News & Events

Ryerson's Centre for Urban Energy (CUE) has invested in 20 dynamic students who have launched research projects addressing a variety of vital urban energy issues. A total of $100,000 in research awards has been allocated to be shared equally by all research projects. The awards were made possible thanks to generous contributions from CUE's founding partners: Hydro One, Toronto Hydro and Ontario Power Authority. Recipients include Ryerson undergraduate and graduate students who will be formally recognized at an awards presentation. 

"Ryerson students have a keen grasp of the challenges faced by today's cities. They see what is happening to the planet and our natural resources and they use their natural innovation and energy to seek the solutions to our challenges," said President Sheldon Levy. "I'm extremely pleased that our CUE partners have recognized the value that our students bring to research and innovation and we are grateful for their financial support. I have no doubt that our CUE students will provide an amazing return on investment for these partners."

The Ryerson CUE student researchers are investigating a wide range of urban energy challenges, from ways of improving the energy efficiency of buildings, to strategies for motivating consumers and businesses to be more energy efficient. Government- and private-sector policies and standards will be analyzed from an engineering perspective. Students will investigate how to improve residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, the average consumer's washing machine and how to make our automobiles lighter and more fuel-efficient.  

Wind and solar power generation are the focus of several projects, including the challenge of storing and measuring the predictability of such energy sources. From algorithms for integrating wind power into the distribution system to anaerobic digesters that generate heat by breaking down organic material, Ryerson student innovations will contribute to solving the world's energy problems. As the CUE students complete their research projects over the coming months, they will be helping to put Ryerson on the global map for urban energy innovation.

"We are very pleased to be able to support our student research efforts," said Bala Venkatesh, academic director for CUE. "And we are confident that many of our research results will contribute clear economic benefits to the advancement of energy management and science."

National and global experience
The 20 CUE student researchers and award-winners bring national and global perspectives to their research projects, as well as a broad cross-section of academic disciplines and experience. Students have come to Ryerson with undergraduate and graduate degrees from British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario. Several students have completed international academic studies in countries including the United States, Ukraine, Iran, Sri Lanka and China. 

Ryerson's commitment to finding solutions that address both urban and global challenges is empowered by the diversity of experience and education found in its student population. "My wonderful educational journey has taken me from Iran, to the Ukraine and to Canada," explained Ryerson mechanical engineering doctoral student Amirkianoosh Kaini. "I can see how my research into solar panel fabrication can be applied in many countries around the world."

A complete list of Ryerson's Centre for Urban Energy student researcher award-winners and summaries of their research projects are provided below.