A researcher from the University of Windsor in Ontario has received an international award for his studies on ice loss in the Great Lakes.
Dr. Michael Mc Kay has been investigating how climate change is impacting the ice cover on these lakes, which in turn affects the light available underwater that tiny organisms rely on to survive.
As the ice melts away, wind and water can disturb the sediment below, making the water murky and preventing sunlight from reaching species at the bottom of the food chain that need it for photosynthesis.
“Without daylight, we wouldn’t have life on Earth as we know it,” said Mc Kay, who is also the director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER) and a professor at the university’s School of the Environment.
“These are organisms upon which all other life on Earth depends. They are small but they are mighty.”
Mc Kay has been named a 2026 laureate of the Daylight Award for Research, given by the Daylight Academy. The award was announced on May 16, designated as International Day of Light by UNESCO.
His colleagues, Brittany N. Zepernick and Steven W. Wilhelm, were also recognized for their contributions.
UWindsor international research award Great Lakes ice loss Dr. Michael Mc Kay is recognized alongside collaborators Brittany N. Zepernick and Steven W. Wilhelm for their work advancing understanding of how daylight is captured by photosynthetic algae amid climate-driven ice loss in the Great Lakes. (Photo by the Daylight Award/University of Windsor)
The research highlights how light influences various processes like diatom growth, interactions with parasites, and methods used to monitor toxic algal blooms through optical and remote sensing techniques. Mc Kay explains that while it may seem like just melting ice, it’s actually leading to habitat loss for microscopic creatures that play a vital role during winter months in food webs.
“Receiving the Daylight Award 2026 came as a wonderful and unexpected surprise for our team,” said Mc Kay.
“This recognition underscores the global importance of the Great Lakes, both as a vital ecosystem supporting nearly 40 million people and as a proxy for north temperate lakes and ice-covered coastal ecosystems worldwide.”
The Daylight Award is given in two categories: research and practice. Mc Kay’s team was honored in the research category aimed at “deepening understanding of daylight’s role in human life and wider ecosystems.”
“Dr. Mc Kay is conducting globally leading, internationally recognized research with profound implications for biodiversity, water quality, and climate resilience, advancing solutions to critical environmental challenges,” said Dr. Shanthi Johnson, vice-president of research and innovation at UWindsor.
“This international recognition of research excellence and global impact underscores the importance of discovery-driven science in addressing pressing global environmental challenges and delivering solutions.”
The award comes with $160,000 funding. The ceremony will take place on May 27 in Copenhagen.
UWindsor international research award Great Lakes ice loss Dr. Michael Mc Kay, pictured with Brittany N. Zepernick and Steven W. Wilhelm, has been named a 2026 laureate of the Daylight Award for Research, presented by the Swiss-based Daylight Academy on May 16, UNESCO’s International Day of Light. (Photo by the Daylight Award/University of Windsor)
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UWindsor international research award Great Lakes ice loss Dr. Michael Mc Kay, pictured with Brittany N. Zepernick and Steven W. Wilhelm, has been named a 2026 laureate of the Daylight Award for Research, presented by the Swiss-based Daylight Academy on May 16, UNESCO’s International Day of Light. (Photo by the Daylight Award/University of Windsor)Source link
