R. Paul Young is currently Professor of Geophysics and formerly Vice-President (Research) at the University of Toronto (2007-14). He has a PhD in Geophysics, M.Sc. in Rock Mechanics and a B.Sc. in Geological Sciences. He has held the Keck Chair in Seismology and Rock Mechanics at the University of Toronto, the Chair of Earth Science at the University of Liverpool and has been President of the British Geophysical Association. He has been awarded many honours for his research and innovation, notably, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Willet G. Miller Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Canada for his research in earth sciences, and the John A. Franklin Award for Rock Mechanics by the Canadian Geotechnical Society. He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is a Chartered Engineer. Over the past 30 years, Professor Young has pioneered techniques used today in monitoring and interpreting induced seismicity in the mining, petroleum and nuclear waste disposal industries. Through his research groups at Queen's University and the University of Toronto, Keele University and Liverpool University, UK, as well as through spin off companies such as the Engineering Seismology Group (Canada) and Applied Seismology Consultants (UK) significant scientific advances have been made in seismology and rock mechanics. He has published over 220 scientific papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings, supervised over 40 PhD students and post-doctoral research fellows, and developed innovative instrumentation systems for induced seismicity/acoustic emission monitoring. Professor Young’s research is focused on rock fracture dynamics and induced seismicity with application to natural geologic hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic activity and engineering applications such as mining, hydrocarbon recovery, hydraulic fracturing and deep underground storage for nuclear waste isolation and CO2 sequestration.

George Yousef is a Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto and a Scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in integrated genomics for the discovery of new molecular targeted therapy and cancer biomarkers. He is also a Vice President of the International Society of Enzymology and the Editor in Chief of the Canadian Journal of Pathology.

George Yousef est professeur au département de médecine de laboratoire de l’University of Toronto et scientifique au St. Michael’s Hospital. Il est reconnu dans le monde entier pour ses travaux novateurs dans le domaine de la génomique intégrée, notamment pour la découverte d’une nouvelle thérapie moléculaire ciblée et de biomarqueurs du cancer. Il est également vice-président de l’International Society of Enzymology et rédacteur en chef du Canadian Journal of Pathology.

Dr. Aiping Yu is an outstanding researcher working on nanomaterials for renewable energy and polymer composites. She champions the commercialization of proprietary technologies for industrial applications. Her publications have reached citation >25,900 with H-index 80 from Google Scholar. She was recognized nationally by NSERC Steacie Memorial Fellowship and RSC Rutherford Memorial Medal. She is among the World’s Top 2% Scientist published by John Ioannidis at Stanford in 2022.

Aiping Yu est une chercheuse exceptionnelle qui travaille sur les nanomatériaux pour les énergies renouvelables et les composites polymères. Elle défend la commercialisation de technologies brevetées pour des applications industrielles. Ses publications ont été citées plus de 25 900 fois et elle détient un indice h de 80 sur Google Scholar. Elle a reçu une bourse commémorative Steacie du CRSNG et la médaille commémorative Rutherford de la SRC. Elle fait partie des 2 % de scientifiques les plus éminents au monde, selon la publication de John Ioannidis à Stanford en 2022.

Wei Yu holds a Canada Research Chair in Information Theory and Wireless Communications at the University of Toronto. He is recognized for his wide-ranging and influential contributions to the mathematical theory of communication engineering. Professor Yu’s work addresses the fundamental limits of information transmission in communication networks. He has made significant contributions to the capacity analysis and optimization techniques of both wireline communication systems and wireless cellular networks.

Wei Yu détient une Chaire de recherche du Canada en théorie de l’information et en communication sans fil à l’University of Toronto. Il est reconnu pour ses diverses contributions importantes à la théorie mathématique de l’ingénierie de la communication. Les travaux du Prof. Yu portent sur les limites fondamentales de la transmission d’informations dans les réseaux de communication. Son apport aux techniques d’optimisation et d’analyse des capacités des systèmes de communication filaires et des réseaux cellulaires sans fil est incomparable.

LONG CITATION Professor Salim Yusuf is a leading cardiologist, epidemiologist and scientist at McMaster University. He has led many landmark studies, involving over 50 low, middle and high income countries in every continent of the world. These studies have identified new preventive and treatment strategies for cardiovascular diseases, which have benefited millions of individuals worldwide. His most recent study (INTERHEART), has quantified the importance of risk factors for heart attacks globally. His research work has been recognized in the form of many awards, including the Prix Galien Canada Research Award, the Lucian Award for Cardiovascular Research and Lifetime Achievement Award of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. SHORT CITATION Dr. Salim Yusuf is a leader in the field of cardiology and epidemiology whose research has made a huge impact on our understanding of the treatment of heart disease. He has led many landmark studies which have helped develop better treatment and preventive strategies for patients with cardiovascular disease globally. His pioneering work has been recognized by many awards and prizes, from both national and international organizations.

ZACHARASIEWICZ, Waldemar – Department of English, University of Vienna Waldemar Zacharasiewicz is one of the foremost contemporary European scholars of comparative North American literatures. He has been elected to Full Membership in the Austrian Academy of Sciences and to Membership in the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (Salzburg) and the Academia Europeae (London). Among his five monographs, six edited and twelve co-edited books are ground-breaking studies of imagology (Imagology Revisited and Images of Germany in American Literature) and pioneering research in transnationalism and interculturalism (Aspects of Transatlantic Change and Canadian Interculturality). As Director of the Canadian Studies Centre at the University of Vienna, he has promoted research on Canada since 1998 and made Vienna a prestigious site for Canadian Studies abroad.

