Dina Aiyireti, Kouthar Waled, and Matthew LeeSandwich Secondary students Dina Aiyireti, Kouthar Waled, and Matthew Lee are among the graduates of the 2017 UWindsor Science Academy.

Academy exposes secondary students to science

Getting a closer look at the University of Windsor helped him to appreciate the opportunities in his own backyard, said Matthew Lee.

Just finished Grade 11 at Sandwich Secondary School, he was one of dozens of local high schoolers selected to attend the UWindsor Science Academy last week for five days of lab exercises, challenging activities and short lectures.

“I really enjoyed getting to see the different types of science labs and hear from both professors and students about the University of Windsor,” Lee said. “It made me think about coming here.”

His classmate Dina Aiyireti agreed, saying there is a “big chance” that she will study science at UWindsor once she completes high school: “I especially liked the biology DNA lab and the physics laser maze.”

The academy introduces the students to the various programs in the Faculty of Science, from biochemistry and economics to mathematics and computers. For Kouthar Waled, a member of Sandwich’s Sabre Bytes Robotics team, the physics labs provided an eye-opening experience.

“It was really great to see and hear about the research going on here,” she said. “The way they studied the energy levels — and the applications quantum mechanics have.”

Find more photos on the Faculty of Science Facebook page.

stretchable electronicsChemistry professor Simon Rondeau-Gagné’s stretchable electronics is one of the research fields to be featured in a tour for Canadian policy-makers of UWindsor exploration.

Tours to showcase research accomplishments for government officials

Visits to the UWindsor campus this month will serve to remind Canadian policy-makers about the critical role the University plays in important areas of research, and the need for support in its work to build a foundation for discovery and innovation.

Chemistry professor Simon Rondeau-Gagné, one of the organizers of the tours, says they will highlight accomplishments in fields as varied as protecting the environment, enhancing workplace experiences for Aboriginal Canadians, facilitating international trade and border safety, and improving health and patient care.

He says the project arose in response to a report commissioned by federal science minister Kirsty Duncan: Investing in Canada’s Future: Strengthening the Foundations of Canadian Research.

“This review indicates Canadian research enterprise has eroded in recent years due to decreased federal support and that federal re-investment is badly needed, to the tune of $1.3 billion over the next four years, to prevent further decline,” says Dr. Rondeau-Gagné.

He says he is looking forward to discussing with politicians how academics can work with them to ensure greater funding.

“We are committed to focusing on a wide variety of quality research that really matters to the health, welfare, and future of Canadians,” says Rondeau-Gagné. “The growth of a knowledge-based community in Windsor-Essex is fuelling improvements to healthcare, our environment, economic diversification, innovation, and employment, with more than $25 million in research funding annually providing training for several thousand undergraduate, graduate and medical students in our region.”

Two one-hour visits will allow researchers to share stories of what funding dollars did for their projects, from Trevor Pitcher’s new hands-on research facility committed to restoring the Great Lakes, to Rondeau-Gagné’s exploration of synthetic polymers to create stretchable electronics, as well as achievements by researchers in kinesiology, psychology, and the Cross-Border Institute.

Dean of science Chris Houser encourages faculty and students to promote their research successes to @ScienceMin and @JustinTrudeau using the hashtags #WindsorResearchMatters and #SupportTheReport.

Info session for faculty and staff to discuss changes to Work Study program

Changes to the University of Windsor’s work-study program aim at providing participants with opportunities to develop skills relevant to their careers.

The structure of the program will remain the same with notable enhancements to include:

  • An updated job posting form and vetting process to feature learning outcomes and skills students can expect to develop in the role;
  • An improved online application process to help employers identify suitable student hires;
  • A mandatory professional development program so students arrive on the job better prepared;
  • A toolkit to help employers develop experiential learning outcomes, integrate new hires and supervise them on an ongoing basis;
  • A survey of feedback from participating students and employers.

Career & Employment Services and Student Awards and Financial Aid will co-host an information session for faculty and staff interested in learning more about these changes on Tuesday, August 1. The two offices encourage all campus work-study employers to send a delegate, 10 a.m. in room 203, Toldo Health Education Centre. Click here to register.

“This plan to formalize the work-integrated learning components of the work-study program is a timely one,” says Chris Busch, acting executive director of Co-op, Career & Employment Services. “It aligns with University’s commitment to expanding experiential learning, our Strategic Mandate Agreement with the province, and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development’s Building Ontario’s Highly Skilled Workforce report.”

The changes reflect research by Career & Employment Services staff in collaboration with Student Awards and Financial Aid, including focus groups with employers and student participants exploring their levels of satisfaction with the work-study experience.

The University of Windsor provides about 400 students a year with paid, on-campus work experience through the work-study program. Potential employers will be able to access the job posting form Wednesday, August 2, on the mySuccess website; posted opportunities will be visible to approved students Monday, September 25.

selfie lightThis selfie light provides photo-illumination for your smartphone or tablet computer.

Item facilitates selfies in low-light conditions

Too dark to take a selfie? The Campus Bookstore has a solution: a UWindsor-branded light that plugs into the auxiliary port of your smartphone or tablet to provide supplemental illumination for creative photography and videography.

This selfie light has four LEDs with adjustable brightness, and on the obverse, the University of Windsor logo. It sells for just $19.95, either in-store or through the online catalogue.

Colin Inglis, Mike HaveyNew track coach Colin Inglis accepts congratulations from athletics director Mike Havey.

Track coach “excited” to return to Lancers

Returning to Windsor as head coach of the Lancer track and field teams is exciting, says Colin Inglis, who served as associate coach from 1995 to 1999.

“The history and success of the program under the leadership of Dennis Fairall are second to none,” Inglis says. “I am excited to meet and begin working with everyone connected with the team to continue the success of the program.”

Inglis has spent 17 years as head coach of the York University cross country and track and field programs, where he earned provincial coach of the year honours four times, and the national award in 2014.

Athletics director Mike Havey says he is delighted to welcome Inglis back to the Lancer family.

“Colin is a familiar face to many of our coaches, student-athletes, Lancer alumni and community,” Havey says. “It is a pleasure to have Colin back in Windsor to lead the Lancers into the future.”

Read the full story at goLancers.ca.