Besides the obvious benefits of bringing together hundreds of scientists who study natural health products, a UWindsor biochemist hopes a major conference here next week will help people realize the potential of an already growing industry that could create new jobs and growth in that sector.
UWindsor doctoral candidates Chris Allan and Rebecca Williams will join 28 graduate students from across the province for the finals of the Three Minute Thesis competition today—Thursday, April 18—at Queen’s University.
The competition challenges researchers to offer a presentation on their thesis or dissertation topic to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.
Five students who brought home some of the top awards at a recent undergraduate chemistry conference say they couldn’t have done it if they didn’t study in such a tremendously supportive environment.
Jonathan Carson didn’t know much about microfluidics until he visited the University of Windsor.
“I really feel like I understand this a lot better now,” said the Grade 11 chemistry student at Riverside Secondary School.
Certain members of Chris Allan’s immediate family may be a little confused about what he does in the university’s chemistry department, but he hopes a contest which forced him to explain it succinctly in three minutes or less might clear up a few misconceptions.
There were a few times this past weekend when biology professor Oliver Love was watching presentations by fourth-year science students at Ontario Biology Day and could have sworn he was listening to graduate students.
“That’s how good they were,” he said. “I’ve never seen better presentations by undergrads.”
Winning the University’s inaugural Three Minute Thesis Competition was a little overwhelming for Chris Allan, but he is already looking ahead: “I am really excited to be going to Kingston,” he said.
The doctoral student in chemistry will represent Windsor in the province-wide competition, April 18 at Queens University, after taking top local honours Monday with his presentation “From your TV to the lab: Exploring the reactivity of indium.” He also will receive a $1,000 cash award.
The University’s first Three Minute Thesis Competition will wrap up today with presentations by eight finalists who advanced from the preliminary heats.
Research into the use of dandelion root extract to fight cancer is coming too late for Jennifer Ward’s father, but she hopes that in his memory, she can contribute to work to help others.
Earlier this year, Ward sent a $10,000 contribution to biochemistry professor Siyaram Pandey’s Kevin Couvillon Cancer Research Project.
Her father died of colon cancer in August 2012, says Ward, a Calgary resident. She had come across accounts of Dr. Pandey’s research while looking into treatments options for her father.
The Outstanding Scholars program should be a hallmark of the UWindsor experience, says provost Leo Groarke.
The program offers top high school graduates beginning post-secondary study an honorarium in exchange for work on academic research projects.
