Cody Dey, a UWindsor post-doctoral researcher, says about 10 per cent of Arctic species have never been the subject of a published study.Cody Dey, a UWindsor post-doctoral researcher, says about 10 per cent of Arctic species have never been the subject of a published study.

UWindsor researcher finds Arctic species critically understudied

The focused scope of research in Canada’s Arctic potentially leaves dozens of species at risk, says a UWindsor post-doctoral researcher.

Cody Dey, currently studying in the Process-Driven Predictive Ecology Lab at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, said conserving Arctic wildlife poses a challenge because 10 per cent of birds, fish and mammal species have never been the subject of a published study.

“It was really shocking to learn that over the last 30 years there have been zero papers published on 37 species in the Arctic,” Dr. Dey said, a Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellow.

“Right now, we are going blindly ahead with development projects even though you could correctly say we are using the ‘best available science.’”

“We need to be more precautionary because we don’t know very much about many of these species.”

Dey led a team of researchers from other Canadian universities for a paper published in Arctic Science this month.

“One of the things we looked at was the number of papers that had been published on each species over the last 30 years,” Dey explained.

“We suggested that if the five of us couldn’t find the papers during the course of the study then it’s clearly not readily available.”

In the paper, the team demonstrates the challenges facing Arctic conservation and lays the groundwork on how to focus more scientific resources onto the overlooked species.

The IUCN Red List of threatened species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive approach for evaluating the conservation status of plants and animals.

But species in the Arctic, particularly marine fishes, are too understudied to even be considered for the IUCN Red List.

That means, according to Dey, that some of the species may be unknowingly at risk of extinction.

“With such a small number of species up there it is likely that every species has a relatively important role,” Dey said.

Dey said despite the region’s remoteness, biodiversity research is manageable because there are comparatively fewer species to study. And some Arctic species are highly studied (like polar bears, caribou and whales) but we need to increase our research focus on other, less charismatic species, if we want to protect all Arctic biodiversity.

 It is Dey’s hope that by bringing this void to the attention of the scientific community, “we can start working towards filling in these gaps and taking a more mindful approach with development.”

To read Dey’s paper, visit Arctic Science at www.nrcresearchpress.com.


By Dylan Kristy

Members of the UWindsor Blood Club offer a game and book donation appointments during Open Streets 2017.Members of the UWindsor Blood Club offer a game and book donation appointments during Open Streets 2017.

University seeks campus participation in civic street festival

The University will host a hub during Open Streets Windsor on Sunday, September 23, and is seeking departments, organizations, and individuals to participate.

Billed as the city’s largest free recreation program, Open Streets will close designated thoroughfares to vehicles, opening them to people along an eight-kilometre corridor from Sandwich Town to Ford City. Businesses and organizations will mount displays and hands-on learning opportunities at activity hubs, including one on University Avenue at Patricia Road.

Now in its third year, the event provides an opportunity for the campus to connect with the broader community says Mary-Ann Rennie, special events manager in the Office of the President.

“People walk, bike, and roller skate along the route,” she says. “We’re hoping a lot of campus groups will join us to promote health, physical activity, arts, culture — and learning of all types.”

Organizers expect 10,000 attendees. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find details, including a route map, on the City of Windsor website.

To inquire about setting up an activity in the University Hub and reserve tables, chairs, as well as space, e-mail Rennie at mrennie@uwindsor.ca.

aerial picture of WindsorThe Vital Signs survey asks residents to rate Windsor-Essex on a number of measures.

Survey taking pulse of community

A survey by the WindsorEssex Community Foundation will measure local residents’ views of important issues, providing an opportunity for UWindsor students, faculty, and students to make an impact on the surrounding communities, says Wen Teoh.

Venture start director for the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre), she serves in a volunteer capacity on the foundation’s board, and calls its Vital Signs survey a “great tool for our voices to be heard.”

The resulting report combines responses with national, provincial, and local data to measure where assistance is needed to make the community a better place to live, work, play, and grow.

“The issues addressed in the project affect all community members, health, mental health, wellness, access to services, bike paths, bus services, learning, and work,” says Teoh. “We want to hear more from our younger people to build a region they want to stay and thrive in.”

Those who complete the survey may enter a draw for $100 — click here.

Martin Deck shows off a fleece varsity jacket available in the Campus Bookstore.Martin Deck shows off a fleece varsity jacket available in the Campus Bookstore.

Jacket combines modern comfort and retro sensibility

A new varsity jacket for sale in the Campus Bookstore provides a classic look with a modern feel, says marketing co-ordinator Martin Deck.

Made of a heavy-weight fleece in navy blue with contrasting grey sleeves, the garment is suitable for men or women, with the Lancer logo embroidered on the chest and “University of Windsor” stitched across the back.

