The University of Windsor has implemented a range of initiatives that prioritize environmental responsibility and social equity, taking bold steps to pave the way for a more sustainable future.

Expected to be completed by the end of 2023, the Campus Carbon Neutral Master Plan strives to transform the University into a carbon-neutral campus by 2050, with a 45 per cent reduction by 2030. It has already completed a variety of carbon reduction projects including LED lighting retrofits and insulation, roof, building automation system, and HVAC upgrades. These updates alone have totalled more than 1,500 tonnes in annual savings.

Within the walls of the University’s Energy Conversion Centre on Patricia Street, work is underway to replace the steam-driven chiller with an efficient, dual-electric model. Once operational, it is expected to reduce the equivalent of 8,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and an estimated operating budget savings of $1.3 million per year.

“The positive environmental impact of this new chiller cannot be overstated,” said Nadia Harduar, the University’s sustainability officer, adding that this critical piece of equipment is used to cool buildings across campus.

“To put things into perspective, that annual C02 reduction is the equivalent to emissions from 2,400 return flights from Detroit to Tokyo.”

Environmental research is also critical to the University’s sustainability goals.

One of the many ongoing projects is The Amherstburg Piroli Map & Grow initiative. Researchers from the Faculty of Science have partnered with the Town of Amherstburg and the Piroli Group to help increase the municipality’s tree canopy and offset the negative impacts of climate change. Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, participants can pick up one free sapling of their choice with the agreement that researchers can visit the resident’s home to map the tree and monitor its growth.

In addition to creating a greener campus, work has begun to install 20 electric vehicle charging stations at the Toldo Lancer Centre, Faculty of Education, Assumption Hall, Centre for Engineering Innovation, and the Wyandotte Street parking structure.

UWindsor president Robert Gordon said sustainability is one of the key components of the University’s new strategic plan, Aspire: Together for Tomorrow. To help support this priority, the University has created a campus sustainability steering committee to provide oversight, expertise, and guidance for all projects and related activities.

“As a university we have a responsibility to lead by example and educate ourselves on how we can make real changes within our own communities through sustainability practices aimed at leaving a healthy world for future generations,” Dr. Gordon said.

To learn more about the University’s ongoing efforts, visit the campus sustainability website.

Harduar invites members of the campus community to join the UWindsor Green Team as it plants trees with the Essex Region Conservation Authority on Sunday, April 23, at 10 a.m. Find more information and sign up here.

The celebration continues at Malden Park with free activities and entertainment Sunday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Campus representation includes Let’s Talk Science and the Healthy Headwaters Lab.

No application to graduate in Spring 2023 will be accepted after April 28. Students must apply to graduate to receive their degrees, regardless of whether they plan to attend Convocation.

Graduands who apply to graduate will receive an email from the University of Windsor’s Convocation partner Marching Order, which will allow them to register for their ceremony, record their name and the phonetic pronunciation, and claim a maximum of three guest tickets.

Graduands do not require a ticket. Guests without a ticket can watch the ceremony in the overflow viewing area in the adjoining gym.

Spring 2023 Convocation ceremonies will run in 11 sessions from May 30 to June 2. Find the full schedule and ceremonial day information and updates here. Note: Graduands in combined programs attend the session of their primary major.

International students who would like to invite their family and require an invitation letter must wait until their graduation eligibility status is “conditionally eligible” before submitting the request. Refer to Ask.uwindsor.ca for further information.

In addition, international students who require a visa graduation letter for their post-graduate work permit applications must wait until their graduation eligibility status is “approved” before submitting the request. Refer to Ask.uwindsor.ca for further details.

Click here to learn how to claim a diploma without attending Convocation.

The Faculty of Science has announced the 2023 winners of its Science Awards.

Faculty and staff award recipients:

• Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Award (Faculty) – Tina Semeniuk, Department of Integrative Biology
• Going Above and Beyond in Research (Adjunct) – Caroline Hamm, Department of Biomedical Sciences
• Research Impact Award (Faculty) – Simon Rondeau-Gagné, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Service Excellence Award (Staff) – Janice Cahill, Department of Economics; Karen Metcalfe, WE-SPARK Health Institute
• Student Mentoring Award – Simon Rondeau-Gagné, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Roger Thibert Teaching Excellence Award (Faculty) – Martin Crozier, Department of Biomedical Sciences
• Friend of Science Award (Community) – Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation

Student Awards Recipients:

• Ambassador Award (Graduate) ­– Aya El-Hashemi, Department of Biomedical Sciences & Ehsan Ur Rahman Mohammed, School of Computer Science
• Ambassador Award (Undergraduate) – Anumita Jain, Department of Integrative Biology
• Graduate Assistant Excellence Award (Graduate) – Ala Alam Falaki, School of Computer Science
• Going Above and Beyond in Research (Doctoral) – Audithya Nyayachavadi, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The awards are designed to formally recognize and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of members within the Faculty of Science. Recipients received their awards at an event on April 6.

