Ryan PalazzoloRyan Palazzolo’s project will help researchers spread the word about their work. He is one of 107 UWindsor students who have received research internship grants.

Student designing toolkit for communicating health research

A UWindsor student is designing a toolkit to help health researchers disseminate information about their work.

Ryan Palazzolo is working on knowledge translation, creating messaging that simplifies information to match the expertise of its target audience. His project will help researchers apply for grants, communicate with other experts, or explain their work to the general public.

“One of the most important things that you have to consider is how do you tailor your information for a diverse audience,” said Palazzolo, a recent graduate from the health and biomedical sciences program who is now taking additional courses in preparation for medical school.

An additional goal of the research is to create a network of students who can form a knowledge translation team experienced in organizing outreach events and putting out educational information about local health research.

Palazzolo’s research is being funded by the University. He is one of 107 UWindsor students receiving $6,000 grants as part of $642,000 in overall funding for research internships.

UWindsor is contributing an unprecedented $471,000 toward these research opportunities. The grants are going to undergraduate and graduate students from Canada and abroad, and are across all disciplines, said K.W. Michael Siu, UWindsor’s vice-president, research and innovation.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected research internships for students everywhere,” said Dr. Siu. “At the University of Windsor, we are trying to make sure our students continue to have exceptional research opportunities despite the current circumstances.”

The project is the first of its kind at the University of Windsor, said Dora Cavallo-Medved, the biomedical sciences professor who is supervising it.

Pointing to the recent spate of grants for local COVID-related research through the WE-Spark Health Institute, a research partnership involving the University of Windsor, Windsor Regional Hospital, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, and St. Clair College, Dr. Cavallo-Medved said the project fills a need.

“It is apparent that health research teams require support to develop and implement knowledge translation plans to deliver the latest research findings to both the academic and clinical communities, as well as the general public,” she said.

Palazzo is building on volunteer work he has done in public outreach with the Windsor Cancer Research Group. The Windsor native said he hopes other students will be able to pick up where he leaves off.

“There’s not a lot of formal training in this in the sciences,” Palazzolo said. “It’s critical for funding and for community engagement.”

—Sarah Sacheli

Taku ChitekesheAerospace engineering student Taku Chitekeshe has earned his private pilot’s licence.

Pilot’s course helps engineering students take wing

It’s always been Taku Chitekeshe’s dream to design aircraft.

The mechanical engineering student never thought one day he’d be flying them.

Thanks to a partnership between UWindsor’s Faculty of Engineering and the Aeronautics Leadership Program housed in the University’s Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Chitekeshe is the first student specializing in aerospace engineering who has completed his Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL).

“The first time I flew alone, I felt accomplished,” Chitekeshe says. “It has been intriguing to learn how aircrafts are designed, but after getting the experience to fly an airplane, my dream job would be to combine those two aspects — to design aircrafts and to test them.”

Chitekeshe now wants to pursue a career as a chief test pilot.

“The concepts that were taught went beyond the scope of the course, enabling me to learn more,” he says. “Especially after flying and getting to see all the different airplanes in greater detail at the airport, it became so much easier for me to understand the concepts.”

UWindsor’s two-semester PPL course, offered in partnership with Journey Air housed at Windsor International Airport, is now open to mechanical engineering students in the aerospace option.

Students complete most of their ground school training during their off semester in the fall of their third year and begin to build flight time to prepare for a 150 nautical mile solo flight. Once aspiring pilots pass a written exam from Transport Canada and reach at least 45 hours of flight training, they can take a final flight test to complete the course.

Jennifer Johrendt, the engineering faculty’s assistant dean of student affairs, says there are plans to condense the course so that it can be completed in its entirety in the fall semester. In addition, students can obtain one technical elective credit towards their accredited engineering degree.

“The most exciting part of this whole experience for me was getting to sit in the cockpit and to be in control,” Chitekeshe says.

“It’s been such a breath-taking experience being in the air and getting to see Windsor and the surrounding towns from a different perspective.”

—Kristie Pearce

Rob GordonUniversity of Windsor president Rob Gordon welcomed incoming students in a video message.

President extends video greeting to incoming students

UWindsor president Robert Gordon officially welcomed incoming students in a video message released Thursday.

“You are about to be part of a great tradition: one where hard work is rewarded, where we show our pride, and where it’s just fine to enjoy yourself,” Dr. Gordon said. “You are about to become a Lancer.”

He invited students to engage in the “long list” of Welcome Week activities, and noted that despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the University remains committed to providing “the world-class education you expect and the best learning environment possible.”

Watch the entire video here:

Graduation gownsInstructors must submit final grades by Sept. 9 to ensure grads will qualify for Convocation this fall.

Final grades due to ensure fall graduation

The University has plans to celebrate the entire class of graduates for 2020 during fall Convocation ceremonies, says registrar Alice Miller, but it needs help getting them across the virtual stage.

The University had previously announced that its first-ever virtual graduation will take place in 13 sessions streamed on its website from Oct. 14 to 17.

“Our team has a lot in the works to ensure we recognize the achievements of each of our grads,” Miller says. “To meet the rapidly approaching deadlines, we need instructors to submit final grades for prior terms no later than Sept. 9.”

She notes that her office must evaluate each application to graduate to verify the candidate’s eligibility.

“We want to make sure to include everyone who has completed the requirements, and so call on the academic community to help us prepare for this celebration by getting in their final marks,” says Miller.

The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic postponed spring Convocation, so the fall ceremonies will include its 3,600 honourees as well as some 1,200 fall graduates. During the webcasts, all graduates, their families, and friends will have the opportunity to see their names read into the University’s record as members of the Class of 2020.

Over the coming weeks, members of the Class of 2020 will receive further information on the Fall Convocation ceremonies, when they will join an alumni family of more than 145,000 worldwide.

illustration opf people using MS TeamsAn orientation workshop for new GAs and TAs is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Wednesday workshop to orient graduate and teaching assistants

An orientation workshop for new graduate and teaching assistants from all faculties and departments will be held as a virtual live event Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The session will begin at 3 p.m. and include presentations on:

  • Policies and guidelines for appointments;
  • Union representation and the collective agreement;
  • Payment information;
  • Academic integrity;
  • Appropriate social media usage; and
  • Policies and procedures regarding sexual misconduct.

The session will be recorded and made available along with other presentation materials. Learn more on the event website.