The 13th Annual EnSciMan PhD Symposium Makes its Mark with a Return to Campus in a New Hybrid World
From left to right: Oluwatosin (Joseph) Aladekoyi (student), Huy Nguyen (student), Yena Bassone-Quashie (student), Bryan Koivisto (Graduate Program Administrator), Brooke Filsinger (student), Onyinyechi Duru (student), Laya Ahmadi (student), Stephanie Assenza (Graduate Program Administrator)
On May 26th, 2022 Toronto Metropolitan University EnSciMan PhD Students hosted the 13th Annual PhD Symposium using a hybrid model for the first time.
The Environmental Applied Science and Management PhD Symposium "Leaving a Legacy: From Research to Impact" brought forward important questions about the goal, purpose, and outcomes of academic research.
The discussion focused on five core areas: big data/big analytics, food and health, climate and infrastructure, water quality and environmental justice and equity.
First year PhD student, and one of the event organizers, Yena Bassone-Quashie, said "Listening to the wide range of research topics and areas presented during the symposium increased my appreciation for the multi- and interdisciplinary nature of the problems we are trying to solve and the many different approaches that are necessary to do so."
The event featured a variety of guest speakers who presented virtually and in-person. Those in attendance were also able to join virtually or in person with a successful hyrbid delivery for the first time ever. "The talks delivered were insightful and educational, and re-emphasized for me the necessity and importance of collaboration across disciplines and between academia and industry/professional practice to achieve substantial impact", said Yena.
The PhD Symposium was the first in-person event hosted by the program since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Bryan Koivisto, EnSciMan Graduate Program Administrator, said “the importance of these wonderful gatherings can’t be overstated since the pandemic, and it was great attending the student led symposium.” The event brought students, staff, faculty and industry experts back together on campus to discuss a multitude of environmental topics in a unified, hybrid space.