U of T Engineering Students Offer New Solutions to Toronto's Challenges

TORONTO, April 13, 2012 /CNW/ - From keeping raccoons out of Toronto's green bins to redesigning one of this city's most dangerous intersections, first-year students in the University of Toronto's Engineering Science program have identified new solutions to some of the city's biggest challenges. They will be sharing their ideas in a daylong showcase of design solutions and the entire city is welcome to hear their results.

The showcase is the culmination of a unique design course in the University's Division of Engineering Science. Known as Praxis, students are encouraged to identify problems throughout the city that can use new answers. The best projects are identified, and multiple teams of students work to design innovative solutions.

The projects undertaken this year are:

• Keeping Wildlife Out of Toronto's Green Bins
• Limiting Wandering by Children with Autism
• Urban Agriculture in High-density Communities
• Wayfinding for the Blind in the TTC
• New Assistive Aids for the Elderly
• Improving Safety in the Bathurst-Finch Intersection
• Advancing Safety for Toronto's Winter Cyclists
• Revamping Downtown Bike Parking

The showcase is an opportunity for students to explain their proposals and get immediate feedback from city councillors, government officials, professional engineers as well as members of the general public. The details for the showcase are:

What:	Design for Toronto Design Showcase
Date:	Monday, April 16, 2012
Location:	Great Hall, Hart House (7 Hart House Circle)
Public Showcase:	9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Media Showcase:	10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Media members are welcome to attend throughout the public showcase)

Complete information, including background material on each project, can be found online at www.praxis.uoftengineering.com

Liam Mitchell
Communications & Media Relations Strategist
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, University of Toronto
Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.engineering.utoronto.ca