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A study abroad trip to Iceland enabled science major Linda Nguyen to apply knowledge from class to real-world environments and gave her the opportunity to immerse herself in another culture.

Now a photo of her examining specimens on Djúpalónssandur Beach, taken by classmate Sona Regonda in 2022, has won top honours in the Go Global photo contest. Previous Go Global scholarship recipients were invited to submit their best travel photos from their study or work abroad experiences and members the campus community voted for their favourite submissions. Nguyen received $500 for her winning entry, “Lava at First Sight.”

“My study abroad experience in Iceland allowed me to visit some geological wonders of the country and understand the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic forces that have altered them,” says Nguyen.

“I'm incredibly grateful to the Go Global program and professors for making this experience possible. Studying abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone, helping me become more independent and adaptable in new environments.”

Go Global co-ordinator Emily Stadder says she was pleased to see the contest drew more than 50 submissions.

“Our students have taken part in some amazing international experiences, and this was a fun opportunity to highlight their travels and what they have gained from these trips,” she says.

The UWindsor Go Global program was made possible by a $1 million grant provided by Global Skills Opportunity, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada. From 2022 to the end of the program in March 2025, more than 290 UWindsor students received scholarships to support study and work abroad opportunities in 13 countries.

Essex County broke 52 records for local bird sightings in 2024. From a high count of pelicans to a first nesting record for Canada to a rare and endangered owl, Cam Chevalier (BSc 2024) has the goods in his annual summary.

“The American barn owl was a huge one for us. The last estimate was that there were only five to ten pairs that breed in the province,” says the master’s student of integrative biology.

“It was on private property, but I was fortunate enough to be part of a group that was granted access. Most people would consider this a once in a lifetime opportunity in Ontario — it stands out as a true rarity for us.”

Another rare sighting came in the summer, when Essex County hosted the first-ever nesting blue grosbeaks in Canada. Local naturalist and birder Paul Pratt discovered a male on June 23, a female on June 30, and a juvenile on Aug. 12. Chevalier captured the first photographic evidence of the juvenile the following day. Essex had already had an exciting grosbeak earlier in the year in its first ever black-headed grosbeak, found at a private feeder in Kingsville.

Chevalier says he was lucky to find two of the three arctic terns spotted in Essex County last summer. This species performs the longest migratory journey of all animals.

“On June 19, there was a huge school group that came to the tip of Point Pelee when we were there with the arctic tern, and we got to have the kids look at the bird through binoculars. The teachers said they’d use this to teach them about migration and how this bird goes from the far reaches of the Arctic all the way to the Antarctic and yet ended up here,” says Chevalier.

“I get the most out of it when I get to share the birds with people, and in that moment, I got to share the bird with these kids, and they were equally excited.”

Citizen scientists or fellow birders contribute the details of their Essex County sightings on a website called eBird. Chevalier collects this data from the platform and publishes the statistics along with summaries on an Essex Birds website.

“People contribute the interesting sightings of rare birds and breeding species, and then I pull that and reformulate the information,” he says.

This year Essex County had 11 provincial review species. These rarest of the rare sightings must go to a higher board for vetting. He says his goal is to continue to document the data in articles written by himself and his collaborators.

“I hope that over time, those articles will help paint us a picture of the different species.”

A 2024 highlight for him was banding baby American herring gulls in Sandusky, Ohio.

“My friend Jeremy and I noticed we were getting a massive influx of these birds in Essex County. They were coming across the lake in large quantities,” says Chevalier.

“In July, Jeremy and I went and helped band the fledglings, and in November in Essex County we got to see one of the birds we banded.”

Chevalier reviews the data to ensure the sighting is logical and if it is rare, he makes sure it is documented appropriately. The annual summary was compiled and maintained by Alan Wormington for 40 years until his death in 2016. In 2022, Chevalier took it upon himself to start compiling the resource once again.

“I think it is a valuable resource, and I have a deep passion for the birds of Essex County,” says Chevalier.

“I grew up near Ojibway Park and went there a lot as a kid and got connected with birders there and took a lot of camps there. And honestly, birding has the biggest community in nature and anywhere you go in the world there are birds.”

