The University of Windsor has been named one of the top research universities in Canada, ranking No. 1 in garnering the greatest percentage of its total research funding from international governments.

The annual ranking, published by Research Infosource Inc., also rates Windsor as a powerhouse in research related to artificial intelligence. Windsor ranks No. 2 in Canada for the percentage of its publications related to artificial intelligence research.

“This ranking speaks to the bold and impactful contributions our researchers make at the international stage,” said Shanthi Johnson, UWindsor vice-president, research and innovation. “Our commitment to emerging technologies makes UWindsor a leader in AI research, contributing to our nation’s global reputation and competitiveness.”

Research Infosource Inc. is a research, consulting, and publishing firm that specializes in research and development analytics. It publishes annual rankings of Canadian universities, hospitals, colleges, and corporations that engage in R&D. The ranking published Thursday is called Canada’s Innovation Leaders 2024 and is based on data from the fiscal year ending in 2023.

The University of Windsor ranks fourth in Canada for the total amount of funding it brings in from international governments, sixth for the percentage of its research income coming from not-for-profit organizations, and seventh in the percentage of its research income coming from corporations.

Dr. Johnson credited collaborations with the community, government, and industry partners for UWindsor’s high rankings in those important metrics. “UWindsor is not only competitive with larger comprehensive institutions, it surpasses them in several categories.”

Windsor’s showing in the Canada’s Innovation Leaders ranking follows recognition earlier this year as the most improved Canadian institution in the QS World University Rankings. The global list, released in June, ranked UWindsor 547 of the more than 5,600 universities evaluated worldwide, an improvement of about 100 spots since 2021.

The campus community is invited to gather on Friday, Dec. 6, to honour the 14 women killed in the 1989 massacre at École Polytechnique in Montreal.

A ceremony reflecting on the ongoing fight against gender-based violence will begin at noon at the Memorial of Hope, located between Dillon and Essex halls. The event will include remarks from campus representatives, a reading of names, and a moment of silence.

Laverne Jacobs’ election to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities almost didn’t happen.

“I didn’t actually see the call for nominations when it first went out,” says Dr. Jacobs, associate dean of research and graduate studies in the Faculty of Law. Colleagues encouraged her to put her name forward to become Canada’s nominee in a process Jacobs described as multilayered.

“I put my name forward with the support of several organizations in the disability community and was invited for an interview with Global Affairs. People may not realize this, but that’s only the beginning,” she said. “Once I became Canada’s nominee, the next step was to run for election.”

She campaigned for more than a year, giving talks and meeting with diplomats who reported back to the ambassadors who would ultimately cast votes at the UN. She was elected to the committee in June 2022 to serve a four-year term working to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities across more than 180 countries that are states parties to the Convention.

In this role, Jacobs mobilizes years of research on the intersections of law and disability and strives to add focus on other intersecting lived experiences including women, LGBTQ2S+ people, people of different ages, and racialized people. Her background as both a human rights lawyer and academic, and her lived experience with disability, give her a unique and important perspective on the cases that come before the committee.

She brings this experience to the classroom, teaching a course called “Law, Disability and Social Change.”

“I want students to think about the possibilities that are out there for ways of sharing knowledge to help their communities,” says Jacobs. “We often think about how to serve our immediate communities, but skills can have impact on a global community.”

Learn more in the full article, “Expertise on the global stage,” published in the Research and Innovation in Action report.

Sarika Sharma is making strides in ecosystem restoration monitoring while pursuing her master’s degree in environmental science. 

Using drone imagery, Sharma is monitoring characteristics of tallgrass prairie environments to inform and evaluate restoration efforts. 

“Tallgrass areas provide habitat for so many of our native species. Since they’re a highly endangered ecosystem, they’re among the last remaining places where you’ll find some of these unique flora and fauna,” she said. 

“Beyond providing a home, they’re also incredibly valuable to overall ecosystem health. For example, with tallgrass prairies, you’ll often hear about their root systems. That’s because so much happens beneath the surface. The density, depth, and extent of these roots help stabilize soil, store carbon, and act as a water filtration system.” 

Sharma’s work began during her undergraduate thesis. She visited the Sydenham River Nature Reserve, an active restoration area co-stewarded by Ontario Nature, Lambton Wildlife, and the Sydenham Field Naturalists, where she captured drone images of a field being restored with native tallgrasses. The goal was to determine if and how drone imagery could accurately and efficiently portray tallgrass plant communities. 

Supported by the Robert Kingsley Jull Memorial Scholarship, Sharma said the funding supported the technical aspects of the project, including data collection and processing. 

“A lot of the technical and hardware equipment was fortunately available in the School of the Environment, but having those extra funds made supplementary tools easily accessible to me,” she said. “It alleviated some of the financial pressures, supported us during our site visit, and streamlined the entire process.” 

Receiving the $2,000 scholarship not only provided financial support but also validated the significance of Sharma’s work. 

“It was a great moment to pause and reflect on how this project represents what environmental research is all about,” she said. “The fact that we’re working with local knowledge holders and coming together to address such a prevalent issue highlights the need for collaboration in tackling problems that are larger than ourselves.” 

