From left - Best presentation award winner; Tasnem Musa, and judges; Atousa Ahmadi, Mary Egbuta, John Hunter, and Stephanie Dupley at the third annual MCEcon Conference at the University of Windsor on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Courtesy Zareen Amtul/ University of Windsor)
University of Windsor students shared applied research in materials chemistry and engineering with scientists and industry professionals Aug. 13 at the third annual MCEcon Conference.
Hosted by the Master’s in Material Chemistry and Engineering program (MMCE), the conference gave students an opportunity to share their research, connect with industry professionals and build their professional networks.
“The event offered a valuable platform for students to present their research projects to industry, establish mentorships and engage with prospective employers,” says conference founder Zareen Amtul.
Students in the MMCE program, particularly those in the project-based stream, showcased applied research to external experts, highlighting real-world problem-solving in materials chemistry and engineering.
Tasnem Musa, an MMCE student, received the Ethos Engineering & Testing Best Presentation Award for her research on polymer composite coating adhesion strength using scratch testing. Amtul established the award with support from industry partners.
Scratch testing has direct applications in the automotive, aerospace, medical and electronics industries. University of Windsor faculty members Reza Riahi and Afsaneh Edrisy supervised her research.
“MCEcon is an event that I look forward to every year,” says John Hunter, a retired senior consulting scientist with Novelis. “I greatly enjoy my time at the University of Windsor and interacting with the students.”
The conference also included a career development workshop with panel discussions and interactive question-and-answer sessions where students heard from industry professionals about job search strategies, technical resumé writing and industry-specific career paths.
The conference concluded with a farewell to the MMCE program, recognizing its achievements and the students it has prepared for careers in the field.
