��ݮ��Ƶ News - Magazine

Co-op’s coming of age

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Since the beginning, ��ݮ��Ƶ’s co-operative education program has been launching successful careers

Many students dream of landing a job that aligns with their passions, inspires real-world impact or even motivates them to launch their own business. For thousands of ��ݮ��Ƶ students, that dream has become a reality thanks to co-operative education (co-op), which combines paid work experience with earning a degree.  

It might, therefore, seem surprising that the idea of co-op was met with skepticism when it was first proposed by the University’s first president, Dr. Joseph Gerald Hagey, who believed in its potential.  

As James Scott, former assistant to Hagey, wrote in the book Of Mud and Dreams: University of ��ݮ��Ƶ 1957 to 1967, the idea came to Hagey “somewhat to his surprise.” Still, he recognized that it could offer valuable opportunities for students and positively shape the future of education at ��ݮ��Ƶ.  

In 1957, the University expanded faculty, classrooms and infrastructure to support the co-op program, securing partnerships with manufacturing companies for work placements. The program’s alternating academic and work terms would allow students to gain real-world experience in industry and commerce through university-arranged placements.  

The first cohort of 74 engineering students alternated between academic studies and work terms every three months, making ��ݮ��Ƶ the first Canadian university to offer co-op.  

To promote the new program, approximately 10,000 brochures were distributed to prospective students. One of those brochures reached Ron Ojanpera (BASc ’69), a high school student from Sudbury, Ontario. 

From co-op to a successful career 

Ojanpera was introduced to ��ݮ��Ƶ's engineering co-op program by a high school teacher who believed he would be interested. “I looked into the program and when it came time to apply, I submitted one application to ��ݮ��Ƶ, and that was it.” 

In 1964, Ojanpera was among the first to benefit from the program, which has since become globally recognized with more than 8,000 employers worldwide.

Ron Ojanpera (BASc ’69)

Co-op allowed him to balance school with paid work while discovering career roles that best align with his goals and skill set.

During his third year, Ojanpera made a pivotal career shift, moving from mining to engineering services, which would later form the foundation of his career. He gained valuable hands-on experience in plant operations, where he developed a deep appreciation for complex industries and customer relations. 

“The world is more complex now but the principle is the same,” he said. “Co-op prepares students to deal with those complexities, by teaching them how to work with people and apply technology to solve problems.” 

��ݮ��Ƶ has remained central to Ojanpera and his family, including his wife, daughters and niece who have all graduated from the University. Ojanpera takes pride in how his co-op experience led to a successful 50-year career in sales, business development and engineering, specifically in steam generation and air emissions control systems related to utility and heavy industrial applications. 

“The world is more complex now, but the principle is the same. Co-op prepares students to deal with those complexities.”

— Ron Ojanpera (BASc ’69) 

A new generation of co-op students finds their passion 

Elsa Patterson
Current Geomatics co-op student

Over the years, the co-op program has expanded to include all six faculties, making it accessible to students in every discipline.

Elsa Patterson, a current Geomatics co-op student, reflects on how she overcame the pressure of choosing the “right” co-op positions. Instead, she embraced the opportunity to explore various fields, build her resume and discover her passion for using data-driven approaches to foster sustainable and resilient communities. 

Through her co-op work terms in research labs, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Indigenous Services Canada, Patterson gained hands-on experience as a geographic information systems (GIS) specialist. 

“I’ve learned through co-op in a different way — realizing how much I care about my work and how invested I am in my role has truly been a game-changer,” she said. 

Co-op also helped her develop a strong work ethic, professionalism, confidence and the ability to troubleshoot — skills she feels are valuable as she advances in her career. Patterson’s final eight-month work term will focus on improving water quality in the Great Lakes and implementing preventative measures to protect the environment. 

Watch video on YouTube

Continuing ��ݮ��Ƶ’s co-op legacy 

Every co-op experience at ��ݮ��Ƶ is unique, shaped by the individual’s program, values, desired impact and goals — just as it was for alumni like Ojanpera and current students like Patterson. What remains constant is the profound impact of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s co-op program over the past 65 years.  

Today, ��ݮ��Ƶ remains a global leader in co-operative education and work-integrated learning, offering innovative programs that meet the needs of both students and industry. With a unique opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in real-world contexts, co-op students are not just prepared for the future ─ they are tackling the world’s greatest challenges with innovation, passion and purpose.

Campus

Engineering

Environment

Co-op and Experiential Education

Magazine

Revolutionizing baseball training with AI-simulated pitchers

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Meet the alumni shaking up major league baseball with a pitching robot that replicates pro players

Two University of ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni are changing Major League Baseball (MLB) with a data-driven pitching simulator that replicates the real experience of batting against a professional pitcher. 

Rowan Ferrabee (BASc ’19) and Joshua Pope (BASc ’19)
Founders, Trajekt Sports

Joshua Pope (BASc ’19) and Rowan Ferrabee (BASc ’19) founded their company Trajekt Sports in fourth year, supported by Dr. John McPhee, a professor in the Department of Systems Design Engineering. But the idea behind the tech dates to Pope’s time as president of the Athletic Council in high school.  

