As a new year emerges, YFile would like to take the opportunity to look back on 2015 and share with readers a snapshot of the year’s highlights. “Year in Review” will run as a four-part series this week and next, and will feature a random selection of top news stories published in YFile. Here are the stories and highlights for January to March 2015, as chosen by YFile editors.
January
Four York University community members appointed to Order of Canada
Julia Foster, chair of the Board of Governors; Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Professors Susan McGrath and Edgar Dosman; and Robert Cox, professor emeritus of political science and social and political thought, are among the 95 new appointments to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honour.
York University launches new School of Continuing Studies
Lifelong learning in Canada reached fresh heights with the launch of York University’s new School of Continuing Studies. During a special event held Jan. 12 on the Keele campus, the University made history by reinventing the way continuing studies are delivered with the launch of the new school.
Ten emerging and established researchers appointed York Research Chairs
Ten emerging and established researchers from across the University have been appointed York Research Chairs. The appointments are the first in a new program established to build, support and intensify the world-renowned research underway at the University. Appointed Teir 1 Chairs were Isabella Bakker, Christopher Innes, Roger Keil, Sergey Kyrlov and Obiora Okafor; appointed Tier II Chairs were Mike Daly, Jane Heffernan, Anna Hudson, Fuyuki Kurasawa and Rebecca Pillai Riddell.
The Games are coming to York University
York University announces the Toronto 2015 Pan Am & Parapan American Games will come to the University’s Keele campus, and with them will come a world of excitement, with thousands of athletes, coaches, trainers, guides and support personnel arriving from Latin American, South America, North America and the Caribbean.
York rated among top universities on sustainability for fifth straight year
For the fifth year running, York University was ranked among the top 10 per cent of universities in the 2014 GreenMetric World University Ranking on sustainability. The results of the 2014 survey included over 360 universities from 62 countries around the world.
February
York researchers reveal George Bernard Shaw’s secret musical life
Work by an interdisciplinary team of researchers and performers led by Professor Christopher Innes, Canada Research Chair in Performance & Culture, resulted in a new music CD featuring the compositions by the renowned playwright.
Salt to taste: York chemistry professor discovers a breakthrough in Negishi Cross-Couplings
York Professor Michael Organ and researchers in his lab made an important discovery that adds new understanding to the Negishi Cross-Coupling reaction. The discovery gives scientists the ability to promote the reaction to maximum efficiency, improving its use in pharmaceutical and material science processes.
York University receives landmark $5 million gift for student financial aid
The funds were earmarked for expanding and developing programming and support services that benefit a segment of the indigenous student population that may not normally have access to financial support at the postsecondary education level.
Faculty of Fine Arts becomes the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, during a high-energy event held on the University’s Keele campus, the Faculty of Fine Arts officially became the new School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design. The new name reflects the school’s leadership role in research, practice, engagement and innovation across the arts and beyond.
Science & Technology Studies Day explores research and the social life of spacecraft
The Faculty of Science, the Science & Technology Studies (STS) Program hosted STS Day with an informal opening reception, a keynote lecture and a panel of researchers from the STS Program. Princeton University Sociology Professor Janet Vertesi presented the keynote lecutre on “The Social Life of Spacecraft: Social Organization and Scientific Practice on NASA’s Robotic Exploration Teams.”
March
York University celebrates its leading researchers
The University celebrated leading researchers for their outstanding achievements during the third annual York U Research Leaders celebration. At the event, York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri presented Faculty of Science Professor Sergey Krylov with the 2015 President’s Research Excellence Award and Faculty of Health Professor Shayna Rosenbaum with the 2015 President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award.
Lassonde School of Engineering invests $1.5 million to reach 50:50 gender goal
The Lassonde School of Engineering at York University launched a $1.5 million challenge to become the first engineering school in Canada to reach a 50:50 gender balance. The announcement took place ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8 and during National Engineering Month, which celebrates Canada’s achievements in engineering.
York U’s undergrads show they’ve got the groove when it comes to research
A capacity crowd gathered Feb. 25 to hear 73 undergraduate students deliver presentations on their research. At the end of the fair, 13 presentations received awards. The research was included in the journal YOUR Review (York Online Undergraduate Review).
Winners of the 2014 President’s Staff Recognition Awards named
York staffers Maria Mazzurco, Jayne Greene-Black, Noel Badiou, Alicia Pinter and David Timmins, and the team from the Office of Student Community Relations were the 2015 recipients of the President’s Staff Recognition Awards. The winners and nominees were celebrated at a special event on April 30.
Osgoode honours top students with Gold Key Awards
Top students at Osgoode Hall Law School received the Dean’s Gold Key Award for outstanding contributions to the life of the law school. All of the recipients have demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment and enthusiasm through their participation in extracurricular activities.
Check back in tomorrow’s edition of YFile for Year in Review: Top headlines at York University, April to June 2015.