Bridging the world with words: Multilingual and multicultural natural language processing
2025-11-25 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | Room: 313, Bldg: Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, 11 Arboretum Ln, North York, Ontario, Canada, M3N 3A7
Despite the rapid advances in Large Language Models (LLM), research efforts have historically focused disproportionately on high-resource languages, particularly English, leaving over 7,000 living languages underserved. We address the fundamental challenge of bridging the gap of low-resource language (LRL) translation in multilingual language models. Low-resource languages are typically characterized by a scarcity of both unlabeled and labeled data, as well as limited tools and models. This talk explores strategies aimed at bridging the gap of low-resource language (LRL) translation in multilingual models, where LRLs are characterised by a limited scarcity of both unlabeled and labelled data, as well as limited tools and models. Speaker(s): Dr. Lee, Room: 313, Bldg: Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, 11 Arboretum Ln, North York, Ontario, Canada, M3N 3A7

EXPLAINABLE AND ROBUST AI FOR 6G
2025-11-21 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/509632
EXPLAINABLE AND ROBUST AI FOR 6G Dr. SINEM COLERI When: November 21st at 10H30 AM EST Via zoom: https://uqtr.zoom.us/j/81521084215?pwd=[REDACTED] Meeting ID: 815 2108 4215 Password: [REDACTED] Unlike previous generations of wireless networks, which were primarily designed to meet the requirements of human communications, 5G networks enable extensive data collection from machines. As we transition to 6G, the emphasis moves beyond connectivity toward leveraging this machine-generated data for a new spectrum of control applications, such as UAV swarms, collaborative robots, and cooperative autonomous vehicles. Designing communication systems for these advanced control applications introduces a distinct set of challenges. These include meeting stringent requirements for delay and reliability, addressing the semantics of control systems, and ensuring robust resource management. In the first part of this talk, we explore ultra-reliable channel modeling and communication techniques based on the integration of extreme value theory with generative artificial intelligence (AI). These methods offer improved accuracy in predicting rare but critical events while providing adaptivity to dynamic scenarios. In the second part of the talk, we explore the benefits of employing optimization theory based, explainable, and robust AI in radio resource management for the joint design of control and communication systems. These approaches offer a systematic methodology to enhance robustness and interpret decisions made by black-box AI models. BIOGRAPHY Dr. Sinem Coleri is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Koc University. She is also the founding director of Wireless Networks Laboratory (WNL) and director of Ford Otosan Automotive Technologies Laboratory. Sinem Coleri received the BS degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Bilkent University in 2000, the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering and computer sciences from University of California Berkeley in 2002 and 2005. She worked as a research scientist in Wireless Sensor Networks Berkeley Lab under sponsorship of Pirelli and Telecom Italia from 2006 to 2009. Since September 2009, she has been a faculty member in the department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Koc University. Her research interests are in 6G wireless communications and networking, AI-based wireless networks, machine-to-machine communications, wireless networked control systems and vehicular networks. Dr. Coleri has more than 150 publications with citations over 12000 (Google scholar profile). She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) Science Award in 2024; N2Women: Stars in Computer Networking and Communications in 2022; TUBITAK Incentive Award and IEEE Vehicular Technology Society Neal Shepherd Memorial Best Propagation Paper Award in 2020; Outstanding Achievement Award by Higher Education Council in 2018; and Turkish Academy of Sciences Distinguished Young Scientist (TUBA-GEBIP) Award in 2015. Dr. Coleri currently holds the position of Editor-in-Chief at the IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society. Dr. Coleri is an IEEE Fellow, AAIA Fellow and IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer. Speaker(s): Dr. Coleri Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/509632

Energy Cyber-Physical Systems and their Communication and Control Challenges for Operational Security in Industrial Systems
2025-08-18 09:00 - 10:00 | Room: UA1140, Bldg: UA, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, L1G7K4
The development of innovative cybersecurity technologies, tools, and methodologies that advance the energy system’s ability to survive cyber-attacks and incidents while sustaining critical functions is needed for the secure operation of utility and industrial systems. It is essential to verify and validate the ability of the developed solutions and methodologies so that they can be effectively used in practice. Developing solutions to mitigate cyber vulnerabilities throughout the energy delivery system is essential to protect hardware assets. It will also make systems less susceptible to cyber threats and provide reliable delivery of electricity if a cyber incident occurs. This talk will describe how the developed solution can protect the power grid and industrial infrastructure from cyber-attacks and build cybersecurity protection into emerging power grid components and services. This includes microgrid and demand-side management components and protecting the network (substations and productivity lines) and data infrastructure (SCADA) to increase the resilience of the energy delivery systems against cyber-attacks. These developments will also help utility security systems manage large amounts of cybersecurity risk data and cybersecurity operations. For these developments to succeed, cybersecurity testbeds and testing methodologies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of any proposed security technologies. The focus on developing cybersecurity capabilities in energy systems should span over multiple strategies: in the near term, midterm, and long term. Continuous security state monitoring across cyber-physical domains is the goal in the near term. The development of continually defending interoperable components that continue operating in degraded conditions is required in the midterm. Developing methodologies to mitigate cyber incidents to return to normal operations quickly is necessary for all system components in the long term. We will discuss R&D efforts in these areas centered on developing operational frameworks related to communication and interoperability, control, and protection. The importance of interoperability between smart grid applications and multi-vendor devices must be considered. The current grid comprises multi-vendor devices and multi-lingual applications that add to the complexity of integrating and securing the smart grid components. Standards development entities have been working with utilities, vendors, and regulatory bodies to develop standards that address smart grid interoperability. These include IEEE, IEC, NIST, ANSI, NERC, and others. In this presentation, we will conceptualize a comprehensive cyber-physical platform that involves the communication and power network sides integrating the cyber information flow, physical information flow, and the interaction between them. A data-centric communication middleware provides a common-data bus to orchestrate the system’s components, leading to an expandable multi-lingual system. We will present a hardware protocol gateway that was developed as a protocol translator capable of mapping IEC 61850 generic object-oriented substation event (GOOSE) and sampled measured value (SMV) messages into the data-centric Data Distribution Service (DDS) global data bus. This is necessary for integrating the widely used IEC 61850-based devices into an exhaustive microgrid control and security framework. We will also discuss a scalable cloud-based Multi-Agent System for controlling large-scale penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and their infrastructure into the power grid. This is a system that can survive cyber-attacks while sustaining critical functions. This framework’s network will be assessed by applying contingencies and identifying the resulting signatures for detection in real-time operation. As a result, protective measures can be taken to address the dynamic threats in the foreseen grid-integrated EV parks where the developed system will have an automated response to a cyber-attack. In distributed energy management systems, the protection system must be adaptive. Communication networks assist in reacting to dynamic changes in the microgrid configurations. This presentation will also describe a newly developed protection scheme with extensive communication provided by the IEC 61850 standard for power networks to monitor the microgrid during these dynamic changes. The robustness and availability of the communication infrastructure are required for the success of protection measures. This adaptive protection scheme for AC microgrids can survive communication failures through energy storage systems. Co-sponsored by: Power Electronics/Industrial Electronics Speaker(s): Osama, Room: UA1140, Bldg: UA, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, L1G7K4

