Research & Innovation

‘Making invisible experiences visible’: University of Windsor study uses art to explore life after abuse

photo of a piece of artwork by participant 12A participant-created artwork from the study visually maps the complex help-seeking journey women often navigate after leaving a violent intimate partner. (SUBMITTED BY RACHEL ELLIOTT/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

For many women leaving a violent intimate partner, the journey to safety continues long after the relationship ends.

Rebuilding health, stability and quality of life often means navigating healthcare, housing, social services and community supports — a complex process researchers at the University of Windsor are exploring through an innovative arts-based study.

As May marks Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, the project examines the help-seeking journeys of women who have physically separated from violent intimate partners.

UWindsor honours 10 researchers pushing boundaries in 2026 excellence awards

Prarthana PillaiPrathana Pillai and Fallon Mitchell (not pictured) were this year’s recipients of the Outstanding Student Research Awards, graduate. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)

By Sara Elliott 

From freshwater restoration research to studies examining how drug policy and harm reduction services shape HIV prevention and treatment outcomes, the 2026 Research and Innovation Excellence Awards exemplified the innovative research, scholarship and creative activity currently happening at the University of Windsor.

On May 21, the University’s research community celebrated the awards presented by the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.  

Young physicists gain early research experience through internal scholarships

Emma PesceSecond-year medical physics student Emma Pesce received $1,000 to work in Dr. Steven Rehse’s laser spectroscopy lab. (Photo courtesy of Emma Pesce/University of Windsor)

By Sara Elliott 

Two University of Windsor physics undergraduates are gaining early research experience thanks to scholarships funded by professor emeriti. 

Distinguished University Professor Emeritus William Baylis and his wife, Bobbye Baylis, launched the Baylis Physics Research Internship in 2021. It offers an annual opportunity for a student to engage in advanced research with a faculty mentor. 

As Great Lakes lose ice, a UWindsor researcher makes the consequences visible — and wins an international prize for it

From left, Dr. Michael McKay, Steven W. Wilhelm and Brittany N. ZepernickFrom left, Dr. Michael McKay, Steven W. Wilhelm and Brittany N. Zepernick conducting research in the lab. (Photo by the Daylight Award/University of Windsor)

By Sara Elliott 

As climate change strips ice from the Great Lakes, something less visible is also changing: the underwater world of light that microscopic life depends on.  

When ice recedes, wind and water stir sediment, clouding the water and blocking the sunlight that drives photosynthesis at the base of the food web. What looks like a simple seasonal shift is, in scientific terms, a restructuring of habitat. 

UWindsor students’ experience in Tanzania inspires nursing research publication

A group of nursing students and faculty stand around a table of menstruation kits in Tanzania.University of Windsor nursing students and faculty sourced sustainable menstrual kits prepared for girls attending a leadership and health education program in Tanzania as part of a global health experiential learning initiative. (SUBMITTED BY RACHEL ELLIOTT/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

A group of University of Windsor nursing students have turned a transformative global experience into research, reflection and recognition.

Their manuscript, based on a three-week experiential learning trip to Tanzania last year, has been published in the Global Qualitative Nursing Research journal — marking a significant milestone for both the students and faculty involved.

From setback to success: Nursing student charts interdisciplinary path at UWindsor

Ali Mozafari stands in front of two emergency vehicles during training at CAF base in Windsor.Ali Mozafari during medical first responder training at a Canadian Armed Forces base in Windsor through St. John Ambulance, one of many experiences he pursued beyond the classroom to deepen his understanding of patient care and strengthen his path toward a career in healthcare. (SUBMITTED BY ALI MOZAFARI/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

Ali Mozafari’s path through the University of Windsor has been anything but linear.

A fourth-year nursing student with research experience spanning health sciences and engineering, his story is defined by resilience, curiosity and determination.

“Honestly, it’s been a chaotic journey,” he said. “But I’m proud of how I turned it around and everything I’ve been able to do since.”

What if your co-op was your own company? One UWindsor student found out

photo of Sydney Thompson and Kalkidan Wubshet standing at the head of boardroomSydney Thompson (left), program co-ordinator with the Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, stands with Kalkidan Wubshet, the first student to take part in the University of Windsor’s Entrepreneurship Co-op program. (MAHNOZ AKTARI/University of Windsor)

 

By Victor Romao

Instead of stepping into a traditional co-op role, University of Windsor computer science student Kalkidan Wubshet spent the work term building a startup — an experience that began with a simple realization.

“When it comes to communicating on campus, most students rely on word of mouth, Instagram, Discord, bulletin boards, etc.,” said Wubshet. “Everything is scattered.”

Is generative AI making us more productive, or less connected to our work?

A head and shoulders photo of Dr. Esraa AbdelhalimOdette School of Business professor Dr. Esraa Abdelhalim has received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant to study how generative artificial intelligence can be used to enhance workplace performance without undermining motivation or personal agency. (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor)

By Victor Romao 

For most workers, the appeal of generative AI is obvious: faster drafts, quicker analysis, less time on the routine parts of the job.  

UWindsor research powers the next wave of motion‑sensing technology

Dr. Jalal Ahamed and BhawyaDr. Jalal Ahamed, mechanical, automotive and materials engineering professor, and lab manager Bhawya in the MicroNano Mechatronics Lab at the University of Windsor. (ANGELA KHARBOUTLI/ University of Windsor)

By Lindsay Charlton

Every time a car deploys an airbag, a smartphone tilts its screen or a satellite adjusts its position in space, tiny motion sensors are at work — quietly measuring movement with remarkable precision.

At the University of Windsor, researchers are working to push that technology further, developing next-generation sensors that are smaller, more accurate and better suited for large-scale manufacturing.

Outstanding Scholar driven by advocacy and connection

Victorieuse SambaoOutstanding Scholar Victorieuse Sambao, a Law and Politics major and recently elected the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA) president. (Photo courtesy of Victorieuse Sambao/ University of Windsor)

By Lindsay Charlton

Victorieuse Sambao wants to see the world become a better place.

A natural people person, the Law and Politics major was recently elected and started her term as the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA) President, and that connection with others drives much of what she does.