The University of Windsor’s Cross-Border Institute will partner with the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Michigan State University’s Canadian Studies Center on a study of the economic impact and opportunities presented by the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

The bi-national infrastructure project includes four components — the Canadian and U.S. ports of entry, the bridge over the Detroit River between Windsor and Detroit, and an interchange connecting to Interstate-75.

The study will be conducted in three phases and will identify and quantify the economic benefits arising from the construction of the new bridge as well as the opportunities for economic development once it is in service.

UWindsor president Alan Wildeman said the partnership was a natural fit.

“The University’s Cross-Border Institute has the expertise and deep knowledge of border issues and supply chains to make an important contribution to the study,” he said. “The new crossing will have a tremendous impact on both sides of the border, and the study will go a long way to ensuring all economic benefits are identified.”

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority is a not-for-profit Canadian Crown corporation created to manage the procurement process for the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the new bridge through a public-private partnership.

A UWindsor engineering student has won the right to commercialize a patent developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Master’s student Abhishek Chakrala is a member of the only Canadian-based team to win a category in the Space Race start-up challenge, a contest to create businesses around 11 different NASA patents or inventions. The seven-member team pitched an idea using a technology to track weather.

It won a $2,500 prize in that category and was named a finalist in another and will now compete for a share of $1.2 million available from angel investors.

Read more in the Fall 2016 newsletter of the Faculty of Engineering.

A lot of people really wanted an elf on their shelves, but Diane Luu-Hoang came out on top in Monday’s DailyNews contest.

Employment equity and human rights manager in the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility, she will receive an Elf on the Shelf doll and book, which help children stay on Santa’s good side.

Hoang’s entry was drawn from all those which correctly noted that the 2003 film Elf followed the adventures of a human named Buddy, was narrated by Bob Newhart as his adoptive father, and ended with New Yorkers singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

The UWindsor campus will host two events in the next week to honour the 14 women killed in the 1989 massacre at l’École Polytéchnique de Montréal.

On Friday, December 2, representatives from the engineering faculty and the Women in Engineering Club will discuss gender equality in engineering and share personal experiences before screening the film Polytéchnique at 6 p.m. in room 1101, Centre for Engineering Innovation.

On Tuesday, December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the Womyn’s Centre and the Women in Engineering Club will gather at 5:30 p.m. for a candlelight vigil at the Memorial of Hope, between Dillon and Essex halls.

“Our intention is to uphold the University of Windsor tradition of not only recognizing the significance of the loss of these women, but also to educate the community on the pervasiveness of violence against women in our society,” said Amelia Runchey, public relations coordinator for the Womyn’s Centre.

A reception will follow at approximately 6 p.m. in the Ambassador Auditorium, CAW Student Centre. Students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome to attend both events.

In 1991, the Parliament of Canada created the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in response to the massacre of the women — most of whom were engineering students — at l’École Polytéchnique de Montréal on December 6, 1989.

The term “years of service” doesn’t quite capture the contributions of long-serving employees, UWindsor president Alan Wildeman told a gathering Wednesday recognizing faculty and staff reaching milestones on campus.

“It’s years of commitment; it’s years of community; it’s years of dealing with challenges,” he said. “Yes, it’s years of service, but it’s years of life.”

The event celebrated employees with 10, 20, 30 or 40 years working for the University. Collectively, they have 2,060 years of dedication to the institution, noted Rita LaCivita, vice-president, human resources: “You have witnessed the growth of the University of Windsor and contributed to the success of our students.”

She said many of the attendees told her they remember their first days on the job.

One who did was Kathy Brennan, secretary to the director of the School of Dramatic Art, who joined the University’s staff in 1975.

“When I started I was in the biology department,” she recalled. “They didn’t have an office for me. I shared a space with the Xerox machine.”

She plans to retire in the next year or so, but said she will miss the place she has spent 40 years.

“It’s the kids,” Brennan said. “The kids in drama are a special bunch. It’s very much like a family there.”

At the other end of the spectrum, political science professor Jamey Essex was recognized for his 10 years at the University of Windsor, which he said “went by faster” than he had thought.

“I remember my new faculty orientation,” Dr. Essex said. “I still know some of the colleagues I met there.”

Find a full list of those honoured on the human resources website.

LaCivita also used the occasion to announce a new way to extend appreciation for the contributions of co-workers and employees through the year. Human Resources has created a recognition e-card to send electronic acknowledgement of a job well done.

“We wanted to encourage the campus community to take the time to informally celebrate the efforts and dedication of colleagues,” LaCivita said. “Sincere and genuine appreciation makes a difference every day.”

Access to the e-card template requires a UWin ID and password. Find it on the Employee Recognition website.

Windsor will host 1,000 of the world’s best swimmers from more than 176 countries as they compete in the FINA World Swimming Championships next week. They will compete for 46 gold medals in a temporary, 25-metre championship pool that has been installed in the WFCU Centre.

It’s the first time the FINA event has been held in Canada, and a number of complimentary tickets are now available to the campus community on a first-come, first-served basis.

This includes the opening ceremony at Caesars Windsor on Monday evening, December 5, and both the heats and finals that will be held at the WFCU Centre. Heats begin at 9:30 a.m. and the finals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, December 6 to 11.

Tickets include free parking at the WFCU Centre and may be picked up at the Office of Public Affairs and Communications, room 209 in the Welcome Centre, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

There are still some tickets remaining for the annual Faculty/Staff Holiday Party, reports Catering Services.

The event is scheduled for noon Wednesday, December 7, in Vanier Hall’s Winclare Room. It promises festive food stations, seasonal music, and the company of friends and colleagues.

Tickets are $12 per person, including tax and a festive beverage. Each department is asked to delegate an individual to coordinate purchases from the Catering Services office in Vanier Hall, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 to 4 p.m. only. Find details on the event website.

Party-goers may purchase raffle tickets for door prizes. Catering staff will also accept donations of cash or canned goods for the student food bank in Canterbury College.