a UTSC Undergraduate Research & Creative Prize in the humanities category, and was showcased at a research day organized by the department of health and society.

“There were a lot of opportunities at U of T Scarborough that prepared me for this,” she says, crediting the campus’s Dean’s Circle program, campus groups and Scarborough’s cultural diversity.

She adds that exploring her own Indian culture in Scarborough gave her space to grow both academically and personally. As a recipient of the U of T Scarborough Library's Sophia Hilton Library Storytelling Fellowship, Akilan directed a short documentary titled “Flavours in Fusion: Stories of Tamil Food in Toronto," which explored the blending of Tamil and other culinary traditions in Toronto.

While she looks forward to her next chapter, Akilan continues to keep tabs on the women’s collective in rural Kenya.

“They have continued to come together every month for the last 15 months,” Akilan says. “It's been great to watch the collective grow, with little intervention from my side. They just needed a place and a gentle push to find their own language to talk about mental health.”

In photos: U of T graduates celebrate fall convocation 2025

davidlee — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:15:28 +0000

In photos: U of T graduates celebrate fall convocation 2025

davidlee Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:15

Cutline

With her degree in hand, a U of T graduate gets a big hug outside the university’s Convocation Hall (photo by Polina Teif)

Topic

Big smiles, proud tears and family snapshots filled Convocation Hall as students from across the University of Toronto’s three campuses marked a major milestone this week – crossing the stage to receive their degrees.

More than 4,000 graduates from 86 countries took part in fall convocation ceremonies, joining the ever-growing U of T community of alumni around the world.

Here’s a look at some memorable moments from U of T’s 11 fall convocation ceremonies as captured through the lenses of U of T photographers:

(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

As U of T’s 17^th president, Melanie Woodin oversees her first series of convocation ceremonies.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Graduates come together to applaud their individual achievements as friends and family look on.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Eagle Feather Bearer Andrew Wiebe, a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Information, prepares to place the Eagle Feather in its case onstage in Convocation Hall. Introduced in spring 2022, the Eagle Feather symbolizes the university’s deep respect for Indigenous Peoples.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Love was in the air at Convocation Hall as a joyful graduate blows a kiss to her supporters in the audience.

(photo by Polina Teif)

U of T President Melanie Woodin, who is an alumna of the university herself, poses with new graduates behind the giant “U of T” letters on Front Campus.

(photo by Harry Xu)

First introduced at spring convocation, the giant “U of T” letters have become a go-to backdrop for graduation photos.

(photo by Polina Teif)

It's all smiles as a graduate celebrates with loved ones on Front Campus.

(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

U of T Chancellor Wes Hall, who confers degrees on graduating students, glances toward a photographer inside Convocation Hall.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Wearing their gowns, graduates prepare to walk into Convocation Hall on a sunny fall afternoon.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

A proud graduate shows off her U of T Mississauga pride following convocation.

(photo by Harry Xu)

Picture perfect: U of T Scarborough graduates pose with the CN Tower soaring in the background.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

The weather mostly co-operated during this year’s fall convocation – but even when it didn't, grads still found a way to take some sunny snapshots.