Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Accessibility

Artificial Intelligence

Computer Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

Ukraine

Subheadline

Brokoslaw Laschowski’s lab is developing AI-powered technologies that interface with humans

To students in his University of Toronto lab, Brokoslaw Laschowski is known as “the bionic professor” – a superhuman nickname that speaks to both his fascination with wearable robotics and passion for helping others.

A research scientist at the KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, and assistant professor (status) in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Laschowski and his team are developing wearable robots that use artificial intelligence (AI) to make decisions on their own – not unlike autonomous cars.

Their work includes bionic prosthetic legs, exoskeletons, AI-powered smart glasses and neural interfaces.

“Applications of our technology are primarily medical,” says Laschowski, who is also an affiliate faculty member at U of T’s Robotics Institute, one of several multidisciplinary institutional strategic initiatives at the university.

“We are trying to help individuals with physical disabilities. It’s such a challenging problem, how do you design technology that interface with humans and allows them to synergistically move in a meaningful way?”

Laschowski is developing wearable robotics, including an exoskeleton, to help individuals with physical disabilities (photo by Polina Teif)

For Laschowski, who says he has long been fascinated with the concept of “cyborgs,” computer vision can help seamlessly merge humans with machines.

“Humans use their vision for path planning and control, which inspired the use of vision in autonomous cars,” he says. “I started looking into how we could possibly use vision with walking robots.”

For the team’s prosthetic leg and exoskeleton, tiny cameras allow the devices to sense their environments in real-time – an idea that Laschowski says is unique to his research.

“There aren’t many labs in the world that are using computer vision to improve human-robot walking,” he says.

The team’s smart glasses interact with both the exoskeleton and bionic prosthetic leg. The system works by combining computer vision and deep-learning AI to recognize the surrounding environment and adapt to obstacles and changes in terrain.

“We can accurately and quickly identify features of the environment and relay that information to the bionic legs,” he says.

Laschowski says he became passionate about assistive technology while he was pursuing his second master’s degree at the University of Waterloo. At the time, he was working with Paralympic athletes from Team Canada on design optimization of wheelchairs using computer simulations.

He completed a PhD in engineering at Waterloo before coming to U of T to do a postdoctoral fellowship in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Laschowski wears a prototype of his lab’s AI-powered smart glasses (photo by Polina Teif)

Laschowski’s drive to help others extends well beyond the realm of assistive devices.

Last year, he worked with Michael Brudno, chief data scientist for the University Health Network and a professor of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, to launch a summer research program for students fleeing the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine.

As a Ukrainian-Canadian, Laschowski says the initiative is close to his heart.

“We took students out of war zones and gave them a safe learning environment – especially last year.”

The initiative, which drew more than 400 applicants this year, gives computer science students from Ukraine the opportunity to work and study with top U of T faculty who are engaged in cutting-edge research. It receives support from U of T’s department of computer science, the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the Robotics Institute and the department of mathematical and computational sciences at U of T Mississauga.

Laschowski and Brudno are both deeply involved – reviewing submissions, helping students fill out visa forms and preparing them for one of the biggest moves of their lives. They also organized a welcome event for the new cohort of 21 students who arrived at U of T in May.

“We feel a huge sense of responsibility,” Laschowski says. “They are under our care. We promised that we would help them while their brothers and fathers are fighting for freedom.”

Oleksii Tsepa, a master’s student in computer science at U of T, left his home in Kyiv on the first day of the war, with his parents urging him to go aboard. “The borders were still open,” he recalls. “I understood that I wouldn’t be able to leave Ukraine later.”

He stayed in Cyprus for a couple of months before finding out about the U of T program.

“I feel lucky that I qualified and that I worked with Professor Laschowski,” Tsepa says. “He taught me that I always have to answer myself. I understood that achievements can’t be reached without putting in effort.”

Michael Brudno, left, and Oleksii Tsepa, right, speak at an event for computer science students from Ukraine (photos by Polina Teif)

The effort put in by Laschowski and his team is evident in their potentially game-changing technologies, which are being tested in environments both inside and outside the lab.

“I am a huge proponent of getting out of the lab as fast as possible because these devices are going to have the greatest impact in the real world.” Laschowski says.

His lab is also developing neural interfaces, which would give humans direct control over the bionic prosthetic leg and exoskeleton. Far into the future, he imagines he’ll be working on connecting his smart glasses to a brain implant.

“We could potentially map images of the walking environment from the glasses directly onto the visual cortex of the brain – essentially bypassing the eyes and giving users bionic vision,” he says.

