The Office of the President will host a free lunch during Fall Fest on Wednesday, November 2, from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Turtle Island Walk.

The event started in 2013 as part of the University’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It returned last year because of high demand, according to special events manager Mary-Ann Rennie

“People really enjoy Fall Fest,” Rennie says, adding that the University plans to make it a continuing tradition. “It’s a chance for faculty, staff and students to all be together and mix and mingle.”

The event will feature vegetarian chili and rolls, apples and hot chocolate. The Lancer Nation pep band will perform live from noon to 1 p.m.

—Loren Mastracci

A University of Windsor engineering student will represent Canada on an international stage with a device that can help researchers detect diseases and pathogens, identify pollutants or test material properties on a microscale quicker than ever.

Austin Liolli’s innovative design, developed with the aid of professor Jalal Ahamed, improves the efficiency of a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) — a device that shrinks and integrates processes performed in a bench-top laboratory on a chip that fits in the palm of your hand.

The two authored a peer-reviewed research paper that has been selected as one of the top five finalists in the prestigious Young Engineer Paper (YEP) Contest at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ (ASME) upcoming International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), the largest mechanical engineering conference in the world, which typically attracts 4,000 scientists and engineers from more than 75 countries.

Liolli, a second-year, electrical and computer engineering student and UWindsor Outstanding Scholar, will present at the 2016 IMECE in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 15 as the sole Canadian finalist. The ASME will provide him with $750 for travel expenses and complimentary conference registration.

Liolli’s next-generation, lab-on-a-chip research decreases the amount of time it takes to mix and analyze fluids, such as a drop of blood or saliva, and enables users to 3D print a custom chip design for rapid production.

“One prototype can be used for various tasks,” he says. “If the user feels they’re not getting efficient results on their chip, they don’t have to manufacture a new chip, which is costly and time consuming; they can simply program a different input signal.”

Compared to other devices, Liolli’s design reduces the dilution concentration range by 25 per cent, resulting in more accurate and uniform mixing in an area as thin as a strand of hair.

“Austin’s proposed design is unique because he is applying an electrical field in a three-dimensional manner, giving the user tremendous details that couldn’t be seen before,” said Dr. Ahamed, Liolli’s faculty advisor and director of UWindsor’s MicroNanoSystems Group. “Austin’s achievement is an ideal example of our undergraduate research success.”

The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce honoured three UWindsor students for their community involvement, leadership potential, academic excellence and inspiration to women during the 17th annual Athena Scholarship Luncheon, Friday at the Caboto Club.

Receiving scholarship awards of $5,000 each were Michelle Krieger, Janny Lau and Myla Picco.

Krieger, a graduate of forensic science (BA 2007) and psychology (BA 2008) and now a doctoral student in applied social psychology, strives to reduce violence against women as president of the Community Action Group.

Lau, a nursing student who splits her time between the university and St. Clair College, has demonstrated her leadership skills every day in her role as director of marketing and communications at the Thames Student Incorporated and secretary of the Thames Campus Nursing Society.

Picco, a second-year law student who earned the Board of Governors Medal when she graduated from criminology and sociology (BA 2014), is a student ambassador for Windsor Law and co-ordinator of the Family Law Project at the Windsor Family Court.

Janice Kaffer, president of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, delivered a keynote presentation entitled “The 5 W’s of Career Building – My Journey to the CEO’s Office.”

—Loren Mastracci

With campus offices already having committed to helping 32 needy families this holiday season, organizer Mary Anne Beaudoin reminds the university community that it’s not too late to join in.

The Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Foundation developed its Adopt-a-Family program to ensure happy holidays for local children. The society asks sponsors to provide clothing and food to assist families through the holidays and beyond, in addition to toys.

The campus effort so far is promising but far from a record, says Beaudoin.

“Some people were very quick to respond this year,” she says. “But of course, there is more need in our community and I am hoping all areas that participated in the past will agree to help out again.”

Under the program, offices or individuals sponsor a needy family and pull together a gift package of food, clothing, and toys — items that are often financially difficult for the families to obtain. Sponsors may choose a small, medium or large-sized family or a youth on extended care.

To adopt a family, contact Beaudoin at 519-253-3000, ext. 3240, or e-mail mbeaud@uwindsor.ca. You will receive a profile of family members, a list of their wishes, and instructions to keep in mind when delivering your gifts.

All gifts are due by December 6 — a truck will take delivery of donations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

seeking candidates to fill 30 tech jobs at the company’s office in downtown Detroit. The team will be at Career and Employment Services in the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A graduate of the UWindsor computer science co-op program now working for Amazon identified the campus as a source of career-ready talent to fill these full-time positions, says Meagan Haugh, co-ordinator of co-op program development.

“Our School of Computer Science has an established undergrad and graduate co-op program, as well as an internship in the Master of Applied Computing program, each producing experienced tech-savvy students and graduates,” she says.

Amazon representatives will also host a “Rock the Technical Interview Workshop” with tips on how to set yourself apart in a technical interview. The half-hour event will start at 11:30 a.m. in the Joyce Centre’s room 239.

Haugh says the day is a great chance for students: “Even if you are not currently searching for employment, this is an excellent opportunity to speak with Amazon employees to learn about work in the industry, future career trends and do some networking.”

Canadian Blood Services needs 100,000 additional donors this year. A new policy promoting donor welfare will take effect December 10, meaning that women will need to wait 12 weeks between blood donations.

“Many donors will not be able to donate as often, so others must step forward to fill this gap by giving blood and encouraging friends and family to make giving a part of their lives,” says vice-president of donor relations Mark Donnison.

Donated blood is necessary for surgeries, cancer treatments and accidents. For Hunter Kuzik, age 11, the need will never stop. Diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan Anemia, he needs a blood transfusion every three weeks.

“I have to have faith that people will continue to donate blood and that there will always be blood available for him when he needs it,” says Carrie Kuzik, Hunter’s mother.

A Canadian Blood Services donor clinic is slated for today — Monday, October 31 — in the CAW Student Centre’s Ambassador Auditorium from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

—Loren Mastracci