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York’s world-leading vision research program looks towards the future 

Doug Crawford with members of VISTA team


By Corey Allen, senior manager, research communications

VISTA: Vision Science to Applications, York University’s first large-scale research program to receive support from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), will enter a new phase in 2024 after marking its seven-year milestone.     

The novel program was first awarded $33.4 million from CFREF, the country’s top federal research grant, back in 2016. Since then, the VISTA program has established itself as an international leader in vision research across a wide range of real-world applications – from basic visual function to 3D imaging to computer vision and object recognition – and played a significant role in growing York University’s standout reputation in the field of vision science.

Doug Crawford speaking at VISTA event
Doug Crawford speaking at the VISTA celebration.

“VISTA has been a labour of love and it’s taken vision research at York to the next level,” said Doug Crawford, the program’s inaugural scientific director, who now heads up York’s second CFREF program, Connected Minds. “I believe that over these last seven years, VISTA has become the best vision research program in the world.”  

With over 500 international co-authored publications, over 100 research awards, dozens of patent filings and invention disclosures, several startups, among other achievements, the VISTA program has experienced great success.  

VISTA funded 18 new faculty hires and 148 postgraduate trainees, working across five Faculties, including the Lassonde School of Engineering, the Faculty of Health, the Faculty of Science, the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.  

The program’s partnership and affiliate programs resulted in more than 300 external collaborations across multiple sectors, leading to new applications in law enforcement, clinical diagnosis, art exhibits and space research.  

James Elder with his research demo
James Elder, VISTA member and York Research Chair in Human and Computer Vision, demonstrates his research on an attentive robot.

Altogether, the program’s distinguished membership, including 16 Canada Research Chairs, brought in more than $89 million of external research income, including research grants and partner contributions.  

Now that the CFREF grant is coming to the end of its seven-year term, VISTA will continue to operate as part of the Centre for Vision Research (CVR) at York, where an interdisciplinary team gathers to advance fundamental research that merges techniques in human psychophysics, visual neuroscience, computer vision and computational theory. 

In addition to the historic CFREF grant, contributions from the University and other external partners, the VISTA program received more than $120 million in total funding over its first seven years. 

Guests at the VISTA celebration trying a research demo
Guests at the VISTA celebration event test out some of the research program’s technology applications.

“VISTA forged strong and sustained links between vision science at York and industry partners, nationally and internationally,” said Laurie Wilcox, an esteemed vision researcher and VISTA’s new scientific director. “The program has fostered close collaborations, invested in state-of-the-art equipment and laid the foundation for a continued focus on applied vision with the Centre for Vision Research. I am excited to work with the CVR to establish this new phase of the VISTA program.”

To mark the program’s milestone seventh year and its transition, the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation hosted a celebration event earlier this month.  

“With many of the world’s top experts conducting cutting-edge research and innovation, training highly qualified personnel, and offering academic programs in the field of biological and computer vision right here at York, the VISTA program is a crowning achievement of their research excellence, and an incredible source of pride for the entire University community,” said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation, speaking at the event.

Lassonde prof’s year of accomplishment continues

computer chip

In recognition of his international research impact and decades of professional experience, George Zhu, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, was elected vice-president and executive board member of the International Society of Mechanical System Dynamics (ISMSD) for a three-year term.

George Zhu
George Zhu

ISMSD is a non-governmental, non-profit, liberal and academic organization that unites international scientists and engineers with expertise in mechanical system dynamics to advance scientific, technological and industrial progress in the field. The organization specifically focuses on the science and technology of the laws of motion and interactions between objects of mechanical systems throughout their design, manufacturing, testing, evaluation and utilization life cycles.

ISMSD also hosts an International Conference on Mechanical System Dynamics every two years and serves as a hub for international and interdisciplinary research through the publishing of multiple peer-reviewed papers in the International Journal of Mechanical System Dynamics.

Among ISMSD’s community of 69 prestigious scientists from 56 renowned educational institutions spanning 23 countries, Zhu will use his position and expertise to lead various initiatives and activities in the aerospace engineering sector. For example, he hosted ISMSD’s first general assembly and executive board meetings where the team approved the society’s launch and held elections for the appointment of executive roles and board members.

