From fossils hundreds of millions of years old, to a young Donald Sutherland performing at U of T, to the shadow of the eclipsed sun darkening the St. George campus — many of the stories from the Faculty of Arts & Science in 2024 were told through captivating images. Here are 12 of them, showcasing the achievements and experiences of students, faculty and other members of our community.
This year’s images:
Takeaways for students in agricultural practices course include fresh veggies for dinner
Students enrolled in a summer urban agricultural practices course learned about sustainability, food sovereignty and the food system — and got to take home the fresh vegetables they grew themselves in gardens on the St. George Campus.
Celebrating 60 years of computer science at U of T
In 2024, the Department of Computer Science celebrated 60 years of groundbreaking contributions that span personal computing, theoretical computer science, software systems, graphic design, artificial intelligence and beyond.
Detective work leads to the discovery of ‘Einstein Camera’ lens at U of T
The treasure trove of U of T’s Scientific Instruments Collection contains some 2000 artifacts that tell the decades-long story of scientific investigation at the university. The collection includes mineral samples, vaccine ampoules, cathode ray tubes — and parts of the “Einstein camera” used by U of T astronomer Clarence Chant to observe the 1922 total eclipse of the sun from Australia.
Taco-shaped arthropod from Burgess Shale fossils gives new insights into the history of the first mandibulates
Odaraia fossil. Photo: © ROM.
Life reconstruction of Odaraia. Researchers believe it could have swum upside down to gather food among its many spines along its legs. Illustrated by Danielle Dufault. © ROM.
Paleontologists from U of T and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) are using fossil to better understand the evolution and ecology of Odaraia, a taco-shaped marine animal that lived hundreds of millions of years ago during the Cambrian period.
The Dictionary of Canadian Biography’s Robert L. Fraser shines a light on a generation of Canadian athletes that paved the way
The Dictionary of Canadian Biography, a joint effort by U of T and l’Université Laval, contains more than 9000 biographies of ordinary and famous Canadians. During the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, A&S News highlighted lesser-known athletes who participated in international competitions, showcasing their remarkable journeys and achievements.
Tributes pour in for Hollywood legend — and U of T alum — Donald Sutherland
Tributes poured in for the acclaimed actor and U of T alum, Donald Sutherland, on his passing in June 2024. Of U of T’s Hart House Theatre, Sutherland once said: “It’s a theatre with arms that embrace you, comfort you, push you, applaud you. It gives birth to people who make theatre. It nurtures them. It guides them. It sets them free and they wear the mantle of that theatre for the rest of their lives.”
Business historian’s ‘Dream Car’ examines economic, political and social shifts in 1970s North America
The fascinating story of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation is captured in Professor Dimitry Anastakis’ new book, Dream Car: Malcolm Bricklin’s Fantastic SV1 and the End of Industrial Modernity. The book describes how Malcolm Bricklin worked with the New Brunswick government to develop the only car built by a startup in North America between the 1940s and the advent of Tesla.
Melissa Anderson’s research focus lies thousands of metres beneath the ocean
In the spring of 2023, the Department of Earth Science’s Professor Melissa Anderson led a team of geologists as they searched the ocean floor for hydrothermal vents along a section of the mid-Atlantic ridge. The vents are chimney-like formations, powered by magma, which harbour fantastic forms of life.
Under cloudy skies, U of T community gathers to experience near-total solar eclipse
In April, a total solar eclipse was visible across North America. While Torontonians missed the spectacle of the total eclipse and clouds filled the skies over much of the city, hundreds of U of T community members still enjoyed the partial eclipse at events on all three campuses.
Uncovering untold stories: New course explores Black Canadian history
Funké Aladejebi is teaching a year-long course entitled Black Canadian History, part of a new Certificate in Black Canadian Studies offered through University College, which exposes students to the Black experience from the 17th century to the present. Says Aladejebi about her motivation for the course: “This breadth of knowledge on Black Canadian history often gets ignored or is not often inserted into broader courses on Canadian history.”
Cinema Studies professor's documentary garners applause and a major award at Sundance
A&S News interviewed Assistant Professor Brett Story, Cinema Studies Institute, shortly after the documentary she co-directed — titled Union — not only premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, but also won the festival’s U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for the Art of Change. The film chronicled the organizing efforts of a group of Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York, who organized the first successful union campaign at an Amazon facility.
Learning amid the elms: How ‘Tree Stories' connects U of T students to nature, history, and themselves
In Professor Alan Ackerman’s first-year English course, Tree Stories, students examined how we imagine trees in literature and art, and what trees can teach us about our place in the world. “This course aims to get people in touch with their living world and with parts of themselves that have probably atrophied in their digitized lives,” he says.