—Sara Elliott

An exhibition in the front window of the Dry Goods Gallery in Ford City features the work of School of Creative Arts students in the Introductory Photography course taught by Nadja Pelkey (BFA 2008), associate curator of projects and partnerships at Art Windsor Essex.

Nicole Baillergeon and Crystal Waddell of architectural and design practice Mean Studio selected more than 40 photographs to be mounted in the installation, Constructed Worlds.

Student photographers Avery Blazevich, Brayden Jones, Cindy Lai, Danish Niazi, Elise Potma, Gioia Greco, Hannah King, Haylee Ouellette, Heather Bezaire, Jay Newman, Jilian Christie, Jingying Wang, Julia Serek, Julianna Szeto, Julianne Gabucan, Katherine Brooks, Lianxingzi Xue, Maya Rice, Naomi Mcguffin, Nicholas Tracey, Omar Al-Faouri, Parker Mosey, Sarah Smitherman, Ruveyda Sahinduran, Shayla Coppola, and Victoria Shalton are represented in the exhibition.

The hotographs have been placed into an oversized re-interpretation of Charles and Ray Eames’ House of Cards. Taking a playful and exploratory approach mirroring the process of learning and design, Mean Studio has reconfigured the diverse themes of the students’ artworks into a diorama where the images can respond to each other as well as the surroundings of the gallery space in which they are displayed.

This project was made possible with the assistance of student curatorial co-ordinator Szaky Wu and MFA student Emma Feliciano.

Pelkey praises the collaboration with Mean Studio.

“Working with Nicole and Crystal on this project has been incredible,” she says. “It’s important for students to engage with creative professionals. It gives them the opportunity to learn about career paths, develop connections and relationships, and gain an understanding of what’s possible outside of the classroom.”

Pelkey notes that at the beginning of the term, some of the students had never used a camera or digitally edited an image.

“Now they have collaborated with professionals and are exhibiting their work in public,” she says. “Experiential learning is foundational to student success, both in their studies and their future careers in the arts.”

Constructed Worlds is on view at Dry Goods Gallery, 1012 Drouillard Rd., until June 16.

—Susan McKee

The reigning champion Brampton Honey Badgers selected Lancer guard Najee Brown-Henderson in the first round of the Canadian League Basketball League draft on Wednesday.

Brown-Henderson averaged 20.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and five assists in 2022-23, setting UWindsor records for single-season points with 453 and three-point buckets with 76.

League commissioner Mike Morreale called the draft class “elite,” and extended congratulations to all 20 U Sports players selected.

“We can’t wait to see everyone take the court starting May 24,” he said. “The future of pro basketball in Canada has never been brighter.”

Brown-Henderson will head to Brampton for training camp on May 13. The team will open the 2023 campaign on May 24, visiting the Ottawa BlackJacks in a game that will be nationally televised on TSN.

Read the full story at goLancers.ca.

A workshop on Tuesday, April 25, will explore the barriers instructors may encounter while communicating with students from cultures that are different from their own.

In this discussion-based workshop, participants will have the opportunity to discuss challenges they have encountered or may encounter in the future, and review strategies they can utilize to promote respectful and compassionate communication in the classroom.

The workshop will be instructed by Celina Ussoletti, an instructor in the Faculty of Nursing.

In addition to this workshop, the Centre for Teaching and Learning’s Teaching and Learning Series is also offering a session on why accessibility considerations are so important. The workshop, Collective Responsibility for Accessibility & Inclusion: Knowing Your Students, will be delivered Friday, April 28, by Cherie Gagnon, accessibility manager in the Office of Human Rights, Equity, and Accessibility, and teaching and learning senior fellow Veronika Mogyorody.

Both workshops will be in person in the CTL’s offices located at 700 California Ave. Visit the CTL registration system for more information or to register.