“My role as vice-president of ISMSD will contribute to my growth as a professional in the international arena of my field,” says Zhu. “My participation will also help raise Lassonde’s profile, especially the mechanical and space engineering profiles, and provide opportunities for the school community to interact with leading researchers worldwide.”

The ISMSD appointment marks the latest notable accomplishment for Zhu, who this year became a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics, received a New Frontiers in Research Fund grant to explore 3D and 4D printing in space, and helped students launch a CubeSat satellite from the Kennedy Space Center.

Symposium imagines possibilities of Victorian Studies at York

Aristocratic dining table

The Victorian Studies Network at York (VSNY) is hosting its 15th annual symposium, titled “Imagining the Possibilities,” on Friday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 305 Founders College on York University’s Keele Campus.

The event’s widely interdisciplinary program includes presentations from York-affiliated faculty members and graduate students, representing a range of units, from English and engineering to fashion, history and the York University Libraries.

The presentations will include the following:

  • “Fathers and Feelings: Sentiment, Family, and Jewish Futures in the Anglo-Jewish Novel” by Asa Brunet-Jailly (English, York);
  • “‘But what have you done for us lately?’: A Decade of Developing Victorian Collections at York University Libraries” by Michael Moir (University archivist, York);
  • “The Scarlet Thread: Crime, Fashion, and Forensic Identification in the Nineteenth Century” by Alison Matthews David (fashion, Toronto Metropolitan University);
  • “Tyros and Practical Men: The Evolution of John Bourne, CE” by Michael Roberts (history, York);
  • “‘Quenched in leaves’: The Poplar Experiments of Hopkins and Monet” by Lesley Higgins (English, York); and
  • “‘While Coopers Hill was wanted, Coopers Hill did its duty’: The Brief Existence of the Royal Indian Engineering College” by Richard Hornsey (engineering, York).

For 15 years, VSNY has been connecting researchers and enhancing connections among graduate students, postdocs and faculty. The network’s goal is to facilitate interdepartmental and interdisciplinary work, to enrich the personal and collective experience of research in the field and to showcase York as a centre for Victorian studies.

All community members are invited to attend. RSVP to Higgins at 19higgins55@gmail.com.

For more information or to view the full program, visit vsny.apps01.yorku.ca/?page_id=51.

In pictures: York’s Convocation celebrates Class of 2023

convocation

Fall Convocation for York University’s Class of 2023 ran from Oct. 11 to 20 and featured six ceremonies on the Keele Campus.

At this year’s Fall Convocation, graduands from 10 York Faculties received their degrees during ceremonies overseen by the chancellor of York University, Kathleen Taylor.

View photos from the Fall Class of 2023 ceremonies below:

Fall Convocation 2023

Lassonde innovation lands place in space history

osiris-rex on bannu

A milestone space achievement for York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering was shared with students and members of the public during an event at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) last month.

Lassonde recently celebrated landing a place in space history by contributing an essential scientific instrument to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s OSIRIS-REx – the first U.S-led space mission to successfully collect a sample from an asteroid – and shared details of the mission and its success with the community.

Last month, an information booth at the ROM occupied by members of Lassonde’s Centre for Research in Earth & Space Science (CRESS) provided an opportunity for ROM visitors to engage with the efforts of Lassonde faculty who were involved with the OSIRIS-REx mission.

Information booth at the Royal Ontario Museum.
An information booth at the Royal Ontario Museum.

The mission involved the OSIRIS-REx craft being launched into space in 2016, with the goal of investigation and gathering samples from an asteroid named Bennu. On Sept. 24 of this year, the OSIRIS-REx successfully returned and delivered samples of Bennu to a desert region in Utah, where researchers were waiting with anticipation. Samples retrieved from Bennu will undergo extensive analysis, aiming to uncover details of the Earth and solar system’s ancient history.

The OSIRIS-REx mission marks a monumental achievement for Lassonde, as several Faculty researchers led the ideation, design and development of the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA), a scientific instrument responsible for important tasks such as helping to choose a sampling site, supporting spacecraft navigation and collecting data used to create a realistic shape model for scientific analyses.

