June 6, 2013 Vol. 47 No. 5
The Bulletin
umanitoba.ca/bulletin
University of Manitoba
June 2 to 8
Commuter Challenge
June 20
Sneakers in Motion Day
June 21
Bike to Work Day
June 27
Winnipeg Blue Bombers home opener & Investors Group Field Grand Opening
Inside
Farm and Food Discovery Centre offers fun for all ages
Page 5
What do poetry and civil engineering have in common? See Coffee With a Co-Worker Page 8 The U of M welcomes the Bombers onto campus Back page
Summer kick-start!
Photos by Mike Latschislaw
Events
This year’s Campus Beautification Day took place on May 23 and included volunteers from the grade 1 class at Ecole St. Avila, along with university staff, faculty and administration. See more on centre spread, pages 6 to 7.
Discovery Enabled
Nearly $10 million announced for U of M research Janine Harasymchuk For The Bulletin
Researchers at the U of M will receive new funding for grants and scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) over the next five years. The money will support research in a variety of areas, including magnetism at the nanoscale, learning and memory and geothermal energy. The awards total $9,500,100 and were included in a national announcement made in Ottawa on May 21 by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) and NSERC acting president Janet Walden. “Discovery Grants is the Natural Sciences
and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s flagship program and one of Canada’s largest sources of funding for basic research,” said Minister Goodyear. “It provides researchers with the means and freedom to pursue their most promising ideas. Our government is proud to support 10,000 researchers who are creating the advances that will drive tomorrow’s innovations.” A total of 55 professors will share $8,212,500 in funding from the NSERC Discovery Grants program in the categories of individual, group, subatomic physics, and research tools and instruments. Twenty-nine additional researchers at the graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral level will receive a combined $1,287,600 in scholarships.
“This funding will fuel our scientific innovators in their quest for answers to the problems facing society today,” said Digvir Jayas, vice-president (research and international) and distinguished professor at the U of M. “I am proud of each of this year’s recipients and look forward to hearing about their discoveries as they unfold.” “Today’s recipients are on their paths to successful careers in science and innovation,” said John (Jay) Doering, vice-provost (graduate education) dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the U of M. “Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are the engines that drive the field of research.” In total, more than 3,808 scientists, engineers and students at universities
across the country will share upwards of $413 million in grants and scholarships over terms ranging from one to five years. NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports almost 30,000 post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding approximately 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging over 2,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects. For the lists of recipients and descriptions of projects, go to: >> nserc-crsng.gc.ca.
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The Bulletin | June 6, 2013 | umanitoba.ca/bulletin
President's bookshelf
The U of M in the News Tech strut: Can technology save us from ourselves?
May 24 BBC, Forbes Media recently reported on a new app invented by Juan David Hincapié-Ramos in the department of computer science. His app, CrashAlert, aims to help save people from themselves. It involves using a distance-sensing camera to scan the path ahead and alert users to approaching obstacles. The camera acts like a second pair of eyes — looking forward while the user is looking down. When it senses something approaching, it flashes up a red square in a bar on top of the phone or tablet. The position of the square shows the direction of the obstacle — giving the user a chance to dodge out of the way. “What we observed in our experiments is that in 60 per cent of cases, people avoided obstacles in a safer way. That’s up from 20 per cent [without CrashAlert],” says Hincapié-Ramos. What’s more, the device doesn’t distract the user from what they’re doing. Hincapié-Ramos’s tests showed it can be used alongside gaming or texting without any cost to performance. Although CrashAlert is currently a bulky prototype, collision statistics suggest a final version could prevent a lot of accidents.
Racist, or just race-related?
May 25 Toronto Star Sociologist Jason Edgerton helped the Toronto Star report on the changing demographics of Brampton, Ont. Brampton faces a complex situation: Massive suburban-style growth coupled with a huge influx of new Canadians, mostly South Asian, settling in a community that for decades was mostly white. Brampton has boomed over the past two decades, more than doubling from 234,445 residents in 1991 to 521,315 in 2011. But delving into the just-released National Household Survey reveals a paradox. While the visible-minority segment has exploded to represent two-thirds of Brampton’s population, white residents are dwindling. Their numbers went from 192,400 in 2001 to 169,230 in 2011. That’s a loss of more than 23,000 people, or 12 per cent, in a decade when the city’s population rose by 60 per cent. That’s hardly a picture of the multicultural ideal so celebrated in this country. Edgerton sees complexity in those numbers. “After you control for retirement, low birth rate, etc. some of the other (shrinkage) could be white flight — former mainstream communities not comfortable being the minority. Let’s say, for example, 2 per cent is (due to) higher retirement migration, 2 per cent is lower birth rate, 2 per cent is job change; they might only account for one half of the overall decrease, and the other half is unexplained,” says Edgerton. He says more study would be needed to say for sure why people are leaving Brampton.
Lagging justice
May 25 Winnipeg Free Press In 1999 the Supreme Court mandated that judges take an Aboriginal offender’s personal and cultural history of dislocation, poverty, addiction and abuse into account in sentencing. These Gladue courts, as they are now known as, are named after Rupert Glaude, and Manitoba still lacks an Aboriginal court, one dedicated to the spirit of the Gladue ruling, with well-trained court officers, expert report-writers and links to all the culturally appropriate rehabilitation services that could halt an offender’s cycle of crime. U of M law professors Debra Parkes and David Milward, who have studied Gladue in Manitoba, say the Supreme Court’s rules are followed only in a spotty, ad hoc way here. “Gladue is not being implemented in any sort of systemic way,” said Parkes. “There just doesn’t seem to be a culture of it being implemented and there hasn’t been any real push to do it.”
HEADLINEs
“Helping bolster human rights,” Winnipeg Free Press, May 27, story about Gertrude Hambira who had to flee Harare, Zimbabwe, and ended up in Winnipeg where her daughter was doing a master’s in food science at the U of M. “U of M grads unafraid to dream big,” Winnipeg Free Press, May 29, story about three U of M grads: Megan Jack, the Faculty of Medicine’s first deaf graduate; Matt Lowry, the Neepawa agriculture grad who splits his time between farming and professional hockey; and fine arts graduate from Red Lake, Allan Gould, whose passion for animation led him to pursue art.
The
Bulletin
—compiled by Sean Moore
The Bulletin is the newspaper of record for the University of Manitoba. It is published by the marketing communications office every second Thursday from September to December and monthly in December, Jan., Feb., June, July and August. Material in The Bulletin may be reprinted or broadcast, excepting materials for which The Bulletin does not hold exclusive copyright. Please contact editor for policy. The Bulletin is printed on paper that includes recycled content.
