Led by Parmeet Singh Channe, a student, Enactus York is empowering students to tackle social and environmental challenges through award-winning entrepreneurship and ventures.

When Channe, a third-year computer science student, was growing up, he was exposed early to stark inequalities. He recalls seeing children his age working in extreme conditions instead of attending school. Those experiences instilled in him a drive to make a difference that evolved into a desire to pursue socially minded entrepreneurship and build projects to create the change he wanted to see in the world.

That motivation led him to �첥��Ƶ and, in April 2024, to a LinkedIn post by Enactus Canada, a registered charity. Channe learned the organization empowers post-secondary students to use innovation and entrepreneurship to advance social impact. Through a network of teams at more than 78 campuses across Canada – and a global network spanning 35 countries – participants develop projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and compete by pitching their ventures and demonstrating outcomes on a national and international stage.

“Discovering Enactus felt like finding a platform that perfectly aligned with what I had already been trying to build: using entrepreneurship as a tool for real-world impact,” says Channe.

After learning that a previous Enactus York chapter had dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, Channe became determined to resurrect it. Within a few months, he relaunched the chapter, which was officially ratified in September 2024. The group started small, with only two members. In those early days, Channe took on several roles: pursuing partnerships and funding, overseeing project development and working to recruit new members to grow the team into a thriving entrepreneurial community.

Today, Enactus York has grown to more than 90 members, supporting innovative initiatives – each driven by a purpose that reflects what first inspired Channe. “Our goal is to create ventures that benefit lives at scale while improving people’s standard of living,” he says.

In its first year, the group demonstrated its mission through award-winning projects, such as: AR Home Builder, an augmented reality app that helps rural communities to construct sustainable, resilient housing; Modular Homeless Shelters, which redesigns existing shelters with factory-built units to provide housing solutions; and Energent, an intelligent energy management platform that helps property managers reduce consumption and costs while promoting sustainability.

Three more ventures are underway this year. LiftAID connects students with non-profits, helping communities access volunteer support while providing opportunities to develop applicable skills. Easysim helps professors teach economics through realistic simulations, making education more engaging and accessible. Dragoncure is exploring ways to support triple-negative breast cancer treatment – especially in low-income countries – by developing solutions that are affordable, low-risk and aimed at reducing relapse.

Earlier this year, Enactus York took these projects to competition with team members Prabhkrit Singh (co-president of Enactus York), Mohammad Areeb (vice-president) and Samashi Munaweera (project manager of Dragoncure).

In its first appearance at the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition, the chapter earned three podium finishes: Easysim placed second in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, Dragoncure placed second in the Innovation & Impact Challenge and LiftAID placed third in the Desjardins Community Empowerment Challenge.

In addition to its Enactus achievements, Dragoncure also earned first place at the Hult Prize Qualifiers at �첥��Ƶ – part of a global competition that challenges student teams to pitch business ideas addressing major global problems. The qualifiers feed into national and international rounds, offering the team a chance to move on to the competition’s final stages and compete for seed funding.

While venture creation and competitions are the chapter's focus, it also serves as a hub. It organizes workshops, networking events and collaborative initiatives that provide opportunities to gain skills in market research, pitching and storytelling, project development and building partnerships. “These experiences not only support venture creation but also prepare students for careers in entrepreneurship and innovation,” says Channe.

Looking ahead, Channe says Enactus York will participate in the Hult Prize Nationals in Montreal in April, followed by the Enactus Canada National Exposition in May, where teams compete for a chance to advance to Enactus Global.

Channe envisions the chapter growing into one of Canada’s leading student venture ecosystems. It boasts more than 10 active projects creating measurable change for thousands of individuals internationally, with Enactus York alumni leading startups and driving innovation across industries.

“We aim to contribute meaningfully to the SDGs while building a generation of students who see themselves not just as learners, but as problem-solvers and changemakers,” he says.

By inspiring others to take action, Enactus York aims to create a ripple effect one person at a time. “Just one tree can provide shade to hundreds of people in its lifetime,” Channe says.