“If somebody has macular degeneration or some age-related visual impairment, we may be able to use the smart glasses to bypass that and interface directly to the brain.”

Laschowski says he believes humans are beginning to go through a technological evolution – one that he is helping to make reality.

“If we could allow the visually impaired to see and the paralyzed to walk through advances in technology – those are some of my career goals.”

U of T, City of Toronto and family members celebrate Terry Fox mural

mattimar — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 20:26:35 +0000

U of T, City of Toronto and family members celebrate Terry Fox mural

mattimar Fri, 10/21/2022 - 16:26

Cutline

Alexander Bacon and Darrell Fox stand in front the newly unveiled mural of Terry Fox on the Rehabilitation Sciences Building on University Avenue (all photos by Lisa Lightbourn)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Cancer

Cities

A new mural depicting Terry Fox outside the University of Toronto’s Rehabilitation Sciences Building honours the legacy of the Canadian hero and marks the route he took through the city in 1980 during his Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research.

A celebration was held Thursday to mark the completion of the project – a partnership between U of T, the City of Toronto and the Legacy Art Project, itself part of the ArtworxTO initiative – that towers over University Avenue.

Toronto artists Alexander Bacon, Que Rock and their team of 20 people worked on the eight-storey mural for nearly a year, using 400 cans of spray paint.

“It's a tremendous honor to work on this mural,” Bacon told U of T News. “Terry Fox is probably one of the greatest Canadian heroes and I call him a hero because of his courage.”

Located on the north side of U of T’s Rehabilitation Sciences Building, the mural overlooks part of the route Fox took through downtown Toronto on July 11, 1980, before eventually making his way to Nathan Philips Square. An image of a bison recognizes and celebrates Fox’s Métis heritage with the word “hope” emblazoned vertically in block letters.

“I do a lot of murals and I find when you put a big splash of colour into a downtown core where all the buildings are just grays and browns, it stands out more,” said Bacon.

Fox ran 5,373 kilometres with an artificial right leg over 143 days until illness forced him to cut his journey short near Thunder Bay, Ont.

Darrell Fox, senior adviser to the Terry Fox Research Institute and Terry’s younger brother, says it’s incredible to see the mural completed.

“It’s so vibrant, the colours chosen,” he said. “It feels like Terry is here and that’s really impressive.

“Terry wasn't about recognition. His focus was raising money for cancer research. I think he’d be pretty thankful and proud as much as he’d prefer to see others who are going through cancer now featured on this mural.”

Over the past decade, the Terry Fox Research Institute has provided tens of millions of dollars to support cancer research at the University Health Network and U of T.

“Our research program is about training future generation of scientists and researchers who will be continue to be inspired by Terry Fox’s vision of hope through research,” said Luc De Nil, a senior scientist at Toronto Western Research Insititute, associate scientist at SickKids Research Institute and a professor in the department of speech-language pathology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. “Thank you Terry, Terry’s family and supporters for believing so much in what we do.

“We are committed to ensuring that many students, staff and faculty continue to be aware of his incredible story and the mural will be a visual reminder of that.”

Ron Saporta, U of T’s chief operating officer, property services and sustainability, said the project exemplifies the close relationship between the city and the university.

“The piece is evocative and hopeful,” he said at the event. “We are proud that a U of T building dedicated to maximizing the physical function and participation of Canadians is hosting this work.

“Early on in the selection of the artwork, the advisory committee identified that one of the elements in the mural should be the legacy of hope Terry Fox left for persons with disabilities and their ability to participate and inspire. This mural and its location realize their direction.”

University-Rosedale Councillor and U of T alumnus Mike Layton said the mural recognizes the lasting impact Fox has across the city and country, while Fox’s brother suggested that people will feel inspired when they’re walking by the artwork.

“The reality is the Marathon of Hope was 42 years ago, but maybe people will be inspired to read more and find out about the story of an average person who did this remarkable job through hard work and determination,” he said. “That’s a message that I think we could all benefit from.”

'An international hero': Design unveiled for Terry Fox mural on U of T's Rehabilitation Sciences Building

geoff.vendeville — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 20:03:38 +0000

'An international hero': Design unveiled for Terry Fox mural on U of T's Rehabilitation Sciences Building

geoff.vendeville Fri, 02/18/2022 - 15:03

Cutline

(Illustration courtesy of Alexander Bacon and Que Rock, City of Toronto)

Geoffrey Vendeville

Topic

City & Culture

The design for a Terry Fox mural that will grace the University of Toronto's Rehabilitation Sciences Building has been selected by a panel that includes the Canadian hero’s younger brother and niece.

