University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science

In May, global leaders, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), convened by UN-Habitat.

The forum brought together tens of thousands of participants from around the world under the theme “Housing the world: safe and resilient cities and communities.”

School of Cities at the World Urban Forum, a global stage for urban solutions In May, global leaders, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), convened by UN-Habitat. The forum brought together tens of thousands of participants from around the...

From Canada’s policies to drive climate change to its AI strategy, scholars from across are sharing their expertise on a variety of issues in the media.

Find this week's round-up below:

A&S scholars sharing their expertise in the media From Canada's policies to drive climate change to its AI strategy, experts from a range of disciplines across the Faculty of Arts & Science are sharing their expertise on a variety of issues in the media.

This spring, more than 15,000 students will cross the stage at the University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall.

Representing more than 127 countries and all corners of Canada, the Class of 2026 are as diverse as the paths that brought them here.

Class of 2026: Meet five U of T grads who made their mark Representing more than 127 countries and all corners of Canada, the Class of 2026 are as diverse as the paths that brought them here.

A new award at the School of the Environment, University of Toronto supporting undergraduate students is named after Robena Weatherley, who spent her lifetime supporting environmental science and conservation.

U of T professor honours mother's legacy of conservation and support for the sciences with new School of the Environment award A new award at the Faculty of Arts & Science's School of the Environment will carry on a family legacy of supporting environmental leaders at the university.

Professor Randy Boyagoda, an award-winning novelist, has been appointed as the new director of the Jackman Humanities Institute.

Professor Randy Boyagoda appointed director of the Jackman Humanities Institute Professor Randy Boyagoda has been appointed the new director of the Jackman Humanities Institute (JHI), succeeding University Professor Alison Keith. He will also serve as the dean's special advisor in the humanities from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031.

Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, Lita Wanjiru Ngure learned early on how music could reflect social and environmental realities.

A violinist since the age of five, and a member of the Youth Theatre of Kenya, she performed in musicals across the country focused on themes of climate, community and social change.

“I learned so much about the environment and community through songs,” Ngure says. “Composing music around these themes, I realized how powerful music can be in making these histories stay with people.”

Those experiences led Ngure to pursue a double major in environmental studies and peace, conflict & justice, with a minor in environmental geography at the University of Toronto, where she will graduate this month. Her work now focuses on how extractive industries and politics reshape landscapes, communities and everyday life.

“I wanted to pursue a path that humanized environmental studies,” Ngure, a member of University College, says. “I became interested not only in how industries transform environments, but also how communities record and make sense of those changes through culture and memory.”

A passion for music, environmental justice and the human experience takes U of T grad to Cambridge Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, Lita Wanjiru Ngure learned early on how music could reflect social and environmental realities.

As the class of 2026 prepares to graduate, five undergraduate students from the laboratory medicine and pathobiology (LMP) specialist program at are reflecting on a transformative undergraduate experience shaped by scientific inquiry, community and discovery.

Learning to think like scientists: U of T students reflect on their undergraduate journey As the class of 2026 prepares to graduate, five undergraduate students from the laboratory medicine and pathobiology (LMP) specialist program at the University of Toronto are reflecting on a transformative undergraduate experience shaped by scientific i...

The University of Toronto marked the start of Pride month on June 1 by raising the Progress Pride Flag across its three campuses.

At Varsity Stadium on the St. George campus, the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) and the Institutional Equity Office, hosted their annual flag-raising ceremony.

Celebrating Pride Month: Flags raised across U of T's three campuses The University of Toronto marked the start of Pride month on June 1 by raising the Progress Pride Flag across its three campuses.

A team of researchers at has discovered a new class of cyberthreat that gives hackers more power and reach at far less cost. It can be built with free AI models. Every online device is a potential target. And current cyber defences are not yet ready for it.

U of T researchers demonstrate AI worm could target any online device A team of researchers at the University of Toronto has discovered a new class of cyberthreat that gives hackers more power and reach at far less cost. It can be built with free AI models. Every online device is a potential target. And current cyber defe...

Five faculty members have been recognized with 2026 President's Teaching Awards — the university’s highest honour for teaching excellence, educational innovation and educational leadership.

Five faculty members receive 2026 President's Teaching Awards Five University of Toronto faculty members have been recognized with 2026 President's Teaching Awards -- the university's highest honour for teaching excellence, educational innovation and educational leadership.

Office workers spend approximately 2,000 hours a year behind their desks. Is there more than meets the eye to the design of these spaces?

psychologists have found that people expect to be more productive in visually pleasing offices and are more likely to want to work in them, but aesthetic appeal is not associated with greater productivity levels.

Are workers more productive in beautiful spaces? Office workers spend approximately 2,000 hours a year behind their desks. Is there more than meets the eye to the design of these spaces?