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CIFAL York is expanding its work in climate innovation with a new focus on how AI can support real‑world solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges.

Since its establishment in 2020, CIFAL York, part of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) global network, has been at the forefront of climate change, disaster management and sustainable development. It offers innovative approaches to climate challenges, including training on emergency management, workshops on disaster risk reduction and programs that help local leaders prepare for both climate and health crises.

With the rapid evolution of emerging technologies showing great potential to support efforts in climate solutions, the centre is now expanding its mandate. “We want CIFAL York to be a leader in exploring the intersection of AI and climate change,” says Ali Asgary, CIFAL director and professor of disaster and emergency management in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

Its first step toward that work is the launch of the Climate AI Innovation Hub, an initiative designed to explore how AI can support creative approaches to addressing climate challenges. Its goal, says Asgary, is to create a network for knowledge sharing, innovation and collaboration that can achieve real-world impact.

The hub’s first initiative – a monthly speaker series running until November – sprang from the idea of leading conversations that explore what is possible with AI.

“These computational powers can help us understand and analyze changes in climate. Maybe they can even prevent them by allowing for proactive – more than reactive – approaches,” says Maleknaz Nayebi, associate director of CIFAL and assistant professor in the . “It’s not that there is one answer that can be given. For us, it’s about raising those questions. That’s how we came up with the speaker series.”

The series will showcase, for example, how AI, IoT (the Internet of Things) and satellite technologies are being used to tackle pressing environmental risks – from predicting and managing wildfires to designing low-waste, circular buildings. It will introduce participants to the broader climate innovation ecosystem and highlight the role of innovators and entrepreneurs creating scalable solutions for sustainability, resilience, circular economies and low-carbon transitions.

The series will raise awareness about climate entrepreneurship, explore sector opportunities and obstacles, and empower students, early-career professionals, founders, researchers and community innovators to take an active role in environmental research leadership.

“Our goal is to help people understand how these technologies are being developed and used, and to encourage the sharing of innovations,” Asgary explains. “We hope to inspire the next generation of climate innovators and show potential users – particularly government agencies – what tools and solutions are available to them.”

The speaker events are the hub's first step in engaging the community, and Asgary says past CIFAL series have served as a foundation for building networks of researchers and practitioners through live group discussions. Recorded content available on also becomes a knowledge repository that draws in new audiences.

“Many of our research projects in recent years have been fed by our speaker series,” says Asgary. Other outcomes have included white papers, book chapters, courses, certificate programs, short courses, community events and more.

Feedback from the first session in February suggests the new series is cultivating projects informed by the insights and networks it generates, highlighting the promise of what CIFAL aims to achieve.

“The hub is about creating connections, sparking new ideas and ultimately applying AI responsibly to make a tangible difference,” says Asgary. “At the end of the day, the goal is to contribute to solving climate change.”

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Mars has been a focus of space exploration for more than six decades, with multiple international exploration expeditions studying the planet’s geology, atmosphere and potential habitability using spacecraft, rovers and orbiters.

As more missions are planned, new research from York highlights an important risk: the possibility that Earth's microbes – tiny forms of life such as bacteria – could travel aboard spacecraft and survive on Mars.

Preventing this type of contamination is a central goal of international planetary protection guidelines, which aim to avoid this contamination between Earth and other planets.

“Keeping the Martian environment in pristine condition is crucial for proper scientific characterization,” says Bischof, a PhD student and researcher in York’s Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science. “If Earth microbes are able to survive on Mars, they could potentially confound Martian biomarkers, lead to false positive detections of life and/or alter the environment itself.”

To better understand the risks, Bischof worked with Moores, an associate professor and planetary scientist who studies the environmental conditions of planets, to develop the Mars Microbial Survival (MMS) model. The research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), including a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for Bischof and an NSERC Discovery Grant for Moores, as well as funding from NASA’s planetary protection program and �첥��Ƶ’s Research at York program.

The idea was inspired by the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, a joint NASA and European Space Agency effort designed to retrieve geological samples collected by the Perseverance rover and return them to Earth for analysis.

