Ryerson Alumni - Winter 2018 - 12

GOULD STREET

Q&A
Professor Bryan Koivisto
experiments at the
Science Discovery Zone

Unfortunately, this assessment strategy has led to a timid and risk-averse
segment within our innovation wheelhouse, and ironically some of the
brightest minds fear taking entrepreneurial risks because they are afraid
of failure. At the SDZ, we believe that
breakthroughs are realized through
countless failures and by unravelling
misconceptions en route to discovery.
In other words, scientific knowledge
only exists because of failure and
observation. The SDZ is a safe place to
fail - without judgment.

Teaches
Chemistry
Research
Solar energy
conversion
and storage

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approach to innovation, which means
you start with any idea and subject it to
a cycle of validating your idea with prospective customers and being receptive to their feedback (or pivoting) -
it is akin to the scientific method. In
so doing you can take any small idea
and turn it into a great idea in a collaborative way.

The Science Discovery Zone (SDZ) at Ryerson offers mentoring to innovative students and space to test their ideas. The zone
opened in 2016 under the guidance of the
Office of Zone Learning and the Faculty of
Science. We spoke to director Bryan Koivisto
to learn more about the zone.
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Why was the SDZ created?

To provide a space on campus for students to be innovative without feeling the need to start a company. The
zone focuses on an evidence-based
Ryerson University Magazine / Winter 2018

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What is unique about the SDZ?

From a young age, students are taught
that there are right and wrong answers.

What resources does the SDZ offer?

The SDZ runs like a startup, and we
view young innovators (students),
mentors and industry partners as
our customers (members). Our zone
encourages collaboration among all
members in order to innovate at an
extraordinary pace. We believe our
community is one of our greatest
resources, which includes a diverse
mix of students, alumni, faculty, staff,
business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Our on-campus working space and lab
are also great resources for our members to experiment, collaborate and
learn from one another.
Can students without a background
in science join the SDZ?

The evidence-based approach to innovation backed by the scientific method
can apply to any nature of innovation,
as such anyone who wants to innovate
is welcome to join the SDZ. In fact,
only 50 per cent of our members are
based in the Faculty of Science, and
we continue to recruit interested mentors and students from all faculties and
backgrounds.

What's an example of a success
story from SDZ?

Science student Mark Zaidi and partner Leslie Capobianco started a business called Entropy Labs. They have
discovered a more economical and
sustainable method to produce aerogel - an insulating substance that
is three times more expensive (per
gram) than gold. Although Entropy
Labs is in the research and development phase, they have already won
$20,400 in awards and grants to support growth.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RYAN WALKER, DOCUMENTARY MEDIA (MASTER'S) '13

Fast Facts

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