Shayan Barary receives the 2023 FEAS Gold Medal award
This year’s Gold Medal award recipient, Shayan Barary, proves that when you put others first and work hard, good things will happen.
Over his time at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in civil engineering, Barary excelled. He published two research papers, won numerous competitions and special academic awards, and received international recognition from engineering associations – all before graduating. However, his passion for helping others is what may leave the greatest impression on his peers and professors at the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS).
We recount some of Barary’s favourite stories and achievements from his time at TMU:
1. Creating a YouTube channel (and gaining an engineering cult following).
While working as a TMU tutor, Barary began a YouTube channel (external link) to share his structural engineering lessons. Eight videos later, his channel has racked up almost four thousand views and become a go-to resource for the undergraduate engineering community.
Barary recalls coming across a group of second-year students in the library, who were watching his YouTube videos to prepare for an exam. “I ended up sitting down with them for the next two hours and helping to tutor them. I was just so happy to see that people were actually using this material. It was such a great feeling,” he says
2. Conducting NSERC research alongside his professor, Dr. Khaled Sennah.
In his third year, Barary had the chance to get hands-on with data modelling and structural analysis as a research assistant under the direction of Dr. Khaled Sennah. Through the experience, Barary gained not only new knowledge but a new mentor. With a smile, he says, “Dr. Sennah is one of the professors who always supported me throughout the years. I still go to him to get advice and just talk about what my future looks like.
3. Gaining a new sense of confidence working at TMU Libraries.
When Barary began working at TMU Libraries, he unexpectedly found himself with a new community of support. As a recent immigrant from Iran, socializing with his colleagues and library patrons was the perfect way to build confidence in his communication style. “Honestly, in terms of interpersonal relationships,” he says, “I gained the most from working in the library and those interactions.” Barary further credits his supervisors, Jeanine Orleans and Kevin Tan, for championing his growth and maturity.
Shayan Barary presenting his team’s winning Capstone project
4. Developing solutions to address local and global challenges.
Barary thrived on the engineering courses and competitions at TMU that challenged his problem-solving capabilities. In the How to Change the World course, Barary and his team were tasked with increasing access to potable water for residents in the Philippines. Their proposal, which won Most Implementable Solution, focused on rolling out water filtration solutions to residential households. And most recently, Barary and his Capstone teammates designed an integral abutment bridge over a multi-track railway corridor to relieve traffic congestion in the Greater Toronto Area. Their solution won Best Capstone Project for Civil Engineering from TMU and Best Capstone Design for Bridge Structures from the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), England, Toronto Chapter.
Shayan Barary with Capstone team
Reflecting on these experiences, Barary says, “For me, that’s the main skill you learn at university – how to work with others to solve problems. Sure, the technical fundamentals are important, but in the future, it’s about how to utilize all those concepts and work together to achieve a common goal.”
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Connect with Shayan Barary:
About the Gold Medal award
Each year, the TMU Gold Medal is awarded to one graduating student from each faculty who has demonstrated academic excellence and made significant contributions to their academic and professional communities.
Photography credit: Alyssa K. Faoro