Working with the support of the Canadian Space Agency, Michael Daly, principal investigator of OLA and director of CRESS at Lassonde, led OLA from first concept through to the design and operations phases. The team also included expert researchers from various institutions, as well as James Freemantle, project management support and research associate at CRESS, and Jeff Seabrook, deputy instrument scientist and research associate at CRESS. (Freemantle and Seabrook were present at the recent ROM information booth to engage with community members about their, and Lassonde’s, work.)

OLA was first conceptualized by Daly more than a decade ago during his time at Canadian space technology company MDA. The company continued to support the project by building OLA with help from Teledyne Optech, a leader in the design, development and manufacturing of advanced lidar instruments.

In addition to the community event at the ROM on Sept. 26, Freemantle and Seabrook offered the York community on the Keele Campus an opportunity to learn more with an information booth stationed in the lobby of the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence.

Learn more about the event, and the mission, here.

York rover team fuelled by innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration

rover-investigating-the-badlands-alberta

The York University Rover Team (YURT), comprised of engineers and scientists at the Lassonde School of Engineering and part of the York University Robotics Society (YURS), has harnessed diverse expertise to create their own rovers and compete in national and international challenges – all while enriching the student experience by providing skill development opportunities, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and promoting experiential learning.

Since its inception in 2007, the Rover Team has forged a strong reputation by consistently placing among the top teams at various competitions, notably the University Rover Challenge (URC). Inspired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s first Mars Rover, which landed on the red planet 25 years ago, the annual competition takes place in a desert region of southern Utah in the U.S. and involves over 100 international university teams.

Teams compete for first place by designing and programming their rovers to complete scenarios that a rover might face while surveying Mars, such as identifying points of interest, analyzing soil samples or diagnosing a given problem.

York University Rover Team at the Canadian International Rover Challenge.
York University Rover Team.

In preparation for next year’s URC, YURT is working on a brand-new prototype, which was used to compete at the Canadian International Rover Challenge, held in the badlands of Alberta in August. The team aims to leverage their experience at this competition to improve their rover and achieve success in future challenges.

To design a well-rounded, capable, versatile and competition-ready rover, YURT divides work among four sub-teams: software, mechanical, electrical and science. Students on each sub-team come from a range of educational backgrounds, such as mechanical engineering, chemistry, biology and computer science – all contributing valuable expertise to achieve a unified goal.

“This club doesn’t just embody interdisciplinary work, it requires it – we wouldn’t be able to function without working together,” says Quardin Lyttle, former president and industry co-ordinator of YURT, and third-year electrical engineering student at Lassonde. “We need to collaborate with multiple disciplines to create a successful final product. Being a part of this team allows us to learn many things we wouldn’t learn in class. We design and manufacture things like printed-circuit boards, answer open-ended questions and apply engineering knowledge in a more detailed fashion. These rover projects are very involved.”

In addition to preparing for intense competitions, YURT gives undergraduate students experiential opportunities to explore the field of robotics. For example, the York University Sumo Bot Team, part of the YURS, helps students gain introductory experience with robotics. Students can also join the business and administrative side of YURS to become better acquainted with the club’s activities.

Learn more about the unique clubs at Lassonde.

Nnimmo Bassey calls for graduands to ‘restore hope in our time’

nnimmo bassey

By Alexander Huls, deputy editor, YFile

On Oct. 13, at the Fall Convocation ceremony for York University’s Faculty of Education, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, Glendon College, Lassonde School of Engineering and the Faclulty of Science, environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey shared his life story and words of encouragement with graduands.

During her opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor and President Rhonda Lenton urged graduands to consider a critical question as they move forward in their lives and careers. “It’s … imperative that we ask ourselves, ‘How do we function in … society?'” Lenton would go on to introduce Bassey as an example of someone who has been guided by that question for decades, praising him as “a dedicated advocate for the environment … whose gift to future generations is contributing to a more sustainable world.”

During his address to graduands, Bassey recounted his journey to becoming an advocate, driven by the mission to leave society with a more sustainable future. Born in Nigeria, he spoke of growing up during the Nigerian-Biafran war, a time he described as “disruptive and traumatic,” leading him to be exposed to human rights abuses, hunger, disease and more. Those experiences, as well as living under the oppression of a series of military authoritarian dictatorships, led Bassey to develop a desire to change the world around him. “As a young adult, I could not escape being a part of the human rights and anti-dictatorship movement,” he said.