“These jackets combine traditional collegiate styling with a contemporary fit,” says Deck. “You’ll make a statement wearing this — to a fall football game or just heading to class.”

Available in a range of sizes, they cost just $79.95 in the store, located on the lower level of the CAW Student Centre.

Lecture to explore connection between employee well-bring and innovation

Enhancing employees’ well-being prepares the ground for innovation in the workplace, says a management expert who will address the subject in a free public lecture Thursday, August 16, at the Odette School of Business.

Vidya Sagar Athota teaches business psychology and human resource development in the School of Business at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

His lecture, entitled “Promoting wellbeing and resilience to influence innovation” is part of the Topics in Management Research Presentation series.

“Employee resilience and well-being are intrinsically associated with workplace outcomes,” says Dr. Athota. “Towards the end of the presentation, practical tips will be provided to promote individual well-being and resilience.”

The event is set for 10 a.m. in room 321, Odette Building. To indicate your attendance, RSVP to Linda Ingram, at lingram@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext. 3883.

New agreement gives MoM students better access to certification

Supply Chain Management Association Ontario and the University of Windsor have reached an agreement to provide graduates of the Master of Management, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management Program with an opportunity to pursue a Certified Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation at an accelerated pace and a discounted rate.

Students who graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 70 percent or above will be exempt from five SCMP study components – saving valuable time, and approximately $4,700.

“This is indeed great news for our students,” says Zhenzhong Ma, Academic Director of the Master of Management Program.

“Our MoM graduates will be able to pursue their SCMP designation much faster -- a big help in their career path. We’re looking forward to working together with them to provide more opportunities to our students.”

For more information on SCMAO visit: http://scma.com/on/

Provost announces restructuring of admin for CEPE course-based graduate programs

Following an external review of the University’s practices around recruitment and enrolment in CEPE course-based graduate degree programs, and in line with the Strategic Enrolment Management plan, Acting Provost Jeff Berryman announced Friday that the University has put a new structure in place to support and facilitate these essential programs.

Professor Berryman said that under the new plan, academic and financial responsibility, including student success and orientation, will return to the academic departments and faculties that house these programs. 

The office of the new Associate Vice-President Enrolment Management, a role currently filled by Chris Busch, will take responsibility for recruitment of students into these programs.  The Office of Enrolment Management will provide the infrastructure to undertake international and domestic recruitment, and co-ordinate and support individual departments, programs, and faculty members who wish to continue to be involved in student recruitment.

The administration of admission and registration will return to the Registrar’s Office, supported by Graduate Studies.  Resources from the Centre for Executive and Professional Education have been transferred to the Registrar’s Office so as to centralize these registration tasks.  Alice Miller, Registrar, will be working closely with departments and faculties in which these programs operate to create a seamless and streamlined process that respects program autonomy over graduate student admission, but which can deliver timely decisions to applicants. 

Following the changes outlined above, the Centre for Executive and Professional Education, currently lead by Jennie Atkins, will take on a new mandate to advance the development of viable continuing education programs.  Over the next year, CEPE will evolve into the Centre for Continuing Education. He said this marks a considerable investment by the University into the continuing education space, and provides an important opportunity to develop and offer programs vital to the prosperity of the Windsor-Essex region. 

Some administrative matters concerning the staffing of course-based graduate programs will remain with the new Centre for Continuing Education, as will the Centre for English Language Development, which will also be given a mandate to explore its growth potential.

Berryman said the restructuring was designed to merge the administrative functions of course-based graduate programs within existing administrative offices that have traditionally taken carriage of those particular functions, and coincides with the maturation of these important programs.  This restructuring has resulted in an overall increase in new staff positions, which have been allocated to the Registrar’s office, to deal with the increased student enrolments in course-based graduate programs.  The effective change over date for the restructuring is September 1st, although work is already in progress to ensure the transfer is completed by that date. 

The Provost said CEPE was created to spearhead the development of international programs, and that it has delivered in spades on that mandate, saying a great many staff and faculty have been engaged on that journey, with the University owing a debt of gratitude for all their wonderful efforts.  He said the actual restructuring is also engaging staff and faculty, but particular thanks are owed to Jennie Atkins, Chris Busch, Alice Miller and Patti Weir, who have worked together to refine and implement the new plan, adding that the University greatly benefits from having highly dedicated people who advance the University’s core missions in innovative and creative ways.

Berryman concluded by telling the campus community that restructuring at this time allows for a consolidation of some administrative activities concerning recruitment, and admission and registration to provide a better management of course based graduate programs.  It also frees up resources to develop continuing education at a time when there appears a need and opportunity to do so.