Where Research Takes Root
New Grounds – Research Week is a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and community at New College, University of Toronto. Students from across disciplines showcase their work through research posters, presentations and art installations, all while sharing ideas and innovations that are taking root across our academic community.
November 25 & 27
William Doo Auditorium, New College – 45 Willcocks Street, lower level (Google Maps)
Registration not required!
Highlights for Fall 2025:
- Keynote by New College Principal, Professor Gazzale
- Scientific poster fair from NEW271 “The Happy Mind: Scientific Perspectives on Wellness”
- Award Ceremony
- NewOne student projects
- Refreshments
Click below for event details
Human Biology Lab Posters – Tuesday, November 25 | 9 AM – 4 PM
9 AM – 12 PM | HMB489H1F – Advanced Laboratory in Human Biology
Explore conditioned responses in a worm model through the use of odourants.
1 PM – 4 PM | HMB311H1F – Laboratory in Fundamental Genetics and its Applications
Discover novel experimental CRISPR proposals that showcase how this revolutionary technique can be used for important therapeutic purposes while we also showcase a CRISPR experiment to alter a cell’s colour!
Scientific Day: Poster Fair, Keynote & Awards – Thursday, November 27
10:30 AM – 1 PM
Discover how the brain works and what you can do to live a happy and meaningful life through evidence-based practices! This session will focus on Scientific Research Posters: NEW271 “The Healthy Mind: Scientific Perspectives on Wellness that explore different modalities and mechanisms for change that can enhance wellness, mental health and human flourishing.
Schedule
10:30 AM – 12 PM | Poster Fair
Posters will be displayed by students of NEW271 “The Healthy Mind: Scientific Perspectives on Wellness. Drop-in, walk around, and explore the research + vote for the audience award!
12 PM – 12:30 PM | Keynote – Towards a Culture of Curiosity
Principal Robert Gazzale, draws on his experience as a behavioural economist to share insights on meaningful learning.
Principal Robert Gazzale – New College, University of Toronto
Professor Robert Gazzale earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service with a focus in international economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and completed his PhD in economics at the University of Michigan. After eight years in the Department of Economics at Williams College, Professor Gazzale joined the University of Toronto’s Department of Economics in 2012 where he is currently Professor, Teaching Stream and formerly the department’s Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies.
Professor’s Gazzale’s research has investigated how an individual’s willingness to act prosocially depends on what others do. In the classroom, he received an Arts and Science Outstanding Teaching Award in 2022 for his dedication to enhancing student learning and experience. He serves on the University’s Academic Board and its Planning and Budget Committee. In 2024, he was installed as the 14th Principal of New College
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM | Award Ceremony
Poster adjudicators will recognize the top 10 posters from the session.
Poster Award Breakdown
Awards recognize outstanding student work across a range of categories, celebrating creativity, clarity, and impact. Each poster will be evaluated by a panel of adjudicators, with an additional audience vote for the “Audience Favourite” awards.
Students who receive an award will be given the opportunity to present their posters at the 2026 Mindfulness Research Symposium, hosted by The Hospital for Sick Children in partnership with the University of Toronto.
Award Categories
- Best Poster Visual Presentation: The visual appeal and readability of the poster, which includes layout, use of space, color, and neatness.
- Best Poster – Application to Everyday Life: The innovative activity or practice proposed can be implemented right away to enhance happiness/wellness.
- Best Poster – Most Innovative: Unique or “leading edge” is the activity or practice poster combines science and practice in a novel and thoughtful way.
- Best Poster – Research Significance: How important and novel is the research or work presented?
- Best Poster – Organization: The logical flow and clarity of the information on the poster, including clear sections like objectives, methods, results, and conclusions.
- Best Poster – Oral Presentation: The presenter’s ability to explain their work clearly and confidently to judges and the audience.
- Best Poster – Audience Favourites: Top 3 voted by scientific day attendees
Poster Session Adjudicators
The posters will be adjudicated by a committee made up of professors from NEW271, along with two guest adjudicators from the Hospital for Sick Children’s Mindfulness Project team.
Alexandra Guerson – New College Vice-Principal, University of Toronto
Dr. Elli Weisbaum – University of Toronto
Elli Weisbaum, BFA, MES, PhD, is an endlessly curious human, which has led to her love of teaching and research. She has worked internationally facilitating applied mindfulness workshops and retreats across the sectors of education, healthcare and business. She is based at the University of Toronto as an Assistant Professor (teaching stream) in the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program (BPMH), at New College, with a joint appointment to the Department of Psychiatry, in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. She is cross-appointmented to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health in their Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME).
Mark Miller – University of Toronto
Mark Miller is a philosopher and cognitive scientist working on what recent advances in neuroscience can tell us about happiness and well-being, and what it means to live well in our increasingly technologically-mediated world. Mark is currently a researcher at Monash University’s Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies and is cross-affiliated with both the University of Toronto and Hokkaido University.
Alex Djedovic, University of Toronto
Alex Djedovic received his PhD from the University of Toronto in 2020. He is a philosopher working at the intersection of biology, cognitive science, and social issues. Focused on how the sciences of life and the sciences of mind inform (and sometimes mislead) each other, Alex writes on embodied cognition and theories of living organisms. An interdisciplinary scholar, he is also interested in how cognitive science influences society, non-Western approaches to cognition and their intersection with psychological and social health, the role of theory in making a better world, and the intersection of politics, history, and science.
Dr. Sara Ahola Kohut – The Hospital for Sick Kids
Sara Ahola Kohut, PhD, CPsych is a clinical and health psychologist, researcher, teacher, and endlessly curious human. She is staff at the Hospital for Sick Children, project investigator at the SickKids Research Institute, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Her clinical, research, and teaching interests are focused on mindfulness, meaningful social connection, values based living, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for people of all ages living with chronic disease. This work has led to both traditional and creative knowledge dissemination as well as training health care professionals, graduate students, clinical trainees, and peer mentors locally and internationally.
Ani J– The Hospital for Sick Kids
Ani Jamyang Donma (ani J.) CPE, RP Staff Chaplain, Team Lead for Spiritual & Religious Care & The Mindfulness Project at SickKids. Ani J. has been a Spiritual Care Provider (Chaplain) at SickKids for 19 years. Her Specialties are Inter-Faith Spiritual & Religious Care, Spiritual Psychotherapy & Ethics, Secular Mindfulness & Compassion Modalities, as well as Christian, Buddhist Rites, and Indigenous Traditions & Healing. . Her focus is to provide ongoing support to the SickKids patient and family population and to support staff wellness and resilience. She also functions as an On-Call Spiritual Care provider throughout the hospital as needed. She is an active supporting participant in the Paediatric Advanced Care Team at SickKids with expertise in end of life for Buddhist and Asian families. She also supports the training of new Spiritual Care providers in co-operation with Emmanuel College, at the University of Toronto. Encouraged by SickKids Senior Administration, Ani J. currently leads a hospital wide initiative called “The Mindfulness Project,” This is a Multi-Disciplinary Mindfulness Hub @ SickKids that partners with “Wellnss” (Occ. Health).
NewOne Knowledge Fair – Thursday, November 27 | 2 PM – 4 PM
Join us for an afternoon of discovery and inspiration at our Art, Science, Tech & Food Extravaganza! Step into a world of creativity, where NewOne: Learning without Borders student projects bring ideas to life in a vibrant showcase.
Experience a variety of group projects exploring course topics, including:
- Posters and infographics
- Audio and video installations
- Performances
- Multimedia and interactive activities
Explore, engage, and be inspired by the innovative work of our students!
Collaborators
