Faculty of Science Case for Support
The Faculty of Science tackles society’s most pressing challenges through discovery, innovation and impact.
We are driven to understand the complexities of our world and apply that knowledge to benefit humanity and the planet.
Breaking beyond traditional disciplines, we embrace interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate innovation. We are equally committed to teaching and mentorship, inspiring students with the same spirit of curiosity that fuels our research. Through outreach and engagement, we spark discovery in the next generation of scientists and changemakers.
Our unwavering commitment to Tech with a Conscience distinguishes us from our peers. In the Faculty of Science, every endeavour and discovery is driven by the desire to make a tangible difference in the world.
Let’s create a future where curiosity knows no bounds and progress knows no limits.
Explore the Faculty of Science Case for Support
TOMORROW'S TECH LANDSCAPE
Shaping tomorrow's tech landscape
Computer science is being reshaped by artificial intelligence (AI), and Ontario Tech is leading this shift by evolving curriculum in real time, advancing research in areas like machine learning and computer vision, and expanding access through innovative tools like JupyterLab, so more learners can thrive in an AI-driven world.
AI is rapidly transforming computer science, and Ontario Tech’s fast-growing Computer Science program is built to keep pace. By continuously updating curriculum to reflect emerging technologies, students gain in-demand technical and transferable skills, from software development to risk assessment and teamwork. Innovative learning tools like open-source JupyterLab help reduce barriers to participation, while faculty researchers push boundaries in machine learning, affective data science and computer vision, developing responsible technologies that improve lives across health care, industry, mobility and beyond.
Your support will allow us to:
- Advance groundbreaking research in emerging AI applications, including the development of trustworthy AI.
- Modernize and evolve degree programs so that curriculum, teaching and assessment keep pace with the field.
- Launch new professional courses that open computer science learning to a broader range of learners.
- Enrich current courses with updated content, tools and real-world applications tied to today’s AI landscape.
- Provide essential graduate scholarships that help attract talent and accelerate high-impact research outcomes.
AMPLIFYING STUDENT POTENTIAL
Amplifying student potential
Hands-on learning is at the heart of the Faculty of Science experience at Ontario Tech, where students collaborate with peers, faculty and partners to turn curiosity into real-world impact. From the weekly Science Café to undergraduate research and national competitions, students build the skills, confidence and connections to tackle urgent challenges and become the next generation of ethically minded scientists.
The Faculty of Science gives students frequent opportunities to apply classroom knowledge through experiential learning, undergraduate research and peer-supported spaces like the Science Café, where students connect with teaching assistants and faculty, form study groups and build confidence. Students work alongside researchers and partners to tackle pressing challenges, gaining practical skills in problem-solving, communication and creativity. Experiences like alumnus James Lisondra’s undergraduate research journey, which helped open doors to opportunities such as the Amgen Scholars Canada Program and later medical school, and interdisciplinary initiatives like the Experience Ventures Hackathon, where students proposed a campus greenhouse-based approach to address food insecurity, show how students translate science into meaningful impact. These opportunities are shaping ethically minded scientists ready to improve society, the economy and the planet.
Your support will allow us to:
- Establish a flexible, student-centred hub that brings learners from across programs together to spark multidisciplinary ideas and discoveries.
- Provide a permanent home for Science Café sessions that build peer support, study networks and academic confidence.
- Expand access to academic support and tutoring in a welcoming space designed for learning between classes.
- Strengthen student life by giving clubs, societies and the Science Council a central place to meet, plan and grow.
- Create a “home away from home” that encourages students to stay on campus, build friendships and deepen belonging through a shared love of science.
Meeting needs through smart materials
Meeting societal needs through smart materials
From renewable energy to healthcare innovation, materials science is the foundation of sustainable progress. At Ontario Tech, our researchers are developing new compounds, coatings and systems that address real-world problems, advancing environmental stewardship, clean technology and public health.
Materials science powers the products and systems we rely on every day, and Ontario Tech researchers are advancing new materials and methods that improve performance, safety and sustainability. Working across disciplines and with industry partners, experts like Dr. Brad Easton are developing affordable, efficient fuel cells to support Canada’s clean energy future, while Dr. Olena Zenkina and Dr. Easton have created antimicrobial materials designed to reduce the spread of infection in settings from hospitals to manufacturing. This work is strengthened by the Faculty of Science’s Material Characterization Facility, home to rare instrumentation including Canada’s only X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, which helps researchers analyze material surfaces to address challenges like corrosion and adhesion. With demand for cleaner, higher-performing materials growing, Ontario Tech aims to expand this facility into a globally recognized hub that trains talent and advances materials research through an ethical, equitable lens.
Your support will allow us to:
- Evolve the existing Materials Characterization Facility into a Materials Characterization Centre, expanding specialized tools and expertise to accelerate discovery.
- Strengthen leadership in materials characterization and biomaterials research, advancing applications that support public health, environmental health and drug recovery.
- Establish a Research Chair in Energy Storage to develop low-cost, high-performance lithium-ion batteries and advance supercapacitors and fuel cells.
- Accelerate clean energy innovation that supports climate action while training highly qualified talent for Canada’s rapidly growing clean energy workforce.
- Build a multidisciplinary cluster of excellence across materials, energy, transportation, health, environment and forensics to deliver research with real-world economic and societal impact.
Nurturing the next generation of ethically-focused scientists. A generation committed to changing society, the economy and the planet for the better.
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