2021 CEPS Year in Review
From innovative discoveries to impact in tech, a look back at our most-read stories from the year..
In 2021, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) community demonstrated their dedication to supporting one another and advancing the disciplines in CEPS. Our alumni are making an impact long after graduation. Our research centres are forging meaningful industry collaborations. Our students are pursuing groundbreaking research in engineering, computing and physical sciences. Our world-class researchers are finding new ways to tackle pressing world challenges like climate change and human disease. And all that is happening across just 10 of our highly-read stories from last year:
Human Interest
5. CARE-AI Collaborates with CPA Ontario
U of G’s Centre for Advancing Responsible and Ethical Artificial Intelligence (CARE-AI) is bringing AI ethics to the hands of Ontario professionals for practical use. In 2021, CARE-AI and Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario collaborated to offer a remote learning course that explores the complex challenges of big data and AI in the workplace and society.
4. Following her Passion: Cybersecurity Grad Shares Story
Samira Eisaloo (MCTI ’19) quickly entered the cybersecurity industry as a security researcher. She received a unique opportunity during her degree to work with an industry partner on her final project, after which she received the full-time job offer.
3. CEPS 2021 Graduate Student Research Day
It’s no easy task to condense complicated research into three minutes and one slide, but 12 CEPS students rose to the occasion for Graduate Student Research Day, our annual opportunity to explore the work being done by outstanding graduate students in the College.
2. Grad Using AI to Detect Financial Crime
Liz Warner (M.Sc. ’09, B.Sc. ’07) obtained her master’s at U of G in mathematics. She is now playing a key leadership role in a financial technology company to prevent financial crime and keep Canadians safe. We chatted with Liz about her career.
1. Rowntree Memorial Scholarship Awarded
The inaugural Rowntree Memorial Scholarship, in honour of late chemistry chair and professor Dr. Paul Rowntree, was awarded last spring. Rowntree is fondly remembered by the U of G community. The award was established by the Department of Chemistry through the generosity of the Rowntree and McKnight families, and with support from Alumni Affairs and Development.
Research Highlights and Features
5. Q&A w/ Leanne Chen
Dr. Leanne Chen in the Department of Chemistry is working to advance sustainable energy and electrochemistry. Last year, she was awarded $200,000 under the New Frontiers in Research Fund to support her research.
4. Proteins Offer Insight into Parkinson's
More than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive and long-term brain disorder that impacts the central nervous system. A U of G team including Dr. Vladimir Ladizhansky, a professor in the Department of Physics, is examining alpha-synuclein, a small presynaptic protein believed to play an important role in the development of Parkinson’s Disease, to learn more about the disease’s progression.
3. Bettering Biofuel Production
Shrinking glaciers, rising sea levels, and species extinctions—these are just some of the observable effects of climate change and the result of increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. A team of U of G engineers led by Dr. Animesh Dutta have used mathematical modelling and experimentation to streamline biofuel production, which could help combat climate change by enabling more sustainable energy systems.
2. Twisted Story of Neutron Stars
Born out of supernovas—the powerful explosion of stars—neutron stars have long fascinated researchers. Physics professor Dr. Alexandros Gezerlis and PhD student Georgios Palkanoglou have been studying the physics of superfluid neutron matter in neutron stars to help better understand these cosmic objects.
1. Material of the Future
Our top-read research story of 2021 focused on the unique, collaborative partnership between ZEN Graphene Solutions and U of G. Dr. Aicheng Chen and his team have developed methods to convert ZEN graphite into graphene, graphene oxide and interconnected reduced graphene oxide. Their research has been successfully commercialized in a partnership with Guelph-based ZEN.