“At the time we began creating the model, the mission was expected to land on Mars in the early 2030s, so understanding the potential for contamination beforehand was important,” says Bischof.

Using the bacterium Bacillus subtilis – a common soil microbe often used in research – Bischof and Moores applied their model to estimate how microbial populations might decline under Mars-like conditions such as intense ultraviolet radiation, extremely low atmospheric pressure, cold temperatures and the planet’s dry surface environment.

The researchers then used the model to analyze past Mars expeditions and landing sites, simulating how microorganisms might behave – and how long they might survive – if carried on spacecraft that land on the Martian surface.

The tool was used to examine microbes in two main locations on spacecraft: exterior surfaces, such as outer shells or exposed hardware; and interior surfaces, including instruments or sheltered components.

Their findings, published in , suggest that Mars presents harsh conditions for Earth-based microbes. Unlike Earth, the planet lacks a thick atmosphere and protective ozone layer, leaving the surface exposed to strong ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Results showed that exterior spacecraft surfaces would likely be sterilized relatively quickly due to this radiation. In many cases, ultraviolet exposure alone would rapidly destroy most microorganisms.

However, microbes located in interior or shielded areas of spacecraft could experience different conditions and may survive for extended periods, Bischof says. The model predicts that other factors – including low atmospheric pressure and temperature fluctuations – would gradually reduce microbial populations over time, but at a much slower rate than on exposed surfaces.

The fact that some microorganisms may persist for decades on Mars, Bischof says, “is important to consider when making policy decisions regarding the sterility of spacecraft pre-launch.”

Although the Mars Sample Return mission that inspired the research is currently on hold, Bischof says the work remains highly relevant. The researchers say their innovation can inform spacecraft design and cleaning strategies by identifying components that pose the greatest contamination risk and where additional precautions may be needed.

“Human-led missions to Mars remain a high priority for NASA, and these results can be applied to any future mission landings on Mars’ surface,” she says.

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The �첥��Ƶ computer science student was one of 50 winners of Apple’s Swift Student Challenge. As part of the global coding competition’s prize, Worku was flown to Apple’s California headquarters, where he showed CEO Tim Cook how the app supports a variety of learning and academic planning functions, all completely offline.

“He said, ‘I wish I had this when I was growing up’,” says Worku, who is in his fourth year of studies at York’s .

Raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Worku recalls how inadequate classroom facilities and spotty internet service affected his learning. After moving to Scarborough with his family in 2017, he became more aware of the disparities in educational opportunities across different countries.

In the summer of 2023, Worku began a co-op placement with Lassonde’s kindergarten to industry (k2i) academy, which offers STEM programs to local youth. As a mentor in k2i’s Work-Integrated Learning program, Worku guided five high school students in developing an app to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.

Combining that experience with his education and previous co-op role developing iOS apps, he took the lead in advancing the work on SDG 4. As part of this mission, he volunteered as an instructor for Black Boys Code, a non-profit focused on closing the diversity gap in the technology sector.

“I want to give students everywhere an even playing field,” he says.

Then, he came across a social media post about Apple’s coding challenge.

He spent the next six months building a prototype of AccessEd using AI and machine learning capabilities. He designed the app to review uploaded course materials and answer questions about the content. It can analyze photos of class notes to generate flash cards and suggest high school courses that match a student’s interests. It also features a task management system to track assignments and tests.

AccessEd aligns with the rise of offline e-learning apps focused on improving equity for learners in environments with limited infrastructure and unreliable internet service. Worku says Apple’s recognition of his app provided important validation for his idea, and he continues to refine the app, which is now publicly available on Apple’s App Store.

“Many students don’t have access to high-quality educational tools,” Worku says. “Maybe this app can help solve this problem and allow more students to succeed.”

With files from Sharon Aschaiek

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SDG Month feature

As Earth’s orbits grow increasingly crowded with satellites and space debris, �첥��Ƶ researcher Zheng Hong (George) Zhu is developing technologies to keep space safe and sustainable.

