Science Matters End of 2018
Dean's Message

The Faculty of Science is a dynamic and exciting environment, and I am proud to serve as the Dean and grateful for the opportunity to work with such great Faculty, Staff and Students. 

In 2018, we experienced another year of growth in our undergraduate and graduate enrolments- we are a Destination Science program in the Province in Ontario! At the same time we have been increasing the number of faculty and welcomed 10 new faculty members this year. This has allowed us to maintain our provincial leading faculty to student ratio of 1:16. 

Our Faculty to Student ratio allows us to offer students with numerous opportunities to Lead, Engage, Apply and Discover through service learning, study abroad, internships and undergraduate research for credit. As just one example, Dr. Lisa Porter offered an exciting new Service Learning class called CURES in which students completed outreach projects to promote Cancer Care and Research in the Windsor-Essex Region. Quoting one of the community judges of the student projects, “The energy in the room was awesome! That’s what happens when you take science out of the lab and on the road.” Across the Faculty of Science there are many other examples of how our faculty are providing students with unparalleled and career-relevant experiences. 

In early December our new research facility, the Essex  C entre  O Re search (or CORe), officially opened. This 46,000 sq. ft building provides our faculty and students with state-of-the-art laboratory space and is the new home to research groups Materials Chemistry, Medical Physics and Translational Health. The grand opening and ribbon cutting will be in the spring and we invite all friends and former students of Science to join us for this important moment in the history of the Faculty of Science. 

The CORe is a testament to our strength in research- we punch well above our weight. In 2018 we saw an increase in tri-council funding, and announced $15.9 million in funding to Dr. Aaron Fisk and nine collaborators for the Real-time Aquatic Ecosystem Observation Network (RAEON), a collaborative research project which will provide infrastructure and data management for Canadian scientists to carry-out cutting-edge research on freshwater ecosystems. This year Dr. Roman Maev and collaborators received new funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) program, and as described below Dr. Charu Chandrasekera received $1.0 million in philanthropic support for the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods. This was truly a good year for research!

I expect that 2019 will be just as exciting and that we will have much to celebrate. Stay tuned for some very exciting announcements through social media, the Daily News and our next newsletter. 
Adjunct professor Subba Rao Chaganti honoured with American Society for Microbiology 2019's Award for Early Career Environmental Research.
Faculty Highlights

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research adjunct professor Subba Rao Chaganti is the recipient of the American Society for Microbiology's 2019 Award for Early Career Research.

The ASM Award for Early Career Research recognizes an early career investigator with distinguished research achievements that have improved understanding of microbes in the environment.

UWindsor associate professor Lisa Porter receives the 2018 David Kelly Award for Community Service from Chris Sullivan, chair of the board of directors of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
Faculty Highlights

Biological Science professor Lisa Porter is the recipient of the 2018 David Kelly Award. The annual award honours an individual who exemplifies and demonstrates extraordinary support to the brain tumour community in Canada.

Porter has dedicated her time, energy, and passion to better support the brain tumour community. Her contributions can be felt by many across Canada - from clinicians and fellow researchers, to students and patients, as well as families and the local community.

Student Spotlights
With a goal of combining his love for the environment with love of business, a UWindsor student has launched an enterprise to convert food waste into compost — fertilizing soil to grow more food.

Dane Fader, an environmental studies major, is the founder of GreenerBins Composting, which aims to pick up organic waste from homes, schools, and businesses, convert it into high-quality compost, and distribute it to farms and gardens.

He credits the RBC Summer Founders Program, which helps turn entrepreneurs’ ideas into viable ventures, with helping him get the project off the ground.
Dane Fader starts successful business GreenerBins Composting - converting food waste into natural fertilizer.
Student Spotlights
At the end of her first year of study in biological science, Lauren Goddard was one of three students hired for a summer internship at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research.

Goddard was interested in the research experience and decided to apply even though she felt she was a long shot as the other two student interns were in their third and fourth years of study.

The students made trips to the field on only several targeted days throughout the summer. They collected samples and brought them back to the lab, and then were trained in extracting genetic information.
Biology student Lauren Goddard collects samples in the field.
Student Spotlights
Alexander Rodzinka, Fatima Nadeem, and Jake Frank won second place — a $750 dollar cash prize — at the Pam and Rolando Del Maestro Family Undergraduate Student Research Competition, held at the 2018 Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada National Conference on October 19.