“We were brainstorming fun sports activities when someone jokingly suggested taking swings against Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays. This was around 2013, and we were big fans," Pope said.  

“I started wondering if there was a way for people to simulate hitting against their favourite pitchers. What tools were professional athletes using to train? Could I build a machine to replicate the pitching skills of real players?” 

Watch video on YouTube

His curiosity led Pope to study biomedical engineering and gain the knowledge and network to realize his pitching simulator machine. The idea was too complex for his Capstone Design Project, but with support from Velocity, ��ݮ��Ƶ’s startup incubator, Trajekt Sports was born. And then the world was thrown into chaos with the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“It wasn’t exactly the best time to start a business,” Pope said. “But Rowan and I were determined and fortunate to have people who believed in us. We worked out of my parents’ garage with access to Velocity’s resources, had a grant from the Accelerator Centre and raised more money in a ‘friends and family’ funding round to help get things off the ground.” 

Team at Trajekt Sports

Traditional pitching machines are limited to basic speed and spin. Pope and Ferrabee focused on iterating their system to master variables such as velocity, spin axis and ball orientation to recreate any trajectory and pitch type. They also wanted to factor in optical stimulus, or what a batter sees when facing a live pitcher.  

“Our approach is rooted in physics and first-principles thinking,” Pope said. “Asking the basic questions like ‘What defines a flying ball?’ If we can control all the elements that determine its flight, we can accurately replicate a pitch. For us, it was a fundamental physics problem that needed a fresh take, so we built the solution from the ground up. Some might say we over-engineered it, but that last inch of precision is exactly what makes the replication so valuable for professional use.” 

“I love sport, and I love that we’re changing how people play and train — for the better.”

—  Joshua Pope (BASc ’19)

Their novel robot, the Trajekt Arc, is the only system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to integrate ultra-realistic visuals of pitchers — complete with the exact arm angles, release mechanics and motion blur — to mimic the real experience of standing at home plate. This realistic training helps hitters prepare physically and cognitively for the game. 

The Trajekt Arc machine with artificial intelligence (AI) to integrate ultra-realistic visuals of pitchers

In December 2021, Pope and Ferrabee secured their first MLB client — the Chicago Cubs. With the Cubs on board, others soon joined and by the end of the following year, seven more MLB teams had signed on.  

Today, 30 professional baseball teams train with Trajekt Arc machines — 24 MLB teams, four from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, one from the Korea Baseball Organization and one from the Chinese Professional Baseball League. With 21 full-time employees and a co-op hiring pipeline that continues to tap into ��ݮ��Ƶ’s talent, the company is exploring more ways to deliver a superior training experience.

Ideas include applications beyond professional baseball like college training programs and recreational sports centres, and integrating advanced analytics, video tracking and personalized training plans for batters. 

“At its core, the Trajekt Arc is about levelling the playing field, giving all athletes, from rookies to seasoned professionals, a way to improve their game,” Pope said. “I love sport, and I love that we’re changing how people play and train — for the better.”

Engineering

Entrepreneurship

Magazine

Reshaping bone repair with 3D printing

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ researchers design 3D-printed bone grafts that promise safer, more effective treatments for patients

What if surgeons could replace damaged bone with a solution tailor-made to each patient?

That’s the question researchers at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ are seeking to answer as they develop a material that mimics the behaviour of human bone and is capable of being 3D printed with a high degree of accuracy.

Identifying a solution

Dr. Thomas Willett
Professor, Faculty of Engineering

Lead researcher Dr. Thomas Willett, from the Department of Systems Design Engineering, was influenced by his experiences working with orthopaedic surgeons at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

“I learned that the methods being used, though successful, were extremely complicated and required a lot of skill,” Willett said. “I thought we could do something with engineering, using 3D printing to produce a bone graft.”

Many surgical procedures require bones to be repaired and replaced. This is typically done using metal implants and donated tissue that acts as a framework for new bone growth. Doctors try to match available donated bones with the patient, but it can be hard to find an exact fit.

A material that is suitable for grafting but also 3D printable would enable surgeons to precisely match the geometry of the bone being replaced. This would make the process much easier and safer, with less likelihood of rejection or infection. “3D printing would also allow us to add engineered features that can hold the graft in place,” Willett said. “This would remove the need for the metal screws and plates that surgeons would normally use.

“We could have a material that you can fully customize to a patient, and that will have a big impact on the success of bone grafts and surgical outcomes.”

— Elizabeth Diederichs (PhD in progress)

Crafting a new material

Backed by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Willett and his collaborator Dr. Maud Gorbet, director of the Biomedical Engineering program, set out to make this material a reality.

The research group also benefited from the contributions of young researchers including Dr. Dibakar Mondal, Dr. Sanaz Saadatmand Hashemi and Elizabeth Diederichs (PhD in progress), who continues to work with Willett.