Kathleen Taylor, Nnimmo Bassey, Rhonda Lenton
Chancellor Kathleen Taylor (left), Nnimmo Bassey (middle) and President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton (right) during an Oct. 13 Fall Convocation ceremony.

Inspired over time by anti-colonial leaders throughout the Global South, he came to adopt a cause. He felt that protesting dictatorships was not the zenith of standing against injustice, but rather protesting something else he saw at work under the radar.

“The wheels of oppression at home were crude oil and extractivism activities. Capital trumped concerns for the health of Mother Earth and her children … and complaints against the destruction of the ecosystems and livelihoods were met with brute force while communities were crushed,” he said. “The judicial models and assault on communities were the red lines that dictatorships crossed, and that set me on a lifelong journey of standing for environmental rights as the key basis for the enjoyment of the right to life.”

Over the course of his career, Bassey has become one of Africa’s leading advocates and campaigners for the environment and human rights. He founded Nigeria’s first environmental rights organization in the early 1990s, proceeding to inspire activists to stand up against the malpractices of multinational corporations, which eventually led to the formation of Oil Watch International in 1996, a network resisting fossil fuel expansion in the Global South. Later, he founded the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, an environmental justice organization.

He has also received several accolades, including the distinguished Right Livelihood Award, the Rafto Prize and he was named one of Time magazine’s Heroes of the Environment in 2009.

Despite a lifetime of accomplishments, Bassey spoke of the vital work still left at this critical moment for his work and the world. “It is clear we cannot afford linear growth on a finite planet,” he said. “While record temperatures, wildfires, floods and other stressors raged across the world, leaders are engrossed in xenophobic nationalism, building barriers against climate refugees, and promoting fictional, false and risky climate solutions.”

Despite the challenges, he expressed hope: “The milestones in my journey and the successes in the midst of continual battles have come by the resilience of the peoples and communities. We see expanding movements, readiness of communities to certify conveniences today for the sake of building a safe future for those yet unborn. I have seen the power of traditional wisdom and cultural production in building hope and strengthening alliances against oppression.”

Bassey extended that hope to graduands, urging them to action. “This is a time to stand together to demand justice in all circumstances, to call for an end to genocide, to build solidarity, and not walls, and to restore hope in our time.”

Lassonde students explore the stratosphere

high altitude balloon

Student researchers, supervised by professors Regina Lee and Jinjun Shan in the Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, launched and tested new space technologies into the stratosphere as part of the Strato-Science 2023 campaign, which provides post-secondary students with opportunities to design, build and test small payloads aboard high-altitude balloon systems.

The stratosphere – not quite as distant as outer space, but much higher than airplane-cruising altitude – is a layer of the Earth’s atmosphere situated in the perfect area to deploy space instruments and technologies, test their function and collect useful information.

The two payloads launched by Lassonde students were lifted off from the Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base in northeastern Ontario during two different early-morning flights, and returned a collection of data and information to undergo analysis.

The two projects, and their experiential impact, were:

Resident Space Object Near-space Astrometric Research (RSOnar) v2

Professor Regina Lee and her students involved in the RSOnar v2 project
Professor Regina Lee and her students involved in the RSOnar v2 project.

Space is occupied by various satellites, rockets and debris known as resident space objects (RSOs), some of which are inactive or broken and can overcrowd space environments or interfere with space missions and assets. By tracking and monitoring RSOs through the practice of space situational awareness (SSA), scientists can use collected data to inform RSO removal and help establish sustainable space environments.

Joining space surveillance efforts, RSOnar v2, a CubeSat developed by a large team of undergraduate and graduate students in Lee’s Nanosatellite Research Lab, was launched up to the stratosphere to test its SSA abilities. Equipped with four independent imaging systems, RSOnar v2 was propelled to a cruising altitude of 37 kilometres, where it surveyed the stars and captured images of satellites and space debris as they passed by, using a dual-purpose star tracker concept.