Team member Alexander Rodzinka says he learned a lot participating in the conference, and that it was a great opportunity to connect with the brain tumour community and meet people affected by the disease.

The student team had previously competed at the London Brain Tumour Research Symposium and Student Competition as a preliminary, which allowed them to advance to the finals for monetary prizes as one of the top four teams.
Alexander Rodzinka, Fatima Nadeem, and Jake Frank won second-place prizes at a competition for student research into brain tumours.
Science in the News
The National Research Universal reactor shut down in April 2018, leaving Canada without a major neutron source.
Professor Drew Marquardt hosted a three-day discussion at UWindsor on behalf of the Canadian Institute for Neutron Scattering.
A three-day workshop was hosted at the University of Windsor by Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry professor Drew Marquardt to lay the groundwork for Canada’s future in neutron scattering.

These discussions had long been anticipated since Canada’s National Research Universal (NRU) reactor shut down in April.

Marquardt says that since the shutdown of the NRU, Canada is alone among developed nations without either a neutron beam laboratory or a formal arrangement providing access to one.

The main goals of the workshop and discussions were to explore short term options in terms of gaining access to a neutron source. This included discussions about encouraging post-secondary institutions across Canada to agree to a neutron initiative that would explore the options of buying into agreements with foreign sources such as the United States.

Representatives from nine post-secondary institutions across Canada were in attendance, as well as from national labs and organizations, and industry members.
A new Functional Organic Materials Research Centre will be launched by chemistry and biochemistry professors Tricia Carmichael, John Trant, and Simon Rondeau-Gagné after receiving grants totaling $700,000.

The grants are from the  Canada Foundation for Innovation  (CFI), the  Ontario Research Fund  and contributions from industry partners.

The centre will allow Carmichael, Trant, and Rondeau-Gagné to expand on their current research into designing and synthesizing new organic materials to create wearable electronics, stretchable transistors, and highly specified drug delivery methods.
Chemistry professors Simon Rondeau-Gagné, Tricia Carmichael, and John Trant will head up a new Functional Organic Materials Research Centre.
Graduate student Ashley Watt holds up an endangered Mississippi gopher frog.
Graduate Student Ashley Watt is studying Mississippi gopher frogs at the Detroit Zoo for the purpose of captive breeding. The goal, Watt said, is for the frogs to successfully maintain a "self-sustaining" population.

This is one of many projects focusing on endangered species at zoos. Right now there are only 100 Mississippi gopher frogs remain in the wild.

Frog restoration projects like this also represent the first step in a more consistent partnership between the University of Windsor and the Detroit Zoo.
With autonomous vehicles close to appearing in significant numbers in the coming years, many questions of liability remain unanswered.
Society needs to decide how much control and privacy it is willing to hand over to autonomous vehicles. The computers on board your vehicle record all kinds of information, including audio.

The same automakers are also significantly supporting University of Windsor researchers working on creating vehicle-to-vehicle communication. This technology would allow two vehicles to recognize each other in the fog or at a blind corner even though their drivers are unable to see the other vehicle.
Ziad Kobti from the School of Computer Science discusses the ethical questions being raised regarding automotive AI.
Charu Chandrasekera is the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods.
A $1 million donation from the Eric. S. Margolis Family Foundation was gifted in support of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (CCAAM), dedicated to the development of alternative approaches to the use of animals in scientific testing.

The donation will fund the establishment of the CCAAM research and training laboratory, as well as research and academic program development. In recognition of this gift, the centre’s main research and training laboratory will be named the Eric S. Margolis Research and Training Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Methods.
Science Alumni in the News
Mitch Dender launched his clothing company For the Reef as an initiative to save coral reefs through t-shirt sales.

For the Reef

Mitch Dender, a graduate of the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, wanted to raise money to help with coral reef conservation.

He started his clothing company For the Reef. He sells hoodies, T-shirts, jewelry and ball hats all made from fabric that is microplastic free. The clothing is made from 70-per-cent bamboo, 30 per-cent-cotton, giving it a softer and more quality feel.

The company is striving to “rebuild the reefs with every purchase.”
KareKits Initiative

KareKits is an initiative designed to help reduce the number of preventable maternal and child deaths in Guatemala by helping to prepare and sustain local midwives.