The winning submission, by Toronto artists Alexander Bacon and Que Rock, depicts Fox smiling and waving. The mural's colours symbolize the different types of cancer research supported by the Terry Fox Foundation, while an image of a bison pays homage to Fox's Métis heritage. The word “hope” emblazoned vertically in block letters references his cross-country “Marathon of Hope” to raise money for cancer research.

“We are honoured to have had our design concept selected by the Advisory Committee for this landmark commission,” the artists said in a statement. “Terry Fox is an international hero, a timeless symbol of selflessness and resilience against all odds. We are so proud to celebrate this global icon through our mural.”

To be painted this summer at 500 University Avenue, the mural is expected to be eight storeys tall and will overlook part of the route Fox took through downtown Toronto more than 40 years ago. Upon his arrival in Toronto, he told the Globe and Mail that being a patient in a cancer ward was tougher than running across the country. "People I saw who had cancer set an example. I've got to be strong, I can't give up," he told the paper.

Fox ran 5,373 kilometres with an artificial right leg over 143 days until illness forced him to cut his journey short outside Thunder Bay, Ont.

“The University of Toronto is pleased to collaborate with the City of Toronto and The Legacy Art Project to commemorate Terry Fox’s brave journey and his legacy of inspiration and support for advanced research to fight cancer,” U of T President Meric Gertler said in a statement. “This project will enhance Toronto’s public space and provide our city with an uplifting public art installation in the heart of our city’s hospital and health care corridor.”

The Legacy Art Project is part of the ArtworxTO initiative.

The selection committee included Fox's brother, Darrell, and niece Jessie Adler. In a statement, they thanked the five artists who submitted designs and noted that “Alexander Bacon and Que Rock truly captured the euphoria and power of Terry running down University Avenue to Nathan Phillips Square on July 11, 1980.”

Mayor John Tory, a U of T alumnus, similarly thanked the artists who submitted designs.

“Each design was inspiring and powerful and honoured the legacy of Terry Fox in remarkable ways,” he said. “Congratulations to the artists for their winning design, which will be a wonderful tribute in downtown Toronto to the legacy of a great Canadian.”

Researcher discusses brain injury and 'shadow pandemic' of intimate partner violence

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:30:41 +0000

Researcher discusses brain injury and 'shadow pandemic' of intimate partner violence

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 02/01/2022 - 14:30

Cutline

(Photo courtesy of Temerty Faculty of Medicine)

Jim Oldfield

Topic

Our Community

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Occupational Therapy

People who live with brain injury from intimate partner violence (IPV) face massive chasms in health care and support systems, says University of Toronto researcher Angela Colantonio, a researcher at the University of Toronto and University Health Network (UHN).

Most of these injuries go unreported. Service providers may not have the training to recognize brain injuries, and survivors themselves are often unaware they have a brain injury – instead attributing symptoms to mental health conditions or personal failure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened their suffering. Physical abuse has increased, and access to support services has withered. To help address this immediate crisis, and the long-standing problem of brain injury from intimate partner violence, Colantonio – director of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and a professor of occupational science and occupational therapy at U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and a senior scientist at KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, UHN – recently co-edited a special issue of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.

Colantonio is cross-appointed to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and her work is supported by a Canada Research Chair in traumatic brain injury in underserved populations.

She recently spoke with writer Jim Oldfield about intimate partner violence, and how research is raising awareness of brain injury and providing new tools for social workers, health professionals and patients.

How common is brain injury from intimate partner violence?

We don’t have great prevalence estimates. About one in three women globally will experience intimate partner violence at some point, and physical abuse is a common form of this violence. Yet it has been found that fewer than 25 per cent of women seek care at the time of injury, according to some studies. Hits to the head, face and neck account for over 90 per cent of physical abuse by some estimates, which leaves women at high risk for a brain injury. So, this is a huge population that requires a specific approach in care and about whom we have very little information.

What are the most immediate needs to address this situation?

The needs are many, but education among front-line service providers is a big one. That said, the gender-based violence sector has been so receptive to work in this area, and we’ve had great partnerships with organizations such as WomenatthecentrE, the Cridge Centre for the Family and others. Just great collaboration to address this major gap in education, practice and knowledge. At the same time, the need for education among health care providers in brain injury is huge. That requires a tailored and sensitive approach to avoid putting people at further risk, or creating more harm and stigma. And of course, we need more research to guide care.

How was the experience of editing this special issue of the journal?