At the core of their work is a new nanocomposite material. It combines a triglyceride that is similar to fat with a nanoscale particle called hydroxyapatite.

Dr. Maud Gorbet
Professor, Faculty of Engineering

“The hydroxyapatite particles play a few roles,” Willett explained. “They provide mechanical reinforcement, making the material stiffer and stronger. They also create a favourable surface for the material to combine with bone cells.”

As the body repairs itself, the unique properties of this material allow new bone tissue to interact with and gradually replace the graft. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research confirmed that materials containing nanoscale hydroxyapatite particles are a viable potential alternative for grafting.

Optimizing for the future

Elizabeth Diederichs (MASc ’23)
Current PhD student

The researchers are now focused on refining their material to function both in the human body and through the 3D-printing process. “The challenge now is optimization,” Diederichs explained. “It’s a balancing act between all the different qualities we need.”

Diederichs’s work focuses on getting the material to be durable enough to withstand the pressures of the human body, while also being capable of slowly degrading to allow for new bone growth.

The team wants the material to be compatible with the highest accuracy 3D printers available, ensuring that grafts are precisely fitted to each patient.

“We can take CT scans and use computer-aided design to develop a model for the piece of bone that needs to be printed,” Willett said. “We could use this process for any bone that has lost a large piece or has complex geometry.” Printed bone grafts could also have applications for pets, reducing the need for amputations that impact quality of life.

Watch video on YouTube

This painstaking work has the potential to transform skeletal repair and reconstructive surgery by dramatically improving patient outcomes.

“I think it’s very exciting,” Diederichs said. “We could have a material that you can fully customize to a patient, and that will have a big impact on the success of bone grafts and surgical outcomes.”

Champions of change

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Meet six world-class researchers, alumni and students who are applying boundary-breaking approaches to redefine sports, recreation and tourism

Dr. Michelle Rutty

As Canadians contend with climate-induced environmental changes like wildfires, flooding and melting glaciers, Dr. Michelle Rutty (MES ’10, PhD ’14) has been exploring the relationship between environmental changes and the global tourism sector.

Her research is among the first to use the power of virtual reality (VR) technologies to provide immersive, realistic experiences that enable communities to better understand their current and future climatic risks.

As director of the deTOUR Lab, Rutty supports the use of VR environments where users experience a destination before or after climate-related disasters impact it. “We’ve developed VR environments for ski resorts and golf courses that are experiencing record warm conditions and drought and are currently working on a VR simulation of glacial retreat in Jasper National Park,” Rutty said.

Recognizing that visual content is more persuasive than textual narratives for shifting emotional values, Rutty leverages VR as a public engagement tool to promote dialogue around climate-induced environmental change. “Visual media can both simplify the complexity of climate science while eliciting emotional responses,” she explained.

Rutty is committed to methodological innovation that accelerates environmental action in the tourism sector. Her scholarship has been recognized for research excellence with awards from around the world.

Greg Mittler

When a group of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) students pitched the idea of introducing video games and esports at ��ݮ��Ƶ back in 2018, few imagined it would grow to be the largest network of its kind in Canada.

Under the leadership of Greg Mittler (BA ’14), the first full-time esports coordinator at a Canadian university, the program has grown to approximately 60 esports athletes who compete in several collegiate-level titles across North America.

Intent on making space for inclusivity in the sports world, Mittler shared that the initiative is also one of the first to have a marginalized genders team.

“We’re expanding into the community at large, focusing on more comprehensive goals with the ��ݮ��Ƶ Region Esports Commission and the University’s Interdisciplinary Network for Esports. Our ambition is to grow to be a significant influence in the country,” he said.

Last year, in collaboration with Conestoga College, Mittler and his team hosted WaterLAN — an esports tournament — where 16 schools came to the region to compete. The two-day event generated more than $75,000 in economic impact.

In 2024, Mittler’s team more than doubled those numbers, with help from approximately 50 student staff and volunteers that organized programming for thousands of students.

Christina Sullivan

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Christina Sullivan (BASc ’23) was introduced to the world of Formula 1 (F1) by her sister Veronica through the Netflix series Drive to Survive, and was instantly captivated by the sport. When her co-op term was cancelled due to the pandemic, Sullivan channelled her new passion into an academic project on F1 cars.

Shortly after, when her social media algorithm pushed an ad for an industrial placement at Williams Racing in the U.K., she applied and was thrilled to secure a one-year contract.

Today, as a full-time wind tunnel systems engineer with the company, Sullivan’s work ranges from designing and fabricating printed circuit boards and electrical harnesses to developing data acquisition systems and ensuring wind tunnel data accuracy.

“My main responsibility is the development and maintenance of our F1 wind tunnel model. All the aerodynamic developments that are seen on the car during races are first seen on this model in the wind tunnel,” she added.

Sullivan’s proudest achievement is leading the electrical design of the new wind tunnel model that Williams will test for the 2026 F1 season. She says that working with many multidisciplinary teams on bespoke systems and innovative control networks was an extremely rewarding experience.