Recent books
These occasional notes about my reading are evidence, as I look back on them, of the eclectic nature of my interests — I read books on a wide range of topics that are written by authors I’ve come to enjoy in the past, that are given to me as gifts by members of my family or close friends, that are recommended by others I know to have interesting tastes, that appear in reviews I stumble upon and occasionally (though less frequently than in the past) that I find while browsing in bookshops. Here are some things I’ve read in the past few months. The music and poetry of Leonard Cohen have been increasingly appealing to me in recent years. So when I saw a review of Alan Light’s The Holy or the Broken that focusses on Cohen’s song “Hallelujah,” I was intrigued by the idea of it and then pleased to receive it as a gift at Christmas. Light pays attention to the lyrics and what they suggest to him about Cohen’s thinking, but also to the several iconic recordings of the song and their impact. After reading the book it was a particular pleasure to hear Cohen sing it at his Winnipeg concert on April 26. About 15 years ago I stumbled on The Best American Poetry, a series of annual selections guided by David Lehman, with a different editor each year. I began to watch for the new volumes as they appeared. Being somewhat compulsive, I wanted to complete my collection so after a few years looked for copies of the earlier volumes from sources advertising online, and managed to get a complete series in near mint condition. The Best American Poetry 2012 was edited by Mark Doty. More recently, Molly Peacock became the series editor for a Canadian counterpart, and The Best Canadian Poetry in English 2012 was edited by Carmine Starnino. These annuals always contain some poems not to my personal taste but also some that are worth continuing the collecting. I began reading the work of the American writer Donald Hall decades ago, beginning with his poetry. I learned about his marriage to the poet Jane Kenyon and came to deeply appreciate her work. Recently I read Hall’s memoir of their life together, structured around the progress of the leukemia that eventually took her. The Best Day the Worst Day: Life With Jane Kenyon is a very open and moving account of their relationship and Kenyon’s death. Edmund Morris has written three volumes about Theodore Roosevelt, dealing with the period prior to, during and after his presidency of the United States, respectively. The second of these, Theodore Rex, chronicles Roosevelt’s work as President, but also shows his energy and erudition. He loved the outdoors — traveling, hunting, hiking, boating, etc. — and wanted to preserve the natural heritage of the country. He also read an amazing amount on many topics and in several languages. That he could do so while carrying such heavy responsibilities can be an encouragement to all of us.
Lululemon’s Chip Wilson receives IDEA award Sean Moore The Bulletin
Lululemon’s Chip Wilson, founder and chairman of Lululemon Athletica Inc., has received the 2013 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA), an annual award presented by the U of M and the Associates, a group of more than 260 prominent business leaders who support the Asper School of Business. Wilson spoke to Asper School of Business students on Tuesday, June 4. He joins past IDEA recipients including, Albert D. Cohen, O.C., Israel H. Asper, O.C., Q.C., Richard Branson, Heather Reisman, Gerald Schwartz, Jim Balsillie, Jim Sinegal and last year’s recipient, Stu Clark. Forbes has ranked Wilson as Canada’s ninth wealthiest person, with a net worth of 2.9-billion. Lululemon boasts a cult
publisher John Kearsey, Vice-President (External) Editor Mariianne Mays Wiebe Phone 204-474-8111 Fax 204-474-7631 Email bulletin@umanitoba.ca Production designer Pat Goss Phone 204-474-8388 Email pat.goss@umanitoba.ca Academic Advertising Kathy Niziol Phone 474 7195 Fax 474 7505 Email kathy_niziol@umanitoba.ca issue contributors Sean Moore, Mike Latschislaw, Katie ChalmersBrooks, Lindsay Stewart Glor, Andrea Bilash, Brian Mitchell, Jessie Boiteau, Elnaz Shadabi, Lindsay Aboud, Kathy Tarrant, Eric Postma
submissions The Bulletin welcomes submissions from members of the university community letters to the editor, columns, news briefs and story and photo suggestions. Events The Bulletin publishes notifications of events taking place at the University of Manitoba or events that are of particular interest to the university community. There is no charge for running notices in the events column. Send events notices to bulletin@umanitoba.ca Publishing Schedule Copy/advertising deadline: July 3, 2013 Issue date: July 11, 2013 Copy/advertising deadline: July 31, 2013 Issue date: August 8, 2013
IDEA winner Chip Wilson. following and revenue of $700 million from 137 stores. The majority of the stores are in North America, but Lululemon has store presence in Australia and New Zealand. There are also showrooms in Hong Kong and Great Britain. Wilson received the IDEA award at a formal dinner at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on June 4, 2013.
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The Bulletin | June 6, 2013 | umanitoba.ca/bulletin
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campus news & Kudos
Photo by Mike Latschislaw
Faculty trailblazing
Astronaut Julie Payette speaks at the 2013 convocation ceremonies.
Convocation 2013
Infinity and beyond! Mariianne Mays Wiebe The Bulletin
The excitement was palpable for the 2,845 graduands convocating at the 134th annual convocation. It’s was what they’d been waiting for and working towards for years. Taking place over three days, from May 28 to 30, each session of convocation featured addresses by honourary degree recipients, U of M President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard, Chancellor Harvey Secter and alumnus Brian Bowman. There were many highlights. Alumna and Alliance Atlantis Communication president Phyllis Yaffe noted the “special feeling” she had about the U of M, and how it had shaped her life. In her undergraduate years at the U of M, Yaffee said, she was part of a cohort of students who called themselves the Radiator Radicals. They discussed issues of the day, and were determined to make a difference. She had this advice for the graduates: “Jump in when asked; lean in any direction you want, but lean. Take risks; I promise you it will be worth it.” Yaffee, who started her career as a librarian, also exhorted students to “read the difficult books, the daunting ones; they will be informative to your whole life.” In his address, Chancellor Harvey Secter added to Yaffee’s advice, quoting from Nelson Mandela: “There’s no passion to be found in settling for a life that is small.” Strinivasan Reddy, another U of M alumnus, was one of the honourary degree recipients on Wednesday. An educator who has dedicated his life to teaching, social justice and community work, he evoked the “greater good” as a worthy goal for graduating students to strive for, quoting John Ralston Saul’s question,
“How shall I live, given the greater good?” Reddy also referenced the south African ethic of “ubuntu,” which is defined as shared humanity: “I am what I am because of what we all are,” as Reddy put it. He suggested that all of us must care for the weakest members of our society, and that we can do so, as Jean Vanier exhorted, by “changing our world, one heart at a time.” Reddy also included this quote for graduates, from Mother Teresa: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Astronaut Julie Payette, who received her honourary degree on the final day of sessions, charmed the crowd with her modest, amusing address. “I’m just an ordinary proud engineer,” she said, “who had a dream to go to the moon.” Payette drew from her own experience to indicate to graduates that they could also achieve great things. “Think about the hours you’ve put in, the choices you’ve made, the sacrifices, those who have assisted you every step of the way. “And tomorrow when you wake up,” she continued, “it’s payback time. You’ve accomplished this amazing milestone, and you have the duty now to be all you can be, and a responsibility to be contributing to our society.” Payette referred to the French word for “strong-headedness” to advise the graduates, “With a little strongheadedness, you can do it. The sky is not the limit! To infinity and beyond!”