Three faculty members have been appointed University Professors, a designation that represents the university’s highest and most distinguished academic rank.

University Professors are recognized for unusual scholarly achievement and pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge.

Roberto Abraham, John Borrows and Nicholas Terpstra named University Professors Three University of Toronto faculty members have been appointed University Professors, a designation that represents the university's highest and most distinguished academic rank.

Maeve Ellis was interested in journalism long before she began her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto. Rather than enrolling in a journalism program after high school, the class of 2026 grad chose a pair of majors to prepare for the contemporary newsroom.

Where research and storytelling: Meet new grad Maeve Ellis Maeve Ellis was interested in journalism long before she began her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto. Rather than enrolling in a journalism program after high school, the class of 2026 grad chose a pair of Faculty of Arts & Science majo...

Zhengqi Chen started out as a student of Rotman Commerce. After he realized the vast difference between the disciplines of economics and finance early on in his studies, Chen changed his degree plans. The St. Michael’s College student will graduate in June with a specialist in financial economics degree and plans to pursue a PhD.

Charting a course in research: Meet new grad Zhengqi Chen Zhengqi Chen started out as a student of Rotman Commerce. After he realized the vast difference between the disciplines of economics and finance early on in his studies, Chen changed his degree plans. The St. Michael's College student will graduate in J...

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From Toronto hosting the World Cup to the Pope’s encyclical on AI, scholars from across are sharing their expertise on a variety of issues in the media.

Find this week's round-up below:

A&S scholars sharing their expertise in the media From Toronto hosting the World Cup to the Pope's encyclical on AI, experts from a range of disciplines across the Faculty of Arts & Science are sharing their expertise on a variety of issues in the media.

More than 20 members of the community — entrepreneurs, startups, researchers and alumni — have been recognized in BetaKit’s second Most Ambitious issue.

The tech publication’s special issue honours innovators “based on their clear and demonstrated ambition to further Canada’s autonomy, security and long-term prosperity.”

U of T entrepreneurs and innovators highlighted in BetaKit's Most Ambitious 2026 issue More than 20 members of the University of Toronto community -- entrepreneurs, startups, researchers and alumni -- have been recognized in BetaKit's second Most Ambitious issue.

’s Debra Wunch, who measures greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, is a finalist for the inaugural Global Climate Research Prize. The prize recognizes research that serves to understand and mitigate climate change.

Debra Wunch and the Total Carbon Column Observing Network named a finalist for Global Climate Research Prize Debra Wunch, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and the School of the Environment in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been named a finalist for the inaugural Global Climate Research Prize.

From self-driving vehicles to new frontiers in robotics, the next wave of AI is moving beyond the digital world — and Canada has the necessary ingredients to chart a bold path forward.

Canada can play a leading role in the next wave of AI innovation: Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun From self-driving vehicles to new frontiers in robotics, the next wave of AI is moving beyond the digital world -- and Canada has the necessary ingredients to chart a bold path forward.

Chelsea Rochman, associate professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and her former postdoctoral fellow Erin Murphy have been recognized with the 2025 Cozzarelli Prize by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Chelsea Rochman and Erin Murphy recognized by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Chelsea Rochman, associate professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Arts & Science, and her former postdoctoral fellow Erin Murphy have been recognized with the 2025 Cozzarelli Prize by the ...

During 36 ceremonies held June 1 to 18, more than 15,000 graduands from across U of T’s three campuses are expected to cross the stage at Convocation Hall to the applause of their peers, families and friends.

Congratulations Class of 2026! U of T counts down to spring convocation Excitement is building across the University of Toronto's three campuses as graduating students prepare to turn the page on their studies and celebrate their accomplishments at this year's spring convocation ceremonies.

In a Canadian first by geochemists at the University of Toronto and uOttawa, long-term measurements of natural hydrogen discharging from Canadian Shield rocks hint at the economic viability of an emerging clean energy source.

White hydrogen discovery in Canadian Shield could unlock new energy source Hydrogen gas is steadily building up within the Canadian Shield among some of the oldest rocks on Earth. Now, geochemists at the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa have measured its presence, mapped its concentration and tracked its long...

Ran Hirschl (Ph.D., Yale), University Professor and the David R. Cameron Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law, died on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, after an extended battle with cancer.

Ran was a path-breaking scholar, dedicated mentor to generations of students, and loyal friend and colleague, since joining the Department of Political Science in 1999.

In Memoriam: Ran Hirschl (1963–2026) We are heartbroken to announce the passing of one of our most accomplished faculty members in the full flight of his career. Ran Hirschl (Ph.D., Yale), University Professor and the David R. Cameron Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law, d...