Science and engineering students got a chance to express themselves creatively through music and sound in the SMArt Masterclass, organized by the faculties of science and engineering, May 7 through June 12.

“Tune into STEM through Music and Sound” was the fourth in a series of non-credit courses offering students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines the opportunity to hone their communication skills.

Percussionist and composer Nicholas Papador, a music professor in the School of Creative Arts, gathered a community of students to create original sound works with basis and inspiration from science and engineering concepts.

“I was pleased to have had the opportunity to work with students across the Windsor campus who were interested expressing themselves artistically through sound,” says Dr. Papador.

“In the SMArt Masterclass we listened to music that worked with probability and chance, architectural concepts, and sound physics, and we also explored experimental music practices to create musical soundscapes.”

The course culminated with a 40-minute sound piece in the atrium of the Essex Centre of Research (CORe) building that was inspired by scientific concepts.

“The piece incorporated a dataset of COVID-19 cases in Windsor during the 2021-22 academic year to develop the piece's duration and intensities of sound and volume,” says Papador.

“However, the listening experience of the work sounded more like an enhanced ecological field recording that included bells, sirens, drums, frog-like scraping sounds, and even the dropping of dried rice to imitate rainfall. Students brought scientific items like Newton’s Cradles to add to the overall sound of the music.”

Recent forensic science graduate Sophia Bachetti (BSc 2022) says she hoped to learn how to apply science in a musical context and enjoyed being creative in her music compositions and contributing to the large group performance.

“I took this course to see how my two passions of science and music could be related. As a part-time music teacher, I wanted to gain more knowledge of the interface of science and music so that I can educate my students in future lessons and masterclasses,” says Bachetti.

“I would take more courses that explore how other science concepts relate to music for my knowledge and teaching.”

The collaborative masterclass aims to increase communication skills for STEM students, allowing them to share scientific results, from research to what they are doing in the community.

Masterclasses in visual arts and film were offered earlier in the year.

Dora Cavallo-Medved, associate dean of science, says planning is already underway for future masterclasses in drama and creative writing.

Two UWindsor music instructors will share their talents in a free noontime performance Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Jazz vocalist Shahida Nurullah will be accompanied by pianist Mike Karloff for the August installment of the President’s Concert Series at noon in the grassy area between Assumption Hall and Assumption Church. The concert will relocate to the student centre Commons in the event of inclement weather.

Nurullah is a voice instructor and Karloff teaches jazz-pop piano and arranging in the School of Creative Arts. Bring a lawn chair or blanket; in addition to music, the event promises attendees a free serving of gelato.

Faculty are reminded of the ongoing Library Collections Review & Deselection Project, where lists of print books identified for removal from the collection have been posted for their review.

The lists have been divided and will be posted across two phases. Phase one began June 1 with an extended deadline to Sept. 30 due to the network outage. Phase two will run from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.

Faculty will be alerted by email when lists for their academic area are posted but are invited to review lists in related disciplines as well. They are also invited to submit requests for titles to be retained in the library or to request ownership of titles.

Further information regarding the project background, methodology, and FAQs can be found on the project website.

Samuel Jokodola, a master’s student in the Faculty of Education, is exploring the experiences of racialized internationally trained professionals in the Canadian academy for his thesis.

He is currently recruiting participants for his study, which will provide a safe and non-judgemental space to share their lived experiences.

• Have you held a position as a member of staff or faculty in a Canadian post-secondary institution for at least a year?
• Do you identify as a member of any racialized group?
• Did you complete the equivalent of a Canadian college or university degree internationally?

If you answered “yes” to all these questions, you may make a suitable participant. As a token of appreciation, participants will receive a gift card.

Jokodola hopes to highlight what respondents regard as important for their success within the academy as internationally trained professionals, identify and appreciate their cultural wealth, and feature beneficial support mechanisms or programs that may inform institutional, communal, or provincial programs or policies.

The study has received clearance from the University of Windsor Research Ethics Board.

To participate or for more information, contact Jokodola at jokodol@uwindsor.ca or his supervisor James Oloo at James.Oloo@uwindsor.ca.