Hanie Rezaei volunteers with the Cinema Iranica Project at the Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies. She is a passionate graduate student in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on developing innovative solutions for electric vehicle battery cooling in order to contribute to the sustainable future of transportation. Hanie earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran. Beyond her engineering pursuits, Hanie possesses a deep appreciation for various art forms, including cinema and poetry. Motivated by her passion for the arts and a desire to explore the cultural richness of her homeland, Hanie recently joined the Cinema Iranica project team. Hanie aims to contribute a fresh and unique perspective to the project, shedding light on the cultural and artistic significance of Iranian cinema. With her diverse background and interdisciplinary interests, Hanie is committed to bridging the gap between engineering and the humanities. She aspires to make meaningful contributions not only to her research but also to the broader understanding and appreciation of Iranian cinema, ultimately fostering a deeper connection between technology and the arts.
“My name is Hanie Rezaei. I have been a work-study student at the Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies since the summer of 2023. In this role, I worked on the Cinema Iranica project, specifically in archives and website projects, where I contributed as a researcher and editor significantly through archival research, and substantial editing of materials, and website improvement.
I am most proud of our successful organization of the Cinema Iranica team. With outstanding teamwork and exemplary leadership, we managed to meet tight deadlines and compiled comprehensive information on about 600 pre-revolution and post-revolution Iranian movies, which we uploaded to our dedicated website. This experience underscored the power of teamwork; by bringing together experts from diverse fields, we achieved remarkable results and created a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
This role has been an exciting and transformational part of my academic journey. It taught me the importance of collaboration and meticulous project management, skills that I have since applied to other areas of my career. Working with a team that was as dedicated as it was knowledgeable helped to deepen my understanding of the complexities of Iranian cinema and its cultural impacts.
Further, this experience has enabled me to refine crucial skills such as archival research, enhancing my ability to organize and execute significant academic events. These skills have proven essential in my ongoing academic endeavors and have prepared me for future collaborative research projects.
Overall, my time at the Institute has been profoundly enriching. It stands as an exemplary center of learning and collaboration that fosters significant cultural and academic exchanges through the study of arts and humanities. The Institute’s commitment to deepening the understanding of Iranian culture through scholarly research and community engagement is both inspiring and impactful.”