Faculty of Arts and Science - University of Toronto Magazine

Illustration of a singer that looks like a robot

Alexa, Compose Me a Song

So far, machines are not very good at creating original art, such as pop tunes and short stories. Could it be they’re missing something uniquely human? Read More

Illustration of seats in a movie theatre with the screen showing the

Surfing the Net Is Old School. Soon, We May Inhabit It

A computer science alum has created a technology that turns the web into a virtual world Read More

Illustration of an armed soldier upfront and helicopters, smoke and running soldiers in the background.

Suppressing Our Most Fearful Memories

Research on mice reveals that specific memories can be weakened. Could this one day help treat the effects of trauma in humans? Read More

One of Canada’s Mightiest Computers Tackles a Very Complex Question

A U of T professor is using serious processing power to understand what role the world’s oceans play in climate change Read More

Photo of a pair of hands operating a video game controller.

Ready Student One

English class gets an update with a new kind of “text” Read More

Photo of four cards, the top three facing up showing the Jack, Queen and King of hearts with definitions for

All In on Gutenberg

Students in Prof. Paolo Granata’s book and media studies class learn print culture terms while playing poker Read More

The Wife’s Tale

In her new book, Aida Edemariam shares stories of her grandmother, who survived violence at home – and civil war Read More

Illustration of a man with bandages in the shape of a cross on his chest

After the Shooting, a Search for Salvation

I spent two years with people who had been shot, and recorded how their lives had changed. For many, the church offered a powerful source of hope Read More

What Does an Ethnographer Do?

The goal is to get “an intimate and authentic representation of the person’s life,” says U of T prof Jooyoung Lee Read More

Black and white photo of Edna Staebler at her desk, a typewriter in front of her.

Finding Comfort in Food

Edna Staebler was 55 when her marriage ended. She thought she would grow old alone, impoverished and unhappy. Then she wrote a cookbook Read More

U of T president Meric Gertler (right) meets students at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Rwanda.

Our Partners in Africa

On a visit to Ethiopia and Rwanda, U of T president Meric Gertler affirms the power of collaborations – and sees potential for new ones Read More

Notebooks and chemistry glassware in a wastebasket on left (42%: Yes), and globe with the label

Poll: Have You Ever Switched Majors?

Many students change programs to pursue newfound interests Read More

Head shot of Celeste Yim in a dark space in front of stained glass window

The Serious Business of Being Funny

Trinity College student Celeste Yim is on a mission to get students laughing Read More

Prof. J.B. Caron of ecology and evolutionary biology in his lab at the Royal Ontario Museum

The Big Bang

Life on Earth exploded about 540 million years ago. Scientists are now beginning to understand why Read More

Illustrations of astronaut Chris Hadfield and singer Celine Dion.

A Distinctive Look?

English-Canadians are pretty good at identifying French-Canadian faces but the reverse isn’t true Read More

North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un

Finger on the Button

Could a war of words lead to an actual war between the U.S. and North Korea? Read More

Will Ginsberg and Afifa Saleem sitting at a desk in front of an open laptop, a student out of focus in the foreground

Teaching Kids How to Code

U of T undergrads are bringing the language of computers to youth in Toronto’s low-income neighbourhoods. Will it “future-proof” them? Read More

Photo of Gabriela Stafford running in a race at the World Championships in London.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Varsity Blues’ Gabriela Stafford on her success as a track star Read More

Illustration of a pencil eraser erasing lines from a drawing of a brain.

Some Forgetfulness? It’s a Good Thing

Researchers discover that our brain erases certain memories for a reason Read More

Close up shot of a medical provider's hand tipping two pills onto a patient's hand

Among Syrian Refugees, a Need for Insulin and Heart Meds

As the media share images of wounded migrants, some of the biggest medical threats go almost unmentioned Read More

Sunset shot of hands in the air, waving Canadian flags

What Canada Got Right

An acceptance of diversity may be the country’s defining strength Read More

Photo of Colin Arrowsmith biking along Huron Street, pulling a device.

How Much Methane?

