Professor Nihar Biswas' induction as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering not only honours his individual achievements, it also reflects the impact of the collaborative research environment he has fostered throughout his tenure.
The academy serves as a national forum for leaders in the field to contribute their expertise in addressing important engineering challenges and shaping the future of the profession.
Becoming a fellow is a highly selective process ensuring only those with truly exceptional accomplishments are inducted. After a nominee is put forward, the Awards and Fellowships Committee reviews their contributions, followed by a secret vote among more than 900 fellows of the academy.
Dr. Bruce Minaker, MAME department head; Dr. Afsaneh Edrisy, associate dean - academics; Michael Altenhof (mechanical engineering student), Dr. Bill Van Heyst, dean of engineering.
Third-year mechanical engineering student Michael Altenhof has been awarded the 2024 Board of Governors In-Course Medal, marking the second consecutive year he has received this honour.
The award is presented to the undergraduate student with the highest cumulative average in their field of study at the end of the preceding regular session.
Altenhof achieved an outstanding cumulative average of 98 per cent, the highest in the Faculty of Engineering. This follows his receipt of the same award in 2023, highlighting his consistent excellence in academics.
“Faster and more efficient construction,” says professor Niel Van Engelen, “and developing new methods for faster production of commercial and residential spaces is a need.”
In collaboration with civil engineering professor, Dr. Somma, at the University of Udine, Dr. Van Engelen, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Master’s students Tommaso Dorbolo and Endin Dafota and research associate Hamed Amini Tehrani are testing a new method, which involves concrete-filled steel tubes.
Professor Eunsik Kim (centre) congratulates Ilfeoma Michael and Elnaz Akhavan Rezaee on student research awards they received at the Association of Canadian Ergonomists conference.
Students in mechanical, automotive and materials engineering professor Eunsik Kim’s Occupational Safety and Ergonomics research lab are winning notice for their work to apply virtual reality to address issues in the physical world.
Master’s student Ifeoma Michael and doctoral student Elnaz Akhavan Rezaee each received awards for their presentations at the Association of Canadian Ergonomists conference, “Optimizing Human Performance,” in Calgary in October.
Dr. Kim said the awards are a testament to their hard work and the meaningful impact of their studies.
“The innovative research conducted by Ifeoma Michael and Elnaz Akhavan Rezaee truly exemplifies the forward-thinking approach we champion in our lab,” he said. “Their dedication to integrating virtual reality with ergonomics and transportation safety not only advances academic understanding but also holds remarkable potential for real-world applications. I am incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to their ongoing contributions to the field.”
Michael’s research offers a glimpse of a future where professionals can work more efficiently, no matter where they are.
Digital microfluidics is a fascinating field that involves the programmable manipulation of tiny discrete droplets on a chip. Droplets, much smaller than raindrops, are precisely controlled to perform various benchtop biological and chemical analyses on a device called a lab-on-a-chip.
Jalal Ahamed, a professor in the Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering, and doctoral student Gnanesh Nagesh are leading a collaboration with Professor C.J. Kim at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to combine several disciplines and develop a thermal control system for lab-on-a-chip devices.
Krista Ammonite, quality planning manager at NextStar Energy (fifth from left), meets with engineering students Sulayman Syed, Nicholas Nguyen Pham, Michael Schembri, Alessia Favrin, Drew Booker, Hanna Rashidzadeh, and Lauren Schmidt at the company’s battery manufacturing plant in east Windsor.
As Windsor’s NextStar Energy plant ramps up battery module production, local engineering students are gaining hands-on experience and honing skills vital to the region’s emerging electric vehicle sector.
A joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, the plant is Canada’s first facility of its kind to begin production. Construction on the facility broke ground in 2022, with the project celebrated as a major win for the community, expected to create 2,500 jobs.
Among those jobs is the first cohort of co-op students from the University of Windsor, who have had the opportunity to play a role in the plant’s launch.
An in-lab session Nov. 21 will provide information on an industry certification program equipping participants with skills for high-tech manufacturing roles.
The program is an industry certification designed to equip participants with essential skills for high-tech manufacturing roles. The in-person session will run 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation.
Mechanical, automotive, and materials engineering professor Shahpour Alirezaee, co-ordinator of the Siemens Mechatronics program, notes its applicability to the modern-day workplace.
At the University of Windsor, two teams — red and blue — are locked in a strategic battle, working toward the same goal: safeguarding the future of automotive cybersecurity.
With an eye on the future, SHIELD, the only centre of its kind in North America, has the goal of ensuring vehicles of tomorrow are safe and secure.
“I always go back to the difference between computers and cars,” said co-founder Mitra Mirhassani. “We typically keep our computers close and secure, while cars connect to networks outside our control when parked or at a repair shop. This lack of control raises safety concerns, especially since cars can physically harm us if their security systems fail.”
Get ready to spike away your stress — a volleyball tournament Nov. 9 in the Lancer Centre welcomes players from all faculties and programs.
The event is a fundraiser for the UWindsor concrete canoe team and organizers promise an opportunity to unwind and enjoy some friendly competition before exams.
Fall Open House promises a special treat to one visitor to the Centre for Engineering Innovation: a custom chess set created by technologists in the facility.
The set will be the second machined by engineering technologists Paul Mendes and Kevin Harkai. The original went to first-year engineering student Mollie Lane, whose entry was drawn from those submitted at the last open house.
Bill Van Heyst, dean of the Faculty of Engineering, said the set is a testament to the exceptional skills of the support staff, showcasing their craftsmanship and elevating their role from behind-the-scenes to front-stage innovators.
Professor Nihar Biswas has been inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