This June, Investors Group Field will welcome football fans for their first gameday experience, ushering in a new era of athletics at the University of Manitoba. The Manitoba Bisons will play four home games at the impressive stadium this year, while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will host 10 games, starting with an exhibition game against Toronto on June 12. Boasting eight acres of roof — making it the largest canopied structure in Canada — Investors Group Field is built to impress, with every effort made to enhance the event day experience for football fans and concert-goers alike. In an effort to ensure that getting to and from the stadium, as well as the rest of campus, on event days is a similarly positive experience, the University of Manitoba partnered with the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg
Nazim Cicek (biosystems engineering) was recently presented with a 2012 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award. The Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development established the awards to recognize and honour people, projects and ideas that successfully turn the principles and guidelines of sustainable development into lasting achievements. Nazim was recognized for his research on water and nutrient management and biofuel generation. Niigaan Sinclair (department of Native studies, Faculty of Arts) won the Paul Stanwood prize for the best dissertation in UBC’s Department of English at his graduation ceremony last week.. Malcolm Doupe (community health sciences/Manitoba Centre for Health Policy) was the recipient of the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) 2012-13 Article of the Year award. The Article of the Year Award recognizes published research that has significantly contributed to the advancement of the field of health services and policy research in Canada. Doupe’s research focuses on using innovative data linkages to measure the quality of nursing home care in the province, project future demands, develop new admission criteria and discuss alternates to institutional care. The University of Calgary will award an honourary degree to U of M President Emeritus Emőke Szathmáry on June 11 at its 2013 ceremonies. The honourary degree, the Doctor of Laws, is the university’s highest academic honour bestowed on individuals whose notable achievements and community service merit recognition. Emőke Szathmáry, who served as president from 1996 to 2008, is also a professor of physical anthropology and human genetics. The citation read, in part: “Emőke Szathmáry is a nationally and internationally recognized anthropologist and specialist in genetically-based diseases of Canada’s northern populations. An exemplary scholar, she is a leader in Canadian academic administration, and a beloved role model and mentor.” Though he has retired, professor emeritus of sociology, Leo Drieger, continues to work at his office three days a week. This year, he also presented and published papers, and published his 19th book, entitled At the Forks: Mennonites in Winnipeg, in 2010, and is currently working on his 20th, a book of memoirs. Colin Dawes, a salivary researcher in the Faculty of Dentistry, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Dental Association. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the dental profession, the dental community, and to the oral health of Canadians. Dawes was presented with the award at the CDA Annual General Meeting in Ottawa in April. Michelle Driedger (community health sciences), Canada Research Chair in Environment and Health Risk Communication has been accepted into the inaugural Science Leadership Program (SLP) at the University of Toronto. The SLP aims to provide outstanding academic scientists with the skills, approaches and frameworks for engaging more effectively with the media, the decision makers and the public throughout their careers. Designed by Ray Jayawardhana, senior advisor on science engagement to the president of the University of Toronto, with the guidance of a planning advisory group, the SLP will build a network of top researchers across the U of T and other research-intensive universities in Canada, who share a common set of goals and to connect them with leaders of relevant external organizations and media to help foster a culture change. Congratulations, faculty members!
For more coverage and wonderful photos and stories from our graduates, go to:
Join Commuter Challenge, June 2 to 8
>>umanitoba.ca/convocation/ followthecelebration.html
Calling all commuters! The annual crossCanada Commuter Challenge happens June 2 to 8 and the U of M is once again registered as an official workplace. All current employees are welcome to participate! The Commuter Challenge is aimed at encouraging alternative forms of transportation, such as carpooling, public transit, biking, walking, and running. Last year, Manitoba lead the competition with 324 workplaces registered, followed by British Columbia with 138 workplaces registered.
Kicking off a new era of sports and entertainment on campus Lindsay Stewart Glor For The Bulletin
Prashen Chelikani, department of oral biology, Faculty of Medicine, has been selected to receive the MMSF Allen Rouse Basic Science Career Development Research Award. Yoav Keynan, medical microbiology, received the MMSF John Henson Clinical Research Professorship in Population Medicine Award. The awards are provided by the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation (MMSF). Both of the awards are for three years and carry an annual stipend of $50,000 per year with a $20,000 first year GrantIn-Aid for each awardee.
Football Club to create an Event Day Transportation and Parking Plan. The main things that members of the university community should remember on event days are that: • The event day plan goes into effect 90 minutes before an event begins and ends 60 minutes after it concludes. • U of M parkers are encouraged to leave via King’s Drive when the plan is in effect. • There will be no casual parking spaces available on campus beginning 90 minutes before an event, until an hour after the event concludes. • When the event day plan is in place, parking for those with U of M parking permits will be limited to A Lot, L Lot (except L Residence), B Lot, AC Lot (southeast corner of Freedman Crescent) and CT Lot at the Crop Technology Centre.
Keep active this summer with Sneakers • About a half hour after an event starts, traffic will open up and vehicles can enter and exit campus as they wish. To keep staff and students apprised of event day parking and other transportation-related news, the university will be sending out regular communications via email and the @ UMoutstanding Twitter account. The U of M map has also added a handy stadium layer, which outlines U of M-only parking on event days. The plan, which includes information for regular parkers, casual parkers, transit
in Motion day on June 20 and Bike to Work Day on June 21. For more info on these fun events, visit the following websites: >>umanitoba.ca/faculties/ kinrec/bsal/special/sneakerday >>biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org Sign up and register under University of Manitoba as your workplace here: >> commuterchallenge.ca/ app/commuter/register/ For more information, tips, and resources follow @SustainableUofM and @UMoutstanding on Twitter. riders, cyclists and pedestrians, can be found at: >>investorsgroupfield.ca >>U of M map: umanitoba.ca/maps/ Upcoming events
Wednesday, June 12: Winnipeg Blue Bombers; event starts 7:00 p.m., parking restrictions begin 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22: Taylor Swift Concert; event starts 7:30 p.m., parking restrictions begin 6 p.m. Thursday, June 27: Winnipeg Blue Bombers home opener; event starts 8:00 p.m., parking restrictions begin 6:30 p.m.
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The Bulletin | June 6, 2013 | umanitoba.ca/bulletin
Not Myself Today @Work Mariianne Mays Wiebe The Bulletin
issue. Over the next 12 months, 7 million Canadians will experience a mental health problem. One in three workplace disability claims are related to mental illness, and each day, 500,000 people are absent from work due to mental health reasons.
Have you ever had a work day when stress got the better of you? When you weren’t feeling quite yourself? A new national campaign called Not Myself Today aims to raise awareness of mental health issues in the workplace by encouraging people to pay more attention to their own mental health and well-being. Other goals of the campaign are to positively change attitudes and behaviours towards those living with mental health difficulties or illnesses, and to influence positive changes in policies around mental health in the workplace.
It’s because of this that the U of M has partnered with Partners for Mental Health for Not Myself Today @Work day as part of a larger commitment it has recently made to addressing issues of mental health in its student and employee populations. Over the next year, consultant Stephanie Loewen will work with staff, faculty and students as well as with officials and colleagues at the university in order to create a mental health strategy to support mental health initiatives for students and in the workplace at the U of M.