We had a great response from the research community. We received more submissions than we could consider, and I was really impressed by the willingness of researchers around the world to share their work and ideas. We ended up with a varied suite of articles and topics, from strangulation outcomes to neuroimaging correlates on IPV related brain injury and new data about prevalence. We had prevalence estimates in understudied populations that include refugees, and some of the first qualitative reports on the impact of the pandemic and brain injury among service users and providers. One paper found that persistent post-concussive symptoms significantly predicted IPV perpetration, highlighting the need to address brain injury in perpetrators as well. So there’s a real breadth to this issue, which is encouraging, although we’re just scratching the surface compared to research on brain injury among athletes, for example.

What can you say about the COVID-19 pandemic, relative to physical abuse and brain injury?

We’re seeing more reports of new cases and more severe injuries, so the problem has escalated in Canada and worldwide. Many providers now refer to IPV as a “shadow pandemic.” Through our consultations and research, we heard about a quiet period at the start of the pandemic, then a surge of calls to service providers. They reported more frequent and serious injuries, but also more barriers to accessing services, in part because shelters had reduced capacity and resorted to more online formats. Many survivors face challenges accessing technology safely and confidentially, and people with brain injury may find it hard to be on a screen and navigate resources. This is on top of pre-existing barriers, which we know are pronounced for persons who are Black, Indigenous and in rural or remote communities, among others.

How do you keep your morale up, working in this area?

It’s absolutely a difficult area. But I’m just so humbled by those with lived experience who are willing to share, talk to us and lead efforts to address this issue. They have told us what it’s like to live with cognitive difficulties attributed to poor mental health or personal failure. They’ve told us they want to identify and label their experiences, so they can get help and not feel it’s all their fault. Similarly with service providers, we’ve heard of many aha moments when clients have missed appointments, for example, and providers later realize it was a memory issue. I also have the privilege of working with the most dedicated and talented staff and trainees in our lab who are making major collaborative contributions.

How effective are treatments for brain injuries?

Rehabilitation is critical for successful recovery and to maximize meaningful participation in everyday life and work. A multidisciplinary team approach can work very well at the individual level to build upon strengths and abilities, compensatory strategies and also to adapt the environment. We include information on care guidelines in our Abused and Brain Injured Toolkit.

Is that tool kit available to the public?

Yes, it’s an educational resource that includes screening considerations, links between brain injury and mental health, and fundamentals on brain injury and care along with personal stories. We co-created it with service providers and survivors, and that’s reflected in the content. It’s been accessed by over 8,000 users on four continents, and referenced in websites, clinical programs and fact sheets. So we’re having an impact, as are our colleagues. Our special issue includes an evaluation of a health-advocacy intervention developed by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, which has helped survivors increase their knowledge and agency, and a letter from Katherine Snedaker of Pink Concussions, with updates on a Partner Inflicted Brain Injury task force. Maybe most gratifying is the cross-pollination we’re seeing between brain injury and gender-based violence organizations. They are working together in new ways, and that really is essential to moving us forward.

Is AI ageist? Researchers examine impact of technology on older users

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 22:17:59 +0000

Is AI ageist? Researchers examine impact of technology on older users

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 01/25/2022 - 17:17

Cutline

(Photo by MoMo Productions/Getty Images)

Rebecca Biason

Topic

Breaking Research

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Artificial Intelligence

University Health Network staff

Researchers from the University of Toronto and University of Cambridge are looking into the ways ageism – prejudice against individuals based on age – can be encoded into technologies such as artificial intelligence, which many of us now encounter daily.

This age-related bias in AI, also referred to as “digital ageism,” is explored in a new paper led by Charlene Chu, an affiliate scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s KITE research arm, part of the University Health Network (UHN), and an assistant professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

Charlene Chu

The paper was recently published in The Gerontologist, the leading journal of gerontology.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened our awareness of how dependent our society is on technology,” says Chu says. “Huge numbers of older adults are turning to technology in their daily lives which has created a sense of urgency for researchers to try to understand digital ageism, and the risks and harms associated with AI biases.”

Chu and her research team consisting of legal scholars, computer scientists, philosophers and social scientists in bioethics and gerontology, note that stereotypes are deeply ingrained in AI algorithms, with recent research focusing on examples of racial and gender-based bias. Solutions to address AI bias, however, are not simple, says Chu. She and her team suggest that there are series of “cycles of injustice” that occur in technology development, from early-stage design to testing and implementation.

