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Top researchers recognized at celebration event


Bernie Warren takes funny business very seriously.

Since the School of Dramatic Art professor launched Fools for Health in 2001, the program has trained dozens of clown doctors who have brightened the lives of more than 30,000 hospital patients. It's work that caught the attention of the University's administration, which presented Warren with an Established Researcher Award at yesterday's Celebration of Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity.

"It's a validation of the work being done by everyone who's doing research in the area of the arts and health care," he said after receiving the award.

The awards, established in 2000, are handed out to people who are passionate about their research, said Ranjana Bird, vice president, research.

"They put their heart and mind and soul into what they do, and they don't do it for recognition," she said.

President Alan Wildeman said the awards "contribute to the sense of pride that we have in one another, which is one of the most unifying and bonding things we have as a community.

"Everywhere I go people tell me about the great things the University of Windsor is doing," he said.

Besides Warren, Majid Ahmadi, a professor in electrical and computer engineering, also received an Established Scholar/Researcher Award. Dr. Bird noted that Dr. Ahmadi is "internationally known for his numerous contributions in digital signal processing" and that his work has been described as "creative, seminal and deep."

English associate professor Susan Holbrook received a Mid-career Scholars/Researcher Award. Her creative publications, which include the recently released and critically acclaimed collection of poems Joy is So Exhausting, have been described as “critical writings of a very high caliber, made more approachable than usual by their personal touches.”

Physics associate professor Chitra Rangan received an Emerging Scholars/Researcher Award and it was noted that she is internationally recognized for her work in theoretical physics on the control of nanoscale light-matter interactions.

For a complete list of award recipients click here.


Award recipients: UWindsor President Alan Wildeman (left) and VP Research Ranjana Bird (far right) congratulate professors Chitra Rangan (physics), Susan Holbrook (creative writing), Bernie Warren (drama), and Majid Ahmadi (electrical and computer engineering), for their research, scholarly, and creative achievements.