DiscoverThe Forefront: Ideas for cities
The Forefront: Ideas for cities

The Forefront: Ideas for cities

Author: Toronto Metropolitan University

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The Forefront showcases how Toronto Metropolitan University is tackling the big issues facing Canadians through bold research, innovation, and collaboration. Hear from some of the country's greatest minds and highlight the solutions our country needs. We don't shy away from topics like the environment, urban planning, healthcare, reconciliation and more.  Hosted by Amanda Cupido.

34 Episodes
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Discover how Toronto Metropolitan University is shaping the next generation of nurses through immersive, hands-on education. Backed by a $1 million donation from the FDC Foundation, these innovative simulation labs immerse students in realistic healthcare scenarios, preparing them for the complexities of modern nursing by utilizing the latest technology to navigate high-pressure situations with confidence and care.
TMU’s DMZ has earned its place as the world’s top university-based tech incubator with its 14 years of experience, 1000+ startups and $2.76 billion in funding. By providing entrepreneurs with the tools to build, launch and scale their ventures, DMZ fuels groundbreaking innovation while shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Canada. Discover how Nathaniel Bagnell, co-founder of the tech startup LiveGauge, is transforming industries with support from DMZ.
Shopping for clothes is typically a visual experience, but for those who are partially or totally blind, it can be challenging. Enter Aille Design, founded by Alexa Jovanovic, a Fashion Communication '16 alumna, and incubated in TMU’s Fashion Zone. Aille integrates braille into its designs, making garments fully legible for braille readers. Discover how Aille is breaking down barriers and reshaping the narrative around disability and fashion.
There’s a silent epidemic impacting older Canadians over the age of 50. A new report from Toronto Metropolitan University'’s National Institute on Ageing (NIA) revealed that 40 per cent of Canadians aged 50 and over are at risk of struggling with social isolation. In this episode, we explore the growing issue of loneliness among older adults in Canada and spotlight the NIA’s efforts to curb it.
Artificial intelligence in higher education comes with its challenges, but one Toronto Metropolitan University professor has turned AI into an asset. Meet ProfBot, the revolutionary AI study buddy developed by Dr. Sean Wise. Learn how this innovative tool has helped students increase their grades — transforming the way students learn and the future of education.
What if the next time you see a doctor, you are treated as a person, not just a patient, and your culture and background are embraced, not overlooked? That’s the vision Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine is bringing to life. Through its bold new approach to medical education, TMU is transforming health care in Ontario to provide a person-centred experience that is as unique as you are.
Season 5: Trailer

Season 5: Trailer

2024-10-0901:13

Our award-winning podcast, The Forefront, is back for another season! Join us as we explore disruptions in healthcare, education, technology, fashion, and beyond.
Smoke, noise, disorientation— when firefighters are inside a burning building, the ability to get out safely is a challenge.In this episode, we speak with Michael Stanfield, a former Toronto fire chief and co-founder of IFTech, and Alex Ferworn, Director of the Computational Public Safety Lab at TMU, about the “As Real as It Gets” suit, which utilizes virtual reality video game technology into potentially life-saving technology for firefighters.
The job market is changing at a rapid speed, making it difficult for both those looking to get hired and for those doing the hiring. How can we address this skills gap?In this episode, we speak with Matt McInnis, an educational technology leader, and with Gary Hepburn, dean of The Chang School, about microcredentials: a skills-based training and certification program developed in partnership with industry to help workers master the skills that employers need.
More than 50 per cent of Canadians report that their mental health has worsened since the beginning of the pandemic. And while treatments like therapy and medication can help, they can be hard to access — and expensive. In this episode, we speak with the team behind a music therapy app called LUCID: Aaron Labbé, who turned to music as a source of comfort during a mental health crisis, and Frank Russo, a TMU professor and neuroscientist.
A lot of things about being a breast cancer patient can feel dehumanizing, but one thing that can change is what patients are given to wear on their chest. In this episode, we speak with patient advocate Jennifer Schultz and Jessica Mudry, director of the Healthcare User Experience (HUE) Lab at TMU, about applying humanities thinking — like fashion design — when it comes to finding patient-centred solutions to health care challenges.
In 2018, hackers got hold of TMU alumna Erin MacDonald’s personal information and began a tsunami of purchases — affecting her credit rating and causing profound stress. In this episode, we speak with Erin about the theft of her identity, along with global information technology leader Claudette McGowan and TMU-based computer scientist Javaid Zahid, who are creating a quantum wallet to better secure our information.
Season 4: Trailer

Season 4: Trailer

2024-02-1201:06

Our award-winning podcast is back for another season! This time we’re exploring human-centred innovation, from designing a post-surgical garment for breast cancer patients to employing robotics to help first responders.
According to TMU's Centre for Urban Energy, by 2030, 80% of the world's population will live in urban areas, so the way we use energy will impact the way we live, work and grow as a community. This has many people – including TMU alumni, looking for alternative modes of transportation.In this episode, we speak with two alumni entrepreneurs about their pursuit of cleaner transportation options and TMU expert Bilal Farooq about how cities can be designed to reduce emissions produced by cars.
Canadians continue to be divided on bike lanes on city streets. However, research out of TMU shows that after developing protected bike lanes, four in ten users in Toronto were new cyclists. Before this infrastructure existed, these cyclists would have used an alternate means of travel. This is good news for municipalities looking to reduce congestion on city streets. In this episode, we explore the benefits of building safe cycling infrastructure and some of the issues preventing people...
For city dwellers, noise is just part of the package – but how noisy is too noisy? Research shows that ongoing exposure to noise can negatively impact your health, leading to conditions like heart disease and diabetes. And according to the United Nations Environment Program – it's also a top environmental risk.In this episode, we hear from TMU's leading noise expert and a Toronto resident who took resolving the noise issues in her community into her own hands.
Canadian youth are becoming increasingly concerned about the climate change crisis impacting our country and the world. TMU's Leadership Lab is working towards building factual awareness around solutions to the challenge of climate change through a youth-driven initiative known as Generation Climate. In this episode, we discuss the implications of climate misinformation and the importance of engaging youth.
In Canada and around the world, Black Indigenous and people of colour are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Research has shown that racialized communities in Canada have higher exposure to air pollution and less access to green spaces. In this episode, we discuss the gaps in the research and the fight for environmental justice in Canada.
In 2021 the Standing Strong Task Force provided a list of recommendations for how the university can address the legacy of Egerton Ryerson and forge a new chapter. One of the recommendations was a renaming to reflect our university values better. The process included feedback from over 30,000 people, with over 2,600 name suggestions. In April 2022, the name Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) was announced. In this episode, we chat with TMU elder Joanne Dallaire, author and journalist ...
Season 3: Trailer

Season 3: Trailer

2022-10-1800:59

Toronto Metropolitan University's award-winning podcast The Forefront is back! This season, we look at how the university is tackling some of the environmental issues impacting Canadians.
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