The U of M is taking part in Not Myself Today @Work day, an event that takes place on June 6 and is part of an initiative by Partners for Mental Health, a national organization dedicated to transforming how Canadians think about and support mental health. Launched on May 9, the campaign aims to provide resources for the support of mentally healthy workplaces, and culminates in a special day when workplaces across Canada come together to hold special events to raise awareness about mental health in the workplace.
Loewen notes that the university is already well on its way to creating that strategy. She says, “The U of M places emphasis on the importance of employee wellness through the Outstanding Workplace Initiative. In addition, the U of M is currently developing a mental health strategy that will seek to enhance the well-being of all students, faculty and staff as well as to increase support to employees with mental health issues.”
The website of Partners for Mental Health notes some disturbing statistics that should make us understand mental health in the workplace as a significant
The U of M’s mental health website page states that, “We are committed to attracting and retaining the very best staff and faculty members. To do that we strive to create a psychologically safe workplace; one that promotes the mental health and well-being of the workforce. The U of M is committed to assisting and supporting staff and faculty with mental health issues, be it their own, that of their families or their students.”
Mood buttons handed out at the Campus Beautification barbeque for the U of M’s part in the national Not Myself Today @Work campaign, part of the university’s Mental Health Strategy. Loewen has been consulting with faculty and staff and students since April. In early June, faculty and staff will have another opportunity to inform the strategy process. All employees will receive a request via email to fill out an anonymous survey about student mental health. The survey aims to get a better understanding of the nature and extent of the impact of student mental health issues on employees at the university. Loewen hopes that many people will take the opportunity to share their experiences with students in order to reveal areas for improvement and where more support is needed for employees. Over 1,100 mood badges, 500 stickers and other promotional items were distributed to faculty and staff at the Campus Beautification Day barbeque. Workplace wellness tips for improving mental health at work are being shared on a daily basis on U of M social media sites.
Over the next two weeks, employees are encouraged to wear their mood badge in support of mental health and wellness in the workplace, and in solidarity with our coworkers, staff and students living with mental health issues. The university wants to hear from you! You can submit your anonymous feedback about mental health and wellness at the U of M to help inform the mental health strategy. To see more, go to: >>umanitoba.ca/mentalhealth/ For more information about this movement to improve workplace mental health, see: >>notmyselftoday.ca For more information about employee wellness on campus, go to: >>umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/ bsal/programs/employee/
MANITOBA MEDICAL SERVICE FOUNDATION
Since 1971 the Foundation has contributed over $18 million toward furthering health research in Manitoba. The MMSF is greatly indebted to Manitoba Blue Cross which sustains the Foundation by covering the overhead and administration costs, as well as providing a significant portion of the funding for the grants. This allows the Foundation to place 100% of resources directly towards furthering health research and education. The Foundation’s highest priority for funding is given to new researchers, who are establishing themselves in Manitoba and do not yet have long-term stable funding for their research. For more information visit our website: www.mmsf.ca 2013 MMSF Board of Directors
Dr. Glen Bergeron Mr. Kerry Bittner Dr. Peter Cattini Dr. Patrick Choy Dr. William Christie Dr. Lindsay Du Val
Mr. Neil Fast Dr. Henry Friesen Dr. Daniel Gietz Dr. Jerry Gray Mr. Mark Gray Dr. Greg Hammond
Canon J. A. Harwood-Jones Dr. Kent HayGlass Mr. Mike Mager Dr. Susan McClement Dr. Gerald Minuk Ms. Linda Newton
Mr. Aidan O’Brien Dr. Christine Peschken Dr. Grant Pierce Dr. Brian Postl Dr. Allan Ronald Dr. Estelle Simons
Dr. John Wade Dr. Robert Walker Mr. Gordon Webster Hon. Scott Wright Dr. Klaus Wrogemann Mr. Andrew Yorke
Executive Committee
Mr. Mark Gray Member-at-Large
Dr. John Wade Assistant Executive Director
Dr. Greg Hammond Executive Director
Dr. Lindsay Du Val Chair of the Board
Dr. Peter Cattini Vice-Chair of the Board
New Board Member 2013
The MMSF is Proudly Supported by:
Dr. Henry Friesen
Dr. Susan McClement Secretary
Mr. Kerry Bittner Member-at-Large
The Bulletin | June 6, 2013 | umanitoba.ca/bulletin
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Discovery Centre offers summer fun for kids of all ages is a hands-on interpretive facility that explores the ways food is made in Canada. It features interactive exhibits, public programs and events that explore modern farming and food production, and the science and technology that provide healthy, sustainable food for Manitoba and the world.
Since opening its doors in the fall of 2011, the Discovery Centre has welcomed over 9,500 visitors, from hundreds of Manitoba school children to travellers from across Canada and as far away as New Zealand, France, Germany, Nigeria and China.
Crystal Jorgenson For The Bulletin
With summer holidays just around the corner, a new public facility operated by the U of M should be on every parent’s go-to list of local fun things to do. The Bruce D. Campbell Farm & Food Discovery Centre, located a short 15-minute drive south of Winnipeg,
The public is welcome to drop in anytime Tuesday to Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to explore how agriculture influences our lives. Whether they are grinding wheat, identifying Manitoba crops or peering through the glass windows into the piglet nursery, visitors young and old find something new to learn on every visit. The Discovery Centre also highlights University of Manitoba research in food production and environmental stewardship, animal welfare, nutrition and food safety. New this summer are hands-on Saturday workshops and demos on a wide range of topics, including insects, ice cream making, gardening and canning. Two special Family Fun Days are scheduled
Intergroup Dialogue a powerful new tool
Students participating in some of the activities offered at U of M’s Farm & Food Discovery Centre. for Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, August 15, featuring children’s activities on the themes of dairy and pigs. The Discovery Centre is partnering community groups to enhance outreach in Winnipeg and smaller surrounding communities. For example, through the University of Manitoba’s Lifelong Learning program, the Discovery Centre offers educational opportunities for older adults to explore subjects such as food preparation and preservation. Staff from the centre are also teaming up with Niverville Recreation to provide community programming and workshops in the summer and fall of 2013.
The Farm & Food Discovery Centre, part of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, is located at the U of M’s Glenlea Research Station on Highway 75. To find out more about the centre, including upcoming events, admission rates and how to get there, go to: >> ffdc.ca See more on food preparation and preservation here: >>umanitoba.ca/extended/life
U of M introduces myumanitoba email system for students Brian Mitchell For The Bulletin
Photo by Beatrice Watson
When students finish registering for courses this summer, they will be encouraged to activate their new myumanitoba email address. Starting this July, you will begin seeing email from students with addresses ending in @myumanitoba.ca.