Dr. Daniel Scott

The future of tourism and sports events like the Olympics are highly influenced by global change. That’s why Dr. Daniel Scott’s (MA ’93) research focuses on the transition of the tourism sector to a low-carbon economy and its adaptation to the complex impacts of a changing climate.

In a recent study commissioned by the International Olympic Committee to increase understanding of potential host cities in a warmer world, Scott’s research revealed that only 52 of 93 potential Olympic Winter Games host locations will remain climate-reliable by the 2050s and just 46 by the 2080s.

The outlook is more troubling for the Paralympic Winter Games, with only 22 climate-reliable sites by the 2050s and 16 by the 2080s. “Climate change is altering the geography of winter sports and is a growing threat to the cultural legacy of the Olympic Winter Games,” Scott said.

Still, believing that tourism can be a global force for good, he is committed to advancing global tourism that is compatible with planetary boundaries. As a leading scholar in the field, Scott’s research has been cited in more than 550 policy documents in more than 30 countries and by multiple international government organizations.

Haley Baxter

With her mom as her soccer coach and her dad a strong advocate for women’s sports, Haley Baxter’s (PhD in progress) research on women in volunteer sport coaching was greatly influenced by her parents.

Recognizing that there is little research in this field, her work aims to fill the gap. “My research looks at how to create and support pathways for young girls to become volunteer coaches,” Baxter explained.

Through meaningful engagement with club leaders, coaches and youth, her research highlights the lack of specific targets, strategies and gender-based initiatives for recruiting women and girls to coach.

Noting that club leaders recognize the need for intentional recruitment, she found they also feel unsupported by sports governing bodies, most of which prioritize high-performance coaching instead.

Baxter’s findings underscore the need for targeted recruitment strategies and better support systems to engage women and girls in volunteer coaching roles. She hopes her research helps the sport system recognize the importance of supporting gender-based initiatives at the community level of sport.

Dr. Kristine Dalton

Dr. Kristine Dalton (OD ’07, MSc ’10) is a distinguished leader in sports vision and concussion rehabilitation, with a remarkable track record in Paralympic winter sports.

In 2014, she founded the Sports Vision Clinic at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ to help athletes improve their performance. After seeing many athletes with vision problems after a concussion, Dalton teamed up with Dr. Tammy Labreche to launch a specialized service focused on treating patients with various brain injuries.

“Our team works collaboratively with physicians, optometrists, physiotherapists, athletic therapists and other health-care providers in the community to support the multidisciplinary care patients with brain injury need in their recoveries,” she said.

In 2015, Dalton pioneered a research project that focused on understanding how athletes use their vision to ski. Her research revolutionized classification rules for Para Alpine and Para Nordic skiing, ensuring fair competition for athletes with vision impairments.

In collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee, World Para Snow Sports and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, the groundbreaking work has expanded global eligibility for these sports.

Co-op and Experiential Education

Magazine

Research

Unlocking the mysteries of the universe

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Using a global network of telescopes, ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers are bringing black holes into view for the very first time

When a group of 14 scientists came together in 2014 to discuss a collaboration, Dr. Avery Broderick knew it was the start of something exciting. What he didn’t know was that in just a few years, releasing the first-ever photos of a black hole would place them at the centre of a global phenomenon. 

Dr. Avery Broderick
Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy

"I don’t think any of us knew exactly what would come from establishing the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration but looking around the room, I think we all knew we could achieve amazing things together that we couldn’t do alone,” said Broderick, a professor of physics and astronomy.

"It was also an exciting day for ��ݮ��Ƶ because we played a big role in getting everyone together to make it all happen.”

When the EHT released images of the black hole at the centre of the M87 galaxy in 2019, they appeared on the front page of every major newspaper, and the world was captivated. In March 2024, new images showing the polarization of light in another black hole named Sagittarius A star (also known as Sgr A*) were shared and the world was drawn back in. 

Left: Black hole at the centre of the M87 galaxy in 2019. Right: Black hole named Sagittarius A star (also known as Sgr A*) in 2024.

But what is it about black holes that captivates us? Simply put, they are one of the great mysteries of the universe – and everyone loves a great mystery.  

When Steven Hawking discovered that black holes could radiate, it highlighted a problem between the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics.

Although general relativity works well for big things and quantum mechanics works well for small things, combining them has stumped scientists for decades. Understanding the fundamental disagreement between these two theories is critical to explaining what’s happening at the singularity at the heart of a black hole.  

The quest to solve this mystery has led to many modern theoretical physics developments in the past 100 years and is one of the reasons the EHT was created.  

“Our job is to find those observational clues that will tell us where to look for the loose threads that will reveal a grand tapestry of what comes next,” Broderick said. “We’re looking for the theory that unifies our expectations from general relativity and quantum mechanics. That’s what excites me about what I do.” 

Over the past 10 years, Broderick and the ��ݮ��Ƶ team have been a part of many exciting discoveries through their integral role in the EHT, largely as the theoretical physicists examining and analyzing data from all over the world. As Broderick says, ��ݮ��Ƶ is punching above its weight when it comes to its role in the collaboration. 

