Research that will ultimately make it safer for children to get to school or home from the park whether they’re walking, pedalling their bikes or riding in the back of a car got a $1.7 million boost yesterday.

“Each year, about 130 Canadian children under the age of 15 die as a result of road traffic injuries,” said Anne Snowdon, AUTO21 Theme Coordinator for Health, Safety and Injury Prevention, and a professor at the Odette School of Business.

“This research will help reduce those injuries by ensuring children are safer riding in cars, or walking or cycling in their neighbourhoods.”

Federal Minister of State, Science and Technology Gary Goodyear was joined Monday by Essex MP Jeff Watson to announce the funding for Dr. Snowdon’s team from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the University of Windsor, and Transport Canada.

Snowdon, who will work with Dr. Andrew Howard of the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto), called the financial support “overwhelming.” The research will allow her team to:

• address the high rate of child occupant injuries in vehicles through child safety seat interventions and public policy action
• translate knowledge of the patterns of safety seat use and misuse into the design and commercialization of a new generation of child safety seats
• examine pedestrian safety and cycling safety for children.

Peter Frise, Scientific Director and CEO for AUTO21, called Snowdon one of Canada’s leading authorities on child safety and said the network was pleased to contribute more than $700,000 to a project that will have “far-reaching benefits for families.”

“It’s important to get knowledge in to the hands of knowledge receptors” such as manufacturers, policy makers and families, Dr. Frise said.

President Alan Wildeman said he was delighted that the University of Windsor is contributing $150,000 to such an important research initiative.

“Investing in research is investing in people,” said Dr. Wildeman, “and this research is based upon the highest standards of excellence in the world. Anything that’s about saving lives and improving lives is important.”

CIHR contributed $600,000 to the project, with NSERC providing $200,000 and Transport Canada pitching in $60,000.

Kali Gawinski is fit, but was surprised how much of a workout yoga is.

The MHK candidate is looking for participants in a study of the physiological benefits provided by practising yoga, which involves specialized breathing techniques, physical exercises and postures, and meditation.

“We’re comparing hot yoga to regular yoga, trying to determine whether they provide physical benefits on a par with more traditional forms of exercise,” says Gawinski. “Does yoga impact cardio-vascular fitness?”

In preparing for her research this spring, she decided to try yoga herself.

“I was a varsity athlete,” says the former long distance runner, who competed with the Lancer cross country and track teams. “I can tell you yoga is pretty tough, challenging in a very different way from sports.”

She is looking for volunteers new to yoga willing to try it for two months. They will receive free classes at the Downtown Yoga Studio and will have their health monitored—heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol levels—during the study period.

“I found a lot of prospective subjects are excited at the thought they will get to go in the BodPod,” the kinesiology department’s high-tech diagnostic tool, Gawinski says.

Her study requires volunteers, either male or female who are between the ages of 18 and 35 years and work out vigorously fewer than two times per week.

For more information or to volunteer, contact her at 519-253-3000, ext. 4984.

Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? The entire campus community—students, faculty and staff—is invited to celebrate the start of the academic year with a free barbecue on Tuesday, September 13, from noon to 1:30 p.m. (while supplies last) in the quad between Dillon and Chrysler Halls. This event will proceed rain or shine!

The event is hosted by Special Events, Office of the President; the Alumni Association; and the University of Windsor Students' Alliance, with thanks to sponsors Food & Catering Services.

This year there’s a change of menu, says organizer Mary-Ann Rennie.

“We have decided to try something new that we hope will satisfy all our diners: an all-beef Mediterranean Smoky sausage, complete with a variety of toppings--onions, tomatoes, hot peppers and, of course, the old stand-bys mustard, ketchup and relish,” she says. “Vegan and vegetarian folks will have the option of a jumbo veggie dog. As in the past, a bag of potato chips and a bottle of water will complete the meal.”

Neb Zachariah is used to giving her all. The second-year Master's in Human Kinetics student earns high grades and excels as a member of the Lancer track and field team. She captured the gold medal in triple jump at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships in March 2011.

Zachariah has many tools in her arsenal to meet the high goals she has set for herself on the field and in the classroom, from supportive professors to the best spikes. Among the most valuable, though, is the Blue and Gold Scholarship she earned as a top scholar-athlete.

Read the cover story, “Annual Giving 2011: It All Adds Up,” in the Fall 2011 edition of View magazine, now available online. 

Due to popular demand, DailyNews is happy to provide links to the videos shown at last week’s Welcoming Celebration.

• In Future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades, students discuss their experiences at the University of Windsor.
• In Sentimental Semesters, current deans recall their own early days at university.

Producer Peter Freele of the Centre for Teaching and Learning said making videos for and about students is one of the best parts of his job.

“It's always inspiring to hear about all the great things our students are up to,” he said. “Whether it’s building a school for kids in Peru, working with young entrepreneurs in Windsor high schools, or winning a national basketball championship, our students are giving us reason to be proud.”

Krystal Chan didn’t make the dean’s honour roll in her first year, so reaching that goal in her second made it all the sweeter.

The biology major was one of more than 100 honour students on hand as the Faculty of Science celebrated its high-achieving undergraduates on Friday, September 9. The faculty also welcomed 67 new students who entered the University with an average of 90 percent or higher. The reception addressed by UWindsor president Alan Wildeman and computer science alumnus Ali Al-Aasm, founder of application developer Red Piston.

“It’s good to know that the administration and the faculty build pride by holding events like this for the students,” Chan said. “It’s a great way to honour the achievements of the students.”

Science undergrads received a total of more than $1 million in awards, scholarships and bursaries, said Marlys Koschinsky, dean of science. She personally congratulated each attend attendee and distributed messenger bags emblazoned with the Faculty of Science logo. Provost Leo Groarke added buttons reading “Science Genius in Action.” 

Last week’s contest on Detroit proved so popular, we’re having another. Today’s quiz gives DailyNews readers a chance to show what they know about some Detroit art.

The winner will be selected at random from all correct responses received by 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 13. To be eligible, select the most correct answer to each of the following questions:

1. The Detroit Institute of Arts boasts a 27-panel fresco cycle by muralist Diego Rivera. What is the formal title of this masterwork?
a) Detroit Industry
b) Evolution of Man
c) Fruits of Labour
d) Indigenous Cultures

2. The Monument to Joe Louis, by Robert Graham, is located at the foot of Woodward Avenue and weighs about four tons. Which publication commissioned this tribute to the late heavyweight boxing champion?
a) Crain’s Detroit Business
b) Detroit Free Press
c) Detroit News
d) Sports Illustrated

3. Marshall Fredericks’ Spirit of Detroit sculpture was called the largest cast bronze statue since the Renaissance when it was dedicated in 1958. In front of what building does it sit?
a) Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
b) Detroit Institute of Arts
c) Michigan Eastern District Court
d) Renaissance Center

Contest is open to all readers of the DailyNews. Send an e-mail with your responses to uofwnews@uwindsor.ca. One entry per contestant, please. Note: the decision of the judge in determining the most correct response is inviolable.

Library worker wins books

Christina Olsen, access services clerk in the Paul Martin Law Library, won yesterday’s trivia contest and the reward of two books by UWindsor resident writing professional Marty Gervais.

Olsen’s name was drawn from all entries who correctly identified Gervais’ first name as Charles, booze as the subject of the Rumrunners, Riverside as his boyhood home, My Town as the name of his column, and Black Moss Press as his publishing company.