Safe Robot Autonomy in Interactive Open-World Environments
2025-08-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487494
[] Join the IEEE Toronto Instrumentation & Measurement – Robotics & Automation Joint Chapter for a technical talk presented by Dr. Roya Fallah Firoozi from University of Waterloo. Monday, August 11, 2025 @ 1:00 – 2:00 PM (EST) Abstract: As a robot manipulates 3D objects and navigates within 3D scenes, it requires spatial reasoning to ensure safe planning. Recent advances in 3D scene representation, such as Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) and Gaussian Splatting, provide high-fidelity digital twins of arbitrary real-world environments from multi-view images. In the first part of the talk, Dr. Firoozi will discuss employing these 3D visual fields augmented to 3D vision-language fields using internet-scale semantic representations from Vision-Language Models (VLMs) for open-vocabulary robot planning. As the robot interacts with other dynamic agents in the scene (multi-agent settings), it also requires temporal reasoning to ensure safe interactive planning. In the second part of the talk, Dr. Firoozi will discuss safe and fault-resilient planning techniques across two categories of interactive planning: (i) Model Predictive Control (MPC), where the prediction and planning steps are decoupled, and (ii) more abstract approaches such as game-theoretic planning, where these steps are tightly coupled. While MPC offers computational efficiency, game-theoretic planning enables more complex modeling of agents’ preferences and their mutual influences. Speaker(s): Roya Fallah Firoozi, Ph.D., Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487494

Unconventional Wearables and their Application in Health Monitoring
2025-07-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/486792
[] Join the IEEE Toronto Instrumentation & Measurement – Robotics & Automation Joint Chapter for a technical talk presented by Dr. Shideh Kabiri Ameri from Queen’s University. Monday, July 21, 2025 @ 2:00 – 3:00 PM (EST) Abstract: Wearable devices for health monitoring are conveniently being miniaturized, their functionalities have been increased, and they are rapidly being integrated into our daily life. However, the current commercialized wearables are not mechanically compatible with soft, stretchable and dynamic skin which is normally the first point of contact to the body in wearables. This results not only in discomfort but also causes low fidelity and reliability during long term sensing. In this talk, Dr. Kabiri will discuss various novel approaches they have taken to address these issues. Their developed unconventional wearable devices for health monitoring have high sensing performance and low motion artifacts, and in some cases offer visual imperceptibility and non-intrusive sensing that satisfy the user’s privacy and mental comfort. Speaker(s): Shideh Kabiri Ameri, Ph.D., Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/486792

Enhancing the Efficiency and Reliability of UAV Systems: A Lyapunov-Based Stabilizing Model Predictive Control Framework
2025-07-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487504
[] Join the IEEE Toronto Instrumentation & Measurement – Robotics & Automation Joint Chapter for a technical talk presented by Dr. Binyan Xu from University of Guelph. Monday, July 7, 2025 @ 10:30 – 11:30 AM (EST) Abstract: The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has expanded significantly over recent decades, driven by their flexibility, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and capability to operate in dangerous or inaccessible environments. With rising demands, UAV systems are increasingly expected to achieve higher levels of autonomy. Model predictive control (MPC), an advanced control methodology that leverages online optimization, provides notable advantages such as optimal performance, efficient handling of multivariable systems, and explicit constraint management, making it a promising solution for UAV control challenges. However, ensuring closed-loop performance with manageable computational demands remains challenging due to the highly nonlinear dynamics of UAVs and the computational complexity of MPC. This talk introduces a Lyapunov-based MPC framework designed specifically to address these challenges, offering stabilized and computationally efficient MPC strategies tailored for UAV applications. Applications of this framework, including trajectory tracking and formation control, will be demonstrated to illustrate its effectiveness. Additionally, the integration of this framework with other Lyapunov-based control techniques for handling unexpected actuator faults and communication disruptions will be discussed, highlighting its potential to further enhance UAV operational efficiency and reliability. Speaker(s): Binyan Xu, Ph.D., Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487504

