Knowledge for the Future

York’s leadership in research continues to be recognized by prestigious funding programs such as the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program. Professor Godfred Boateng, assistant professor in the School of Global Health, director of the Global & Environmental Health Lab and a faculty fellow at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research was appointed a CRC in Global Health and Humanitarianism. Boateng is addressing global health priorities through his research with an aim to understand the synergistic epidemics of food, water, energy and housing insecurities on the health of older adults in sub-Saharan Africa and Canada.

Three researchers had their chairs renewed: Ethen Tungohan (LA&PS) was renewed as a Tier 2 CRC in Canadian Migration Policy, Impacts and Activism; Isaac Smith (Lassonde School of Engineering) was renewed as a Tier 2 CRC in Planetary Science; and Steven Connor (Science) was renewed as a Tier 2 CRC in the Synaptic Basis of Neurodevelopment.

A year after its launch, Connected Minds: Neural and Machine Systems for a Healthy, Just Society, has reached impressive milestones, including 6 new seed grants, 14 new research-enhanced hires and an abundance of networking events and workshops. Connected Minds also welcomed Pina D’Agostino as its new Director. D’Agostino is an expert in intellectual property (IP), technology and innovation law and policy; she is the director and founder of the IP Innovation Clinic and other initiatives.

Connected Minds is the largest single federal grant ever awarded to York. Led in partnership with Queen’s University, the project received a total of $318.4 million, including $105.7 million provided by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The initiative aims to understand the interplay between human and intelligent technologies so that it can inform new research and policies to help mitigate the risks of emerging technologies.

A social innovation initiative is exploring the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities in Canada, thanks to $1 million in funding from Gore Mutal Foundation and a partnership with Social Innovation Canada.

The funding supports the launch of the Climate and Equity Lab at the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC). Leading the project is Postdoctoral Fellow Niloofar Mohtat, who, with a small team of EUC graduate students, is investigating various factors such as poverty, and how they influence the capacity of disadvantaged communities to recover from climate change hazards such as floods.

Mohtat’s research, under the supervision of Dean Alice J. Hovorka, is delving into how municipal housing policies incorporate climate considerations and address intersectional vulnerabilities to mitigate climate disparities affecting low-income renters and homeowners.

Ten new researchers have been named York Research Chairs (YRC), York’s internal counterpart for the CRC. The YRCs are conducting research in areas such as cognitive neuroscience, gender justice and molecular ecology. Five of the 10 chairs are funded by the VPRI with an additional five funded by Connected Minds: Neural and Machine Systems for a Healthy, Just Society.

The list includes Laura Levin and Jack Liang. Levin, an associate professor of theatre and performance studies (AMPD) was named a York Research Chair in Art, Technology and Global Activism. Her program explores the artistic use of emerging technologies, like extended reality and AI, to address growing political polarization and misinformation. Liang, an associate professor at the Lassonde School of Engineering was appointed a YRC in Software Engineering for Foundation Model-powered Systems. His research is developing advanced engineering tools and processes to construct and enhance the quality and trustworthiness of generative AI systems.

York achieved unprecedented success in funding for health-related research – a testament to its leadership in health excellence and commitment to advancing positive health outcomes for communities. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) awarded more than $3 million to Mark Bayfield (Science) and Elham Dolatabadi, Sky Fitzpatrick, Anthony Scimè and Jeffre Wardell (Health) to support health-related research initiatives from initial discovery to practical application.

In addition, Professors Matthias Hoben, Tamara Daly and Liane Ginsburg from the York University Centre for Aging Research & Education (YU-CARE) received $750,000 from the CIHR- Institute of Aging program to understand the impact of day programs on individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.

Four researchers were elected as Fellows by the Royal Society of Canada, one of the country’s highest honours in the arts, social sciences and sciences. The Fellows include: History Professor Joshua Fogel (LA&PS) for his research on the cultural, political and economic interactions between China and Japan; Professor Sara Horowitz (LA&PS) for her research on Holocaust literature, women survivors and Jewish American fiction and Israeli cinema; Professor Ali Kazimi (AMPD) for his exploration of race, social justice, migration, history and memory in filmmaking; and, Debra Pepler (Health) for her research on bullying, aggression and other forms of violence.

Professor Janine Marchessault from the Department of Cinema and Media Arts (AMPD) has been named one of the five recipients of the esteemed 2024 Killam Prize in the Humanities. The award recognizes her work in community-based and site-specific public art exhibitions, research creation and public outreach.

A new initiative will enhance York’s commitment to advancing the SDGs while also creating smarter, sustainable transportation opportunities for Ontario. The York University Smart Mobility Applied Research and Testing – Toronto (SmartTO) is the newest Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS). With $1.5 million in funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), the newest RTDS will provide direct support to entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The initiative will enable Ontario to continue to advance research and innovation for electric, connected and autonomous vehicle technologies. SmartTO, which operates in partnership with Centennial College’s School of Transportation, will collaborate with the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, Lassonde School of Engineering and the University’s entrepreneurship and innovation hub, YSpace, to help startups and SMEs realize development and commercialization opportunities in this competitive space.

York’s entrepreneurship hub, YSpace, continues to break down barriers for entrepreneurs and startups across various sectors and communities, including emerging technologies, agri-food businesses, diversity-focused initiatives, and Black-led businesses.

The creator of the first food and beverage accelerator, YSpace, received $476,000 from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to boost its support for its Food & Beverage Accelerator program and support for over 100 racialized and women founders. It also received $150,000 in funding from the government of Ontario’s Rural Economic Development program to support small businesses in the Northern York Region.

In addition, alums Yemi Ifegbuyi and Zainab Williams were among the top three Black entrepreneurs to win a competitive startup pitch competition hosted by the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, a partnership with YSpace and the Black Creek Community Health Centre.

For 2023-24, YSpace supported 327 new ventures generating $34.1 million in revenue and created 592 jobs.