University of Toronto Engineering

✨ A new degree — and a new baby

Fariha Rahman (UTIAS MEng 2T6) just completed her MEng degree, less than a month after the birth of her first child.

“I’ve been looking forward to these two life-changing moments, but I never imagined that they would occur at the same time,” says Rahman.

Rahman’s passion for aeronautical engineering was inspired by her grandfather, a Group Captain in the Bangladesh Air Force. During her undergraduate studies in Bangladesh, she worked with international scholars at the University of Glasgow and the Manipal Institute of Technology. Her experiences motivated her to pursue higher studies, and in 2024 she began her MEng at UTIAS, which she describes as her “dream institution.”

Her pregnancy coincided with her final semester, bringing significant challenges as she balanced coursework, exams, research and preparations for motherhood. On May 30, she welcomed her son, Abrar-Faraz Bin Mahmood — just over two weeks later, she crossed the stage at Convocation hall.

Rahman credits her success to the unwavering support of her family, including her husband Abir Mahmood, and her father, advocate Mohammed Habibur Rahman.

“Their patience, encouragement, sacrifices and belief in my abilities made my journey possible,” says Rahman.

“In Bangladesh, many people still think that women should not go to university, but my father did everything to support my education. I hope my story shows that with determination, resilience and the support of family and mentors, it is possible to overcome challenges and achieve goals that once seemed impossible.” 👏

Great day for a Spring Convocation ☀️👏

🎓 Happy Convocation Day, !

Ceremonies are at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. EDT.

📸 Post your photos using and tag us — we’ll be sharing all day!

🎥 Watch the livestreams: uofteng.ca/convocation26

🎉 U of T Engineering Alumni Reunion starts this Sunday!

⚔️ Find us at the Young Alumni Shaker at Medieval Times to pick up some great U of T Engineering swag.

🎟️ Not registered yet? Click the link in our bio or visit uofteng.ca/reunion

There is still time to give to the Skule™ Reunion Fund. Your gift helps open doors for today’s students through:

•Financial aid
•Hands-on learning opportunities
•Student clubs & equipment
•The incredible community that shaped your own journey

💙 Give back: Click the link in our bio or visit uofteng.ca/reunion-fund

🌵 U of T Engineering capstone research has revealed that nopal (prickly pear cactus) could waterproof rainwater harvesting tanks across rural Mexico — offering a local, low-cost alternative to imported chemicals.

Working with Mexico-based NGO Isla Urbana, the fourth-year students tested cactus formulations against the current commercial product. Their top-performing coating is now moving to field tests, marking a significant step toward empowering communities to build and maintain their own sustainable water systems.

"It's a highlight to be able to demonstrate our bright engineering students to the global community and it's reflective of the impact we can and do have as a faculty," says Professor Bradley Saville (ChemE), who supervised the project.

🎓 As they prepare to graduate next week, join us in congratulating the team:

• Aymun Qayume (ChemE)
• Yusra Chowdhury (MechE)
• Kareem Madanat (MechE)
• Lily VanderWoude (MechE)

🔗 Read more about their project: uofteng.ca/7dycmk

The June issue of Skulematters is out now!

This edition features a new AI-powered cyber threat, colour-shifting windows that reduce building energy use, and stories from this year’s graduating class.

Plus: student and faculty awards, upcoming events ⚽️ and more from across the U of T Engineering community.

🔗 Read the issue: https://lnkd.in/gWnCb2iP

Subscribe for future editions: uofteng.ca/subscribe