June is Indigenous History Month and, to honour its intent, Leddy Library’s Indigenous outreach librarian Jennifer Soutter has curated a short list of resources to help others get started on learning about Indigenous Allyship.

“The list includes some of the resources that helped orient me and change my thinking as a settler who is undergoing this journey of reconciliation on the traditional lands of the Three Fires Confederacy,” said Soutter. “Many of the items included in this list reflect both my learnings to date and my limitations, as I feel I am at the front end of a journey full of waystations.”

This list features six sections related to being on the land in this geographic and cultural area, each curated to educate and encourage others to reflect on learning about Indigenous communities, their history, and what it means to be an ally:

• Local communities
• Check yourself
• Align values for the work
• Approaches to start educating yourself
• Settler history of the land
• Continuing your journey

The Leddy Library invites you to explore these resources and others to learn more during Indigenous History Month.

To suggest additional readings or resources for the list, contact Soutter at jsoutter@uwindsor.ca.

The University of Windsor conferred the title of Distinguished University Professor on civil and environmental engineering professor Ram Balachandar during spring Convocation celebrations Wednesday, May 31.

The rank is awarded to senior scholars at the height of their careers who have distinguished achievements in teaching, and whose scholarly activities reflect a body of work recognized at a national or international level.

In 2019, Dr. Balachandar received the 2019 Camille A. Dagenais Award from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering for his outstanding contributions to the development and practice of hydrotechnical engineering in Canada.

Dr. Balachandar has held administrative positions as head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, associated dean of engineering, associate vice-provost, and vice-provost international.

His research in civil engineering focuses on open channel flows and fluid-structure interaction, with his efforts in the area of scour leading to substantially improved design equations. Balachandar has published 150 journal papers, six book chapters, and more than 200 conference papers and is an associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering.

—Naomi Pelkey

Recently, the Department of Philosophy hosted its first-ever Philosophy Salon Event, drawing approximately 120 students from three Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board secondary schools: Assumption, St. Anne, and St. Joseph’s.

The event was the brainchild of alumna and current high school teacher, Taunia Piknjac Phillips (BA 1994, B.Ed 2004), who approached philosophy professor Jeff Noonan to make this idea become a reality.

Students were welcomed by Cheryl Collier, dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and Sheri Lowrie, the faculty’s recruitment and outreach co-ordinator.

Each table discussion was led by either a faculty member or a senior philosophy student. Participants included professors Cate Hundleby and Marcello Guarini and students Sofia Piknjac Phillips, Izaak Piknjac Phillips, Matt Ribble, Dylan Menard, Albert Behm, and Tina Wadhawa.

Topics ranged from a consideration of the nature of philosophy through metaphysics, ethics, science and artificial intelligence, and aesthetics. Each discussion lasted 30 minutes, followed by a pizza lunch and closing remarks by Dr. Noonan.

The salon returned philosophy to its roots in the free flow of give and take, question and answer. The high schoolers reported that they enjoyed the freedom from the confines of the classroom and the opportunity to explore philosophical problems with their university peers.

“The energy and inquisitiveness of the secondary school students fuelled the day,” Noonan says. “The philosophy students and those of my colleagues who participated all agree that it should become a regular event.”

—Susan McKee

An event Thursday, June 15, will bring together community leaders, changemakers, and outstanding individuals to explore ground-breaking solutions for ever-pressing social issues.

Greennovation Social is hosted by the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre) and Libro Credit Union starting at 4 p.m. at the Bloomin’ Gardener garden centre, 6673 8th Concession, Oldcastle.

A panel of local community leaders will explore innovative solutions surrounding climate change in our area and beyond and discuss how they achieved their roles as “Greennovators,” followed by a presentation by a certified aromatherapist and a networking session.

Moderated by Gurbeen Bhasin (MA 1994), executive director of the Toronto-based social enterprise Aangen, the panel will include:

• Nadia Harduar, sustainability officer, University of Windsor
• Dane Fader, founder, Greener Farms
• Paul Mancini, co-founder, Green Future Growth
• Niharika Bandaru, executive director, Windsor of Change
• Stepan Tuzlov, co-founder and business operations, Windsor of Change

Tickets are $20, with a student rate of $10, with proceeds benefiting the Campus Food Pantry and Windsor of Change.

Secure your spot at the Greennovation Social by registering through Eventbrite by June 14.

Aangen focuses on advancing food security and social justice locally and globally. Bhasin, its founder, will share her insights into the concept of circular economy and what it could mean for a sustainable future in a free virtual session on Thursday, June 8. Find more information and register for the noontime Zoom workshop on the EPICentre website.

The Organization of Part-time University Students invites interested students to register for training at the Ontario Skills Development Symposium, June 16 to 18.

Hosted at York University by the Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario, the event promises sessions on housing, financial, and legal rights, and more. It is aimed at student union executives, staff, board members, and volunteers, but open to all students.

Space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, email opus@uwindsor.ca. Travel and accommodation arrangements will be confirmed later.