In addition to the more than 11,500 operational satellites orbiting Earth, according to the Satellite Industry Association, tens of thousands of pieces of space junk – including retired satellites, discarded rocket components and metal fragments – now occupy Earth’s orbital environment.

Managing orbital debris has become central to the long‑term sustainability of space activity, as NASA prepares new crewed missions to the moon, cargo vehicles continue servicing the International Space Station and companies such as SpaceX’s Starlink deploy thousands of satellites.

“In the past, we thought of Earth’s orbit as having infinite space, but it doesn’t,” says Zhu, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at York’s and Tier 1 York Research Chair in Space Technology. “If you don’t clean up, eventually it becomes very risky.”

As waste accumulates, the risk of collisions with satellites and spacecraft rises. This can eventually lead to the so-called Kessler Syndrome, where collisions trigger a chain reaction that produces more and more fragments which, in turn, cause additional collisions.

Even small objects travel at extreme speeds: a fragment no larger than a bolt can disable a satellite that supports services people rely on every day, from global communications and weather monitoring to navigation and emergency response.

Without effective strategies to reduce and remove debris, humanity’s ability to safely operate in space may be compromised.

Zhu has spent more than a decade developing solutions to that challenge.

His interest in space debris mitigation goes back to 2010, when he says few researchers were focused on the issue. Two high‑profile events sharpened his attention: China’s 2007 antisatellite missile test – which destroyed one of its own aging weather satellites and scattered thousands of fragments – and the 2009 accidental collision between an operational U.S. communications satellite and a defunct Russian satellite, the first known crash between two intact satellites in orbit.

“It was a wake‑up call that caught my attention,” says Zhu.

He began exploring how a technology he was studying, called electrodynamic tethers – long, thin conductive wires that interact with Earth’s magnetic field – could help address the problem. Originally investigated as a way to generate electricity in orbit, Zhu realized the technology could also act as a brake, slowing satellites and objects so they safely re‑enter Earth’s atmosphere.

This helps address a major contributor to space clutter. Most satellites are not designed to return to Earth at the end of their missions. Once they run out of fuel or stop working, they can drift in orbit for years or decades before gravity and atmospheric drag eventually bring them down. By slowing these satellites with an electrodynamic tether, Zhu’s system accelerates their orbital decay, helping them re‑enter the atmosphere far sooner than they would naturally.

Since 2010, he has been pursuing this technology as a way for satellites and spacecraft to be pre‑emptively equipped with disposal systems, allowing them to safely remove themselves at the end of their missions without adding new refuse or relying on costly clean up efforts. This approach could make sustainable orbital management the default, rather than the exception.

One of his projects, called DESCENT, put this concept into practice as Canada’s first on‑orbit test of space debris removal technology. Launched from the International Space Station, the Canadian Space Agency–funded mission consists of two CubeSat satellites connected by a 100‑metre electrodynamic tether, which will deploy in orbit to demonstrate how the system can actively lower a satellite’s orbit.

Complementing this work is Zhu’s research in autonomous space robotics, which he pursues alongside his efforts in keeping space clean. His lab develops systems capable of tracking, approaching and manipulating free‑floating and tumbling objects, using advanced perception, robotic dexterity, AI‑enabled decision‑making and control strategies to rendezvous with and grasp challenging targets. While these systems are developed primarily for on‑orbit servicing – such as repairing, refuelling or upgrading satellites without human spacewalks – Zhu believes they also have important applications for active debris removal, where autonomous robots can identify and capture defunct or tumbling objects in orbit.

Building on the autonomous robotic work, Zhu is exploring advanced swarm‑based approaches. He swarms of small satellites that autonomously coordinate to locate and interact with the waste. “My concept is very cheap, small satellites that can be mass‑produced, launched into space and then work as a swarm,” he says. “It’s decentralized control – more like ants. When one satellite finds a target, it shares the information so others can approach without collision among themselves and coordinate to dock onto or push the debris.”

Each satellite is designed to nudge or influence space litter using tethers or contact‑based mechanisms, rather than complex robotic arms, and the swarm is intended to deorbit along with the debris after interaction.

