INSPIRING INNOVATION AND BUILDING GREAT PARTNERSHIPS

Transcription

1 INSPIRING INNOVATION AND BUILDING GREAT PARTNERSHIPS 1

2 In the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) at Ryerson University, we inspire fresh approaches to society s challenges and encourage our researchers and students to move from innovative concepts to real-world entrepreneurship. 2

3 Our researchers like Canada Research Chair Dr. Victor Yang work on practical innovations that give people better, longer lives. Yang, a medical doctor and engineer who is also a senior scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute, is working to find tumours more quickly by applying new imaging techniques. Partnerships like this one with Sunnybrook are our greatest strengths and we have built them with organizations that support our efforts to develop creative engineering and architectural solutions to improve the quality of life around the world. We collaborate with organizations such as the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Bombardier Aerospace, Honeywell, St. Michael s Hospital and Hydro One. We focus our efforts on technologies and projects that affect the economy and people around the world. For example, Joseph Chow, Canada Research Chair in Transportation Systems Engineering, is working to improve the speed and efficiency of our public transit systems using mobile technology. And our architectural science students helped to design and build a kindergarten in rural Ghana. Ryerson University is Canada s leader in innovative, career-focused education. We have a vibrant campus in Toronto s downtown core where we nurture innovation, entrepreneurship and strong partnerships. Ryerson is internationally renowned for boundary-pushing exploration in areas such as energy, sustainability and the environment, and health and well-being and ranks in the top half of non-medical Canadian universities for research. It is Ontario s per-capita leader in successful NSERC Engage grants, with more than $1.3 million in total funding awarded across more than 50 grants. 3

4 CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE Research activities at FEAS focus on energy, digital media, biomedical engineering, water and sustainability, transportation, and technological innovation. This is a small sampling of the myriad of ways FEAS researchers and students are shifting paradigms and improving lives. 4

5 ENERGY: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The Centre for Urban Energy (CUE) is fuelling the future through research and innovation. Established in 2010 with a pledge of $7 million from Hydro One, Toronto Hydro and Ontario Power Authority, CUE addresses the need for innovative, practical solutions to urban energy issues. Experts from industry, academia and the public sector collaborate to discover next-generation strategies to power cities, now and in the future. CUE researchers are helping Toronto prepare for the electric car era; have developed a system to harness, store and control wind power; have helped a major energy provider reduce its carbon footprint; have enhanced smart grid communications, and more. WATER AND SUSTAINABILITY: MINIMIZING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT Ginette Turcotte of Chemical Engineering is exploring new ways to prepare straw a waste product for conversion into biofuel. Her work is supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Architectural science students designed and built a recreational area in Port Union, Newfoundland with a playground, boardwalk and dining area that are integrated into the waterfront area. The students worked with project architects E.R.A. Architects and sought significant input from residents in the community. DIGITAL MEDIA: HARNESSING THE POWER OF COMPUTERS Ling Guan, Canada Research Chair in Multimedia and Computer Technology, develops new multimedia processing and communications techniques for use in areas such as telemedicine and e-commerce, and collaborated to optimize Toronto Hydro s smart grid. Architectural science professor Vincent Hui is working with students and an external partner to develop software that will improve the building design process. Users can superimpose a computer-generated design on a building site to actually see how the structure will function and appear, saving time and money. TRANSPORTATION: IMPROVING THE WAY WE TRAVEL Aerospace engineering professor Fengfeng (Jeff) Xi is aiming to improve fuel efficiency in airplanes. He is leading the development of a morphing aircraft wing that changes shape to accommodate shifting aerodynamic requirements during take-off, ascent, cruising, descent and landing, making this technology cost-effective and environmentally responsible. Civil engineering professor Khaled Sennah is making Ontario s bridge barriers safer and more cost-effective. His research involves using rustfree glass-fibre-reinforced polymer bars to more than double a bridge barriers life expectancy and reduce maintenance costs. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING: IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PATIENTS Sri Krishnan, Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Signal Analysis, pioneers less invasive, lower-cost ways to diagnose illness. By analyzing sound patterns, he has the potential to identify knee disorders without surgery and throat cancer through the sound of a patient s voice. Mechanical and industrial engineering professor Habiba Bougherara develops hip and knee joint replacements that have a longer lifespan and smaller environmental footprint, reducing the need for repeat surgeries and cutting healthcare costs. TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION: INVENTING NEW TOOLS TO MEET EMERGING NEEDS Marcello Papini, Canada Research Chair in Abrasive Jet Technology, creates microscopic nozzles that blast tiny streams of abrasives to etch, shape and carve. These can be used for delivering drugs through the skin without the risks associated with hypodermic needles. Guang Jun Liu, Canada Research Chair in Control Systems and Robotics, designs control systems that reduce costs and increase the reliability of aircraft systems, and allows robots to work efficiently and safely in environments other than assembly lines. 5

6 SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS BENEFIT EVERYONE FEAS is affiliated with some of Canada s largest corporations and organizations, as well as many Canadian and international universities. Society benefits when a high-quality educational institution such as Ryerson joins forces with other leading organizations to enable rigorous research and technological innovation. Partnerships like these contribute to a thriving economy and the development of effective solutions to society s biggest challenges. Our private and public partners share their specialized knowledge and practical perspectives, ensuring that our research remains relevant and workable in rapidly evolving fields. In return, we provide access to talented researchers and students, and to equipment and facilities. Our researchers can often leverage significant government funding, and help ensure that our partners are positioned at the forefront of advances in technology and science. 6

7 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AEROSPACE ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURAL SCIENCE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CIVIL ENGINEERING COMPUTER ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING MECHANICAL ENGINEERING GRADUATE STUDENTS IN MASTER S & DOCTORAL programs with FOUR additional interdisciplinary graduate programs in development Engineering programs accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board Architecture program accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board FACULTY MEMBERS INCLUDING CANADA RESEARCH CHAIRS 7

8 Ready to be inspired? Ready to become a partner? ryerson.ca/feas This piece was printed on Rolland Enviro100 Satin which is EcoLogo, Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC ) certified, and manufactured in Canada from 100% post-consumer recycled material from North American recycling programs by Cascades using biogas energy (methane from a landfill site). 8 Ryerson University 350 Victoria Street Toronto, ON M5B 2K3 Canada JAN 2014 (80158)