When this area's economy turns around it will be thanks to the contributions of UWindsor's researchers, who received an injection of $1.6 million in provincial funding announced Friday.

"It's our university that will be at the heart and centre of the region's economic rebound," Sandra Pupatello, MPP for Windsor West and Minister of Economic Development and Trade, said during a ceremony to announce the funding at the Centre for Automotive Research and Education. "What these researchers can discover is going to help one of our most significant sectors and that's manufacturing."

Joining Pupatello for the announcement were Finance Minister Dwight Duncan and Essex MPP Bruce Crozier; UWindsor President Alan Wildeman thanked them for supporting the University's research program.

"We're trying to broaden the bandwidth between the University, the region, government and industry," he said. "The Ontario Research Fund announcement today will help our researchers do this, and help the University fulfill its obligation to contribute to a stronger future for our province. We all have reason to be proud of the innovative work of our faculty, students and staff, and of the contributions of our industry partners."

Among the 60 UWindsor researchers being supported by the Ministry of Research and Innovation's Ontario Research Fund are:

• Ming Zheng, who received $1.3 million to develop new technologies that enhance the fuel efficiency and reduce high emissions that are caused by diesel fuel engines.
• Narayan Kar, who received $178,820 to create next generation hybrid auto technologies, with the goal of reducing the auto sector’s dependency on fossil fuels.
• Sreekanta Das, who received funding to determine the lifespan of structural steel used in ship hulls under the effects of cold and fatigue load to help shipbuilders design and build safer ships for northern waters.
• Zhuo Wang received funding to develop new advanced materials, specifically, polymers and nanomaterials which will help keep Ontario at the leading edge of advanced materials research and development.

Essex MPP Bruce Crozier, left, listens as Ming Zheng explains the workings of his clean diesel engine lab to Windsor West MPP Sandra Pupatello.

News story Courtesy of UWin Daily News