(l to r): Intergroup Dialogue workshop organizers Cathy Rocke and Arielle Godbout and workshop facilitators Noor Ali and Charles Behling. Andrea Bilash For The Bulletin
More than 30 students, staff, faculty and community members came together May 21 and 22 for the U of M’s first Intergroup Dialogue Workshop. Originating at the University of Michigan 25 years ago, this award-winning workshop program is designed to bring together potentially conflicting groups to learn about social diversity through engaging and constructive conversation. The model includes four stages: forming and building relationships, discussing differences and commonalities, exploring hot topics and action planning and alliance building. Facilitated by Noor Ali and Charles Behling from the University of Michigan, the workshop had participants form small groups and engage in exercises that allowed for the safe, open and
respectful sharing of thoughts and ideas about various topics. Two larger groups were also formed, with each discussing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal relations. As a participant, the dialogue was powerful, challenging, emotional and thought-provoking. Most of all, the experience underlined the impact that longer-term sustained dialogue could have in advancing a respectful, equitable and inclusive environment for everyone on our campuses. Cathy Rocke, assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Work, is leading the movement to bring Intergroup Dialogue to the U of M on a regular basis. The event was sponsored by Indigenous Achievement (office of the president), Faculty of Social Work (endowment fund), Human Rights and Advisory Services, St. Paul’s College and Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice.
Powered by Office 365, myumanitoba is a cloud-based service that quickly and easily configures to smart phones and tablet computers. The web interface is modern, intuitive and familiar to students who currently use such email services as Outlook and Hotmail. With 25 gigs of storage, students will no longer need to forward their email because they have run out of space. Not surprisingly, initial testing with students has been overwhelmingly positive! The activation process will be different for new and returning students. Upon activating their accounts in Iridium (the university’s identity management system), new students will automatically receive their @ myumanitoba.ca email address. In contrast, returning students will be required to go into Iridium and activate their myumanitoba account. After this step has been completed, emails sent to any existing CC accounts will automatically be forwarded to students’ new @myumanitoba email address. Please note that all CC accounts will be deactivated within the next 18-24
months (an email warning will be sent to all CC accounts prior to this date). As part of the transition to the new system, online support for students, including video tutorials and step-bystep instructions, will be provided to supplement existing assistance available through the Help and Solutions Center. In the fall, additional features will be rolled out, enriching the student experience and making it easier for students to use Office 365 and work within the new Electronic Communications with Students Policy. For more information about the Student Email Project, visit: >>umanitoba.ca/computing/ist/ email/studentemailindex.html
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Campus Beautification Day 2013
The Bulletin | June 6, 2013 | umanitoba.ca/bulletin The 2013 University of Manitoba Campus Beautification Day was held on Thursday, May 23. This is the 16th year of this highly successful campus-wide event where staff, students, faculty and retirees are invited to participate on a voluntary basis to help beautify the campus.
Photos by Mike Latschislaw
Throughout the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses, volunteers participated in tasks such as picking up paper, raking, sweeping, pulling weeds and planting flowers. Garden centres in Winnipeg donated flowers and plants and special projects were planned and coordinated in various faculties and areas.
The project began at 9:00 a.m. and continued throughout the day. A barbecue lunch sponsored by Aramark was held for all volunteers at noon in the quadrangle on the Fort Garry Campus and in front of the Brodie Centre on the Bannatyne Campus. The Bookstore as well as various other businesses on campus donated prizes for the event, and a Grand Prize of two airline tickets donated by WestJet was given away. It was a fun and rewarding day for all, with beautiful results for U of M campuses — just in time for convocation.
David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor, John Kearsey, Vice-President (external), Rod Bruinooge, MP for Winnipeg South, the Honourable Kerri Irvin-Ross, Minister of Housing and Community Development, the Honourable Erin Selby, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, Joanne Keselman, Vice-President (academic) and Provost, and Paul Kochan, Vice-President (administration).
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MCA/YWCA
dership and
g, Manitoba,
The Bulletin | June 6, 2013 | umanitoba.ca/bulletin
Coffee With a Co-Worker
Jeannette Montufar Department of civil engineering Faculty of Engineering MARIIANNE MAYS WIEBE The Bulletin
Dynamic, charismatic, creative and committed. Jeannette Montufar has a lot going on in her life right now. In addition to her own teaching and research, this professor of transportation engineering is also starting a scholarship fund for underprivileged women and just published a book of poetry. Her academic work is focused on designing better systems for pedestrians, especially older pedestrians — research she “loves every moment of,” almost as much as working with and mentoring her students, whose passion for what they do inspires her daily, she says. She sees the university as “the cradle of ideas” in society, and feels it is “the best place” one could possibly work. In 2012, she was also honoured with a YMCA Women of Distinction Award in the Leadership and Management category. Montufar always had a knack for both numbers and language, and she is currently writing another book, entitled My Longest Walk, which will combine the story of her own life with a chronicle of her fundraising journey for the scholarship fund. That journey will begin with a 500 km walk this summer, a portion of the Camino Frances from
20 Love Poems And some Random Thoughts
University of
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20 Love Poems And some
Random Thoughts
Jeannette Montufar
Jeannette Montufar
Burgos to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. You can tell that bringing out her book, 20 Love Poems and Some Random Thoughts, was an exhilarating experience. Montufar has been writing poetry since she was 14, and also writes short stories. She “loves literature,” she says, and finds poetry a “wonderful way” to express herself and reflect on her experiences. “The book is about different kinds of love,” she says. “Love as a mother, a friend, a lover. I really believe that our experiences with love — or lack of it — really make us who we are today.”
Engineer and poet Jeannette Montufar in her office.
The Hummingbird Education Fund
Jeannette Montufar is establishing the Hummingbird Education Fund to give underprivileged women in Winnipeg an opportunity for a post-secondary education in engineering, natural sciences, health sciences, medicine or law. Why did Montufar choose to name the fund after a hummingbird? “A hummingbird symbolizes many things related to hope, endurance, persistence and the capability to overcome obstacles,” she explains. “Like the hummingbird, I hope the fund will represent an opportunity for women, an opportunity to obtain a better education and a new tomorrow for those facing tremendous barriers in our community. “I believe in second chances,” says Montufar, “in giving opportunities. Many things have not come easy for me, but because I have had opportunities in my own life, I want to give back. I see it as a responsibility, really.” This summer, Montufar, who is also a dedicated runner, will walk a 500 km portion of the Camino Frances in Spain to kick off fundraising for the Hummingbird Fund. The fund is also supported by The Winnipeg Foundation. Montefur encourages others to donate funds towards “in order to make an impact” in their community. “Every $200 donated will get me one kilometer closer to my goal of raising $100,000 on this journey,” she says. For information on how to make your donation, see The Winnipeg Foundation at www.wpgfdn.org and look for the Hummingbird Education Fund or visit the fund online on FaceBook at HummingbirdEducationFund.
Q&A What puts a smile on your face? Almost everything puts a smile on my face!