ZACHARASIEWICZ, Waldemar – Department of English, University of Vienna Waldemar Zacharasiewicz est un des chercheurs européens contemporains les plus réputés dans le domaine de la littérature nord-américaine comparée. Il est membre de plein droit de l’Académie autrichienne des sciences et membre de l’Académie européenne des sciences et des arts (Salzbourg) ainsi que de l’Academia europeae (Londres). Ses cinq monographies, les six livres qu’il a dirigés et les douze livres qu’il a codirigés, comprennent notamment des études novatrices sur l’imagologie (Imagology Revisited et Images of Germany in American Literature) ainsi que des recherches pionnières sur le transnationalisme et l’interculturalisme (Aspects of Transatlantic Change and Canadian Interculturality). En sa qualité de directeur du Centre d’études canadiennes à l’Université de Vienne, il promeut la recherche sur le Canada depuis 1998 et a fait de Vienne un lieu prestigieux des études sur le Canada à l’étranger.

Dr. Zamponi is one the world's leading researchers on the molecular neurophysiology of ion channels. His seminal research programs have resulted in numerous contributions to both the basic and biomedical fields. The work has variously described the underlying mechanisms of calcium channel function and modulation by a variety of intracellular signaling molecules and pathways. Other contributions include defining the physiological consequences of genetic defects associated with calcium channel dysfunction in generalized epilepsies and congenital night blindness. The work has also defined novel molecular mechanisms responsible for signaling complexes crucial to pain signaling and relevant to human neuropathic pain conditions.

ZATORRE, Robert - McGill University Professor Zatorre’s innovative contributions to auditory cognitive neuroscience include discoveries about the processing of speech and vocal signals in the brain, and reorganization of this system after sensory loss. He is perhaps best known for his work on the neural mechanisms of music perception and performance, including plasticity related to musical training, and the discovery that musical pleasure is mediated by dopaminergic mechanisms in the brain’s reward circuitry.

Le Professeur Robert Zatorre a contribué de façon innovative à la neuroscience cognitive de l'audition avec des découvertes sur le traitement de la parole et la voix, et la réorganisation de ce système suite à la perte sensorielle. Il est bien connu pour sa recherche sur les mécanismes neuronaux pour la perception et la performance de la musique, y compris la plasticité associé à la formation musicale, et sa découverte que le plaisir musicale est relié au système dopaminergique dans le circuit de la récompense.

Sohrab Zendehboudi is a globally recognized expert in energy sustainability and process systems engineering. A Full Professor and research lead at Memorial University, his research focuses on carbon management, hydrogen production, and advanced multiscale modeling and optimization. With over 300 publications and numerous awards, including 2025 CSChE D.G Fisher Award and MUN’s 2024 President’s Award, his work addresses critical global challenges, advancing clean energy technologies, promoting net-zero carbon strategies, and fostering innovation in engineering.

Sohrab Zendehboudi est un expert mondialement reconnu de la durabilité énergétique et de l’ingénierie des systèmes de procédés. Professeur titulaire et directeur de recherche à Memorial University of Newfoundland, ses recherches portent sur la gestion du carbone, la production d’hydrogène et la modélisation et l’optimisation multiscalaires avancées. Ayant plus de 300 publications à son actif et reçu de nombreuses distinctions, dont le prix D. G. Fisher 2025 de la Société canadienne de génie chimique et le prix du Président 2024 de Memorial University of Newfoundland, ses travaux abordent des enjeux mondiaux névralgiques, font progresser les technologies d’énergie propre, promeuvent des stratégies de carboneutralité et favorisent l’innovation en ingénierie.

ZHANG, Jiujun - National Research Council of Canada, University of British Columbia Jiujun Zhang is a world-renown expert in electrochemical energy science and technology with over 450 publications and over 24,000 citations. He is one of the pioneers of modern fuel cell technology and has also made significant contributions to the science of batteries, sensors, supercapacitors, CO2 electroreduction and other electrochemical devices. He has been listed as one of “The 3000 World Most Influential Scientific Minds” by Thomson Reuter since 2014.

Jiujun Zhang est un expert mondial de la science et de la technologie de l'énergie électrochimique avec plus de 450 publications et plus de 24 000 citations. Il est l'un des pionniers de la technologie moderne des piles à combustible et a également contribué de manière significative à la science des piles, des capteurs, des supercondensateurs, de l'électricité électrique et d'autres dispositifs électrochimiques. Il a été répertorié comme l'un des "Les 3000 esprits scientifiques les plus influentes du monde" par Thomson Reuter depuis 2014.

Gaixia Zhang is an Associate Professor and Marcelle-Gauvreau Engineering Research Chair at École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS). She is an internationally renowned emerging leader in nanotechnology and sustainable energy. She made important original contributions to developing next-generation clean energy devices (fuel cells, batteries, and electrolyzers), aiming to address energy shortage and climate change in a cost-effective way. She authored over 150 publications and 10 book chapters and holds 4 patents.

Gaixia Zhang est professeure agrégée et titulaire de la Chaire de recherche en génie Marcelle-Gauvreau de l'École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS). Elle est une cheffe de file émergente de renommée internationale dans le domaine des nanotechnologies et de l'énergie durable. Elle a apporté d'importantes contributions originales au développement de dispositifs d'énergie propre de nouvelle génération (piles à combustible, batteries et électrolyseurs), dans le but de remédier à la pénurie d'énergie et au changement climatique de manière rentable. Elle a rédigé plus de 150 publications et 10 chapitres de livres, et détient 4 brevets.