A popular demonstration will return to Science Rendezvous Windsor after a hiatus of a few years.

The fire tornado will appear during the Phunky Physics Show at 1 p.m., right in the middle of the day’s activities, which run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in the Education Gym. Science Rendezvous is a national effort to promote science education, featuring hands-on exhibits and demonstrations.

The fire tornado, which illustrates the principle of conservation of angular momentum, was constructed by University of Windsor undergraduate physics majors alongside the department’s machine shop in 2011. It garnered national attention the next year, when the Discovery Channel program Daily Planet aired a demonstration.

Saturday’s agenda also includes a Chemistry Magic Show and opportunities to experience the fields of astronomy, robotics, forensics, genetics, and more. Find additional information on the Science Rendezvous Windsor website.

English students put an unexpected surplus to good use last week, making a $300 donation Friday to Windsor’s Welcome Centre Shelter for Women.

The money was raised by students in Marty Gervais’ publishing practicum course for the April 5 launch of three books they shepherded into print.

“After we covered the costs of our event, we had some funds left in reserve,” Gervais explains. “The students strongly felt the cause at the shelter was worth supporting.”

The centre provides emergency shelter to women experiencing homelessness.

A thousand pounds of UWindsor batteries stayed out of landfills last year and found new use through recycling, thanks to the efforts of the Chemical Control Centre.

Tina Lepine, hazardous materials technician in the centre, says a 2015 push to encourage the drop-off of used batteries and cell phones on campus paid big dividends.

“We went full force to put out information and flyers,” she says. “We use a program called Call2Recycle, which is supported by the provincial government to promote the recycling of batteries.”

Call2Recycle, established in 1996, is North America’s first and largest battery stewardship program—a non-profit organization that collects and recycles batteries at no cost to municipalities, businesses and consumers. The company has diverted more than 45 million kilograms (100 million pounds) of batteries and cellphones from the solid waste stream and has more than 30,000 collection sites throughout Canada and the U.S.

Lepine was behind efforts to place collection boxes around campus to give the campus community more convenient ways to drop off old batteries and cell phones.

“We have about 15 collection boxes across campus,” she says. “When they are full, they are collected and shipped out. It’s an efficient and structured program. New stuff comes in all the time and we do our best to find a home for things. It’s all about having a cradle-to-grave plan for what we use.”

Two free workshops offered this week by Career and Employment Services will help students find their footing in the job market.

Insider Job Search Tips is set for 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, in room 351, Dillon Hall.

Career Decision Making is set for 11 a.m. to noon Friday, May 6, in room 2127, Erie Hall.

Students may register in advance on mySuccess at https://success.uwindsor.ca; drop-ins are also welcome.