“Cumulatively, these cycles produce an implicit bias that is baked into the technology’s function which exclude older adults in a disproportionate way,” she says.

Bloomberg Nursing’s Rebecca Biason recently spoke with Chu about her work and the implications of digital ageism for older adults.

How might technology or apps perpetuate digital ageism?

There are several ways that AI-powered technology may take on age related bias – some are more obvious than others. Most apps created for older adults tend to focus on chronic disease and health-care management, and are rarely associated with pleasure or leisure. Instead, technology created for older adults, tends to view them with a biomedical lens, generating technology that is focused on a health-related need.

This ageist representation of older adults trickles into the design of technology. Normal aspects of aging, such as differences in motor function or perception, are not taken into consideration. This is one of the “cycles of injustice” that perpetuates age-related bias described in my paper that underpins the exclusion of older adults’ voices and data.

How does the exclusion of older adults contribute to digital ageism?

The data that is used to build various models and algorithms subsequently impacts the performance of the algorithm. Specific to age-related bias, older adults are the fastest growing group of individuals using technology, yet much of the data used to build AI systems are based on younger people. This, in turn, generates apps and technologies that are not designed for older adults, so they do not use them.

This mismatch in design and technology contributes to a lack of data from older adults, which amplifies their exclusion throughout the pipeline of technology creation.

Ageism is the most socially accepted bias despite the fact that it’s an eventuality for all of us. As the demographic of populations begins to shift, more and more older adults will be turning to technology that is not designed for them.

Part of our future work is to effectively illustrate how embedded ageism is within AI and technology development and suggest ways to mitigate that.

What are some of your early recommendations for addressing digital ageism for older adults?

Awareness about digital ageism is the first step – and is critical to moving forward. Age intersects with other dimensions of vulnerability and should be addressed. A structural recommendation is to discuss the need for interdisciplinary co-design – that is including older adults in technology design from the beginning and not at the end, and data sets that are more representative of older adults.

One thing my team did was comb through The AI Ethics Guidelines Global Inventory, which is a repository that compiles recommendation documents about how AI systems can conduct ethical automated decision-making. Many of these guidelines highlighted fairness as a key governing ethical principle, as well as the need for a reduction of bias. Of these nearly 150 documents created by established organizations, governments and international groups, we found very little mention of age, age bias or ageism in comparison to racial or sex-related biases.

Now, my team is trying to determine the societal and ethical implications, as well as the degree of harm being done currently with respect to digital ageism. The work is foundational in bringing attention to this issue as we set out to define the problem.

Mobility scooters not up to winter's icy challenge, researchers say

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:54:05 +0000

Mobility scooters not up to winter's icy challenge, researchers say

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 01/06/2022 - 12:54

Cutline

(Photo by Knight725 via Flickr)

Topic

Breaking Research

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Accessibility

Mobility scooters perform poorly under the snow- and ice-covered road conditions that are common during Canadian winters, a new study by researchers at University Health Network and the University of Toronto has found.

The research team tested the performance of eight commercially available mobility scooters under a range of winter driving conditions.

Geoffrey Fernie

“We tested performance in normal conditions on dry concrete, as well as on snow- and ice-covered surfaces. Specifically, we looked at the scooters’ steerability – the ability to round corners on level ground – and slip resistance when driving forward and backward on slopes,” says study author Geoffrey Fernie, a professor of surgery with appointments at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute who is a senior scientist at the University Health Network's KITE Research Institute.

All scooters studied had near-perfect success rounding corners on a concrete surface, but when ice- and snow-covered surfaces were tested, around two out of three scooters failed.

Snow and ice also reduced the ability of scooters to navigate slopes. Only half of the scooters tested could ascend a gentle slope (i.e., a 4.8-degree incline) covered in snow without losing traction. Furthermore, only one scooter could ascend a slope that was covered in ice. The impact of snow and ice on slip resistance was even more apparent when the scooters descended slopes.

The inability of scooters to navigate a 4.8-degree slope in the presence of snow or ice is particularly concerning because this slope angle complies with the standards set out by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Snow removal services do not always adequately clear ramps and sidewalks, and many do not even clear snow until it accumulates to well over the amount that we tested,” warns Roger Montgomery, research analyst at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and lead author of the study. “Moreover, curb and accessibility ramps do not always comply with guidelines and are often much steeper.”

Given the failure of the scooters to maintain traction on snow- and ice-covered slopes, the team tested whether winter tires could improve scooter performance. Compared to stock tires, prototype winter tires significantly improved scooters’ performance, enabling them to successfully drive down 4.8-degree slopes covered in bare and melting ice.