“We collected a lot of data during this space mission and are now working on processing the images we obtained from the flight,” says Randa Qashoa, RSOnar v2 project manager and PhD candidate in earth and space science. “The images will be used by many members of the research team to test and verify our algorithms, including RSO detection and attitude determination. We also received a lot of valuable information on the impact of changing camera parameters to enhance the quality of resulting RSO images. This was a large leap forward in proving the dual-purpose star tracker concept for future space missions.”

In addition, this mission served as an important experiential learning opportunity for all students involved, promoting teamwork, critical thinking and skill building.

“As project manager, I learned many skills throughout this mission, from planning to operations,” says Qashoa. “My coding skills were improved through testing and debugging various components and I also developed my soft skills like team building and communication. The experience I gained from this mission was invaluable to my personal growth.”

Miniature Imaging Fabry-Perot Spectrometer (MIFPS)

Professor Jinjun Shan and his students involved in the MIFPS project
Professor Jinjun Shan and his students involved in the MIFPS project.

Supervised by Shan’s Spacecraft Dynamics Control and Navigation (SDCN) Lab, a team of student researchers ranging from the undergraduate to postdoctoral level developed the scientific instrument called the Miniature Imaging Fabry-Perot Spectrometer (MIFPS) to take accurate, high-resolution measurements of the molecular oxygen atmospheric band. These measurements provide useful information on various parameters that can help improve understanding of cloud and aerosol properties and inform solutions for climate and air quality concerns.

In preparation for its voyage above the clouds, MIFPS underwent extensive calibration and control tests to ensure the instrument demonstrated greater function than its predecessor, which was tested during a stratospheric balloon launch in 2017. Specifically, the team aimed to improve the finesse of MIFPS, a parameter used to define the accuracy of measurements.

“Our payload was launched successfully into the stratosphere, and we were able to acquire some data,” says Ingredy Gabriela Gomes Carmo, a master of science candidate in space engineering. “We also managed to establish successful wireless communication with our payload during the launch. This was a great opportunity for me to work on a high-profile project with an amazing team. Before joining this project, I had no knowledge of Fabry-Perot Spectrometers, piezoelectric actuators and the system optics involved, but I now have a better understanding of how these systems work. I also gained understanding on how space missions are designed and had the opportunity to work closely with personnel from the Canadian Space Agency and Centre National d’Études Spatiales.”

In addition to data acquisition, the research team successfully reached their goal of increasing the MIFPS finesse to meet the measurement requirements. The next steps for the SDCNLab are to fix the hardware issues encountered during the flight and re-fly the instrument. The team also hopes to implement new controllers to improve the instrument performance for future missions.

Inaugural BEST Bridge to Startup projects innovate

diverse group of people collaborating

BEST Bridge to Startup (BB2S), the four-month Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST) summer entrepreneurship experience that launched in the summer of 2023, has empowered students from York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering to build United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-friendly startups based around artificial intelligence (AI), accessibility, energy consumption and more.

BB2S was created to provide a crucial stepping stone for students transitioning from university to the professional world, imparting critical skills that go beyond the classroom, with undergraduate students able to turn their final-year capstone projects into ventures, or graduate students turning their research into a business.

Members of the BEST Bridge to Startup program
Members of the BEST Bridge to Startup program.

“Through our BB2S program, we aim to guide aspiring entrepreneurs on their path to self-discovery,” said Maedeh Sedaghat, BEST program manager. “The program offers a transformative experience that allows students to embrace a journey of curiosity and boundless learning, where success is the fruit of collective wisdom. The emotional rollercoaster that comes with this journey helps the students become more resilient, and they emerge with a personal and professionally rewarding entrepreneurial mindset that will enable them to make a positive impact in all their future endeavours.”

Aiming to bridge the gap between academic and practical application by offering participants hands-on practice instrumental to shaping future tech leaders, students were immersed in a professional setting where they could gain insights into the intricate workings of startup ecosystems, from ideation to market entry. Furthermore, as part of the program, each team worked with a Schulich School of Business master of business administration intern who helped the team develop business strategy, go-to-market strategies, product roadmaps and competitive reports.

The resulting inaugural projects are:

Chatbase
Created by computer science students Yasser Elsaid and Pegah Fallah, Chatbase is an AI chatbot builder that trains ChatGPT on an individual’s data and lets them add a chat widget to their website. 