Now, as she builds on this work in her master’s program, Sharma plans to prioritize the involvement of local practitioners and stewards to explore the practical applications of her research and better understand the restoration needs of these ecosystems. 

“More experimentation across different habitats is needed to develop protocols to guide these ecosystem monitoring techniques,” she said. “Beyond scientific exploration, this work has raised many practical questions. Having ongoing conversations with diverse knowledge holders will help us understand and develop the project to be as impactful and applicable as possible.” 

Sharma also points to the “changemakers” at the University of Windsor who are collaborating with community partners to improve these habitats. 

“Reversing land degradation and improving our environment is a big theme, and UWindsor is a great place for projects like this,” she said. “There’s a supportive network here, and I hope projects like this encourage people to learn more about their local area and their relationship with nature.” 

Donations to the university support projects like Sharma’s, providing students with the resources and opportunities needed to pursue impactful research. 

This year, Giving Tuesday—a day that inspires people to give back in any way they can—coincided with the annual Faculty and Staff Fundraising Campaign. On that day, overall donations to the university exceeded $25,000.  

Faculty and staff who make a donation before Dec. 15 will be entered into a draw to win one of two extra vacation days in 2025. To learn more about how to give back, visit uwindsor.ca/supportuwindsor/ways-to-give. 

Over 100 guests attended the Great Lakes Biennial Nursing Conference, held on Nov. 23 at University of Windsor’s Vanier Hall.

Keynote speaker Holly Graham highlighted the impact of racism on the health outcomes of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, and provided a practical approach to addressing racism in the health care setting utilizing her “CPR RACISM toolkit.”

Stacey Nahdee, First Nations Cultural Practitioner, began the conference with a traditional ceremonial opening to welcome an audience comprised of students, alumni, former faculty members, researchers, clinicians, health-care associations, and members of other universities and colleges.

Dr. Graham’s knowledge and experience provided a glimpse of the realities of health care challenges affecting Indigenous peoples. She stressed the importance of acting with kindness and with an anti-racism approach. Graham offered pragmatic solutions, engaged in a captivating Q-and-A session, and shared tips on addressing racism in the workplace.

Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Debbie Sheppard-LeMoine, praised Graham’s wisdom and research strategies and emphasized how it will benefit UWindsor’s path moving forward relative to Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations for the faculty’s nursing programs.

A soothing break in the conference was provided by students from the massage and hydrotherapy program from the Canadian College of Health Science & Technology. Suffice it to say, the free massage sessions were a hit.

Throughout the event, over 40 oral presentations and research posters spread over multiple rooms covered such topics as:

• End-of-life care through an Indigenous education simulation scenario
• Cultural humility in nurses caring for transgender and gender-diverse patients
• Community-based eating disorder care
• Service delivery patterns in day treatment programs for adolescents with depression
• Mental health impacts in nursing
• Innovation in communication techniques
• Artificial intelligence and patient safety in cardiovascular care
• Internationally educated nurses transition and integration into the Canadian workforce
• Registered nurse prescribing in Ontario

“One presentation that stood out for me was 'Influencing Outcomes through an Evidence-Based Nurse-Driven Telemetry Discontinuation Protocol'," says BScN student Sedat Karabulut. "It showcased a real-world example of integrating technology into nursing practice and how healthcare and nursing are rapidly evolving through those tech advancements."

The conference’s People’s Choice Awards winning posters for the Best Undergraduate Student Poster belonged to "Mental Health Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Neglect and Maltreatment in Canadians" by Dami Babs-Olorunfemi, Maggie Zhu, and Chisom Jennifer Obiora, while the Best Graduate Student Presentation was awarded to "Social Support of Pregnant Women During COVID-19 Restrictions" by Natalie Sykora.

Based on the success of the event, conference chair and UWindsor associate professor of nursing, Jody Ralph, is looking forward to the next event in two years.

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for a loved one? Look no further — the Department of Continuing Education is kicking off the holiday season by announcing its complete lineup of Winter 2025 courses.

From practical workplace skills to professional certifications in engineering and project management, there is a learning opportunity for everyone.

Winter 2025 courses include:

• Introduction to Microsoft Excel – starts Jan. 15, online
• Certificate in Front-End Web Development – starts Jan. 20, online
• Fundamentals of Race and Anti-Black Racism – starts Jan. 29, online
• Accelerated Project Management Certificate – starts Jan. 29, online
• New offering! Workplace Communication – starts Jan. 30, online
• MiniMBA Certificate – starts Feb. 1, online
• Electric Vehicle Powertrain Systems – starts Feb. 4, online
• Change Management Practitioners Certification – starts Feb. 5, online
• Lab School Music Program: Strings – Feb. 22, in person

Course fees, schedules, and prerequisites vary. Visit each program page for detailed information.

UWindsor alumni, staff, students, and Hire UWindsor Partners are eligible for a discount. OSAP MC is also available on select programs. Email continue@uwindsor.ca for details.

Explore additional learning opportunities on the Continuing Education website.