A University of Windsor automotive expert has helped craft a national report that examines trends affecting the evolution of connected and automated vehicle technologies in Canada.

Peter Frise, the university’s director of the Centre for Automotive Research and Education and former scientific director and CEO of a national automotive research and development program, was invited to participate on an expert panel assembled by the Council of Canadian Academies.

The resulting report, titled “Choosing Canada’s Automotive Future,” identifies potential impacts of connected, autonomous, secure and shared, and electric (CASE) vehicles on industry, privacy and cybersecurity, urban planning, the environment, and the safety and well-being of people in Canada. It was released publicly March 2.

“The automotive industry is a key part of Canada’s industrial sector and a major source of high-value employment and foreign exchange,” says Dr. Frise. “The industry is moving toward a set of new vehicle technologies, which have been dubbed CASE.”

According to the panel, CASE vehicles have the potential to grow the economy and fundamentally change transportation, making it safer, cleaner, and more accessible. But the report also cautions that without proactive urban management, these advances could potentially worsen air quality and traffic congestion and increase transportation inequities.

Cybersecurity risks and regulatory challenges around cross-border privacy and data protection were also noted. The panel found, if managed appropriately, this data could provide benefits such as increased safety, efficiency, and accessibility for the public sector and private sector.

“The CASE technologies are very well represented within the UWindsor automotive engineering program with world-class activities in connected vehicles with cyber-secure communications and electrified powertrains,” Frise says.

“The development of autonomous vehicles is also a key focus of a new faculty hire and I think that we, as the first and leading automotive research and education institution in Canada, must continue to take a leadership role on these topics.”

The report was sponsored by Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada.

—Kristie Pearce

UWindsor biomedical sciences professor Lisa Porter, executive director of the WE-Spark Health Institute, will participate in an online panel discussion offering insight on the impact of equity, diversity, and inclusivity in innovative research on Monday, March 8.

The free public event will be livestreamed on YouTube by the Ontario Research and Commercialization Alliance as part of its observance of International Women’s Day.

The day’s activities will be emceed by Dominique Bérubé, vice-president of research at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). A second panel will discuss overcoming barriers to women and equity-seeking researchers in achieving entrepreneurial success.

The full event will run 1 to 3 p.m. Find details of the speakers and register to attend at www.orcawomensday.eventbrite.ca.

A cast of hundreds has helped to create a welcome for visitors during the UWindsor Virtual Spring Open House on Saturday, March 6.

The event invites prospective students and their guests to learn about academic programs, student services, clubs and associations through live, pre-recorded, and panel discussions. Preparations have involved faculty, students and staff from across the institution, says Chris Busch, associate vice-president for enrolment management.

“Our wonderful professors are on hand to provide the expert perspective on courses and programs of study,” he says. “And we have student ambassadors to provide virtual tours of the campus and share their own UWindsor experiences.”

The efforts of campus recruitment partners include staffing booths in an online information fair, providing support for the technical infrastructure, and — new this year — assisting individuals with accepting their offers of admission.

“It really takes a large team to pull together and make open house a success,” says Dr. Busch. “It comes at a crucial stage in the recruitment cycle, as we work to convert applicants into registered students.”

Saturday guests will also have opportunities to win prizes, including a draw for free fall tuition.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find more details and a link to register at uwindsor.ca/openhouse.

Teacher candidates in two classes collaborated to produce an art piece that will hang in the Leonard and Dorothy Neal Education Building.

Instructors Kimberly Hillier of “Language Arts Methodology” and Vanessa Mio of “Visual Arts Methodology” issued an assignment inspired by the abstract paintings of Alma Woodsey Thomas. As the first graduate of Howard University’s art program, she was one of the first Black women in the United States to earn a degree in the discipline.

“The lesson integrated critical literacy, visual arts, and Black History,” says Dr. Hillier. “We wanted to model the importance of collaboration among colleagues while also highlighting one of the benefits of virtual instruction and learning.”

Each of the students contributed a square of dots and dashes forming concentric circles to create a mosaic. The final piece honours the stylistic elements of Thomas’s work, says Dr. Mio.

“The abstract nature of her artwork allowed for creative freedom, resulting in a final piece that showcased the diverse artistic choices of each individual student,” she says. “The resulting collage presents a beautiful culmination of the collaborative work.”

Besides inviting discussion of the importance of ongoing BIPOC representation in literacy and visual art instruction, the project fostered a sense of community and belonging, key components as the teacher candidates prepare for their future practices in elementary classrooms.

Mio and Hillier conclude: “We are so proud of our students’ perseverance and dedication to the B.Ed program. The resilience they’ve shown this academic year demonstrates their strengths as future educators!”

A mosaic of contributions from teacher candidates inspired by artist Alma Woodsey Thomas will be framed and hung in the Leonard and Dorothy Neal Education Building. Click on the image to expand.