A U of T study aims to create the most accurate estimate yet of Toronto’s greenhouse gas emissions Read More

Exploring Toronto’s Tamil Heritage

Students at UTSC will be able to learn much more about Tamil language and culture, thanks to a $2-million gift Read More

Photo of Russell J. Morrison in front of a bookshelf

Russell J. Morrison Believed in Libraries

One of U of T’s most generous benefactors, he helped improve study spaces for students Read More

Photo of Chris Primerano and Heather Shanahan sitting in front of a computer screen displaying the game

A Mystery Intruder at UTM?

A new mobile game helps orient first-year students to the Mississauga campus Read More

Battling a Health Emergency

Heather Johnston helps combat AIDS in Malawi as president of Dignitas Read More

Luella Massey Studio Theatre

A tribute to a much beloved administrator Read More

Game On!

Toronto's Pan Am Games will leave a golden legacy for U of T, its athletes and the city. Read More

The Enduring Relevance of the Humanities

They open our minds to the world – and the possibilities – around us Read More

Putting Students First

The Baillies’ $1-million gift is a boon for bursaries at Trinity College Read More

Since becoming CEO of Canada Goose in 2001 at the age of 27, Dani Reiss (BA 1997 Woodsworth) has built the company into one of Canada’s most recognized brands. Photo: Daniel Ehrenworth

The Reluctant CEO

Arts grad Dani Reiss wanted to become a writer, then realized there was more than one way to tell a story Read More

Robert Ramsay Wright, the first dean of Arts and Science

Blasts from the Past

Fascinating characters populate a new history of the Faculty of Arts and Science at U of T Read More

Get it? Got it. Good!

A new app lets profs track student comprehension in real time Read More

Past Vic One students Maria Roman (left), Alexander Pytka (middle) and Christian Julien (right)

A Vision for Tomorrow

Victoria University, the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Tanz Centre recently launched their own campaigns Read More

Antarctica’s Intrepid Explorer

U of T grad Charles Seymour Wright was a member of Robert Scott's ill-fated antarctic expedition Read More

A Faculty Looks Ahead

Arts and Science proposal would enhance undergraduate learning and eliminate deficit, says dean Read More

Watertable, an installation under the Gardiner

Road Thrill

Art profs create a sparkling underside to the Gardiner Expressway Read More

What intrigues Lewin is the difference between how elephants are perceived in Thailand and how many of the animals are now treated. “It’s a really tragic story that needs to be told,” he says.

Urban Jungle

Photojournalist Brent Lewin captures the plight of Thailand's city elephants Read More

Hal Jackman Doubles Gift to the Humanities

Largest commitment ever by an individual to the humanities at a Canadian university Read More

$3.5-Million Gift to Economics

Fortune-building Ira Gluskin honours father, Max Read More

The Evolution of Medicine

Donation creates the Pauline M.H. Mazumdar Chair in the History of Medicine Read More

Restoring One Spadina

$1-million gift from a Toronto businessman will help create a state-of-the-art academic facility Read More

Keeping the Faith

In a time of tight budgets, U of T’s Jewish Studies program succeeds by combining faith, scholarship and private funding Read More

The African-Canadian Experience

George Elliott Clarke explores the African-Canadian experience in a new collection of essays Read More

Defending the Arts

Chancellor Hal Jackman helps create $45-million endowment for the humanities and social sciences Read More

Brave New Worlds

In the fresh vocabulary for teaching the humanities, the old must mix with the new Read More

Keren Rice

Rice's research has led to mapping out Dene grammar, a learned book on Athapaskan verbs and a training program for native teachers in Dene languages Read More

George Elliott Clarke

Our expanded view of literature Read More

"Look at the Jewish history books on my shelves written in the prewar period. Tremendous erudition, but encased in a mythological framework so thick that it severely limits their usefulness" Read More

Ana Teresa Pérez-Leroux

Pérez-Leroux wants to break down prejudices about bilingualism. She notes that some immigrants, sadly, do not pass their native language on to their children Read More

1 Degree = 20 Credits

Governing Council votes to eliminate the three-year A&S undergraduate degree Read More

The Thousand-Year Itch

How do you get 10 scholars to wax anything but bored about the millennium? Scratch the surface of the Y2K hype and ask them to predict the future of their fields Read More