Chevalier is currently working on his master’s degree under the supervision of professor Dan Mennill. His focus is on population trends in Essex County songbirds and raptors over time. He will collect acoustic data and compare it directly to data collected in 2012 by a previous master’s student, Claire Sanders.

“I hope to highlight, with this work and my master’s, that we live in such an important region for biodiversity,” Chevalier says.

Dominik Dziura (BSc 2022) says his study abroad trip to the neutron scattering facility at the Institut Laue–Langevin in Grenoble, France, helped advance his membrane research.

Neutron scattering is a powerful tool that can study matter at microscopic levels.

The graduate student received a Canada Graduate Scholarship - Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (CGS-MSFSS) which he turned into a three-month exchange at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research in the United States.

As a Masters student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Dziura works in professor Drew Marquardt’s lab on lipid membrane research. When he worked at NIST, he collaborated with instrument scientist Elizabeth Kelley. For their work they needed to use a small angle neutron diffractometer, but the reactor at NIST was down, so the team travelled to the ILL research institute in France for two weeks.

“With Dr. Kelley’s neutron scattering expertise I was able to learn more about the techniques, including collecting data and modelling,” says Dziura.

“Neutron scattering is a really good technique to look at biology in real time and membranes in real time because you’re able to probe super small structures and learn information based off that.”

Dziura says he is working on two main research projects, the first looking at the antioxidant Vitamin E.

“Vitamin E moves within membranes. It is an antioxidant and protects the membranes from oxidation. We’re looking at how its movement throughout the membranes can explain its antioxidative protection,” he says.

Using neutron scattering, he says, relies on neutron contrast and based on how we change the system we can look at specific components.

“With Vitamin E, everything is invisible to the neutron except the Vitamin E when it scatters and based on how it scatters. Based on how the intensity of scattering changes over time, you could relate that to the kinetics of the movement and determine the half-life of this process.”

He is also interested in the structural arrangements of membranes which are composed of different lipids. Natural cell membranes are asymmetric but synthetic membranes, which are models used to study membranes, are symmetric. Dziura wants to help create better synthetic models that are asymmetric.

Both research projects were advanced thanks to his time spent with experts at NIST and ILL.

“It comes down to their expertise and having those opportunities to work with them, not just Dr. Kelley, but there is a plethora of researchers at NIST and ILL — top-end scientists in the field of neutron scattering,” he says.

“For example, I learned how to code a program to process my data in large batches quickly. They have access to resources that we don’t have here.”

For the second time, PhD student Nathan Drouillard (BSc 2021, MSc 2023) has won the Dr. John David Guiry Scholarship for Physics.

The annual $1,000 award is given in honour of the memory of John David Guiry, who received five degrees from the University of Windsor, including three in physics: BSc 1966, MSc 1967, and PhD 1976.

“I feel very fortunate to accept this award for a second time and I am grateful to Mr. Chouinard, nephew of Dr. Guiry, for continuing to support the Department of Physics via this award,” says Drouillard.

“This award, and what it takes to earn it, serves as a testament to the quality of research in our department. We may be small, but we have great researchers who all deserve to be recognized.”

Drouillard uses physics to better understand how to mitigate the threat of excess nutrient loading and pollution in the Great Lakes. He says there is a need for technological innovation to improve monitoring efforts and plans to develop a portable sensor that could be deployed in the field to complement his laboratory-based method.

“My work consists of a cutting-edge advancement in laser spectroscopy that will be used to measure chemicals of interest in the Great Lakes by a technique that I have developed and named Kerr-instability Amplification for Broadband Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy, or KAB-SRS,” he says.

“My goal is to develop better techniques in laser spectroscopy that will allow continuous, real-time monitoring of nutrients in the Great Lakes, producing data that will be of great use to ecologists.”

Physics department head Steven Rehse says Drouillard is a highly successful researcher and student.

“Nathan has developed and characterized a novel method for a laser-based analysis that uses an ultrafast femtosecond laser to measure the characteristic vibrations in soluble reactive phosphorus,” says Dr. Rehse.

“In this way, they are trying to develop a very sensitive, yet fast and robust way to measure soluble phosphorus in Great Lakes waters, which comes from rain run-off of fertilized fields. This is a really unique and cross-disciplinary application of physics.”

