Derek O. Northwood, Distinguished University Professor and professor of engineering materials in the Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering, will be inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in an awards ceremony November 18 in Kingston, Ontario.

Election to its academies is the country’s highest scholarly honour. Dr. Northwood is one of 89 new fellows elected this year by their peers in recognition of outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievement. He will join the Applied Sciences and Engineering Division of its Academy of Science.

His citation reads: “Derek O. Northwood’s contributions to Materials Science and Engineering focusing on materials characterization have earned him national and international recognition and numerous prestigious honours and fellowships. His productive research career has resulted in 378 papers in refereed journals that have been cited over 5,000 times. Dr. Northwood is a world leader in the area of surface engineering, where he is developing novel methods for improving surface properties of different materials.”

K.W. Michael Siu, UWindsor vice-president, research and innovation, said the honour exemplifies the highest regard that the academic community holds for Northwood.

 “Derek has made numerous and significant contributions to engineering over his long and illustrious career,” Dr. Siu said. “I am absolutely delighted that the Royal Society has elected to honour him.”

Northwood is the first member of the UWindsor Faculty of Engineering elected to the Royal Society of Canada.

He has known most of his UWindsor colleagues in the Royal Society, and said he is honoured to join them.

“Certainly these are people who have left their marks on the University and in their fields,” said Northwood. “This is great company to be in.”

Past inductees affiliated with the University of Windsor include artist Iain Baxter&, jurist William Conklin, litterateur Thomas Dilworth, physicists Gordon Drake and J. William McConkey, geochemist Brian Fryer, historian Leslie Howsam, philosopher Ralph Johnson, chemist K.W. Michael Siu, the late author Alistair MacLeod and the late neuropsychologist Byron Rourke.

Volunteers from across campus will make sure the University of Windsor is well-represented during the Open Streets civic festival, Sunday, September 18.

The event will close an eight-kilometre stretch of roadway to vehicular traffic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., combining physical activity with community building. The route begins in Sandwich and proceeds down University Avenue to the city centre, from there along Wyandotte Street to Ford City.

It comprises activities along the way, including nine formalized hubs. The University Hub on University Avenue extends from Huron Church Road to California Avenue and will host:

• a teepee set up by the Aboriginal Education Centre;
• free apples and water from Catering Services;
• living statues formed by the School of Dramatic Art;
• fitness classes and Lancer tattoo station courtesy of Athletics and Recreational Services;
• displays of projects by engineering students;
• tours of the Campus Community Garden; and
• an information booth on Healthy Living by the Faculty of Nursing.

“People traffic replaces car traffic, and the streets become paved parks where folks of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, can hit the streets on foot, bikes or rollerblades, to mingle and improve their health through an array of outdoor activities,” says Mary-Ann Rennie, who is helping to co-ordinate the University’s participation.

“We invite members of the University community, along with their families and friends, to come out on Sunday morning to participate in this worthwhile community initiative, which follows similar events in more than 100 cities in North America!”

Find more information on Open Streets Windsor, including a map of the route, on the city’s website.

The Lancer football team will offer thanks to UWindsor employees during its game Saturday, September 24, on Alumni Field.

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day will see a number of special deals, including:

• free admission to the game for all faculty and staff with UWin ID;
• ability to bring a guest for just $5;
• a prize draw for a free night’s stay at the Holiday Inn and Suites on Huron Church Road and a gift certificate to the attached restaurant, Grill 55.

The Lancers do not play this coming weekend and have a 1-2 record, including a 33-29 victory in their only home game so far this season. On September 24, they will face the Ottawa Gee-Gees, currently 2-0 and ranked eighth in Canadian Interuniversity Sport. Game time is 1 p.m.

A new gate across what used to be Patricia Road north of Wyandotte Street makes manifest the University’s presence, says president Alan Wildeman. He officially pronounced it operational after demonstrating its function to a gathering of UWindsor staff, students and officials Wednesday.

“It delineates that you’re now at the University of Windsor,” Dr. Wildeman said, praising its bold, modern design.

The gate is fashioned in stainless steel and extends across the south end of Alistair MacLeod Walk, greeting motorists who reach the campus from Huron Church Road via Patricia Road. Designed by +VG Architects as part of the campus master plan, it was fabricated by Cunningham Sheet Metal and installed by Alliance General Contracting.

If necessary, it can be retracted by Campus Police and other emergency responders.

Today is the day. The entire campus community is invited to celebrate the start of the academic year with a free barbecue today from noon to 1:30 p.m. (or while supplies last) on the pedestrian walkway east of Chrysler Hall Tower, rain or shine.

Enjoy live music with your free hotdogs, chips and drinks—even a vegetarian option—served up by campus celebrities. The event is hosted by the Office of the President with support from the Alumni Association and Food and Catering Services.

Customers of the Campus Bookstore who participate in its Textbook Buyback program can take advantage of an extra incentive this September: a 10 percent bonus for accepting a gift card over cash as payment.

The buyback program offers as much as half the original purchase price for certain used books in good condition. Get details on the store’s website.

Patrons who sell texts by September 23 will qualify for the extra 10 percent if they opt for payment in the form of a Campus Bookstore gift card.