Currently, as part of his Tier 1 York Research Chair in Space Robotics and AI (2024-29) and as director of the NSERC CREATE Program in Smart Autonomous Robotic Technology for Space Exploration (SMARTART), Zhu is actively publishing and presenting on these concepts while nurturing the next generation of engineers and researchers who could bring them to fruition. Through SMARTART, students gain industry‑oriented training in AI, autonomous robotics, computer vision and systems engineering, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle challenges like coordinated spacecraft swarms and active debris removal.

Seeing his students embrace these ideas and contribute to the field, Zhu notes the growing global engagement with space debris issues.

As someone who once felt he was among the few raising concerns about space debris in 2010, Zhu is encouraged by the reception and interest his work now receives, as well as the efforts he sees worldwide from researchers and organizations.

“My reward is seeing more people following my path to do this,” he says. “I’m glad to see more people paying attention and recognizing the importance of this issue.”

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SDG Month feature

Firefighters face elevated long-term health risks from toxic chemical exposure and chronic stress – risks that can be difficult to track during and after active calls.

At �첥��Ƶ, Ebrahim Ghafar-Zadeh – researcher at the and associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science – is working to change this. Together with Markham Fire and Emergency Services and collaborators at the University of Calgary, he is leading the development of an innovative wearable monitoring technology designed to protect frontline responders.

The project aims to enhance firefighter health by generating real-time data to support safer protocols for first responders.

“The rate of cancer in firefighters is so high that even the federal and provincial governments have called for research related to it. This is what motivated us,” says Ghafar-Zadeh.

The wearable system will measure two key indicators through sweat: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a chemical linked to toxic exposure during fires, and cortisol, a biomarker commonly used to measure the body’s stress response.

PAHs are produced during combustion and cling to gear, skin and surrounding surfaces. They are associated with cancer and also pose an increased risk with lung and skin issues. Cortisol, meanwhile, can rise when the body is under sustained physiological strain, potentially leading to impaired decision-making, slower reaction time and fatigue while on the job.

“By monitoring these components, the firefighter can better manage their health,” says Ghafar-Zadeh. “For example, if the wearable monitor shows that PAH or stress levels are too high they will have to reduce the activity they’re partaking in so they can work safely.

“The device has multiple key components: one uses skin-worn patches that collect sweat to measure cortisol and PAHs that have been absorbed into the skin; another attaches to the outside of a firefighter’s clothing to help measure PAHs in the surrounding air.

It will be the first device built for real-time monitoring of these chemicals. Information will be recorded during activity and sent wirelessly to the fire chief, so risks are identified early.

“This information will be private, since it is related to human health. The data will be processed through an AI framework and available for fire chiefs to monitor while firefighters are in the field,” says Ghafar-Zadeh.

The project is supported by the Government of Alberta’s Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders (SPHIFR) grant and co-led alongside Professor Amir Sanati-Nezhad of University of Calgary.

Additional collaborators include Markham Fire and Emergency Services Fire Chief Chris Nearing and Deputy Chiefs Ryan Best and Robert Garland, as well as Ali Asgary and Adriano O. Solis, �첥��Ƶ researchers and professors in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

Markham Fire and Emergency Services will help to test the device and provide feedback on how it can be adapted to existing firefighting procedures.

York contributors are focused on the physical sensor design and its interface, while University of Calgary collaborators bring expertise on microfluidics – tiny fluidic structures that handle the liquid sweat samples and guide them to the sensing site.

The sensors have already been developed, and the current stage of the project is focused on completing trials by testing the technology with Markham firefighters.

“This stage will include analyzing results and improving the system to make it more user-friendly,” says Ghafar-Zadeh.

The team has demonstrated parts of the system to the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response as well as Markham firefighters.

“We have received very positive feedback from the people who witnessed the demonstrations, specifically the firefighting department,” says Ghafar-Zadeh. “They are very positive about the technology.”

Ghafar-Zadeh says he hopes the work can eventually expand beyond the city and, longer-term, reach a national level.

