A Faculty of Science event being held at Walkerville Brewery this week will gather birds of a feather to quaff together.

Science On Tap: Birds and Beers II will feature talks by University of Windsor ornithologists, a trivia contest with binoculars as the grand prize, and a display by the UWindsor Avian Taxidermy Club. Music students from the School of Creative Arts will perform bird-themed tunes and graduate students will display research posters and answer questions about their work.

And, true to the event’s title, one beer is included with every ticket purchased.

The event is part of a series also known as Science Uncorked when gatherings are held at a winery.

The series is “designed to promote the cutting-edge research being conducted by faculty and students at the University of Windsor,” said Chris Houser, dean of the Faculty of Science. It’s a way for researchers to connect with residents in Windsor and Essex County in a relaxed atmosphere that supports local businesses.

The first Birds & Beers event attracted more than 100 people last year.

“There was a great exchange of ideas about the many forms of bird research taking place on campus,” said biology professor Dan Mennill, associate dean of science, graduate studies and research.

“The public in Essex County is a group of people very interested in birds, and it was a great opportunity to discuss avian research together.”

Birds and Beers is one of five annual Science On Tap / Science Uncorked events the Faculty of Science hosts in the community annually. Upcoming topics include water quality and wearable electronics.

Dr. Mennill, one of the researchers who will speak at Thursday’s gathering, said birds are a fitting topic for such an event in the region.

“We're in a really special part of the world for birds,” he said. “More than one billion animals migrate over the Great Lakes annually, right through the skies above Essex County. Therefore, our region is a great place to study birds, and we have assembled one of the largest ornithology research groups in Canada. It is a great opportunity to share the findings of our research with the broader community, while enjoying a fun evening of conversation, music, and laughter.”

The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at Walkerville Brewery, 525 Argyle Rd. in Windsor. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students), available for online purchase at bit.do/BirdsBeers2.

—Sarah Sacheli

Two campus causes are at the centre of the 2018 Giving Tuesday campaign, which encourages charity following on the heels of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping sprees.

“We want students, faculty, and staff to join in this global day of giving,” says organizer Nicole Broderick of the Office of Alumni Affairs and Donor Communications. “It’s about engaging in philanthropy, whether that’s giving time, food, or money.”

This year, the event falls on Nov. 27. Volunteers will staff locations across campus seeking donations to:

• food banks serving UWindsor students; and
• the Liberty Project, a student-run project to empower the victims of human trafficking.

To learn how you can join the movement dedicated to giving back, visit uwindsor.ca/GivingTuesday.

Nineteen young local pianists — including six UWindsor music students — will enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on one of the world’s most famous instruments at the Capitol Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

The pianists, six to 20 years old, were selected by the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association in collaboration with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra to play a Steinway Spirio, an instrument which combines the best of a grand and a player piano, produced by piano manufacturer, Steinway & Sons.

The six musicians from the School of Creative Arts are Logan Adlam, Jefferson Hills, Zhining Hu, Konrad Jarecki, Yunwei Lu, and Allison Nguyen.

Tuesday’s performance begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. The Capitol Theatre is located at 121 University Ave. West.

A fundraising dinner on Thursday, Nov. 22, will support an international organization best known for its humanitarian work to provide medical care in conflict zones and countries affected by endemic diseases.

The UWindsor student chapter of Friends of Doctors without Borders will host A Multicultural Night without Borders, at Mackenzie Hall, 3277 Sandwich St.

Biology student Maha Hammoud, the club’s vice-president of internal affairs, says the event is intended to raise awareness as well as money, with the proceeds going towards the organization’s humanitarian mission, awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize.

“We will bring the community together and celebrate our diversity with food from all over the world, as well as ethnic performances and other activities,” she says. “We invite people to come in their traditional clothes.”

The $10 admission price includes six food servings and two drinks stubs; tickets for additional food will be available for purchase at the event. Find more details on the Facebook event page.

A new service on the lower level of the CAW Student Centre invites the university community to its grand opening on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Campus Wireless & Gaming will provide internet services and cell phone plans, repairs, and accessories from its location across from the entrance to the Hum Café.

Owner Ahmad Iskandar says Wednesday’s opening promises free video games for students and a cake-cutting at 11 a.m.