Unfortunately, winter tires are not readily available for mobility scooters at this time.

“We need to improve safety for those facing mobility challenges – ensuring that they have the resources necessary to maintain their independence is a big part of that,” says Montgomery. “To meet the needs of scooter users year-round, manufacturers need to consider winter environments when they design and test their devices, and make winter tires widely available.”

The work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the UHN Foundation. Two scooters used for winter tire testing were donated by Shoppers Home Health Care.

This story originally appeared at University Health Network.

Terry Fox to be celebrated on U of T’s Rehabilitation Sciences Building with one of five mural designs

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 15:54:07 +0000

Terry Fox to be celebrated on U of T’s Rehabilitation Sciences Building with one of five mural designs

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 10/20/2021 - 11:54

Cutline

Five proposals for a mural on the Rehabilitation Sciences Building feature art, as seen in this composite, by: Alexander Bacon and Que Rock; Emmanuel Jarus; Keitha Keeshig-Tobias Biizindam; Christiano De Araujo; and Jason Pinney.

Scott Anderson

Topic

City & Culture

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Mount Sinai Hospital

Occupational Therapy

The University of Toronto has teamed up with the City of Toronto and the Legacy Art Project to commemorate Terry Fox, the Canadian hero who – with one leg amputated due to cancer – embarked on a quest to run across Canada in 1980 to raise money for cancer research.

The city recently unveiled five shortlisted designs – submitted by local artists – for a giant mural of Fox on the north side of the university’s Rehabilitation Sciences Building at 500 University Avenue.

When it’s finished, the mural will overlook part of the route where people gathered to cheer on Fox as he made his way to Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto on July 11, 1980.

Darrell Fox, senior adviser to the Terry Fox Research Institute and Terry’s younger brother, says the Fox family was especially pleased to find a location for the mural on University Avenue with a connection to the university.

“It was Terry’s vision to support cancer research,” Fox told U of T News. “So, a University of Toronto building is a fitting place for it.”

Fox added that his older brother probably would have felt sheepish about the towering mural of himself.

Artists participating in the mural project, including (from left) Alexander Bacon, Que Rock, Christiano De Araujo and Jason Pinney, as well as representatives for Keitha Keeshig-Tobias Biizindam and Emmanuel Jarus, pose for a picture with Darrell Fox (photo by Johnny Guatto)

“Terry would be quite embarrassed and uncomfortable with the recognition. He was always about raising one more dollar [for research]. But the mural will be in a location – on University Avenue and on a University of Toronto building where research is happening – that will inspire others. He would have been happy about that.”

Barbara Fischer, executive director and chief curator of the U of T Art Centre and a member of the mural advisory committee, echoed Fox’s comments, noting that the mural’s location among several U of T partner hospitals “underscores and perhaps makes newly visible the role that hospitals, research centres and universities play in research that is very much at the heart of Terry Fox’s heroic achievement.”

Fischer, who is also a professor in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, added that the mural will be “a wonderful marker … of the university’s dedication to contribute to and improve the health and well-being of the city and region.”

Jim Woodgett, the president and scientific director of the Terry Fox Research Institute, says raising funds for cancer research continues to be a priority since one in four Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes – half of whom will die from it.

Over the past decade, the institute has provided tens of millions of dollars to support cancer research at the University Health Network and U of T – primarily to collaborations among small groups of scientists that other funding agencies don’t typically support.

Woodgett, himself a cancer researcher and a professor of medical biophysics at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and a senior investigator at Sinai Health’s Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, says progress is incremental but new cancer therapies are becoming available thanks to ongoing research.

Toronto Mayor John Tory, who spoke at the event, commended the city’s partnership with the Legacy Art Project and U of T – part of the ArtworxTO initiative – as an example of how to bring together people and inspire them through public art.

“What Terry Fox did was so extraordinary, so courageous, so inspirational and so important,” said Tory, adding that the story of a heroic Canadian is an apt subject for a mural.

Mayor John Tory speaks at an event showcasing the mural project at U of T’s Rehabilitation Sciences Building on University Aveneue (Photo by Johnny Guatto)

In addition to the mural, U of T has worked with the city and other partners on a number of projects for ArtworxTO. They include an Indigenous public art installation on tree-protection hoardings in the Hart House Commons; exhibitions and programming at the U of T Art Museum on the St. George campus and at U of T Scarborough; and student-led research through U of T’s School of Cities to evaluate the Year of Public Art initiative that’s currently underway.

Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope in 1980, with the goal of crossing the country from east to west by running at least 42 km a day and raising one dollar from every Canadian to support cancer research. He had completed 143 days and reached as far as Thunder Bay, Ont., when the spread of his cancer forced him to end his quest.

He died in 1981, from cancer, at the age of 22. Since then, Fox’s legacy has inspired millions of Canadians and others around the world to give to the Terry Fox Foundation, which has raised more than $850 million for cancer research.

Katrina Jang, who is pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy at U of T, spoke about how Fox’s hope and determination had inspired her.

“I want to be able to help, support and advocate for my future patients of all ages and abilities to engage in activities that are meaningful to them – even in the face of challenge and adversity,” she said at the event. “Terry’s values are something I’ll try to channel.”

The Toronto-based artists who were invited to submit mural designs are: Alexander Bacon and Que Rock, Christiano De Araujo, Keitha Keeshig-Tobias Biizindam, Emmanuel Jarus and Jason Pinney.

Pinney shared his own experience of being treated for childhood cancer at Sick Kids Hospital. “My family and I are grateful to Terry Fox for helping to normalize the conversation about cancer and the importance of early diagnosis,” he said at the event. “We’re grateful for the money he raised for research that helped save my life and so many others through research that continues to save lives today.”

Members of the public can view the mural concepts and share feedback until Oct. 31. A selection committee that includes Darrell Fox, Fischer and Jang will review the designs and consider feedback from the public before selecting a winner.

The mural is scheduled to be painted in the summer of 2022.

U of T prof hosts ‘McLuhanesque’ marathon talk with Margaret Atwood, Mayor John Tory and others

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 13:53:21 +0000

U of T prof hosts ‘McLuhanesque’ marathon talk with Margaret Atwood, Mayor John Tory and others

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 07/20/2021 - 09:53

Cutline

Clockwise from top left; John Tory, Riley Yesno, Margaret Atwood, Paolo Granata, Mark Kingwell, Joe Wong, Derrick de Kerckhove and the late U of T professor, philosopher and renowned media theorist Marshall McLuhan.

Yanan Wang

Topic

Global Lens

French

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Faculty of Arts & Science

Indigenous

Marshall McLuhan

Philosophy

St. Michael's College

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Victoria College

In the 1970s, the late University of Toronto professor, philosopher and renowned media theorist Marshall McLuhan regularly hosted gatherings at his home on Monday nights, when an eclectic group of students, fellow faculty and others came together to answer his open-ended question: “What’s on your mind?”

A lengthy discussion would ensue, with no specific agenda or subject. The purpose of the dialogue was not to draw conclusions, but rather to keep the conversation going.

Paolo Granata
(photo by Martyn Jones)

In the same spirit of free-flowing inquiry, Paolo Granata will host the second-annual Global Village Day today – a 12-hour online streaming marathon that runs noon until midnight and features speakers from a range of cultures and disciplines.

“Global Village Day is a way to gather an international community of scholars, thinkers and artists to not only celebrate one of the most iconic Canadian philosophers, but also to conceive of Toronto as a global village,” says Granata, an assistant professor of book and media studies at St. Michael’s College, referencing the term famously coined by McLuhan.

In partnership with the McLuhan Institute and the Marshall McLuhan Estate, the event aims to tackle questions surrounding place, public art and global governance that have arisen from the pandemic. Much like McLuhan’s own gatherings, the discussion aims to be free-flowing and open-ended. The speakers have been placed into groups of three to five, with each group occupying an hour of the marathon. They will address three core questions on lessons from the pandemic and how the global village can be reimagined for a sustainable future.

The event will be highly interactive and participatory, Granata says. The marathon will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, and audience members are invited to submit comments and questions, which Granata will in turn pose to the guest speakers.

Hailing from 12 different countries, guests will include: world-renowned author Margaret Atwood, a graduate of U of T’s Victoria College; Joe Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international; Mark Kingwell, a writer and professor of philosophy in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Riley Yesno, an Anishinaabe writer who graduated from Victoria College this year; Derrick de Kerckhove, former director of the McLuhan Program in Culture & Technology and a professor emeritus in the department of French; and Roda Muse, secretary-general of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Ontario’s lieutenant governor, and Toronto Mayor John Tory, a graduate of U of T’s Trinity College, will kick off the marathon with remarks. In his greeting, Tory will also introduce ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021-2022, a slate of public artworks and related programming set to officially launch this September.

