The Retirees' Newsletter

The Retirees's Association ( Faculty, Librarian, Administrator), University of Windsor, Windsor, Ont. Canada

Vol X , No. 4, October 2000

Biomolecular Centre To Be In Place as Early as Spring 2001

Steps are already under way to set up the largest of the three Canadian Foundation for Innovation projects approved for the University of Windsor last month. The $700,694 project will develop a Biomolecular Characterizations and Dynamics Research Facility.

Principal investigator, Biochemistry Professor Bulent Mutus, says some of the new equipment will take longer than others to acquire, but the centre should be in full operation by next spring. The centre involving biochemists, physicists and biologists will team up to apply new techniques to areas not investigated before.

For instance, Dr. Mutus, Physics Professor Roman Maev, Chemistry Professor Riccardo Aroca, and Biology Professor Barbara Zielinski will be investigating how nitric oxide enters and leaves living cells. They will be using fluorescence microscopy, infrared imaging and acoustic imaging. The knowledge of these physiological processes may have applications in developing treatments for hypertension, heart disease, infertility and other medical concerns.

In addition, Physics Professor William McConkey will conduct basic research in atom and molecule manipulation using laser cooling and trapping. This work may lead to processes that can be used to create new compounds for medical treatments. And vibrational imaging research by Dr. Aroca will employ Raman and infrared spectroscopy to develop procedures for the precise characterization of a chemical composition, domain structure, and chemical architecture of molecular materials.

New Director Named For School of Nursing

Dr. Sheila Dresen of the University of Prince Edward Island has been appointed Director of the School of Nursing. Dr. Dresen has held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Prince Edward Island since 1997. She has also held positions at the University of Manitoba and the University of Wisconsin.

"Dr. Dresen's extensive range of experiences in nursing education, administration and practice will be invaluable as our School faces the welcome challenges of increased enrolments, University-College collaborations and faculty recruitment," Interim Dean Caron says.

New Faculty Orientation

The Office of Faculty Recruitment and Retention hosted the New Faculty Orientation for the 100 new tenure-track, limited-term faculty and librarian appointments beginning August 29..

The orientation program was held for two days, August 29 and 30, in Ambassador Auditorium, CAW Student Centre, with the themes "Research and Teaching at the University" and "Meeting Faculty Needs on and off Campus." Professor Janice Drakich, of the Office of Faculty Recruitment and Retention, requested all new faculty member to register and attend the orientation.

Students and Faculty Gather At Welcoming Convocation, Barbecue

First-year University of Windsor students enjoyed a formal but friendly welcome to the academic community with the traditional pomp of Welcoming Convocation and opportunities to meet and speak with academic heads and faculty.

Groups of faculty and students walked together to the St. Denis Centre for a lively Welcoming Convocation. A Piper and Beadle lead the platform party including President Ross Paul. Following their formal acceptance into the academic community, the new students were invited to a barbecue on the south side lawn of the centre.

Windsor's Student Information System Recognized for Excellence

The University of Windsor's Frank L. Smith Student Information System won an Award of Excellence in the first annual Information and Information Technology Exhibition, Conference and Awards Celebration.

The award was presented during a gala dinner at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre where the Ontario government presented awards in four categories: Serving Ontario's Citizens Better; Working Together; Private / Public Partnerships; and Technology Innovation / Organizational Transformation.

The award to the University of Windsor Frank L. Smith Student Information System was in the Serving Ontario's Citizens Better category. Just under 50 submissions were made for the awards from the Ontario public service and from the broader public service, which includes education, municipalities and the health care sector.

Information Technology Director Roger Lauzon and Systems Analyst David Wilbur, who headed the technical design team, accepted the award.

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