Inspiration surrounds us!

As we begin a new academic year at the Faculty of Information, I’m reminded of the energy and promise that comes from having our community together again. Whether you are returning to campus or joining us for the first time, I hope you share my excitement for the months ahead and the many opportunities you will have to learn, connect and create. 

Life on campus moves quickly with classes, meetings, projects and events filling our days. But there’s also a lot happening behind the scenes that you might not see. Our faculty and students are engaged in groundbreaking research that advances knowledge, strengthens communities, and shapes the way information is created, shared and preserved. 

Over the past year, we’ve welcomed several new professors whose expertise and fresh perspectives are already making a mark. Their presence has further broadened our areas of strength, creating exciting opportunities for students, and helping position the Faculty of Information at the forefront of pressing issues involving information, technology and society. 

In 2025, our researchers have secured several important grants for projects covering a wide set of problems and challenges. For example, our faculty are investigating areas such as AI safety, sustainability in software engineering, digital records of artistic practice, infrastructure in North Winnipeg’s Urban-Indigenous communities, and equity and inclusion through leadership training.

These projects illustrate the breadth and depth of our Faculty’s work, much of which is carried out in collaboration with scholars and researchers in other faculties at U of T, at other universities, and with community and industry partners. Our partnerships are a constant reminder that research doesn’t just live in journals and conferences. It shapes policy, strengthens communities and changes lives. 

So, as you settle into the year, I encourage you to take a moment to discover what your classmates, professors and colleagues are working on. You might be surprised by the important, innovative work happening all around you.  

Here’s to an inspiring new academic year for all of us. 

Javed Mostafa
Professor and Dean