Overcoming Efficiency and Linearity Challenges in 6G RF Power Amplifiers
2025-06-24 10:30 - 12:00 | Room: 024, Bldg: Bahen Center for Information Technology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2E4
Seminar by Prof. Anding Zhu (University College Dublin, Ireland) Speaker(s): Professor Anding Zhu, Room: 024, Bldg: Bahen Center for Information Technology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2E4

Locking the Basement Doors: Security for the Next Generation of Industrial Internet-of-Things
2025-06-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Room: SF B560, Bldg: Sanford Fleming Building, University of Toronto, 10 King’s College Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G4
Abstract: Vulnerabilities in OS and application software, although hard to eliminate, are well known. This talk will look a couple layers down in the stack to securing the lowest-level software in a device, often referred to as firmware, with the intent of blocking hard-to-find and hard-to-eradicate attacks classified as Advanced Persistent Threats. The talk covers why firmware is uniquely-difficult to protect, introduces the Root of Trust concept, and goes on to describe technology such as the Trusted Computing Group’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM), as a component to enhance a device’s ability to defend itself against APTs. Although low-level security issues can exist in any computing environment, this talk focuses on IoT and Industrial IoT applications. Speaker’s Bio: Guy C. Fedorkow is a Distinguished Engineer at Juniper Networks. He received the BASc in Engineering Science and MASc in Electrical Engineering at University of Toronto, and went on to develop both packet-switching technology and high-throughput parallel computer architectures at Bolt, Beranek and Newman in Cambridge, MA. At Cisco Systems, he did hardware design and system architecture for cell-switching and high-scale internet service provider routers. Continuing at Juniper Networks, he has served as system architect for high-throughput Internet service provider products. Guy is currently working on trusted computing technologies to protect underlying computational infrastructure in router, switch and firewall products at Juniper Networks, and is a Fellow in the MIT Connection Sciences group. https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-fedorkow-3b65151/ Room: SF B560, Bldg: Sanford Fleming Building, University of Toronto, 10 King’s College Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G4

Progress Towards High Dimensional Quantum Communications in Turbulent Free-Space Channels
2025-06-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/488212
Progress Towards High Dimensional Quantum Communications in Turbulent Free-Space Channels Abstract: Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables information-theoretically secure communication, guaranteed by the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. By leveraging quantum properties of single particles, most often photons, QKD allows two parties to establish a shared secret key with provable resistance against both classical and quantum eavesdroppers. While most communication today is done in a binary scheme using 1s and 0s, by pushing beyond 2 dimensions with high-dimensional (HD) QKD protocols, more than one bit of information can be encoded per photon. Additionally, secure quantum communications can be done even in noisy channels where 2-dimensional QKD would be impossible. Free-space channels, where the spatial degree of freedom of photons is available for encoding, like ground-satellite links and ground-ground links are clear candidates for the implementation of HD QKD. Free-space channels on Earth, despite the name, are not actually free due to fluctuations in the atmosphere called turbulence. We investigate the challenges and benefits of using spatial modes of light, in particular the Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) of photons to make HD QKD realisable in turbulent free-space channels. ———————————————————————— Progrès vers des communications quantiques de haute dimension dans des canaux turbulents en espace libre Résumé: La distribution quantique de clés (QKD) permet une communication théoriquement sécurisée, garantie par les principes fondamentaux de la mécanique quantique. En exploitant les propriétés quantiques de particules uniques, le plus souvent des photons, la QKD permet à deux parties d’établir une clé secrète partagée avec une résistance démontrable aux écoutes électroniques classiques et quantiques. Alors que la plupart des communications actuelles se font selon un schéma binaire utilisant des 1 et des 0, en dépassant les deux dimensions avec les protocoles QKD haute dimension (HD), plus d’un bit d’information peut être codé par photon. De plus, des communications quantiques sécurisées peuvent être réalisées même dans des canaux bruyants où la QKD bidimensionnelle serait impossible. Les canaux en espace libre, où le degré de liberté spatial des photons est disponible pour le codage, comme les liaisons sol-satellite et sol-sol, sont des candidats évidents pour la mise en œuvre de la QKD HD. Les canaux en espace libre sur Terre, malgré leur nom, ne sont pas réellement libres en raison des fluctuations de l’atmosphère appelées turbulences. Nous étudions les défis et les avantages de l’utilisation des modes spatiaux de lumière, en particulier le moment angulaire orbital (OAM) des photons pour rendre le HD QKD réalisable dans des canaux turbulents en espace libre. Lukas Scarfe (PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa) About / A propos The High Throughput and Secure Networks (HTSN) Challenge program is hosting regular virtual seminar series to promote scientific information sharing, discussions, and interactions between researchers. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/programs/high-throughput-secure-networks-challenge-program Le programme Réseaux Sécurisés à Haut Débit (RSHD) organise régulièrement des séries de séminaires virtuels pour promouvoir le partage d’informations scientifiques, les discussions et les interactions entre chercheurs. https://nrc.canada.ca/fr/recherche-developpement/recherche-collaboration/programmes/programme-defi-reseaux-securises-haut-debit NEW: In order to promote more open discussions/interactions, at the end of the presentation and Q/A, we will allow other experts in this field (quantum comm) to present very briefly their work (1 slide, 2 min max) or their company. Co-sponsored by: National Research Council, Canada. Optonique. Speaker(s): Lukas Scarfe, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/488212

IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecture: Ubiquitous Sensing in 6G Cellular Networks
2025-06-17 10:45 - 11:30 | Room: BA 2135, Bldg: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Recently, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has identified integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) as a primary usage scenario for the sixth-generation (6G) cellular networks in IMT-2030 Framework. As a result, future cellular networks will provide not only communication services, but also sensing services such as localization and tracking. However, how to exploit the existing communication infrastructure to effectively achieve sensing functions remains an open problem for 6G. In this talk, we will introduce the methodologies to leverage various types of communication nodes in cellular networks as anchors, including base stations, user equipments, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, to perform ubiquitous sensing. Specifically, the advantages and disadvantages of each type of anchors will be listed, and the efficient solutions to overcome these disadvantages will be outlined. Apart from theoretical works, this talk will also present our latest achievements in building a 6G ISAC platform that operates at the millimeter-wave band. We will conclude this talk by discussing some promising future directions that will be beneficial to the transformation of the world’s largest communication network into the world’s largest sensing network. Please complete a FREE registration by June 10 to reserve your spot using the following link: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOrY5kW2zw7pXX3qwcMdLRB2aPuGlqs1hkgc8V0TBezeKSiw/viewform) Speaker(s): Dr. Liang Liu , Room: BA 2135, Bldg: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Workshop on Sensing, Coding, and Communications
2025-06-17 09:00 - 16:15 | Room: BA 2135, Bldg: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y1R5
I am happy to announce a Workshop on Sensing, Coding, and Communications to be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at the University of Toronto, Bahen Centre for Information Technology, BA 2135 from 9 AM to 4:15 PM featuring the following distinguished speakers: – Prof. Henk Wymeersch (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden) – Prof. Shuowen Zhang (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China) – Prof. Liang Liu (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) – ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer – Prof. Seok-Hwan Park (Jeonbuk National University, Korea) – Prof. Emanuele Viterbo (Monash University, Australia) – Prof. Hei Victor Cheng (Aarhus University, Denmark) – Prof. Li-Hsiang Shen (National Central University, Taiwan) Please RSVP your spot by June 10 using the following link: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOrY5kW2zw7pXX3qwcMdLRB2aPuGlqs1hkgc8V0TBezeKSiw/viewform) Room: BA 2135, Bldg: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y1R5

IEEE Toronto Virtual Golf Spring Social
2025-06-13 18:00 - 21:00 | The Sand Trap, 1306 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
[] IEEE Toronto has reserved the venue for a private event. We’d love to connect with volunteers, members, and your family, friends, or coworkers for our 2025 spring social event. Your ticket will get you 2 drinks, snacks, and a chance to take some swings in the golf simulator. Tickets are limited and are heavily subsidized. The Sand Trap, 1306 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tutorial: Active Alignment for Photonics Assembly
2025-06-03 14:30 - 16:00 | Room: MC603, 6th floor, Bldg: McConnell Engineering building, 3480 rue University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 0C3, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487104
Abstract : Active Alignment for Photonics Assembly is a key technology in high-precision manufacturing. It ensures sub-micron accuracy by continuously optimizing component positioning in real time. Unlike passive alignment methods, Active Alignment uses live optical feedback to achieve the highest possible performance. The technology is essential for applications that demand exceptional optical precision, including Camera modules & LiDAR systems, Laser beam shaping & external cavity resonators, Optical fibers & photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and Medical imaging & high-performance optics. This tutorial talk will provide an overview of Active Alignment for Photonics Assembly, key features and applications of the technology, and an opportunity for discussion with the presenter. Co-sponsored by: McGill Optica Student Chapter. Optech. Speaker(s): Sebastian Haag Agenda: 2:00 – 2:30 pm: free networking (on-site only) 2:30 – 4:00 pm: technical seminar presentation (hybrid) Room: MC603, 6th floor, Bldg: McConnell Engineering building, 3480 rue University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 0C3, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487104

How Close Can Far-Field Be? Getting the Best Out of Your Measurement Range
2025-06-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Room: BA 2135, Bldg: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, 40 St George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2E4
Please join us for an upcoming lecture on 2 June 2025 at 3 – 4 pm (Eastern Time) by Dr. Benoit Derat, Senior Director for Systems Developments and Project Implementations, at Rohde & Schwarz, Munich, Germany. Date: Monday, 2 June 2025 Time: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM (EST) Location: Room BA 2135, Bahen Centre for Information Technology, 40 St George St, Toronto How Close Can Far-Field Be? Getting the Best Out of Your Measurement Range Trends in modern wireless communications, including the use of massive MIMO and millimeter wave frequencies, have supported an increased deployment of electrically large antennas. This created technical and economic challenges as many EMC or regulatory tests require a far-field condition. This talk provides an overview of the recent findings in defining the shortest possible far-field test distance, depending on the size of the device under test, its operation frequency, the target metric and the upper bound acceptable measurement deviation. Practical ways are also described to determine the maximum antenna aperture size that can be tested in the far-field at a given frequency and for a maximum error, in an existing chamber with a defined range length. Speaker(s): Benoit Derat Room: BA 2135, Bldg: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, 40 St George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2E4