Where did you grow up? Define growing up … I shaped my ideas and opinions in Winnipeg but I was born in Guatemala. What did you like about your childhood? I most enjoyed the weather Childhood hero: My father. He was a very intelligent man. Something you find essential to do every day: Read non-technical material. I like reading most types of books but one of my favourite authors is Isabel Allende. You are always thrilled to spend any free time: Chatting with my 12-yr old daughter and learning about her dreams, plans, frustrations, challenges. She is an endless fountain of entertainment! What is your guiding principle or motto? Make every day count by making someone else’s life better thanks to you. Dinner with friends: In or out? I prefer to cook at home because it’s more personal and it allows me to treat my guests to meals they really enjoy. I will cook just about anything a friend would ask for
when invited over for dinner. Favourite place: I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel the world. And although I have seen many places and met many people, I always enjoy Costa Rica. They people there are very friendly and warm — and the beaches are fantastic! A goal: My main goal at this point is to raise $1,000,000 for the Hummingbird Education Fund. What you appreciate or admire in another person? Compassion and determination. Underrated: The University of Manitoba Overrated: Apple pie Favourite TV show, film, blog or website: Three films: The House of the Spirits, Midnight in Paris, Scent of a Woman Favourite music: Anything by Leonard Cohen, Billy Joel, Johnny Cash, or Bob Dylan. What do you like to read? I like most kinds of books. I recently finished The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli for the tenth time. My favourite book of all time is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Everyone should read that book. Anything else you’d like people to know about Jeannette Montufar? I will change the world — I just have to figure out how and when!
From the Archives
Panning for Gold in the Archives: The O’Hare Family fonds The O’Hare Family fonds was donated to the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by Terry Webber on May 1, 2013. The collection was passed down to him by his mother, Zella Mae Webber (née O’Hare), who was one of John and Florence O’Hare’s three children. John O’Hare spent six years in the Yukon during the Klondike gold rush [ca. 1895-1900] and his suede pouch that was used at the time to collect gold nuggets is included in the collection. Other notable records include a tintype of Peter O’Hare, first husband of Sarah Ann O’Hare and father of John O’Hare, and shares purchased by John O’Hare from the Thistle Curling Rink and Thistle Holding Company Limited of Winnipeg. The collection also includes photographs of the O’Hare family that date back to 1887. In addition to the colourful story that these records portray of an early Manitoban family, they also help paint a picture of the Province of Manitoba at the turn of the 20th Century. The collection is currently being processed but will be available for research in the coming weeks. Jesse Boiteau
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Four Countries, Two Weeks, One Goal:
Knowledge Transfer
Elnaz Shadabi and Lindsay Aboud For The Bulletin
A scientist can dedicate an entire career to study one cell, one gene or one protein. However, where infectious diseases are concerned, a broad appreciation of the problem is needed to understand the many factors that contribute to the rise and spread of disease in a community or across the globe. In the Ecology of Infectious Disease course, offered by the U of M’s departments of medical microbiology and community health sciences, students from four different countries came together from May 6 to 17 to better understand infectious diseases and their threat to global health with a more holistic view. And the course seems to have left a positive impression on the students. “I thought that the course was unique,” said Shamshad Khan from British Columbia, “not only because it covered whole range of issues, but also because it created a space for dialogue between disciplines and cultures.” Students also enjoyed the diverse backgrounds and cultures represented by the students who attended the course. “I loved how one day Keith wore a shirt from Kenya and another day a T-shirt from the Indian cricket team! And Ifeoma, while sporting her lovely Nigerian dress and headgear, came out with a rap song, raising awareness on an infectious disease. It was an amazing experience overall,” said Khan. Participants in the course were PhD students and post-doctoral fellows from Kenya, India, Colombia, Newfoundland and Manitoba. A large majority of these individuals were part of the International Infectious Disease and Global Health Training program of Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR); however, some of them were students from the U of M who chose to take the course for credit and out of intrigue for a course that was so encompassing of all scientific disciplines. Not only did students come from different research disciplines, such as basic science or social science, but they each brought something unique to the table, a slice of knowledge that added one more piece towards the completion of the complex puzzle that is global health. “The Eco ID course is a one-of-a-kind course whose strength and aspiration lies in its diversified disciplines. It
recreates and instils socio-scientific thinking and engages the mind to absorb and contribute knowledge,” said Sumit Dutta, a student from India. Each morning and afternoon session consisted of a lecture presented by a U of M professor or expert, followed by a supplementary lecture given by a group of students, which often consisted of three people from three different countries. Sessions ended with a student-led, group activity. Group activities included debates on hot current topics and creating skits to illustrate how different cultures would approach various health related scenarios. Every student was pushed outside of his or her comfort zone in an effort to participate in a discussion crucial to solve a global health-related problem. “The group activities that we engaged in were a unique way to discuss and debate specific points about the infectious diseases,” said Robbin Lindsay, one of the course’s guest lecturers. “[They] provided an opportunity to hear what the students were thinking. This aspect was quite refreshing for lecturers like myself. It’s a nice change to get immediate feedback from an engaged audience.” In fact, active and participatory role of students in learning and sharing their knowledge with others was another unique feature of the program. Sajid Mahmood, a PhD student from the department of immunology at the U of M described this as a “conducive learning environment,” where there are “opportunities for everyone to actively participate.” The design of the course allowed for students to explore important issues and topics together. Some of these topics included dynamics of transmission of disease, vaccine and prevention strategies, the role that animal health plays in the health of humans, role of World Health Organization in dealing with new outbreaks, knowledge translation, culture and infectious disease and health research ethics. In addition to these, students were also exposed to several pressing issues related to the health of Indigenous peoples of Canada, such as overcrowding, poor housing and its impact on the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. Students who will serve as
Participants in the U of M’s Eco-ID course, offered by the departments of medical microbiology and community health sciences. future health experts are the ones who will shoulder part of the responsibility to deal with these situations. Linda Larcombe, one of the primary speakers on the health of Canadian Indigeonous populations said that “as an anthropologist in the Faculty of Medicine here at the University of Manitoba it is gratifying to see that the students appreciate the impact of the social determinants of health on infectious diseases, not as a side bar but as important factors affecting infectious diseases in marginalized populations.” “The Eco ID course provided a great opportunity to explore areas of infectious diseases that I had little or no experience in,” said Larcombe. “There is a huge value to bringing international researchers together for courses and shared programming. Not only does it open doors for networking and collaborations in a shared learning environment but it’s an opportunity for us
to realize some of the goals that infectious disease researchers in Columbia, Kenya and India all share. Sometimes I think the researchers that are part of the eco id program are surprised to see how their own research fits into a more global research environment,” she said. The experience of participating in this course has been a positive one for many students. “I will never forget the invaluable sacrifices, team spirit leadership and unwavering support that was demonstrated by both facilitators and trainees… I have not experienced this anywhere,” said Frank Ndakala from Kenya. Alliance Coordinating Office provided financial support to send six international trainees to Winnipeg to attend the Eco ID course at the U of M.