“��ݮ��Ƶ is the only Canadian partner institution with a formal role in the collaboration and we have a large footprint across the project,” Broderick said. “Many graduate and postdoctoral scholars from our team have gone on to have leadership roles within the larger EHT group. It shows the breadth of talent that has come out of ��ݮ��Ƶ and how important we are to the continued success of the collaboration.” 

Watch video on YouTube

As the EHT continues to grow, more affiliated organizations are joining to expand their reach. There are currently 11 telescopes involved with EHT, but they hope to grow it to 20 in the next decade.  

“Once we get to 20 telescopes, we will be able to produce exquisite images of M87 that will trace out the bottom 1,000M of the jet, basically tracing out a region that’s 100 times bigger than the field of view we’ve seen,” Broderick said. “We’ll be able to see a much larger view and span the distance between the event horizon [the boundary that marks the point of no return of a black hole] and the stars. This will enable us to test gravity from the event horizon of a black hole out to the stars.” 

As the group grows, so will the impact. “In this golden age of black hole research, we hope to nail down the general relativity side and identify where we cannot explore theoretically because we can already refute it,” Broderick explained. “Or maybe we’ll find something unexpected that points us in the direction that's going to resolve this problem. The possibilities are immense, but it is a problem we know the world needs answers to.” 

Science

Magazine

Research

Statistical insights that can save lives

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Shu (Joy) Jiang is designing a modelling tool to help patients better understand their breast cancer risk

Dr. Shu (Joy) Jiang (PhD ’18) first developed her unique approach to medical research as a PhD student at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ.  

Dr. Shu (Joy) Jiang (PhD ’18)
Professor, Washington University School of Medicine

“The real lightbulb moment was when statistics stopped being theory, and I realized that I could actually apply these models in the real world to help people,” Jiang said.  

Today, Jiang is an associate professor in the Division of Public Health at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, where she’s developing tools to help women screen for breast cancer before it’s life-threatening. The work earned her recognition as one of Forbes’s 30 under 30 in health care in 2023 — and it all connects to the biostatistics research she did as a ��ݮ��Ƶ student.  

With her mentor, Dr. Richard Cook, research chair in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Jiang collaborated with scientists from the University of Toronto’s Psoriatic Arthritis Clinic and used statistical methods to analyze patient data to understand the progression of the disease better. “When it comes to statistics, you can build the best model there is, but if you’re not building a bridge between theory and real-world applications, then it’s not very meaningful,” she said.  

That interdisciplinary experience also impressed upon Jiang the vital importance of improving patient access to information and tools. “We’re in an era right now where there are a lot of systemic disparities in the medical system, especially in the United States: between people of different races and ethnicities, between people who do or don’t have health insurance, and between people who live in rural versus urban areas.”

Those disparities are only exacerbated by the erosion of people’s trust in the medical establishment.

“The real lightbulb moment was when statistics stopped being theory, and I realized that I could actually apply these models in the real world to help people.”

— Shu (Joy) Jiang (PhD ’18)

That’s why Jiang is collaborating with her colleague, Dr. Graham Colditz, on a startup that will directly put the tools to understand breast cancer risk into patients’ hands. “We’re trying to inform women about their five-year breast cancer risk so that actions can be taken based on recommendations from the national guidelines for patients and their providers – such as getting MRIs or ultrasounds — based on a mammogram.”  

“��ݮ��Ƶ has this great culture of combining research with industry,” Jiang said. “My time there helped me realize that, for this tool to get into clinics — for women to be using this — it has to be out there, in the market.”  

Their research is based in part on work concerning breast density and cancer risk co-authored by Jiang, which landed her in The New York Times last year. The research analyzes breast density data gathered from 10,000 women over a 10-year period and suggests that women who would go on to develop breast cancer had a much slower decline in breast density than women who remained cancer-free.  

Since the publication of that research, Jiang and her team have worked on validating their model, applying it to different populations around the United States and in British Columbia to see whether it reflects larger trends. That validation process — which has included large populations of Black, Asian, Indigenous and white women — seems to demonstrate that their estimated five-year breast cancer risk is robust regardless of race and ethnicity.  

Still, Jiang says, convincing women to prioritize their breast health remains a challenge. Even in British Columbia, where the provincial government covers routine breast cancer screening, only about 60 per cent of women go in for their scheduled mammograms.  

Jiang has a personal stake in improving those numbers: a close friend and colleague at ��ݮ��Ƶ died of breast cancer at a young age.  

“One out of eight women worldwide will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime,” Jiang said. “This is a disease that touches everyone.” 

Math

Magazine

Research

Strategies for success: Building a strong, supportive network

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Lee, vice-chair at Deloitte Canada, shares six practical tips to build impactful connections

Jennifer Lee (BA ’00), vice-chair and senior partner at Deloitte Canada, believes that strong networks and relationships are key to advancing gender equality and empowering women in the workplace.  