​The IEEE Toronto Inter-Society Distinguished Lecturer Day
2025-06-02 09:55 - 16:00 | Room: ENG-LG02, Bldg: George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, Toronto Metropolitan University, 245 Church Street, Toronto , Ontario, Canada
IEEE Toronto Section is pleased to announce a DL day, which brings together distinguished lecturers from the IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc), Signal Processing Society (SPS), and Vehicular Technology Society (VTS) in a single event. This offers attendees an unparalleled opportunity to engage with renowned professionals who are at the forefront of innovation in their respective fields.​ The event will feature cutting-edge talks on topics such as multilayer networks, self-supervised Wi-Fi sensing, semantic communications with diffusion models, digital twin networks for vehicle platoons, pervasive intelligence in 6G systems, and emerging cybersecurity threats with current state-of-the-art defenses.​ Join us for a day filled with insightful talks, engaging discussions, and valuable networking opportunities. Whether you’re a graduate student, young researcher, or industry professional, this event offers new perspectives on the latest advancements in the field. Please complete a FREE registration before May 25 at vTools to reserve your lunch and coffee/refreshments. [] Agenda: [] Room: ENG-LG02, Bldg: George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, Toronto Metropolitan University, 245 Church Street, Toronto , Ontario, Canada

Innovations in Project Management: AI and more
2025-05-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/485146
[] Please join us on for an informative virtual presentation on what’s changing in project management, with special attention on how AI is impacting every part of the process. We’ll explore some of the tools available to project managers and talk about how to future-proof your career from an AI perspective, whether you’re managing projects or just working with them. Attendees will learn how to leverage AI to manage projects better, and about some of the newest tools at the disposal of PMs. We’ll give special attention to some of the free or low-cost options available. What You’ll Learn: – AI in real life: predictive analytics, smart status reports, AI “co‑pilots” for stakeholder comms – Project Manager 2.0: which human skills (strategy, negotiation, empathy) now matter most and why – Low‑Code / No‑Code boom: how citizen‑developers are shrinking delivery timelines (and new governance pitfalls to watch) – ESG & DEI: why sustainability and inclusive teams drive project ROI and how to bake both into your plan – Next‑gen agents: a peek at Agent Stores and autonomous tools – Stay current: podcasts, newsletters, and communities that will keep you ahead of the curve This Session is Ideal For: – Practicing & aspiring project managers – Engineers and technical leads tasked with delivery oversight – Business stakeholders curious about AI’s impact on project success – Anyone responsible for getting work done on time and on budget Speaker(s): Mark Farmer Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/485146

Towards realistic quantum networks with room-temperature systems and laser-trapped atoms in optical cavities
2025-05-14 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/483881
Towards realistic quantum networks with room-temperature systems and laser-trapped atoms in optical cavities Abstract: The development of quantum networks promises transformative advances in communication, computation, and sensing, with applications such as quantum-secured communication and blind quantum computing. A central challenge is the distribution of entanglement over long distances, typically requiring quantum repeaters. In this talk, I will present our recent theoretical work towards using room-temperature quantum systems for quantum repeaters, and discuss their feasibility and challenges. Also, I will touch on a recent collaboration with NanoQT on satellite-assisted global quantum networking based on neutral atoms in optical cavities. ———————————————————————— Vers des réseaux quantiques réalistes avec des systèmes à température ambiante et des atomes piégés par laser dans des cavités optiques Résumé: Le développement des réseaux quantiques promet des avancées majeures en communication, en calcul et en détection, avec des applications telles que la communication quantique sécurisée et l’informatique quantique aveugle. La distribution de l’intrication sur de longues distances, qui nécessite généralement des répéteurs quantiques, constitue un défi majeur. Dans cet exposé, je présenterai nos récents travaux théoriques sur l’utilisation de systèmes quantiques à température ambiante pour les répéteurs quantiques, et j’aborderai leur faisabilité et leurs défis. J’aborderai également une récente collaboration avec NanoQT sur la mise en réseau quantique mondial assisté par satellite, basée sur des atomes neutres dans des cavités optiques. Jiawei Ji (PDF at University of Calgary) About / A propos The High Throughput and Secure Networks (HTSN) Challenge program is hosting regular virtual seminar series to promote scientific information sharing, discussions, and interactions between researchers. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/programs/high-throughput-secure-networks-challenge-program Le programme Réseaux Sécurisés à Haut Débit (RSHD) organise régulièrement des séries de séminaires virtuels pour promouvoir le partage d’informations scientifiques, les discussions et les interactions entre chercheurs. https://nrc.canada.ca/fr/recherche-developpement/recherche-collaboration/programmes/programme-defi-reseaux-securises-haut-debit Co-sponsored by: National Research Council, Canada. Optonique. Speaker(s): Jiawei Ji, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/483881

IEEE Canada Blockchain Forum 2025 (3rd edition)
2025-05-13 09:00 - 17:00 | Ontario Investment and Trade Centre, 250 Yonge Street, 35th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2L7
Speaker Announcements – (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rameshramadoss/), Chair, IEEE Blockchain Technical Community, Author, Speaker – (https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrmacdonald/), EY Global Lead Partner, Public Financial Management; Lead Partner, Government & Public Sector (Ontario) – (https://www.ece.utoronto.ca/people/veneris-a/), Professor at the University of Toronto – (https://www.linkedin.com/in/redwanmeslem/), Executive Director at the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) – To be announced, Kinexys Digital Payments at J.P. Morgan And researchers from the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Waterloo, York University, as well as startup founders from (https://creativedestructionlab.com/streams/blockchain-web3/) (Web3 Stream in partnership with University of Toronto and HEC Montréal). Main Themes – Global Payments – CBDC vs Stablecoins – Cybersecurity Co-sponsored by: Exaion Speaker(s): Mark MacDonald, Ontario Investment and Trade Centre, 250 Yonge Street, 35th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2L7