Reefers
Created by mechanical engineering students Mhd Youssef Demashkieh and Jad Zeitoun, Reefers is an energy recovery system that uses the exhaust gases to create electricity to power the refrigeration system of refrigerated truck trailers.

Handifuel
Created by computer science alum Abbas Qassim and computer science student Solomon Ukwosah, Handifuel automates the fuelling process by building a robotic arm that will eliminate the need of mobility-challenged individuals to manually complete the process.

PoweRanger
Created by mechanical engineering alum Rizwan Bhatti, electrical engineering student Christopher Korfmann and software engineering student Mohammed Fulwala, PoweRanger is an autonomous, remote power line inspection robot that helps minimize production downtime and prevent unexpected power outages by quickly identifying faults, pinpointing their locations and understanding their causes.

MechTronX
Created by mechanical engineering students Mohammad Shamail, Muhammad Ali Toor and Eric Wong, MechTronX is a tech company that specializes in providing cost-effective, customized solutions that cater to the unique technical requirements of early-stage companies.

“BEST Bridge to Startup is a unique entrepreneurial opportunity that allows graduating students to experience the life of an entrepreneur by working exclusively on their startup for four months,” said Professor Andrew Maxwell, Bergeron Chair in Technology Entrepreneurship. “Our hope is that many of them turn their capstone projects into viable businesses supported by BESTLab.”

Decade of Lassonde prof’s work recognized by award

Award medallion that has the number 1 on it

Marianna Shepherd, an adjunct professor in the Centre for Research in Earth & Space Science (CRESS) at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, received a Distinguished Service Award from the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP) in recognition of nearly a decade of serving as a scientific secretary.

marianna shepherd
Marianna Shepherd with her award.

SCOSTEP is a thematic body of the International Science Council that aims to strengthen and share knowledge on solar-terrestrial physics across broad scientific communities. In collaboration with members from over 34 countries, SCOSTEP brings its vision to life through interdisciplinary and public outreach programs and projects related to sun-Earth connections.

As scientific secretary, Shepherd’s list of responsibilities included organizing international symposia, facilitating educational programs and supporting international collaborations. In doing so, she has helped contribute to the elevation of SCOSTEP’s global impact.

“It’s very heart-warming to be recognized for my efforts over the years; this is a full-circle moment,” says Shepherd. “This acknowledgement is more important than the medal I received, as I saw my role to be more than just a scientific secretary. When I was a graduate student, I didn’t have much support from my supervisors, so I wanted to use my position at SCOSTEP to positively impact the experiences of other graduate students and young scientists. I wanted to share my experience and knowledge, make people feel comfortable doing science and create equal footing. I believe this is a way to help people and, in particular, young scientists to be creative and stimulate them to do their best.”

Shepherd’s notable work at SCOSTEP includes giving presentations to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at Scientific and Technical Subcommittee meetings held in Vienna, as well as managing and organizing the SCOSTEP Visiting Scholars (SVS) program. The SVS program provides young scientists and graduate students with formal training opportunities at prominent solar-terrestrial physics laboratories and institutions such as the National Aeronautics & Space Administration, the European Space Agency and the Japanese Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, thereby helping participants gain the necessary skills and experience to advance their future scientific goals.

Shepherd also assisted in organizing the 13th Quadrennial Solar-Terrestrial Physics Symposium, held in Xi’an, China in October 2014. This event and other experiences prepared her for one of her most challenging and rewarding projects at SCOSTEP – single-handedly organizing the 14th Quadrennial Solar-Terrestrial Physics Symposium at York University in July 2018.

“It took a lot of hard work and international organization to make the conference a success. I had to build it from the ground up,” says Shepherd. “I’m very appreciative of the amount of support I received from York throughout the process; the right people came into my life at the right moment.”

She expresses gratitude for the support she received from Lassonde’s CRESS; professors James Whiteway, Mike Daly, Spiros Pagiatakis and Regina Lee; as well as the former associate vice-president, research of York University, Professor Celia Haig-Brown.

“After receiving my award, many of the graduate students I worked with called to congratulate me and thank me for the help I had provided,” she says. “I’m grateful for the experience I had at SCOSTEP; this whole process has given me moral satisfaction.”