Jennifer Lee (BA ’00)
Vice-chair and senior partner, Deloitte Canada

One of Lee’s standout initiatives is Asian Tiger Moms (ATMs), a nationwide platform for Asian C-suite leaders in the business community. Co-founded by Lee, ATMs evolved from a women’s networking group into a game-changing network supporting individuals in balancing career, family and personal growth. The group redefines its name as a symbol of resilience and success, embracing a mindset of abundance and growth. “Asians are often told to keep their heads down and work hard, but that only leads to middle management — not the C-suite,” Lee explained.

Building on the success of ATMs, Lee helped launch the Asian Impact Maker C-suite community across Canada and the U.S., fostering critical business connections among Asian leaders. “Doing business together is key to building trust and connection,” she said. 

Lee’s journey from ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op student to senior leader underscores the value of these meaningful relationships. She shares six practical tips to help build connections and leverage networks for lasting impact. 

Adopt an abundance mindset 

Lee stresses the importance of approaching networking with an abundance mindset. “When someone operates with a scarcity mindset, they tend to act in ways that can undermine relationships,” she said. This mindset fosters generosity and collaboration, enabling people to help others without expecting immediate returns. It’s an approach that builds trust and creates a supportive community that thrives on shared success. 

Nurture existing relationships 

Networking isn’t just about meeting new people — it’s about nurturing relationships. “Your classmates, colleagues and friends are part of your network,” Lee said. She emphasizes staying connected and adding value to these relationships. By maintaining trust and mutual respect, your network becomes a lasting asset. Lee prioritizes regular check-ins with her global and local connections, trying to keep relationships strong in both virtual and in-person settings. 

Define your personal brand 

“You are who you spend time with,” Lee said, emphasizing that a network reflects your values, and a strong personal brand is key to building connections. “Why does someone want to talk to you? Why do you want to talk to them?” she asked. You can open doors to new opportunities by aligning your actions, communication and presence with your identity. Lee suggests thinking about how you introduce yourself and the five key phrases that define your brand. 

Be thoughtful about your time 

“Time is finite, so plan it purposefully,” Lee advised. “If you don’t plan your time, someone else will.” She recommends scheduling activities that reflect priorities, whether family, work or personal growth. Despite a packed schedule that includes a demanding career, board roles and her children’s sports commitments, Lee emphasizes that thoughtful time management helps you focus on what matters. 

Seek out and build trust 

Trust is essential in any meaningful relationship, personal or professional. “Business gets done with people you trust,” Lee said. Build trust by being reliable, transparent and empathetic. Listen carefully, value others’ perspectives and meet their needs. Strong, trust-based connections foster lasting partnerships. “At a recent Deloitte leadership off-site, we focused on empathetic leadership in an AI-driven world — human interaction and judgement are essential leadership attributes.” 

Think about your legacy 

Lee believes every decision should be guided by purpose. “Ask yourself, ‘What legacy will I leave?’ and let that vision shape your actions,” she said. Whether mentoring, volunteering or championing causes, your legacy is built on the doors you open for others. For Lee, this means creating value for clients, developing future leaders, supporting underrepresented communities, and with her husband, raising two global citizens committed to making the world better. 

Jennifer Lee is the vice-chair and a senior partner at Deloitte. Her clients include F100 and mid-market consumer clients, and she advises on mergers and acquisitions and value creation strategy.  She has worked and lived in Asia, Europe and the U.S. in both industry and consulting roles. She also volunteers in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, restructuring microfinance institutions to increase access to microcredit and reduce poverty. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.  

Arts

Community

Magazine

How WATCOM transformed computing

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ’s first software spinoff introduced faster, more efficient software that changed the business and gaming world

At the groundbreaking for the new Mathematics 4 (M4) building in October 2024, Dr. Mark Giesbrecht, dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, addressed a full crowd in the Davis Centre. He told the crowd that the Faculty would shape the future of technology just as it had shaped the past. 

Dr. Don Cowan (MSc ’61, PhD ’65)

Those words held special significance for Dr. Don Cowan (MSc ’61, PhD ’65) and Ian McPhee (BMath ’73, MMath ’79, DMath ’11). As key contributors alongside many other ��ݮ��Ƶ pioneers, they transformed the computing world — first with the creation of WATFOR, a legendary compiler for IBM mainframes, in the 1960s and later the software spinoff WATCOM in the ’80s and ’90s. 

Uniquely focused on the user, these ��ݮ��Ƶ trailblazers democratized computer education, helped unlock the full potential of PCs and made database software accessible for organizations of all kinds. Along the way, they built strong relationships with leading tech companies like IBM, Commodore, DEC and Intel and even powered the rise of 3D video games. 

Computer education for all

It began with the bold goal of bringing computers to the masses. Cowan, a distinguished professor emeritus at ��ݮ��Ƶ, explained that Wes Graham, who was known as the “father of computing” at ��ݮ��Ƶ, wanted to make using computers “as natural to people as pen and paper.” 

