Previous Events
YU Research: Future Ready
Germany’s Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig) recently partnered with Lassonde for a joint workshop on materials science and additive manufacturing.
Together, we explored research aligned with key UN Sustainable Development Goals, including:
Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7)
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9)
Climate Action (SDG 13)
The session sparked great conversations between researchers and students from both institutions and laid the foundation for future collaboration.
Special thanks to our speakers: Robert Böhm, Ingo Reinhold, Michael Kucher, Dmytro Rassokhin, Amir Asif, Gerd Grau, George Zhu and Garrett Melenka.
Funding for the session was generously provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) – German Research Foundation and the York University Research Support Grant.
Lunch & Learn:
Dr. Ianto Guy, Principal Consultant, Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), UK
“Micro-Mobility from a European/UK Perspective”
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Join us for an engaging Lunch & Learn session exploring the diverse landscape of micro-mobility across Europe and the UK. This interactive session will feature insights from a leading transport expert and foster dialogue around global trends and their implications for Canadian cities.
Dr. Ianto Guy is an automotive engineer and paramedic by background, and currently a Principal Consultant at TRL https://trl.co.uk/, one of the UK’s foremost transport research bodies. He has worked extensively on the safety, standards, and operational frameworks for micro-mobility vehicles, advising the European Commission and other bodies on policy, technology, and regulation. His experience bridges engineering, regulation, and public safety.
Event Partners: SmartTO | Lassonde School of Engineering | MTEC | MOVE
Discussion Topics Include:
- Different vehicle types and their suitability
- Varied standards and safety protocols
- Innovations in micro-mobility technologies
- Regulatory differences across countries
- Emerging business models
- Public concerns and safety strategies
- Q&A, networking, and pizza!
MTEC Speaker Series Presents:
Dr. Elli Gkoutki, Assistant Professor, Western University
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
“Simulating Microgravity in Understanding Bioprinting Optimized Process Skin Wounds”
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
BIO: Dr. Gkouti is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering at Western University. She holds an Engineering Diploma and MASc. in Applied Mechanics from the National Technical University of Athens, followed by a PhD where her research focused on analyzing elastic interactions between phase transformations and inhomogeneities in composite materials. Before joining Western University, she was a Research Associate and Postdoctoral Fellow at York University since 2019, specializing in the experimental and computational analysis of soft materials, particularly elastomers.
ABSTRACT: Canada’s 24-year investment ($2.05 billion) in NASA’s Lunar Gateway mission highlights a growing focus on human space exploration, but missions to the Moon and Mars present new medical challenges like injuries, burns, and radiation exposure. With limited space on rockets, carrying all medical supplies is impractical. Collaborating with Lassonde’s Professor Alex Czekanski (Department of Mechanical Engineering and MTEC Co-Director), their team is developing an autonomous bioprinter capable of producing tissues on-demand for treating wounds and burns in space. The bioprinted skin implants will be designed to fit injury sites in zero gravity, offering a revolutionary solution for wound healing and rapid recovery in space.
MTEC Speaker Series Presents:
Karen Lai, President & Founder, KPM Power Inc.
“Breaking Barriers: Building the Future of Manufacturing and Innovation”
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Karen’s journey into entrepreneurship is one of resilience, innovation, and a passion for clean technology. In this keynote, Karen will share her experiences navigating the male-dominated world of manufacturing, her transition from a corporate career in supply chain management to founding KPM Power Inc., and her vision for the future of manufacturing and innovative technology in Canada. Drawing from nearly two decades in global supply chain management and her expertise in lithium battery solutions, Karen will explore how clean technology is transforming the industry and why fostering diverse talent is essential for driving meaningful innovation. As an advocate for women in STEM, she will also discuss the importance of creating inclusive environments that support the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs. Karen graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BASc degree in Mechanical Engineering. She is also a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario and is a member of the advisory board for York University’s BEST program.
MTEC Speaker Series Presents:
Dr. Serdar Sean Kalaycioglu, P.Eng
“Advanced Control Methodologies for Multi-Robot Space Systems: Integrating Predictive Control with Neural Networks for Next Generation Space Applications“
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Dr. Sean Kalaycioglu is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in engineering, law, business, and space programs. He currently holds a Research Fellow position in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University. He is also the Director of Space and Robotics Technologies at Dr. Robot Inc. and the President of the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) Canada. He is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and an Associate Editor for Frontier Robotics and AI Journal and an editor for the Advances in Science, Technology, and Engineering (ASTEJ) Journal. He is also a Barrister and Solicitor, a licenced attorney in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Kalaycioglu holds a PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University, as well as advanced degrees including an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, and LLB and LLM degrees from the University of London, Queen Mary Law School, and an LLM Common Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
MTEC Speaker Series Presents:
Mitch Debora, CEO & Co-Founder, Mosaic Manufacturing Ltd.
“Transformations in Manufacturing”
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Mitch Debora is a Co-Founder & the CEO at Mosaic Manufacturing – a digital supply chain company building the tools to make manufacturing more sustainable and resilient. Mitch is an expert and advisor in the area of additive manufacturing and currently sits as an AM Advisory Board Member at NGen. Mitch is a mechanical and materials engineer by training passionate about design, intellectual property, and finance. Mosaic Mfg. Mosaic is building the tools to make manufacturing more sustainable and resilient. With flexible and automated additive manufacturing platforms, we empower industries to create high-quality products on-demand where and when they are needed, reducing reliance on traditional, resource-intensive methods. Founded in 2014, Mosaic has scaled-up their patented multi-material 3D printing technology into a full ecosystem of additive manufacturing solutions that are enabling the world’s top companies to re-envision and modernize their polymer supply chains. To learn more visit https://www.mosaicmfg.com/