Celebrating Western's Research History


About the Project

In 2017, Research Western began creating a series of digitally linked heritage plaques to celebrate significant research-related moments in the university’s history, and to encourage the campus community and its visitors to learn how these contributions have benefited the social, financial, cultural and medical well-being of citizens in Canada and abroad.

During the active years of the program, two plaques, voted on by the Western community, were cast: one from a STEM discipline and one from a social sciences, arts and humanities-based discipline. Each were be affixed to a relevant building on campus and provided a link to additional media online.



Heritage Plaque 2 (2017)

the plaque

Helen Battle: Pioneering Biologist


Heritage Plaque 4 (2018)

the plaque

Boundary Wind Tunnel Laboratory






Western Innovations

51 Discoveries

Established in 1878, Western has a long history of leadership in research that produces tangible, global impact on health, culture, environment and economies. From the concept of insulin in 1920 to ongoing progress in human clinical trials of an HIV vaccine, Western continues to lead efforts to address the world’s largest problems. This is a sample of just 51 discoveries by researchers and teams we are proud called – and continue to call – Western home.

Land Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge that our beautiful campus at Western is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenausaune, Lenaapeewak and Chonnonton peoples, all of whom have longstanding relationships to the land of southwestern Ontario and the City of London.

The First Nations communities of our local area include Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames and Munsee Delaware Nation. And in our region, there are eleven First Nations communities as well as a growing indigenous urban population.

Western values the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations and all of the Original peoples of Turtle Island, also known as North America.