As a new year emerges, YFile takes a look back on 2022 to share with readers a snapshot of the year’s highlights. “Year in Review” will run as a three-part series and will feature a selection of top news stories published in YFile. Here are the stories and highlights for September to December, as chosen by YFile editors.
September
York receives $7.25M to use AI, big data in fight against infectious diseases
At a time when the risk of emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases (ERIDs) is increasing, an international team led by York University successfully competed to receive a $7.25-million grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to help tackle the issue.
‘Nuit Blanche comes to York University’s Keele Campus
As part of the celebrated arts festival Nuit Blanche 2022, the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) and York University presents Streams~Nuit Blanche, an evening of campus-wide exhibitions, art installations and events featuring 34 artists and showcasing 19 projects located around the central core of the Keele Campus.
YFile reaches 20-year milestone
York University’s source for faculty and staff news is celebrating its 20-year anniversary on Sept. 9. One of North America’s longest-running university newsletters, YFile is marking the date with a special issue.
Markham Campus art installation an expression of positive change
An art installation unveiled on Sept. 28 at York University’s Markham Campus highlights how amazing things happen when diverse communities work together to create positive change.
October
York University announces appointment of new chancellor
York University’s Board of Governors appointed Kathleen Taylor as York’s 14th chancellor to a three-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2023. The appointment follows outgoing Chancellor Gregory Sorbara, who was first appointed in 2014 and is leaving the role after more than nine years of distinguished service to York.
World’s tiniest lecture hall presents big thinking on environmental threat
Lassonde School of Engineering Assistant Professor Shooka Karimpour reflects on her experience delivering a micro-lecture in the world’s tiniest lecture hall about our world’s growing problem of microplastics.
Announcing the 2022 Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars
York University has announced Sylvester Aboagye, Landing Badji, Leora Gansworth and Graeme Reed as this year’s recipients of the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars.
Global Strategy Lab awarded $8.7M to create AMR Policy Accelerator
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats humanity faces today. Decades of use, overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in animals and humans has led to the development of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that no longer respond to lifesaving antimicrobial medicines.
November
York researchers’ revamped AI tool makes water dramatically safer in refugee camps
A team of researchers from the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and Lassonde School of Engineering have revamped their Safe Water Optimization Tool (SWOT) with multiple innovations that will help aid workers unlock potentially life-saving information from water-quality data regularly collected in humanitarian settings.
York film professor’s documentary explores little-known struggle of the Sinixt people
Twenty-seven years in the making, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design Film Professor Ali Kazimi’s documentary about an autonomous Indigenous people’s struggle to overturn their legal extinction is set to receive its international premiere.
Osgoode students make their mark at Supreme Court of Canada
It’s a rare experience – even for seasoned lawyers, but a select group of students at Osgoode Hall Law School can now add the Supreme Court of Canada to their resumes through their work on a case that was heard Nov. 29.
Five York PhD students receive Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
The award is intended to support first-rate doctoral students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in the fields of social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering and health. The selection criteria include academic excellence, research potential and leadership.
December
Osgoode grads earn clerkships at Canada’s highest court and beyond
Two recent graduates from Osgoode Hall Law School, Barbara Brown and Jennah Khaled, will both serve Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) justices through their upcoming 2023-24 clerkships. Many of their classmates are headed to similarly prestigious positions.
Lassonde’s k2i academy introduces teacher resources for de-streaming Grade 9 science in Ontario
EIn 2022, the Ontario Ministry of Education released the new Grade 9 de-streamed science curriculum. The k2i academy at the Lassonde School of Engineering was selected by the Ontario Ministry of Education to develop classroom-ready resources to support teachers across Ontario. After months of work, the new resource is now available.
Black scholars form new interdisciplinary research cluster
A group of professors affiliated in various ways with York University’s African Studies Program join forces to create a unique, interdisciplinary research cluster focusing on adaptive knowledge, response, recovery and resilience in transnational Black communities.
The engine behind human gut microbiome analysis and data science
As his career unfolds, biostatistician Kevin McGregor is becoming very familiar with the human gut microbiome. His work is particularly relevant given the human biome is a community of microorganisms that inhabit our bodies and appears to be linked to numerous health concerns, both physical and mental.
This concludes YFile‘s Year in Review 2022 series. To see part one, January to April, go here. To see part two, May to August, go here.