Drouillard has presented his work at international conferences and has several peer-reviewed papers to his name, four of those as first author. He won the Canadian Association of Physicists Student Presentation Competition at the annual 2024 Congress.

“For a student at this stage of career, he is highly experienced with significant achievements,” says Rehse.

Drouillard says he could not have achieved what he has without the support of UWindsor faculty.

“I'd like to thank my department for their continued support, especially my supervisor TJ Hammond. And I’d like to thank Aaron Fisk for advising the environmental applications of my work.”

Collaboration with industry partners makes the SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence Canada's premier research centre dedicated to advancing and developing automotive cybersecurity solutions.

In collaboration with the Windsor-Essex Regional Technology Development Site of Invest WindsorEssex through investments made by the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), SHIELD offers a unique service to small and medium-sized enterprises and startups across Ontario: businesses working on automotive products have access to cybersecurity testing and research and development resources typically available only to large corporations and research institutes.

This program is designed to help companies evaluate the security of their products and develop innovative solutions with a focus on ensuring that they can launch securely and meet rigorous European and North American market standards.

The service is made possible by the investment of Keysight Technologies, which has equipped SHIELD with a state-of-the-art platform to test automotive cybersecurity. With this cutting-edge technology, the centre can provide detailed assessments to ensure products meet the highest standards.

Tom Schnekenburger, UWindsor director of innovation, partnerships and entrepreneurship, says the collaboration between Invest Windsor Essex’s Automobility and Innovation Centre and SHIELD is a key example of the strength of Windsor-Essex’s automobility ecosystem.

“Leveraging the strengths of our core partners to provide businesses and mobility providers access to cutting-edge technologies and services will support their global economic competitiveness and sustain the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem of our region,” he says.

Raed Kadri, head of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, says it is proud to support this critical work.

“By providing small and medium enterprises and startups with access to state-of-the-art resources through OVIN, the Government of Ontario is empowering Ontario-based companies to innovate confidently and meet global standards,” he says. “This collaboration showcases how partnerships can drive impactful change, strengthening Ontario’s position as a leader in the future of mobility.”

Automotive cybersecurity is a collaborative effort that requires investment to help Canadian manufacturing reman competitive, says Mitra Mirhassani, founding member of SHIELD and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

“The OVIN investment and collaboration with the Invest WindsorEssex have enabled the centre to not only provide services free of charge for Ontario autotech companies, but also train and educate cybersecurity experts,” Dr. Mirhassani says.

These partnerships position the region as a leader in supporting Ontario enterprises, says Ed Dawson, executive director of the Automobility and Innovation Centre at Invest WindsorEssex.

“We are proud to partner with SHIELD in driving automotive innovation with our region’s exclusive Centre of Excellence for Automotive Cybersecurity — the only one of its kind within the OVIN network,” he says. “We empower companies to test, enhance, and validate their critical vehicle technologies with confidence.

“Moving forward, we aim to deepen these partnerships and expand our offerings. Together, we’re reinforcing Windsor-Essex’s status as Canada’s automobility capital and a global leader in automotive innovation.”

Several members of the University of Windsor community took part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build connections with the Royal Canadian Navy: the Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) program.

Held Feb. 6 and 7 at Canadian Forces Base Halifax, the event was co-ordinated by the HMCS Hunter, a land-based naval training unit located in Sandwich. Participants enjoyed a day sail aboard Windsor’s namesake vessel, a long-range attack submarine.

The program reflects growing ties between the University and the HMCS Hunter under commanding officer and UWindsor alumnus, Lieutenant-Commander Chris Elliott.

“The CLaS program is a unique experience to showcase the people and platforms of the Royal Canadian Navy, with opportunities to see the skills and abilities of the people who serve our country,” Elliott says. “Windsor was extremely well represented with our community leaders visiting our namesake submarine. They join the ranks of a very few Canadians to ever dive in a navy submarine.”

Participants experienced first-hand naval training and life aboard a submarine, gaining insight into the day-to-day operations of the Royal Canadian Navy and deeper appreciation for role of the navy in protecting Canadian sovereignty and interests at sea, both at home and abroad.