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The evolution of flightlessness Jazz Camp celebrates its 20th season New paper helps explain why penguins don’t fly Sean Moore The Bulletin
Recently, University of Manitoba biologists studying auks — a close relative of penguins except auks can fly — learned that these birds pay an extraordinarily high cost (almost Faustian, really) for their lifestyle. In an upcoming edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, graduate student Kyle Elliott and his supervisor Gail Davoren, an associate professor of biological sciences, report on their work at Coats Island, Nunavut. They were studying auks alongside cormorants, a largish seabird. During the breeding season, auks and cormorants spend most of their day on land, but they must also dive to substantial depths and spend hours flying. Most objects need to change their form in order to function efficiently in separate media. In their paper “High flight costs, but low dive costs, in auks support the biomechanical hypothesis for flightlessness in penguins,” they describe how they measured oxygen consumed by auks and cormorants in the different activities in the wild. They found that the flight costs were the highest sustained metabolic rates ever measured for any animal. Indeed, the costs were 33% higher than the biologists expected after doing
biomechanical modeling of the bird. Likewise, the auk’s swim costs were higher than penguins that specialize in swimming but – crucially — lower than those of foot-propelled cormorants. Such high flight costs accompanied by progressive reductions in dive costs may have led aquatic birds to develop wingpropelled diving and finally flightlessness in response to foraging opportunities at increasing depths, Elliott and Davoren suggest. Loss of flight among seabirds such as penguins may thus have been due to the tradeoffs between maximizing wing function in water versus air. In short, good flippers don’t fly well. Photo by Kyle Elliott. “Clearly, form constrains function in wild animals and movement in one medium creates tradeoffs with movement in a second medium,” Elliott says. “It is unlikely that we will ever see a real Gadgetmobile” — referring to the cartoon vehicle of Inspector Gadget–“that functions smoothly in air, land and water.” Robert E. Rickfels, a biologist from the University of Missouri, Scott A. Hatch, a biologist from the US Geological Survey, and Tony Gaston, a biologist at Environment Canada, were co-authors on the paper. Funding was provided by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Garfield-Weston Foundation.
Ensemble performances at Jazz Camp. Kathy Tarrant For The Bulletin
The 20th season of Jazz Camp gets underway this August 18 to 25. The first Jazz Camp started as an idea by the Faculty of Music’s Bernie Rose and Richard Wedgwood. The faculty was looking for a way for young student musicians to increase their understanding and appreciation of jazz and improve their solo and performance skills. The pair approached Extended Education’s summer session to develop and administer the camp with the Faculty of Music providing the instructors. The first Jazz Camp attracted 34 students. This year, Jazz Camp will max out with 100 students. Participants include high school students, university students, and even elementary-aged kids, teachers and parents. In fact, anyone can attend with some basic skills regardless of their age. All of them learn how to hone their jazz skills and have the chance to perform on stage.
The word “penguin” was originally used to describe auks. The visual similarity between auks and Antarctic penguins can be seen in this photo. Auks, such as the thick-billed murre shown here, has the highest wing-loading of any bird and consequently flight costs are exceptionally high, explaining why Antarctic penguins have evolved flightlessness.
Academic Job Opportunities A full listing of employment opportunities at the University of Manitoba can be found at umanitoba.ca. U of M encourages applications from qualified women and men, including members of visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Please include the position number when applying for openings at the university.
FACULTY OF DENTISTRY
Position: Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Department of Dental Diagnostic & Surgical Sciences Position number: 16665 Deadline: September 1, 2013 and to continue till position is filled Start date: January 1, 2014 For information: Dr. Adnan Shah, Department of Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences and Chair of Search Committee, email Adnan.Shah@ ad.umanitoba.ca, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, D343A-790 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E 0W2, tel. 204-789-3338, fax 204-272-3077
FACULTY OF LAW
Position: Two term positions (one to two years) at the Assistant Professor level Position number: 16611 and 16631 Deadline: June 15, 2013 Start Date: July 1, 2013 For information: Dean Lorna A. Turnbull. c/o Marcia Kort, Confidential Assistant to the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, fax 204-474-7663, email Marcia.Kort@umanitoba.ca
During the first day of camp, students go through a basic audition to determine their ensemble group placement. “Every skill level is welcome,” says Warren Otto, Program Administrator for Jazz Camp, who has also been involved from the start, organizing camp details, including the end of camp student concert. “We’ve had some very talented students attend camp over the years, and, thanks to Steve Kirby, Jazz Camp attracts some of the best musicians from the world of jazz as guest instructors. Jazz Camp gives students the chance to learn from some of the best jazz musicians anywhere,” says Otto. Over the years, Jazz Camp has seen a wide range of students too. There’s the music teacher, who comes every year, and the father who drove from Portage la Prairie every day with his 9 and 12 year old daughters and jammed as a family. Most of the students come for the chance to play with some of the best names in jazz and have fun. Many come back year after year and have gone on to make jazz a part of their lives and careers.
Some of the most notable Jazz Camp alumni include: Curtis Nowosad, a U of M graduate and Jazz Camp instructor, who was recently admitted to Manhattan School of Music as an elite fellow on a full scholarship; Will Bonness, U of M graduate and now U of M faculty; Devon Gillingham, recently won the internationally renowed Essentially Ellington student composition contest; and Connor Derraugh, a talented 17 year old piano and saxophone player who has attended Jazz Camp since he was 10. And there’s the long list of guest instructors that reads like a who’s who of jazz. In past years students played with the likes of Peter Appleyard (Canadian legendary vibes musician), Steve Turre, “who’s played with everyone” notes Otto, “you might know him as the trombonist in the Saturday Night Live Band,” and multi Grammy nominee and renowned saxophonist, Miguel Zenon. “This year’s special guest instructors are trombonist, Wycliffe Gordon, who’s played with Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie and Shirley Horn, and saxophonist, Steve Wilson who has an equally impressive resume including gigs with Chick Corea and Dave Holland. The two 20th Anniversary guest instructors will join Jazz Studies staff Steve Kirby (bass), Quincy Davis (drums), Derrick Gardner (trumpet), Will Bonness (piano) and Anna-Lisa Kirby (vocals). Every year the camp features a faculty concert at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and ends with a student concert. This year watch for noon-hour concerts on campus featuring Gordon, Wilson and Jazz Camp instructors and students. “19 years ago jazz in Winnipeg was hard to find,” says Otto. “Today, you can find jazz being played somewhere in town every weekend. You can see the popularity of jazz grow through the efforts of Steve Kirby and the Jazz Studies faculty. The growing popularity of Jazz Camp is another example of that.” >>For more information, visit umanitoba.ca/summer/jazz
ASPER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Position: Director, University of Manitoba Transport Institute Deadline: June 30, 2013 For information: Dr. Michael Benarroch, Dean, Asper School of Business, dean_asperschool@umanitoba.ca
SUMMER SALE June 10-29, 2013
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The Bulletin
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Bringing Research to LIFE Upcoming events
lUNCh aND learN intellectual Property: Who owns it? Presenters: Dr. Darren Fast Director, Technology Transfer Office University of Manitoba Dr. Dan Polonenko Principal, Patent Agent Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP Lisa Sim Associate Counsel, Patent Agent Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP Come and learn about the new direction of the Technology Transfer Office and discover how the University of Manitoba is actively working on your behalf to enhance valuable industry partnerships and collaborations. The workshop will also feature an interactive intellectual property seminar with Dr. Dan Polonenko, a principal and patent agent with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms. Sim, associate counsel and patent agent with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, will share her knowledge of intellectual property and provide insight on how to protect your ideas! thursday, June 13 10:30 am – 1:00 pm 10:30 - networking 10:45 - presentation lunch to follow theatre C Basic medical sciences Building Bannatyne Campus RSVP to Phyllis Brown tto@umanitoba.ca 204-474-6200 Get started on your entry for the annual Undergraduate research Poster Competition (It’s never too early!) october 30, 2013 Watch for additional information on registration at: umanitoba.ca/postercompetition
