Second-year student Will Conlon is continuing a family tradition in physics. (SARA ELLIOTT/University of Windsor)
By Sara Elliott
The passion for physics runs strong in one University of Windsor family.
Second-year student Will Conlon is continuing a family tradition in physics, following his maternal grandfather, John A. Giffen (BSc ’62, MBA ‘72), who graduated from physics in 1962.
“He was excited when I told him I was thinking of going into physics and following in his footsteps,” says Conlon.
Giffen, who had held on to his textbooks, passed them along to his grandson.
“I flipped through them over the summer going into my first year and it was cool to see how different these old textbooks were back then,” says Conlon.
“A lot of it held up and was interesting and since the majority of my textbooks are online it was interesting to see these physical books.”
Giffen, who returned to UWindsor in the 1970s to earn his MBA, says he is proud to see his grandson enrol in the physics program.
John A. Giffen (BSc ’62, MBA ‘72) graduated from physics in 1962. (Photo courtesy of John A. Giffen/University of Windsor)
"I am very proud of my grandson William, partly because he chose the physics program at the University of Windsor, and also because he is an excellent student and young man,” says Giffen.
“He enjoys physics, as do I, and I'm sure he'll have many more successes in the future.”
While studying as an undergraduate, he worked with then head, the late Dr. Lucjan Krause, as the department was initially forming.
“I graduated in 1962 when it was still called Assumption University of Windsor and I remember Dr. Kraus very well. He was a great help to me.”
After graduating, Giffen got a full-time job at Hiram Walker. He went to night school to complete an MBA. He later served on the Board of Regents at Assumption University and the Board of Governors at the University of Windsor.
Conlon is a double major in physics and mathematics and statistics. He says it can be tricky, but the key is to dedicate yourself to studying hard.
This year, Conlon won the science Board of Governors’ in-course medal for his 98.6 academic average. The award is given to the undergraduate student in each faculty with the highest cumulative average.
“I believe whatever major you choose, if you’re passionate about it and work hard, you can do well,” he says.
As a member of the Outstanding Scholars program, Conlon also works as a researcher in Dr. Steven Rehse’s physics lab.
“We shoot lasers at bacteria and analyze the light that comes off of it to determine the type of bacteria in the sample,” he says.
“I talk to my grandfather a lot about my research and how classes are going. He thinks it is cool because it is a novel way to use lasers and it is something that wouldn’t have been possible in his day.”
From left, Phil Dutton, Will Conlon and Claudio Verani. Conlon won the science Board of Governors’ in-course medal for his 98.6 academic average. (LAURA LAURIE/University of Windsor)
In addition to being treasurer of the physics club, Conlon volunteers at the University’s Spring Open House and says the department is an easy sell.
“It is a small department and it’s easy to get to know your professors and get into research – almost everyone I know in the physics program is involved in research,” he says.
“The marketability of a physics degree shouldn’t be downplayed, especially in this economy. It is the best of both worlds for me. I’m passionate about it and I could get a good job after graduation.”
Conlon comes from a family of UWindsor alumni, including his paternal grandfather, his parents and two sisters.
He would like to stay on a research path and pursue a master’s degree.