Distinguished Lecture Double Feature: Dr. Rabia Yazicigil and Dr. Alvin Loke
2025-03-27 15:00 - 17:00 | Room: SF2202, Bldg: Sandford Fleming Building, 10 King’s College Rd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G4
SSCS Toronto is pleased to host two incredible speakers for a double feature distinguished lecture. The first speaker who will present from 3:00pm to 4:00pm is Dr. Rabia Yazicigil. Her talk is: Title: The Circuit Frontier: Innovating and Expanding ASIC Solutions for Enhanced Biosensing and Seamless Wireless Communication Abstract: This talk will introduce Cyber-Secure Biological Systems, leveraging living sensors constructed from engineered biological entities seamlessly integrated with solid-state circuits. This unique synergy harnesses the advantages of biology while incorporating the reliability and communication infrastructure of electronics, offering a unique solution to societal challenges in healthcare and environmental monitoring. In this talk, examples of Cyber-Secure Biological Systems, such as miniaturized ingestible bioelectronic capsules for gastrointestinal tract monitoring and hybrid microfluidic-bioelectronic systems for environmental monitoring, will be presented. Additionally, I will introduce a universal noise-centric data decoding approach using GRAND that facilitates ultra-low-energy wireless communications, a critical requirement for the success of these biological systems and numerous other applications. In this talk, I will delve into the intricacies of interdisciplinary approach for system design, spotlighting the potential of energy-efficient integrated circuits in the domains of biosensing and wireless communications. These collaborative research projects involve MIT BE/MechE, BU ECE/BME, and MIT RLE-Northeastern University. The second speaker who will present from 4:00pm to 5:00pm is Dr. Alvin Loke. His talk is: Title: The Road to Gate-All-Around CMOS Abstract: Despite the much debated end of Moore’s Law, CMOS scaling still maintains economic relevance with 3nm finFET SoCs already in the marketplace for over a year and 2nm gate-all-around SoCs well into risk production. Modest feature size reduction and design/technology innovations co-optimized for primarily logic scaling continue to offer compelling node-to-node power, performance, area, and cost benefits. In this tutorial, we will start with a walk through memory lane, recounting a brief history of transistor evolution to motivate the migration from the planar MOSFET to the fully depleted FinFET. We will summarize the key process technology elements that have enabled the finFET CMOS nodes, highlighting the resulting device technology characteristics and challenges. This will set the context for motivating the introduction of the gate-all-around device architecture, namely nanoribbons or nanosheets, and unveiling the magic of how these devices are fabricated. Speaker(s): Rabia, Alvin Room: SF2202, Bldg: Sandford Fleming Building, 10 King’s College Rd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G4

An End-to-End Approach to the Challenges in Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) and Packaging
2025-03-25 12:00 - 15:00 | Room: MC603, 6th floor, Bldg: McConnell Engineering building, 3480 rue University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 0C3, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/472834
Abstract : AIM Photonics, a Department of Defense (DoD) Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII), offers end-to-end services in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), interposers, heterogeneous integration (HI), electronic photonic design automation (EPDA), and packaging. AIM Photonics leverages the 300 mm Albany NanoTech Complex and the Test Assembly and Packaging (TAP) facility in Rochester, NY, to provide these state-of-the-art capabilities. As a DoD MII, AIM Photonics’ mission is to advance the photonics and packaging industries to help improve the U.S. ecosystem and build a skilled workforce. This talk will focus on how AIM Photonics is accomplishing its mission. To help advance the ecosystem, AIM Photonics offers interposer technologies and the two fundamental PIC technologies: Base Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) and SiN MPW, which are optimized for sensors. In addition to the current offerings, AIM Photonics will soon offer a Quantum Flex (QFlex) MPW optimized for quantum applications. Because of the challenges in photonic packaging, packaging PIC chips into functional optoelectronic systems has not fully incorporated the advances made in electronic packaging. Addressing these challenges will require a coordinated development of PIC fabrication processes and packaging technologies. An end-to-end development cycle that includes the PIC and packaging is critical. This talk will discuss the AIM Photonics ecosystem and provide specific examples to illustrate co-processing and co-design. Another challenge that AIM Photonics is addressing is the development of a skilled workforce. This talk will share an overview of our education and workforce development programs, which aim to build a qualified workforce to support the U.S. ecosystem. Co-sponsored by: McGill Optica Student Chapter Speaker(s): David Harame Agenda: 12 – 1:30 pm: networking lunch, with students (on-site only) 1:30 – 3 pm: technical seminar presentation (hybrid) Room: MC603, 6th floor, Bldg: McConnell Engineering building, 3480 rue University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 0C3, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/472834

