Three University of Windsor doctoral students are finalists in a national competition to show Canadians the value of research in the social sciences and humanities.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Storytellers challenge allows students three minutes or 300 words to tell a story of how SSHRC-funded research is making a difference in the lives of Canadians.

The competition received more than 200 entries; Allison Gray, Ayesha Mian Akram and Amy Peirone — all in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology — were among the 25 finalists announced on Friday representing 14 postsecondary institutions across Canada.

Each finalist will receive a cash prize of $3,000 and will go on to compete in the Storytellers Showcase at the 2017 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, May 27 to June 2 at Ryerson University.

Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale, associate dean research and graduate studies in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said she is very proud of the finalists this year: “We did wonderfully well, with three of our four entries selected as finalists.”

View the video entries of UWindsor’s three finalists:

Allison Gray, “The Intersection of Animal Abuse and Inter-Personal Violence”

Ayesha Mian Akram, “Closing the Employment Standards Enforcement Gap”

Amy Peirone, “Spousal Violence in Canada”

The student centre wants ideas for fall activities, and is offering an incentive: a chance to win free front-row tickets to the Alessia Cara concert, July 2 at Caesars Windsor.

The Canadian multi-platinum recording artist first rose to prominence on the April 2015 release of her debut single “Here” and followed with “Wild Things,” “How Far I’ll Go,” “Seventeen” and “Scars To Your Beautiful.”

Her appearance in Windsor is an all-ages show. The giveaway contest offers two tickets to the front row and an additional two regular seats.

“We’re just trying to find out first-hand what sparks the students’ interests,” says Sandra Riccio-Muglia, the centre’s director of student events. “I am open to suggestions for events and activities that meet their direct needs.”

The prize draw is open to students only. To qualify, students must submit their ideas for an event this fall, along with their names and contact information, in the ballot box located at the centre’s info desk. The draw will take place at noon Friday, April 21.

With the slogan “Gear up for finals,” the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance is welcoming the return of UBike Share cycles to campus.

The service, offered in conjunction with the Zagster company, allows users to borrow bikes as needed through a mobile app. It launched last year and took a seasonal break, but the vehicles are rolling out again.

The timing couldn’t be better, says UWSA communications director Rick Santarossa. He is advertising the program as a healthy alternative for students on the go.

“The whole concept of the campaign is pretty simple — promoting the bikes for stress relief and transportation during exam season,” he says.

Learn more about UBike Share on the association’s website.

A conference at the University of Windsor May 18 and 19 will focus on issues surrounding copyright user rights and regulations from an international, multi-jurisdictional and interdisciplinary perspective.

Registration is now open for the Copyright User Rights and Access to Justice Symposium. Speakers will discuss human rights, property, contracts, remedies, social justice and access to justice theories in considering:

• how international conventions address — or fail to address — the rights and interests of users;
• how copyright law and policy have historically been tied to access to learning and what light might this shed on the present;
• the extent to which copyright law facilitates or hampers its most commonly stated objective to incent the creation and dissemination of copyright works; and
• what remedies or reform need to be put in place.

Find a full agenda and registration details on the conference website.

Campus food service outlets are shifting their schedules this week to meet patron needs during exams. Find the most current hours at uwindsor.ca/food/.

Monday, to Thursday, April 10 to 13

• Crocodile Grill, Vanier Hall, 7:45 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m.
• Marketplace, CAW Student Centre, 8 a.m. to midnight (to 8 p.m. Thursday)
• Tim Hortons, CAW Student Centre, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Brown Gold Café, Leddy Library, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (to 5:45 p.m. Thursday)
• Dividends, Odette Building, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tim Hortons, Centre for Engineering Innovation, 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
• Bru Alumni, 5 to 11 p.m.

Friday, April 14

• Crocodile Grill, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 15

• Crocodile Grill, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
• Bru Alumni, 5 to 11 p.m.

Sunday, April 16

• Crocodile Grill, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 11 p.m.
• Bru Alumni, 5 to 11 p.m.

The Bru outlet in the Toldo Health Education Centre is closed until September.