The Karekits are low-cost kits equipped with all the necessary resources to prevent common causes of maternal and child deaths based on a developed curriculum to bolster and inspire a passion for basic science education as well promote oral hygiene, nutrition and a pro-active lifestyle.

The primary focus of the initiative is towards education, empowerment and support. This means rather than just providing resources and funds to areas in need, to instead highlight and target the necessary needs for a sustainable future.
UWindsor Faculty of Science grad Dominique Ferrarelli launched her KareKits initiative to supply midwives, new mothers and children with life-saving materials and knowledge.

Phil De Luna has been listed among 2019’s  Top 30 Under 30 in Energy  by Forbes magazine.

Top 30 under 30

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry alumnus Phil De Luna has been recognized for his contributions to the field of energy, as he is currently working on ways to convert carbon dioxide into renewable fuels and feedstocks.

He earned his honours bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Windsor in 2013 and is currently pursuing his PhD in materials science engineering at the University of Toronto. He expects to complete his dissertation by the end of 2018 — in only three years.
A short interview with Science Society president Jake Frank showcases the events and activities throughout Welcome Week 2018 at the University of Windsor's Faculty of Science.
With so many exciting new initiatives popping up at #WindsorScience, from research to unique student opportunities, it was time to collect their stories and share in a new medium. Enjoy our new YouTube channel .
Events

Dean's Reception  - First-year science students entering UWindsor with exceptional entrance averages are recognized, Sept. 13th, 2018. There were 480 students that made the 2017-2018 Dean's Honour Roll.

Dean's Honour Roll  - Returning science students registered on the 2016-2017 Dean's Honour Roll are recognized, Sept. 14th, 2018. There were 129 first year students (Fall 2018) with entrance averages of 90% or greater that were invited.

Code/Design to Win - A preliminary competition for a national programming and user interface design challenge took place on Sept. 28th, 2018. The event was sponsored by the School of Computer Science and the Office of Co-operation Education and Workplace Partnerships alongside Communitech, a public-private innovation hub based in the Waterloo Region. More than 150 students registered for the competition.

Parents Night - The first annual Parents Night event on Oct. 10th, 2018, hosted by USci Network’s Destination Science Initiative, was a chance for both parents and prospective students to mingle with faculty and discover the many undergraduate programs and learning opportunities available.

Science Olympiad - UWindsor Science Olympiad, hosted by the Faculty of Science, was held on Oct. 12th, 2018.

SHARKWATER: EXTINCTION - The Faculty of Science sponsored the film premier of SHARKWATER: EXTINCTION at the Windsor International Film Festival on Nov. 1st, 2018. Nigel Hussey from Biological Sciences was also there to share his own research on sharks and the human impact on animal behaviour, biodiversity and the ecosystem structure.

Birds and Beers II - Part of the Science Uncorked series and ran on Nov 15th. Birds and Beers II featured talks by University of Windsor ornithologists, a trivia contest with binoculars as the grand prize, and a display by the UWindsor Avian Taxidermy Club. Music students from the School of Creative Arts performed bird-themed tunes and graduate students displayed their research posters and answered questions about their work.

A Scientist Like Her - A full day of workshops open to all girls in grade 8 ran on Saturday, Nov. 17th. Students who attended were able to participate in hands-on activities and presentations in three areas of science: chemistry, computer science, and environmental science. Attendees also got the chance to interact with current UWindsor science students to learn more about university life and careers in science fields.

Windsor Regional Secondary School Computer Programming Competition - The School of Computer Science hosted its 15th Annual Windsor Regional Secondary School Computer Programming Competition on Dec. 7th, 2018. Thirty-five teams of 3 students each from 13 area high schools participated - the teams traveled from as far as Chatham, Leamington and Kingsville via courtesy transportation provided by the School for their chance to compete.
The Faculty of Science has helped students achieve their promise since the founding of the University in 1963. The Place of Promise campaign will help us attract and empower the finest faculty, staff, and, students through new capital projects, multidisciplinary research and the student experience.

Investments in our  strategic funding priorities  will help us achieve our goals to advance the Faculty of Science to a new unprecedented level.

For more information, contact  Gemma Grey-Hall  at gemmagh@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000 ext. 3957.
Faculty of Science
University of Windsor
401 Sunset Ave.
Windsor, ON  N9 B 3P4
519-253-3000 Extension: 30 09