While other universities reserved their computers for faculty and graduate students, ��ݮ��Ƶ wanted their new IBM 7040, acquired in the early 1960s, to be accessible to thousands of undergraduate students. But there were challenges. 

“The software supplied with the computer took 30 seconds to compile a program,” Cowan said. “That sounds quick, but if you want to do thousands of jobs a day, it’s a very long time.” 

Moreover, when errors were made, the compiler gave little help identifying the issue. 

To overcome these shortcomings, Graham and a ��ݮ��Ƶ team created their compiler, named WATFOR, which sped up compiling by a factor of 100 and provided students with valuable diagnostics. 

“Suddenly, we were running 25,000 student programs a day,” Cowan said. “That was incredible.” 

Other universities, business and governments thought so, too. WATFOR and its successor for the IBM 360 were distributed to educational institutions and other organizations worldwide. This proved so popular that the WATFOR team implemented an annual fee to cover the costs of fixing bugs, issuing updates and providing instructions.

“We have this incredible infrastructure that attracts talented people, and you can’t take that for granted.” 

— Dr. Don Cowan (MSc ’61, PhD ’65)

In 1973, the Computer Systems Group (CSG) was formed to oversee the software's creation and distribution. The group was prolific, creating more than 20 major products across more than 10 systems. Former CSG member Trevor Grove (BMath ’79) recalled: “It truly was a ‘just do it’ era.” 

WATCOM and the age of personal computing 

As microcomputers gained traction in the late ’70s, Graham’s team began developing portable PC software outside the University. Graham recognized the educational potential of PCs and, together with McPhee, established WATCOM, ��ݮ��Ƶ’s first software spinoff, in 1981.

WATCOM excelled in the new market. Early PCs had limited memory, but WATCOM’s compilers implemented clever optimization techniques to create faster, smaller programs. This included the WATCOM C/C++ compiler, which enabled developers to use the Intel 386 processor's full 32-bit capability on 16-bit Windows.  

Ian McPhee (BMath ’73, MMath ’79, DMath ’11)

This feat helped make it the compiler of choice for the gaming industry. Genre-defining games, like Doom and Descent, used it. At a an industry keynote in 1992, Bill Gates held up the WATCOM C/C++ box, announcing that users could now run 32-bit programs on Windows. 

“We had a hot C compiler,” said McPhee, who served as chief executive officer for WATCOM. “We were getting reviewed in all the tech journals and smoking the benchmarks. That's when the WATCOM brand got established beyond education markets.” 

Yet, WATCOM’s greatest success came with the foray into database server software in the 1990s. 

James Welch, President of WATCOM Products Inc. with Ian McPhee (BMath ’73, MMath ’79), President of The WATCOM Group

“Salesmen were taking early laptops on business trips,” McPhee explained. “But existing SQL systems were so large and complex that you’d need an administrator along to add information.” 

WATCOM SQL was self-configuring and efficient, enabling the simple operation of database applications on small portable devices. This led to its use as an embedded database in many best-selling products. 

It was on the strength of its thriving database business that WATCOM was acquired by Powersoft in 1994, which then merged with Sybase. In 2010, the German tech giant SAP acquired Sybase. WATCOM SQL is still produced today as SQL Anywhere, and SAP maintains an office on ��ݮ��Ƶ’s north campus. 

Cowan hopes that today’s Mathies learn from this remarkable history of innovation: “I hope the Faculty continues to blossom, but without forgetting its origins. We have this incredible infrastructure that attracts talented people, and you can’t take that for granted.” 

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Changing the way people explore Africa

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Eyitemi Popo discusses her role as a founder and shares her vision for transformation and collective growth in a women-driven economy

Eyitemi Popo (MDEI ’16)
Founder, Girls Trip Tours

Eyitemi Popo (MDEI ’16) wants to change how people explore Africa. That’s why she founded Girls Trip Tours, a travel experience designed to empower and connect future leaders. She started the venture shortly after graduating with a Master of Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI) from ��ݮ��Ƶ’s Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. She is now a Forbes-listed social entrepreneur who is invested in products, services and ecosystems that help women thrive.

Why did you choose the MDEI program?

When I discovered the program, I was thrilled to find something predesigned at the master’s level that seamlessly integrated the creative and the technical. It felt like a natural next step, and it was exciting to join a community of like-minded individuals who valued both innovation and entrepreneurship. The program provided an opportunity to deepen my understanding of using design as a tool to develop scalable business models and lead innovative projects with real-world impact.

Why was creating a travel experience for women important to you?

The idea for Girls Trip Tours came to me after a year of continuous travel. As someone who had lived in several countries and traveled extensively growing up, I noticed a gap in the tourism industry – few experiences focused on creating safe, intentional spaces for women, especially Black women, to explore and thrive. I wanted travel to be more than ticking places off a bucket list. I wanted it to be about making memories the soul would remember long after the mind forgets.

“We’re not just running trips but creating a platform for transformation and collective growth.”

— Eyitemi Popo (MDEI ’16)

Six years after founding the company, what still surprises or inspires you?