“Our next step is to secure additional funding to expand testing and begin bringing this technology into real-world use, ideally within the next one to three years,” says Ghafar-Zadeh.

With files from Mzwandile Poncana

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The Founders Fundamental Certificate Program, delivered in partnership with the City of Markham’s Small Business Centre and the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA), won the Inclusive Community Based Initiative & Programming Award at the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) Awards of Excellence.

The award highlights initiatives that show measurable community impact through equitable economic development, demonstrating the University’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“The success of Founder Fundamentals shows how accessible, community‑driven partnerships can shape economic development across the province,” says David Kwok, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at YSpace.

Founder Fundamentals is a 12-week entrepreneurial education workshop series, honoured by EDCO for its approach to removing barriers for underrepresented entrepreneurs and expanding access to early-stage business education.

Developed with a clear focus on inclusive design, the program is sponsored by the City of Markham and delivered through a collaborative model that brings together municipal leadership, community expertise and academic support from YSpace.

Workshops, mentorship and resources are developed in consultation with Black entrepreneurs and other equity-deserving groups to ensure representation and long-term economic resilience for participants.

“Through YSpace, we leverage the University’s strengths in research, innovation and community engagement to support this program,” says Kwok, noting YSpace connects founders with sector expertise, provides guidance grounded in evidence‑based best practices and creates a supportive environment where early‑stage entrepreneurs can build essential skills. “This approach reflects York’s broader mandate to advance economic and social well‑being across the Greater Toronto Area.”

The program’s collaborative structure and ability to translate equity principles into tangible outcomes for emerging business owners and innovators.

The recognition follows last year’s surprise announcement by EDCO that a new award was created to celebrate the impact of ELLA and the BEA, two YSpace programs. The hub was awarded the inaugural Judge’s Changemaker Award and earned an honourable mention in the Business Attraction and Retention category.

“Being recognized by EDCO for a second year in a row is a meaningful validation of the work happening at �첥��Ƶ and YSpace to creating accessible and inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation,” says Kwok.

The EDCO Awards of Excellence are among Ontario’s most respected awards in the economic development profession. Submissions are evaluated by a panel of professionals and category winners are eligible for the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Best of Show Award.

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Cora Young, a professor and the Rogers Chair in Chemistry at York’s Faculty of Science, is a 2025 recipient of the Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award, presented by the American Geophysical Union.

The award highlights mid-career scholars whose research advances understanding of the physics, chemistry and science of the atmosphere.

“I feel extremely fortunate to work with talented students and collaborators and am deeply honoured to have our research recognized through this international award," says Young.

Young is an environmental chemist widely recognized for developing techniques that show how pollutants move through the atmosphere and influence air quality and climate.

Her work ranges from tracking long-lasting chemicals such as PFAS – a group of synthetic, long-lasting chemicals – to inventing new ways to measure pollutants in different environments.

Through her research, Young has increased scientific understanding of how emerging pollutants and greenhouse gases behave. She leads the – a team of researchers developing novel measurement approaches to increase understanding of chemical processes in the environment – with a focus on climate change, air quality and the transport of organic contaminants.

Since joining the University in 2017, Young has earned significant recognition that reflects her influence in environmental and atmospheric chemistry, including the Early Career Research Award in 2022 from the Canadian Institute of Chemistry.

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Using an AI-powered system called DePerio, the technology promises faster, more reliable diagnosis and improved periodontal care.

Patented through Innovation York, the breakthrough development in oral health care is advancing toward commercialization. Innovation York supports researchers in translating discoveries into real-world solutions.

Periodontal disease is a leading cause of tooth loss and a risk factor for systemic health conditions. Early detection is important, but current diagnostic methods produce inconsistent results due to a lack of sensitivity.

“DePerio uses advanced artificial intelligence to provide precise, data-driven assessments, offering clinicians a powerful tool to improve outcomes and reduce health care costs,” says Ebrahim Ghafar-Zadeh, who is the principal investigator and co-inventor of DePerio, as well as an associate professor in .

