A new booklet from the Faculty of Science highlights accomplishments and achievements in research, teaching, and outreach. Read Destination Science: At the Leading Edge.

The Faculty of Science has seen tremendous enrolment growth consistently over the last five years, says dean Chris Houser.

“With a focus on hands-on learning in the lab and in the field, and a commitment to undergraduate research, service learning, internships, co-ops, and study abroad, undergraduate enrolment in our faculty has been growing at a rate greater than the provincial average for the sciences,” he says.

Growth has been particularly strong in health and biomedical sciences and in computer science, where Dr. Houser notes increasing strength in health research and innovation, cybersecurity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The substantial growth in undergraduate enrolment has been matched by strong growth in graduate enrolment which he predicts will continue with the introduction of 2+2 transfer programs and community-relevant programs over the next couple of years.

Programs offered by the faculty’s USci Network are engaging science students in a greater number and diversity of activities focused on science communication, career development, diversity and inclusivity in science, and student mental health and wellness.

“Providing students with opportunities to develop both their technical and transferable skills both inside and outside the classroom allows them to better prepare for their future careers in science,” says biomedical sciences professor Dora Cavallo-Medved, faculty leader of the USci Network. “In partnership with our faculty and the local community, students are playing a significant role in the growth and evolution of the Faculty of Science into the Destination Science program in Ontario. This is the place students want to be to learn, grow, and give back.”

Student organizations also provide social, service, and leadership opportunities to all students in the Faculty of Science. The Science Society, along with the Computer Science Society and individual departmental clubs, offers a variety of events and programs combining academics and community building to provide networking opportunities that stimulate personal and professional development.

“Advocating, representing, and unifying students in the Faculty of Science is the cornerstone of the work that our group of student leaders is dedicated to throughout every academic year,” says Luke Strong, president of the Science Society.

This growth has been supported by an investment in new faculty who are rising stars in fields across the sciences, from neutron scattering to healthy headwaters. They have contributed to a significant growth research funding led by large federal grants including the Real-Time Aquatic Ecosystem Observation Network (RAEON); Fisheries management and conservation Careers in Science and Technology (FISHCast); and the Genomic Network for Fish Identification, Stress and Health (GEN-FISH), as well as partnerships with industrial collaborators.

During the pandemic, science researchers have also played an active role in studying the novel coronavirus and researching strategies that keep Canadians safe, including new testing methods, wastewater monitoring, and mask testing. Seed funding for these projects has been supported by the Faculty of Science and the WE-SPARK Health Institute.

“The Faculty of Science continues to develop formidable research expertise across diverse fields, ranging from the environment, to biomedical science, to advanced materials, to data analytics and visualization,” says Dan Mennill, associate dean of graduate studies and research. “In many fields, scientists at University of Windsor are leaders at a national and international level, and we strive to propel all science researchers higher with strong and transparent support.”

The faculty is the Destination Science program in the Province of Ontario. Find out more through the new booklet.

Being located in one of the most fertile regions in Canada has afforded the University of Windsor opportunities to source foods from local farmers, says executive chef Paolo Vasapolli.

Those efforts have earned Food Services a unique distinction, as the only university in the province certified under the Culinary Tourism Alliance’s Feast On program, which recognizes businesses committed to sourcing and celebrating Ontario-grown food and drink.

According to an audit conducted as part of the certification process, residence dining purchases more than one-quarter of its food from local producers.

Valerie Keast of the Culinary Tourism Alliance says the certification lets patrons know they’re supporting the province’s food system.

“Supporting our local economy and Ontario’s farmers is important, especially for the food service industry. It builds our local food identity, it puts dollars back into our communities, and it limits our environmental impact,” she says.

“A Feast On certification proves you’re fighting the good fight.”

Vasapolli says he is proud of the recognition.

“It’s another great accomplishment for Food Services,” he says. “After a year of work and COVID in the middle of all this, we finally achieved certification of our commitment to local.”

Students and researchers seeking to learn more about applying data and statistical analysis to their research can now take advantage of a series of research data online workshops.

Librarians and data experts at the Leddy Library’s Academic Data Centre have curated a total of 12 workshops designed to introduce students to both geospatial and numeric datasets using geographic information systems and statistical applications as well as research data management support.

The workshops are free and will take place during the lunch hour throughout the semester using Blackboard Collaborate. No registration is required; simply join in using the link provided on the library website.

• Jan. 22 - Getting Started with Stata statistical software
• Jan. 29 - Guidance for Analyzing 2016 Census Microdata
• Feb. 5 - Research Data Management at the University of Windsor
• Feb. 10 - Introduction to the R programming language
• Feb. 11 - Mapping the Census with R
• Feb. 12 - Introduction to Linear Regression in R
• Feb. 18 - Introduction to Data Visualization in R Using ggplot2
• Feb. 26 - Discovering Data for Your Research
• March 11 - Survey Design and Analysis Using Qualtrics
• March 19 - Introduction to SAS
• April 7 - Introduction to GIS with ArcGIS Pro
• April 15 - Creating Web Maps with ArcGIS Online

The first workshop of the series takes place Friday, Jan. 22. Learn more about the Academic Data Centre and its services on the library’s website.

—Marcie Demmans

The University of Windsor Alumni Association is currently accepting nominations for the Alumni Award for Distinguished Contributions to University Teaching.

The intent to nominate form is due by the end of February, with the balance of materials required by the end of March.

Full-time members of the teaching faculty, with a minimum of five consecutive years teaching at the University of Windsor, are eligible. Click here for the award criteria, intent to nominate form, and submission deadlines.

For more information or assistance, contact Katherine Simon in Alumni Relations at kasimon@uwindsor.ca or phone 519-971-3618, ext. 4052.