Toronto Visual AI Hackathon
2025-03-22 08:00 - 21:00 | Bldg: Toronto Metropolitan University, Rooms KHE 117, Kerr Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2K3
When and Where – March 22, 2025 | 8:00AM – 9:00PM – (https://www.torontomu.ca/content/dam/maps/pdf/campus_map.pdf), Rooms KHE 117, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3 Registration https://voxel51.com/computer-vision-events/visual-ai-hackathon-march-22-2025/ Visual AI Hackathon at Toronto Metropolitan University Join us for an exciting hackathon where ML enthusiasts and college students alike will come together to tackle real-world challenges in the field. With prizes, food, refreshments, and swag, participants can expect an immersive experience filled with learning, networking, and the opportunity to showcase their skills. Whether you’re a beginner eager to explore foundational concepts or an intermediate looking to add flair to your projects, this event offers something for everyone. Attend workshops during the hackathon to learn some of the best practices in Computer Vision and ML. Judges, including industry experts, will evaluate submissions across various levels, with prizes awarded to the most innovative solutions. Don’t miss out on this chance to collaborate, learn, and contribute to the vibrant AI community. Come build projects, engage with fellow enthusiasts, and be part of the future of machine learning What you can expect – Tech Talks: Deep dive tech talks on Computer Vision and Data-Centric AI. – Hands-on Workshops: Learn how to build AI applications through code examples – Engaging Challenges: Tackle real-world problems with AI solutions. – Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow developers, builders, and industry experts. – Exciting Prizes: Demo your projects and compete for cash prizes. Join one of our three tracks – Level 0 – Beginner: For those who are just getting started on their ML Journey! – Level 1: – Intermediate: For those familiar with some Data Science or ML practices, but looking to level up! – Level 2 – Expert: For those who are the frontier of ML or Computer Vision today looking to make a positive impact! Speaker(s): Ali Faraji, Harpreet Sahota, Steve Pousty Bldg: Toronto Metropolitan University, Rooms KHE 117, Kerr Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2K3

Rohde & Schwarz Industry Night
2025-03-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Room: 229 B, Bldg: K, 1 Georgian Dr, Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Get ready for an exciting IEEE Industry Night, co-hosted by Rohde & Schwarz! We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Anis Ben Arfi, a leading expert in test and measurement technologies, for a dynamic and engaging presentation. Dr. Ben Arfi will dive into the fascinating world of oscilloscopes — one of the most powerful and essential tools in an engineer’s toolkit. From troubleshooting and analyzing circuits to design and validation, oscilloscopes are at the heart of modern engineering, and this session will show you exactly why. Whether you’re new to using oscilloscopes or eager to sharpen your skills, this is your chance to gain practical knowledge, boost your confidence, and learn how these tools are used in real-world industry settings. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from an industry leader, ask questions, and connect with fellow students and professionals! Co-sponsored by: Rohde & Schwarz Speaker(s): Anis Ben Arfi Room: 229 B, Bldg: K, 1 Georgian Dr, Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Resume Roast Session for Undergraduates
2025-03-12 17:00 - 18:30 | Room: 212, Bldg: E, 1 Georgian Dr, Barrie, Ontario, Canada, L4M 3X9, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/462070
Are you ready to level up your resume and make it recruiter-proof? Join us for the Resume Roast Session, where we put your resumes under the spotlight and give you honest, constructive, and (sometimes) brutally helpful feedback to make sure you stand out in the job market! Speaker(s): Mohit, Room: 212, Bldg: E, 1 Georgian Dr, Barrie, Ontario, Canada, L4M 3X9, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/462070

IEEE Toronto Blockchain Meetup
2025-03-10 18:30 - 21:00 | Room: 806, International Business University, 80 Bloor St West, 8th floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2V1
Blockchain Meetups have been the hallmark of Toronto since the early days of Bitcoin, famously leading to the birth of Ethereum. The IEEE Toronto local group of the Blockchain Technical Community (BCTC) is proud to continue the tradition of engineering-focused gathering where the builders of new protocols and apps are sharing knowledge, developing standards, and collaborating on disruptive industry solutions.[] Co-sponsored by: International Business University (IBU) Speaker(s): Ehsan Shariati, Shahla Nikbakht Agenda: – – 6:30 pm – Door opening – 7 pm – Welcome and introductions – 7:10 pm – Talk #1: Going Deeper into DePIN (+ Q&As) – 7:40 pm – Talk #2: MotoLedger – Trust and Transparency in Vehicle Lifecycle (+ Q&As) – 8:10 pm – Networking Room: 806, International Business University, 80 Bloor St West, 8th floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2V1

Wireless Security for the Internet of Things: Device Authentication and Key Generation
2025-03-03 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/469987
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a disruptive technology that has fundamentally transformed our everyday life, including many exciting applications such as smart cities, smart homes, connected healthcare, etc. This revolution will not be viable if we cannot provide a secure connection. The current communication networks are protected by conventional cryptography, which is based on complicated mathematical algorithms and/or protocols. However, the IoT consists of many low-cost devices with limited computational capacity and battery power, which cannot afford costly cryptography. Physical layer security (PLS) has demonstrated great potential in protecting IoT, because it can achieve security in a lightweight manner. This talk will give a comprehensive presentation to our recent research on PLS for IoT. In the first part, we will present an emerging device authentication technique based on radio frequency fingerprint identification (RFFI). There are minute, unique, and stable hardware impairments originating from the manufacturing process, which can be extracted as device fingerprints to authenticate the identity of IoT devices. We will elaborate on how deep learning is leveraged to enhance RFFI performance. In the second part, we will introduce key generation from wireless channels. The channel characteristics are unpredictable and dynamic, and their randomness can be exploited as the cryptographic keys to enable secure communications. Our research findings on experimental evaluation with practical wireless standards including WiFi and LoRa will be presented. Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/469987

Team Meeting
2025-02-21 10:30 - 12:00 | 941 Progress Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Introductory meeting discussing the structure, roles, and responsibilities of the Centennial student branch. 941 Progress Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Networking Evening
2025-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Room: Fireside Gallery, Bldg: L Block, Progress Campus, 941 Progress Ave, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, M1G 3T8
Our IEEE Student Branch collaborated with the biggest College Club to host an engaging networking event aimed at fostering connections and promoting the benefits of IEEE membership. The event brought together students from various fields, creating a platform for idea exchange and potential collaborations. A key highlight will be the IEEE promotion presentation, where attendees will learn more about the organization, its resources, and the opportunities it offers for personal and professional growth. The Club will be providing snacks and refreshments. Co-sponsored by: CCSAI Agenda: 6:00 – 6:20 Welcome attendees and College Faculty 6:20 – 6:50 IEEE Presentation 6:50 – 7:10 Pizza Break 7:10 – 7:30 Interactive Games (Kahoot) 7:30 – 8:00 Networking + QnA Room: Fireside Gallery, Bldg: L Block, Progress Campus, 941 Progress Ave, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, M1G 3T8

