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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Speaker Series - March 1 - 12, 2021

Ontario Tech experts shared their research on a variety of topics for our Pi Day of Giving. All sessions were recorded.

WATCH RECORDINGS NOW

 

Speaker Schedule

  • Monday, March 1 - Fostering the Development of Creativity and Critical Thinking Through “Maker” Education

    Dr. Janette Hughes, Faculty of Education

    In this presentation, Dr. Hughes will discuss how she uses a “maker approach” to education, which draws on inquiry-based, design thinking processes, to help students and their teachers in K-12 develop foundational competencies. She will specifically focus on how innovative learning environments like makerspaces can promote skills such as critical thinking and creativity, as well as knowledge and dispositions that address the uncertainty and ambiguity of the future, while increasing personal resilience and well-being.

    Watch the recording

  • Tuesday, March 2 - Virtual rehabilitation: A promising way forward

    Dr. Pierre Côté, Faculty of Health Science

    The limited access to rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the health and well-being of thousands of Canadians. The current public health crisis highlights more than ever that we need to develop effective and safe alternatives to in-person health care and rehabilitation.  In his presentation, Professor Côté will discuss why virtual rehabilitation offers promising solutions to this problem and how it could facilitate access to care to those with limited services.

    Watch the recording

  • Wednesday, March 3 - Energy and the Future of Advanced Mobility

    John Komar and Dr. Justin Gammage, ACE

    Energy that powers the movement of people and goods around the world is undergoing changes that are creating transformational opportunities for emissions reduction and increases in efficiency.  Innovation in energy storage and transfer, climatic aerodynamics and the use of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things “IoT” on our roadways are bringing concepts like GM’s Vision Zero:  Zero Emissions, Zero Crashes and Zero Congestion.  This discussion will dive into the foundational technologies driving the changes in the mobility sector and highlight some of the near term challenges along with all the opportunities being created for the innovators of the future.

    Watch the recording

  • Thursday, March 4 - Engineering Education Re-imagined

    Dr. Qusay Mahmoud, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

    The job of the professor is changing from delivering content in the classroom to designing learning experiences for students. In this talk, Dr. Qusay H. Mahmoud will provide insights into preparing future engineers to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence and automation.

    Watch the recording

  • Friday, March 5 - Tiny Neonates, Big Impact: How AI innovations for our tiniest Canadians are driving innovation for astronauts, tactical officers and firefighters

    Dr. Carolyn McGregor, Canada Research Chair, Faculty of Business & IT

    Professor McGregor AM will provide an update on her world leading research program where she is creating new advanced computing and information techniques, including new artificial intelligence approaches, to improve outcomes for premature infants. She will then show how that research has grown and expanded to new approaches for health, wellness, resilience and adaptation for astronauts, tactical officers and firefighters. You will learn about her innovative use of Ontario Tech’s one-of-a-kind ACE facility and her new directions for the moon and beyond!

     

    Watch the recording

  • Monday, March 8 - Facing Hate in Canada

    Dr. Barbara Perry, Director, Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    In light of recent events in the US, many commentators are asking, “could it happen here?” We like to think that Canada is immune to the threat of hate crime and white supremacists, but data and research suggest otherwise. 

     

    Watch the recording

  • Tuesday, March 9 - Age-Friendly University and Community Initiatives

    Dr. Shilpa Dogra/ Dr. Winnie Sun, Faculty of Health Science

    Come learn about initiatives aimed at making our university and our community more age-friendly. Drs. Dogra and Sun will speak about various initiatives aimed at creating an age-friendly environment that supports active aging and intergenerational collaboration, as well as implementing approaches that challenges negative aging stereotypes. They will highlight current work being done in collaboration with community partners, and identify opportunities for future programming. Finally, they will speak to their research and how it is used to inform decision making and its impact on promoting an age-friendly community for all.

     

    Watch the recording

  • Wednesday, March 10 - Maintaining your privacy while working from home

    Dr. Rajen Akalu, Faculty of Business and Information Technology

    This talk will discuss privacy risks associated with working from home. It will also discuss privacy risk mitigation strategies and recent legislative reform in privacy law.This talk will discuss privacy risks associated with working from home. 

  • Thursday, March 11 - Pi in the Sky

    Dr. Rupinder Brar, Faculty of Science

    The search for new planets throughout our galaxy is the fastest growing and most exciting field in Astronomy today. The methods that astronomers use to detect these exoplanets will be discussed alongside the new Earth-like planets and strange new worlds that have been discovered, one amusingly and fittingly nicknamed the Pi Planet.

  • Friday, March 12 - The Case for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

    Dr. Akira Tokuhiro, Dean, Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science; Dr. Kirk Atkinson, Director, Centre for SMRs and Megan Tougas-Cooke, 4th-year nuclear engineering student

    Small modular reactors (SMRs) are seen by many as a magic bullet in the fight against climate change, offering intrinsically safe, zero carbon and reliable power under all weather conditions. Others say that SMRs are expensive and unnecessary, and will leave future generations with the burden of radioactive waste. What is the truth, and why does Team Canada care? This talk will address all these points and provide perspectives from professionals at different stages of their nuclear careers.