What continues to inspire me is seeing the connections formed during these trips. Women leave with lifelong friendships, newfound confidence and sometimes even business collaborations. It’s a reminder that we’re not just running trips but creating a platform for transformation and collective growth.

What surprises me is how much this mission resonates globally. Women from all walks of life are seeking spaces where they can feel celebrated, supported and at ease. That universal desire has shaped the way I think about expanding the company.

First Girls Trip Tour trip to Ghana

Looking ahead, what do you envision for Girls Trip Tours?

From the bustling city of Nairobi to the tranquil vineyards outside Cape Town, Girls Trip Tours is transforming how people experience Africa by creating an alternative tourism economy called Iranti. Powered by women, Iranti shifts tourism from surface-level sightseeing to deep cultural immersion and social impact. 

By partnering with locally owned, women-led businesses, we ensure that tourism dollars directly empower African women and girls.

Each curated experience – from walking through South Africa’s only fully Black-owned wine farm to safaris led by Africa’s first all-women guide team – fosters meaningful connections, uplifts communities and inspires travellers long after their journey ends.

Looking ahead, we aim to expand our impact through B2B partnerships so that other organizations can leverage our ecosystem to curate conscious-by-default travel. Each trip booked with us will continue to sponsor a girl’s education for one school year, creating positive changes that uplift entire communities.

A Girls Trip Tour with safari guide team in Botswana

Can you explain the impact mentorship has had on you and why it’s a priority in your work?

Mentorship has been a cornerstone of my journey, both as a mentee and mentor. Throughout my career, having access to mentors helped me navigate the workplace, particularly as a young Black woman in industries where representation remains scarce like luxury beauty, wealth management, deep tech, artificial intelligence and venture capital.

At Girls Trip Tours, embedding mentorship through my foundation, Girls MAP Inc., is my way of paying it forward. I was lucky enough to be raised by a mother and grandmother who both pursued advanced degrees, but many of the girls in our programs are first-generation students, so my aim is to give them more examples of what’s possible if they stay the course and continue their education.

Flourishing through adversity

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Dr. Nel Wieman discovers her passion for helping people and becomes Canada’s first female Indigenous psychiatrist

Dr. Nel Wieman (BSc ’88, MSc ’91)
Chief medical officer, First Nations Health Authority

I spent most of my formative years seeking out an identity. As a survivor of the Sixties Scoop, I was taken away from my biological family and shuffled around to five or six different foster homes before being adopted by a Dutch immigrant family at the age of four.

Growing up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, I experienced and witnessed racism a lot. I was kicked and called racial slurs. Yet perhaps the most dehumanizing experience at the time was being grouped with other First Nations kids daily to be inspected by my Grade 4 teacher who felt it important to ensure we were clean behind our ears and under our nails.

This made me feel deeply ashamed of who I was. However, as I watched busloads of First Nations kids being brought in from the nearby reserves to my school every day, while I sat on a bus with white kids, I always felt like I was on the wrong bus.

I knew that to thrive after high school, I would have to move away, and that desire to find a home somewhere else led me to the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ. Being a track and field athlete, the most natural fit felt like kinesiology, so I told my parents that my life’s dream was to be a kinesiologist, and off I went. That decision changed the trajectory of my life.

Being a first-year student at ��ݮ��Ƶ was the first time I realized that I was smart, capable and could do whatever I wanted to do.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I continued with a master’s in biomechanics at ��ݮ��Ƶ and thought I would likely stay and do a PhD and continue working in a lab. But as I was doing my research, which involved analyzing the gait of elderly participants, I realized that they trusted me, and I really enjoyed hearing their stories. It was then that I knew I was meant to work directly with people and switched to medicine.

Shortly after starting medical school at McMaster University, I was serendipitously invited to a meeting by the Native Physicians Association of Canada. I still don’t know how they found out about me, but flying out to Edmonton, Alberta and walking into a room with 20 other people who looked like me was the first time I felt like I had a family.

They taught me where the greatest needs were in First Nations communities. I recognized then that it wasn’t quite the time for an Indigenous neurologist — the specialization path I was headed on in medical school.

“I understand the importance of exercising my privilege and power to advance systemic change — and so my mission for helping people continues.”

— Dr. Nel Wieman (BSc ’88, MSc ’91)

There was, and continues to be, too much trauma in First Nations communities. This affects their mental health, and for some, results in substance use — a fact I couldn’t ignore — so I knew it was an area where I could flourish and make a difference.

I became the first female Indigenous psychiatrist in the country and spent the first eight years working at a newly developed community-based mental health clinic on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Today, as chief medical officer of the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia, I advocate for cultural safety in medical schools and the health system. Whether meeting with our provincial partners or leveraging social media to amplify injustices, there’s a never-ending list of things for me to tackle.

However, having experienced and witnessed firsthand how First Nations peoples are treated differently in accessing and experiencing the health-care system, I understand the importance of exercising my privilege and power to advance systemic change — and so my mission for helping people continues.

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