Through deep learning – a type of AI – DePerio works to analyze dental images and give exact measurements to help dentists make more informed treatment decisions through a user-friendly interface.

“By integrating deep learning into dental diagnostics, we can deliver faster, more accurate evaluations that benefit both patients and practitioners,” says Ghafar-Zadeh, noting York collaborated with researchers from University of Toronto for this project.

Findings from the research are published in the and explain how AI is used in DePerio to assess dental images and reduce errors in detecting disease.

An earlier study in focuses on the advanced algorithms behind the novel technology and how they integrate with intelligent systems for advanced health care. It also explores future applications of AI in oral health and suggests DePerio could be scaled for broader clinical use.

Building on this success, the team has secured an Idea to Innovation grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to advance the platform toward market readiness. This follows last year’s Connected Minds Prototyping Award, which supported early-stage development.

Several additional manuscripts and grant applications related to DePerio are currently under review, signaling strong momentum for the project.

“This recognition from NSERC and Connected Minds validates the potential impact of DePerio,” says Ghafar-Zadeh. “We are excited to continue refining the technology and exploring partnerships that will bring it into clinical practice.”

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YSpace Lassonde is a new entrepreneurship hub joining the YSpace Network, �첥��Ƶ’s pan-campus ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship. The network is a partnership between the Vice-President Research & Innovation, YSpace and the Schulich School of Business, created to scale entrepreneurship and innovation across the university and foster stronger cross-faculty collaboration. Through this Network, YSpace Lassonde brings startup programming and venture support to students, faculty, and alumni affiliated with Lassonde.

The hub provides the Lassonde community with tailored programming, mentorship and resources, offering a dedicated entry point to engage with YSpace offerings. This support will help transform early-stage ideas into enterprise development that deliver tangible outcomes in research, technology and the marketplace.

Available resources include: access to a founder and mentor network; dedicated office and collaboration space; structured venture-building programs (such as training cohorts and accelerators); curated mentorship from industry and subject-matter experts; and connections to broader investor and industry networks to help projects move from concept to market.

“YSpace Lassonde is about expanding what’s possible and making sure the next generation of innovators has everything they need to build, launch and lead,” says Jane Goodyer, dean of Lassonde. “For our students and faculty, this means faster pathways from ideas to real-world impact – more access to mentors, investors, commercialization supports and experiential learning opportunities.”

The hub will be guided by Helen Kontozopoulos, serving in the role of entrepreneur-in-residence (EiR). An alumna of �첥��Ƶ, Kontozopoulos is a seasoned entrepreneur, educator and active angel investor with experience in the technology and startup sectors. She has co-founded several ventures, including one that helped lead through a $34-million Series B funding round (the second stage of funding) and grew operations to more than 100 employees.

In her role as EiR, Kontozopoulos will assist Lassonde-affiliated founders through mentorship, office hours and strategic guidance in areas such as enterprise development, customer discovery and early validation.

“I’m excited to join YSpace Lassonde and work closely with founders as they build their startups in the early stages,” says Kontozopoulos. “Coming back to York as an alum makes the work especially meaningful.”

The launch of YSpace Lassonde is also significant for York’s advancement of a University-wide innovation culture.

“YSpace Lassonde marks another exciting milestone for �첥��Ƶ’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem,” says David Kwok, YSpace’s director of entrepreneurship and innovation. “By embedding YSpace programming and resources directly into one of Canada’s leading engineering programs, we are creating greater access for students, researchers and alumni to ideate, create and launch solutions with global impact.”

Goodyer echoes that sentiment. “For the York community, it means a stronger, more unified innovation ecosystem where different disciplines can collaborate, build ventures together and help drive solutions to the challenges Canada and the world are facing,” she says.

Members of the Lassonde community interested in accessing YSpace Lassonde services are invited to book an idea consultation, available on a rolling basis throughout the year. Following this first step, applicants may be invited to submit a formal application for continued support and participation in programs.

Visit the YSpace Lassonde website to learn more.

With files from Jiho Bak

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