The UWindsor contingent included three alumni: Elliott, honorary colonel Keith Henry and petty officer second class Hash Sameem; history student Ricardo Racz, a corporal with the Windsor Regiment reserves; and director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, Mike McKay.

“In my day-to-day work at GLIER, I regularly interact with the Canadian and U.S. Coast Guards in the Great Lakes, so have some appreciation for naval customs and have come to respect their work supporting the maritime sector in these freshwater oceans,” Dr. McKay says. “This appreciation was reinforced through my interactions with the sailors at CFB Halifax and with HMCS Windsor.

“In particular, I gained deep respect for their attention to detail that was evident in all aspects of operations from planning to execution, all necessary for mission success.”

The institute plans to host a visit by the commander of HMCS Windsor in April, when he will be in town for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.

PhD student AboBakr Emara’s physics research achievements won him the seventh annual Tom and Mylo Drake Physics Research Prize.

Established by professor emeritus Gordon Drake in honour of his parents, the scholarship supports and encourages graduate students who demonstrate excellence in their academic and research pursuits.

“This prize holds significant meaning for me as it acknowledges my efforts and contributions to experimental physics,” says Emara.

“Such recognition not only motivates me to keep pushing boundaries in my research but also reinforces the importance of advancing physics to answer fundamental questions about our universe.”

Emara started his studies in Fall 2023 at in the Department of Physics under the supervision of professor Caio Licciardi. His research focuses on designing and testing a device to detect and measure radon gas at extremely low levels.

“Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can interfere with experiments searching for rare particle interactions, like neutrino-less double beta decay,” he says.

“By improving how we identify and reduce radon backgrounds, my work helps ensure the accuracy of these experiments, which aim to uncover fundamental properties of particles and the universe. This work aims to push the boundaries of our understanding of particle physics and contribute to the global effort in the search for neutrino-less double beta decay.”

The award is for $1,300. Emara says its financial support will be invaluable in advancing his academic journey by assisting with educational and living expenses.

Emara has participated in the Three Minute Thesis competition and was selected as one of the top 10 finalists, bringing more recognition to the Department of Physics. He presented a poster of his research at the 2024 Canadian Association of Physics congress in London, and he was recognized among the top six posters, earning an honorable mention.

“Bakr is a highly successful researcher, graduate teaching assistant, and student in the physics department,” says department head Steven Rehse. “He has excelled in all of his classes and has been deeply involved with Dr. Licciardi’s experimental physics research at SNOLAB and here in Windsor.”

The Department of Physics has awarded fourth-year undergraduate Sareen Sabra the eighth annual Lucjan Krause Undergraduate Scholarship in Physics.

The scholarship was established by Dr. Krause’s family in his name to recognize deserving undergraduate students in any physics program who, through their academic and scientific endeavours, bring recognition and honour to the University of Windsor’s Department of Physics. The award is for $1,500.

Sabra says the award is a physical reminder that the work she has done has made an impact.

“Most of the time, whether I’m doing research or helping out in the department, I do it because I genuinely enjoy it — I love talking, doing and thinking about physics. Winning this award wouldn’t have changed that, but it’s definitely encouraged me to keep going and keep doing what I enjoy,” she says.

“It’s also nice that this award was created by a former department head. It shows how much the department cares about its students and supports their growth and achievements, which makes it feel even more meaningful.”

Sabra is currently president of the Physics Club.

“Sareen is a highly successful student and has made many valuable contributions to the physics department,” says Steven Rehse, head of the Department of Physics.

“Along with carrying a GPA of 95, she has been a very active and proactive president of the Physics Club. She has made it her mission to strive for both fun and excellence as a student-led club, winning the Science Society “departmental association of the year” award, and to reach out to as many junior physics students and other students across campus as possible.”

Sabra performs theoretical physics research with professor Jeffrey Rau. She is the recipient of the Baylis Research Internship and two Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Awards. She is currently writing up the results of her work and hopes to have a publication produced this year before she graduates.

She has disseminated her research results by attending the Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics and the Canadian Association of Physicists annual congress, giving an oral presentation entitled “The Spreading of Chaos in Systems with Long Range Interactions.”