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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Canada's top young scientists visit UOIT

Some of Canada's top young scientists recently spent the day exploring UOIT and honing their project presentation skills before heading to an international science competition in the U.S. Chosen for their innovations by Youth Science Foundation Canada (YSFC), involving a selection team of university faculty, industry researchers, educators and alumni, this year's 19-member Team Canada represented the country at the annual Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (IISEF) competition, held from May 7 to 13 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The UOIT visit was part of a two-day stop in the GTA to prepare the team for the challenging international competition.

A proud sponsor of YSF Canada and Team Canada, UOIT was pleased to give team members an opportunity to engage in social activities and stay in the South Village Residence overnight on May 3, and to practice their project presentations on Physics, Engineering, Life Sciences and Biotechnology the next day. The experience also gave team members a chance to tour the UOIT campus, including its geothermal well field - the second largest of its kind in North America, and its state-of-the-art science labs, as well as meet with faculty one-on-one.

"The interaction with UOIT faculty gave Team Canada members valuable, high-level feedback on their projects and helped the students to clarify their presentations and anticipate potential questions from judges. A bit of last-minute mentorship can often make the difference in a world-class competition like the Intel ISEF," said Reni Barlow, executive director of Youth Science Foundation Canada.

The IISEF is the world's largest pre-university science fair featuring over 1,500 students from more than 47 countries, showcasing their scientific research. Eleven members of Team Canada received top honours at this year's IISEF. Adrian Veres, a Montreal teen who developed a special biosensor to detect infectious pathogens in bodily fluids in half the time as existing technologies, received the top award in the biochemistry division.

Inspired by her autistic cousin Lorena, Kayla Cornale, a Grade 11 student from Burlington, Ontario was honoured with a first-place grand award in the behavioural and social sciences category for using music to teach children with autism. The three-year research project uses a "sounds into syllables" technique to help those with autism link musical sounds to the recognition of written text.

Details of this year's Team Canada winners are available at www.ysf.ca.


About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.


Media contact
Heather Middleton
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111 ext. 2197
heather.middleton@dc-uoit.ca