It was a time to reflect on and applaud a group of award-winning researchers at U of T Scarborough.
Organized by the Office of the Vice-Principal Research, U of T Scarborough Applauds was a chance to celebrate innovative research taking place on campus by fêting those who have been honoured recently with major international, national, and university-wide awards.
“I am extremely proud of our growth, our students, our work and the honours we are receiving,” Professor Marc Cadotte, acting VP of research, said to attendees. “I hope that being here today gives you a chance to reflect on all that you have accomplished, and to take some time to get to know the other honourees a little better.”
As Cadotte noted, there’s much to celebrate. This past year alone saw faculty receive 12 major national and international research awards. In late 2016, three new Canada Research Chairs were also named, not to mention a score of other awards and grants over the past calendar year.
Principal Bruce Kidd spoke about the quality and breadth of innovative research that has impressed him the most during his tenure at U of T Scarborough.
“U of T Scarborough was built to embrace and perfect new ways of thinking – we started ahead of the curve,” he said. “The gathering of all of you here today is a testament to the tradition of innovative thinking on this campus.”
There are currently 251 research faculty and 121 postdoctoral fellows working at U of T Scarborough.
Among many recent highlights include $13 million in research funding, 265 total research grants, 88 per cent success rate in the NSERC Discovery Grants program (compared to the national rate of 82 per cent), 35 books published and 12 Canada Research Chairs, to name a few.
There’s also been a substantial input of support to research endeavours on campus including $1-million invested to support faculty in applying for grants, hosting research events, publishing papers and attending conferences.
“We have proof that showcases the robust research environment here at U of T Scarborough from the number of grants we receive, the number of articles published to how successful we are in securing NSERC grants compared to the national average,” said Cadotte.
“All that is because of you, the people in this room, who put us at the forefront.”