Enhancement of Key Generation Rate in QKD systems using dual branch PNR detectors
2025-02-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/466855
Enhancement of Key Generation Rate in QKD systems using dual branch PNR detectors Abstract: A new architecture based on dual-branch photon-number-resolving (DB-PNR) detectors for the receiver in the hybrid quantum key distribution (QKD) is introduced. DB-PNR scheme empowers the receiver to detect both quadratures of the coherent state simultaneously. Our results show that using DB-PNR detectors, the key generation rate (KGR) is almost doubled as compared to homodyne detection which detects only one quadrature at a time. The mutual information is enhanced by around 0.85 bits/symbol using DB-PNR as compared to heterodyne detection. DB-PNR is also found to outperform the heterodyne detection against Eve’s individual and collective attacks. PNR-based detection schemes require less local oscillator (LO) power compared to homodyne/heterodyne detection schemes and thereby, the power efficiency of the receiver is enhanced. ———————————————————————— Amélioration du taux de génération de clés dans les systèmes QKD à l’aide de détecteurs PNR à double branche Résumé : Une nouvelle architecture basée sur des détecteurs à double branche de résolution du nombre de photons (DB-PNR) pour le récepteur dans la distribution de clés quantiques hybride (QKD) est introduite. Le schéma DB-PNR permet au récepteur de détecter simultanément les deux quadratures de l’état cohérent. Nos résultats montrent qu’en utilisant des détecteurs DB-PNR, le taux de génération de clés (KGR) est presque doublé par rapport à la détection homodyne qui ne détecte qu’une seule quadrature à la fois. L’information mutuelle est améliorée d’environ 0,85 bits/symbole en utilisant DB-PNR par rapport à la détection hétérodyne. Il a également été constaté que DB-PNR surpasse la détection hétérodyne contre les attaques individuelles et collectives d’Eve. Les schémas de détection basés sur PNR nécessitent moins de puissance d’oscillateur local (LO) par rapport aux schémas de détection homodyne/hétérodyne et, par conséquent, l’efficacité énergétique du récepteur est améliorée. [] Amir Hossein Yazdanpour (PhD student at McMaster in Prof. Kumar’s team) About / A propos The High Throughput and Secure Networks (HTSN) Challenge program is hosting regular virtual seminar series to promote scientific information sharing, discussions, and interactions between researchers. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/programs/high-throughput-secure-networks-challenge-program Le programme Réseaux Sécurisés à Haut Débit (RSHD) organise régulièrement des séries de séminaires virtuels pour promouvoir le partage d’informations scientifiques, les discussions et les interactions entre chercheurs. https://nrc.canada.ca/fr/recherche-developpement/recherche-collaboration/programmes/programme-defi-reseaux-securises-haut-debit Co-sponsored by: National Research Council, Canada. Optonique. Speaker(s): Amir Hossein Yazdanpour, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/466855

MakeUofT - Canada's Largest Makeathon
2025-02-15 08:00 - 2025-02-16 20:00 | Bldg: Myhal Center, 55 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 0C9
Join IEEE UofT at MakeUofT 2025 – the biggest annual make-athon in all of Canada! Find 2-4 friends and together, create something amazing and tangible using hardware and electronic components! This year, our three themes are sustainability, wearable technology, and video games! Have no hardware on hand? No problem – we have more than $5,000 worth of hardware equipment available for rent (including microcontrollers, sensors, motors, lights, cameras, and other electronic components)! Have no experience working with electronic components? No problem! We have experienced mentors available to help! Have your project be judged by our veteran judges from industry & academia, and potentially win a prize from our $2,500+ prize pool! Join 350+ hackers on February 15-16, 2025 at MakeUofT 2025! Bldg: Myhal Center, 55 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 0C9

Terahertz Test and Measurement: On Earth and Elsewhere
2025-02-13 16:15 - 17:30 | Room: Room 137, Bldg: McLennan Physical Labs, 255 Huron Street, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
This talk will focus on the development of THz test and measurement techniques and methods based on the up- and down-conversion of microwave signals using the nonlinearity of the Schottky diode. Originally driven by niche scientific requirements, the technology was given a big push with the design, development, and construction of the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) receivers. The development of tunerless broadband frequency multipliers up to 1 THz was a key enabler of the ALMA receivers. The tools and techniques acquired in this development (both in design and manufacture) led to frequency multipliers and mixers covering full waveguide bands without the use of mechanical tuning. This in combination with higher-frequency power amplifiers enabled the full transmitter and receiver chains required to extend the signal generation, spectrum analysis, and vector network analysis up to 1 THz and beyond. As the sub-millimeter spectrum gains more complex applications, the next generation of test equipment requires more advanced capabilities—such as high signal purity, power control and leveling, and noise figure measurements. And coming full circle, the test equipment developments have enabled novel highly integrated sub-millimeter receivers for planetary and atmospheric sensing on new CubeSat and other microSat platforms. Speaker(s): Dr. Eric W. Bryerton, ***CANCELED*** Room: Room 137, Bldg: McLennan Physical Labs, 255 Huron Street, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
