Research and Creative Activity

Game changer: Master of Education graduate tackles gender and video games

Kathleen Rose in front of her thesis defense presentationKathleen Rose wrote her Master of Education thesis on video games, gender and body image (PROVIDED BY K. ROSE/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Kathleen Rose (MEd ’25) calls herself a long-time gamer, playing early role-playing games (RPGs) like Baldur's Gate since the 1990s. 

As the mother of young children at the time, and as a woman in the male-dominated video gaming space, she began to wonder about what messages these games were sending to players about gender and bodies. 

“As an English teacher, games are a text. They’re a media text like anything else,” she explains. 

Outstanding Scholar transforms business education through innovative research

Photo of Outstanding Scholar Krista Abdel SaterUndergraduate student Krista Abdel Sater gains hands-on research experience through Outstanding Scholars, shaping resources for future business students. (SUBMITTED BY KRISTA ABDEL SATER/University of Windsor)

By Victor Romao

When Krista Abdel Sater walked into her first-year classes at the University of Windsor, she never imagined her business degree would lead her into academic research — or to a high-impact co-op role at one of the world’s leading professional services firms.

Study sheds light on mental health disclosure among workplace leaders

image of online counselling sessionA new University of Windsor study seeks input from leaders who have experienced mental health challenges. (COURTNEY/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM – stock.adobe.com/University of Windsor)

By Victor Romao

When it comes to mental health in the workplace, most conversations focus on employees seeking support from their supervisors.

But what happens when the person in charge is the one struggling?

A new study from the University of Windsor aims to answer that question by exploring how leaders manage mental health challenges and whether they choose to disclose those experiences to their teams.

Lifting weights, lifting spirits: Kinesiology student shares the joy of exercise with high schoolers through APEX

Chloé VidAmour in the gym at the Toldo CentreChloé VidAmour is an APEX program coordinator, MSc kinesiology and health studies student, and Lancer track and field athlete (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor).

By Kate Hargreaves

In high school weight rooms across Essex County, leadership class students and students with disabilities are sharing in the joy of exercise. 

Master of science in kinesiology and health studies student and APEX program coordinator Chloé VidAmour describes seeing these students build connections as “beautiful to watch.” 

“We see this blossom of friendship,” she says. “It’s so fulfilling to see how much everyone loves the program.” 

Curation as collaboration: MFA alumna wins curatorial award

Niku Koochak at Art Windsor-EssexAlumna Niku Koochak is a recent winner of a Galleries Ontario curatorial award. (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor).

By Kate Hargreaves 

Collaboration is at the heart of University of Windsor Master of Fine Arts (MFA) alumna Niku Koochak’s curatorial process. 

Koochak (MFA ’24) recently received the Galleries Ontario / Galeries (GOG) Award for First Exhibition in a Public Art Gallery for curatorial work at Art Windsor-Essex (AWE) as part of its Below the 6 series, which highlights Southwestern Ontario artists. 

UWill Discover Podcast: a student led perspective on research and discovery

Natasha Nakhle sits at a desk in front of her laptop & microphone.Natasha Nakhle is a student producer of the UWill Discover Podcast, amplifying UWindsor voices, research and discoveries. (SARA MEIKLE/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

Research is often thought of as something that happens quietly — in labs or tucked away in unseen corners of campus.

The UWill Discover Podcast is changing that narrative by giving student researchers at the University of Windsor a platform to share their work, experiences and curiosity in a way that is accessible, engaging and human.

UWindsor research shows surprising implications in fish farming

PhD candidate Dennis OtienoPhD candidate Dennis Otieno’s research shows that some farmed fish would prefer consuming microscopic organisms to commercial fish food pellets.  (Photo courtesy of Ken Drouillard/University of Windsor).

By Sara Elliott  

Some farmed fish are snubbing commercial fish food pellets in favour of naturally and freely available microscopic organisms and invertebrates.   

That is according to PhD candidate Dennis Otieno’s study which showed farmed tilapia in net-pen cages in Kenya were not significantly consuming the provisioned commercial fish feed – one of the highest costs of production. 

Getting Heated: Profs talk queer representation in sport and media

The characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov from Heated Rivalry wearing tuxedos on a balcony Actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie play hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in the hit streaming show Heated Rivalry. (BELLMEDIA/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

From social media to the Golden Globes, the spicy new TV show Heated Rivalry seems to be everywhere.   

The Canadian-made romance, directed by Jacob Tierney and based on the book series by Rachel Reid, centres around fictional gay and bisexual professional hockey players navigating their on-ice careers and personal lives.  

UWindsor study links climate-driven water level changes to increased toxic pollution levels in the Detroit River

PhD candidate Mona Farhani PhD candidate Mona Farhani assessed PCB levels to understand how climate-driven changes in water levels influence pollution dynamics in the Detroit River. (SARA ELLIOTT/University of Windsor)

By Sara Elliott 

As water levels in the Detroit River rise and fall, so do concentrations of toxic legacy pollutants. 

New research by University of Windsor environmental science PhD candidate Mona Farhani shows that higher water levels are associated with increased concentrations of bioavailable polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at some locations — a long-lasting toxic chemical linked to human and ecosystem health risks.

UWindsor lab seeks saliva samples during the seasonal illness peak

Maria Badalova and Domenic VaracalliMaria Badalova (left) and Domenic Varacalli (right) testing samples in the lab. (ANGELA KHARBOUTLI/University of Windsor)

By Sara Elliott 

With respiratory viruses surfacing this cold and flu season, University of Windsor researchers are asking ill members of the campus community to voluntarily provide saliva samples for viral research. 

The Saliva Screening Lab, which is part of a research project led by Dr.Kenneth Ng and supported by the New Frontiers in Research Fund, is appealing campus-wide to those feeling under the weather to help advance virus surveillance.