Professor Marshall McLuhan with students and other faculty during one of his famous evening seminars (photo by Robert Lansdale Photography via U of T Archives)

“I’m sure McLuhan would be struck by the vibrant media arts landscape that Toronto has created,” Tory says in a pre-recorded greeting. “And, of course, we can continue to thank him for teaching us that in a diverse city like this, a global village in a big city, communication is vital to understanding and to mutual support.”

U of T has worked with the city and other partners on a number of projects for ArtworxTO, including upcoming exhibitions and programming at the U of T Art Museum on the St. George campus and at U of T Scarborough, collaborating with the city on the annual Nuit Blanche event, student-led research through U of T’s School of Cities to evaluate the Year of Public Art and a future mural honouring Terry Fox at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, part of the University Health Network.

The initiatives emphasize how U of T and the city of Toronto are connected, says Barbara Fischer, executive director of the U of T Art Museum.

“The university is at the heart of the city and vice versa,” Fischer says. “The projects will highlight how much art informs our sense of place and how intertwined the city is with the U of T campus.”

Screenshots from last year’s Global Village Day event, which was held online due to the pandemic.

One project is already underway at Hart House Green, where an Indigenous Landscape will ultimately be formed on the site. In the meantime, Assistant Professors Maria Hupfield and Mikinaak Migwans are working with Indigenous artists to develop murals celebrating Indigenous relations to the land that will adorn the hoarding currently used to protect existing trees.

Moreover, U of T Scarborough is working with the city to develop an app that will allow users to take self-guided tours of public art around Toronto. Graduate students are working with the U of T Art Museum to develop the script for the audio tour, which will introduce perspectives and ideas surrounding public art that can be found in various neighbourhoods, parks and streets.

ArtworxTO is part of a years-long effort connected to Toronto’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts, for which Granata was the principal driver in 2017.

“U of T has played an instrumental role in fostering media arts, technology and creativity in the city of Toronto,” Granata says.

While the first Global Village Day took place during the early days of the pandemic last summer, this year’s event will highlight the lessons gleaned from a year and a half of upheaval.

“Now is the time to reflect on a fundamental question: what did we learn during this pandemic?” Granata says. “It is time to take account of all the valuable lessons in terms of cultural participation, higher education and all other fields. What really matters to us in a post-pandemic world? If we don’t address these questions, we may go back to the old normal without really growing as a society.

He added that COVID-19 underscored the need for global governance.

“We need the flexibility of different countries working together and making decisions for the common good.”

While this year’s Global Village Day will once again be entirely virtual, participants will show themselves passing around the marathon’s “torch” on their screens: an object of their choosing that they believe represents the idea of the global village in the 21^st century. At the close of the event at midnight, there will be a toast to McLuhan to mark the 110^th anniversary of his birth on July 21.

“As McLuhan said, ‘I don’t explain, I explore,’” Granata says. “So, we will be explorers celebrating his legacy.”

What are the best boots for winter? U of T researcher discusses his ratings with the New York Times

wangyana — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:52:36 +0000

What are the best boots for winter? U of T researcher discusses his ratings with the New York Times

wangyana Tue, 02/23/2021 - 12:52

Cutline

(photo by v_sot/iStockPhoto via Getty Images)

Topic

Global Lens

As arctic temperatures and heavy snow continue to envelop Canadians – and now, even Texans – a solid pair of boots can be your best friend.

The University of Toronto’s Geoff Fernie, a senior scientist at the University Health Network (UNH) and a professor in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has led lab research on the best anti-slip footwear for years with his team at the KITE Research Institute. He was recently interviewed by the New York Times about selecting the best soles for icy winter weather.

Fernie’s team evaluates what they call the “Maximum Achievable Angle” of shoes in their winter-simulated indoor laboratory, giving shoes “snowflake ratings” in accordance with their slip resistance. The maximum rating of three snowflakes is given to footwear that prevents slippage with a ramp set at an angle of at least 15 degrees.

Shoe traction has improved since the lab first conducted the study in 2016, Fernie told the Times. Two types of outer soles, Arctic Grip and Green Diamond, provide the best traction on ice, he says.

The team’s database of ratings, which are updated continually, can be found at ratemytreads.com.

How virtual rehab is bridging pandemic gaps in patient care and research

lanthierj — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 16:11:43 +0000

How virtual rehab is bridging pandemic gaps in patient care and research

lanthierj Tue, 12/22/2020 - 11:11

Cutline

A physiotherapist leads chair-based exercises for virtual rehabilitation at West Park Healthcare Centre (photo courtesy Temerty Faculty of Medicine)

Erin Howe

Topic

Breaking Research