making magic, making connections
Social scientist takes unusual approach to educating about public health issues
By Katie Chalmers-BrooKs for the Bulletin Joseph Kaufert’s CV is eclectic: he is a member of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada’s Ethics Advisory Committee—and a member of the Order of Merlin. He admits he’s not your typical m a g i c i an . T h e m i l d - m an n e re d academic, a public health and ethics researcher in the Faculty of Medicine, does work grounded in fact. But when sharing his findings with medical and graduate students in the department of community health sciences, and with colleagues and peers at conferences around the world, he does magic tricks. The medical anthropologist explores pressing issues like improving access to palliative care, research ethics, Aboriginal health and the rights of people with disabilities. Magic, Kaufert explains, gives him a light opener to heavy topics. “You tread that boundary between trivializing it and motivating and engaging people. I think sometimes it’s a way around the PowerPoint,” he says. Going beyond journals More and more, researchers are looking for ways to better connect with the public to get their findings out of the lab and into the hands of people who can benefit. They’re recognizing the need to go beyond academic journals and get creative; it could be a stage play, a poem set to music or a YouTube video. For 25 years Kaufert has been using magic to educate, making him a pioneer in knowledge translation. “It gives you a teachable moment,” he says. When educating the public about sodium intake, he’ll pour salt into his closed hand. Within moments the salt vanishes only to reappear from the other hand and begin pouring nonstop. The spectacle provides a metaphor, one he hopes will get people thinking about their salt consumption and the lack of control we have as consumers within today’s sodium-rich food industry. Kaufert’s magic trick at a national meeting of disability organizations? Turning a round hole cut into a newspaper into a square opening, illustrating barriers to community participation and the misrepresentation of people with disabilities in the media. improving dialogue Magic works well, he says, to get a conversation going between groups that have different viewpoints. He used the classic linking rings effect at a workshop bringing together intensive care doctors and people with disabilities who fear the physicians may not fully understand the true quality of their lives. At times the rings appear to join seamlessly; other times they don’t fit at all. “When dealing with circles that don’t overlap, perceptions may be very, very separate.
umanitoba.ca/research
Community health sciences Prof. Joseph Kaufert
That’s not to say that there will ever be total agreement but by exploring the boundaries in those two rings, it may be possible to talk about how we make that dialogue better,” says Kaufert. He uses this same trick when discussing guidelines for research ethics at universities, and the challenge to combine different frameworks across disciplines in social sciences, natural sciences and medicine. “The ethics don’t always fit together,” he says. “(Magic) is a way of using performance to talk about
“you tread that boundary between trivializing it and motivating and engaging people. i think sometimes it’s a way around the PowerPoint.”
Photo by James Carey Lauder Photography
issues and not trivializing them but recognizing that for a lot of issues there are two or three sides to it.” The great nephew of a Vaudeville magician, Kaufert got hooked on magic when he was just six years old. As a teen he belonged to a magic group and had to sneak into the nightclubs to see magicians perform. Kaufert put himself through university performing magic tricks, even when he was in Ghana as a grad student doing fieldwork. Today, he is interested in exploring how it can be used to promote health in children and seniors. He sees it as a medium for inviting people to see things in new ways. “It’s the understanding of illusion and reality, not necessarily fooling people but recognizing that it’s drawing people into a situation where their knowledge base may be opened up. It may be a powerful teaching situation.”
Published by the Office of the Vice-President (Research and International) Comments, submissions and event listings to: research_communications@umanitoba.ca Phone: (204) 474-7300 Fax (204) 261-0325
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Photo by Katie Chalmers-Brooks
New stadium forges relationship between Bombers and Bisons
Eric Postma For The Bulletin
On June 27 the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will officially open the brand new Investors Group Field on the U of M Campus. The date will mark the culmination of years of planning, negotiations, construction and hard work by the football club. It’s a date that many Manitobans have had circled on their calendars since the Canadian Football League schedule was released in early March, and a day that Garth Buchko, President and CEO of the Winnipeg Football Club has anticipated for years. “We’re very pleased that finally after two years of construction that we are able to open Investors Group Field,” said
Buchko. “It’s been a long time coming, but like all Manitobans, we’re proud to be part of this.” June 27 will also mark the official beginning of a relationship between the Bombers and the U of M, a relationship that both parties expect to be very fruitful. For the university, importance is placed on welcoming thousands of new visitors to the campus to share the passion of football tradition that comes with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Investors Group Field will serve as an exciting new facility for Bison Football. The Bisons now boast the newest and largest stadium of all Canadian university football squads. “The completion of Investors Group Field demonstrates that we can accomplish
great things when we work View of Investors Group Field from Pembina Hall Residence. together as partners,” said President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard. “We look forward to playing host to people who can come to our Fort Garry campus for Winnipeg Blue Bomber games and other special events. We are also excited about the opportunities this firstclass facility provides for Bisons Football.” “We get to work hand-in-hand with the Bison football operations,” said Garth Buchko. “Our coaches and management have been working with [Bison head coach] Brian Dobie an awful lot over the past six months, much more than we ever have before. For the Bison players to be able to walk on that field and maybe throw some passes with Buck Pierce, to be able to see how our players train, and see what’s needed to get to the next level, is tremendous for the Bisons, but it’s also tremendous for us.” The excitement of a new state-of-the-art athletic facility has already begun to affect the campus and surrounding community, and the Bombers delight in becoming part of a lively community. “This is a vibrant part of the city, and a lot of people don’t understand how vibrant this campus is,” added Buchko. “For us to be part of the vibrancy of the student body, the faculties, and everything else, is exciting for all of our staff.”
BE PART OF A NEW ERA IN FOOTBALL.
BECOME A BISON FAN. IT’S TIME.
Garth Buchko. The hope is that this new relationship between the Bombers and Bisons will be a boon for football in Manitoba. Winnipeg Football Club is dedicated to developing athletes and fans alike, starting at the grassroots. “The more we can do to build football from a minor league level, be it junior football, high school football, peewee football, to university football, the more we can build that, and build the infrastructure of athletes in our city and province, the better we will be long term,” said Buchko. “It’s all about building that next level of athlete to play football, and also building that next level of fan.”
Investors Group Field Facts Construction:
HOME GAME SCHEDULE 20I3 FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 - 7 PM VS. ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 - 5 PM VS. SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 - I PM VS. REGINA RAMS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 - I PM VS. UBC THUNDERBIRDS
For additional schedule and ticket information, visit:
#GOBISONS
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Approximately $200 million price tag Broke ground May 20, 2010 Arch trusses support 8 acres of roof, which is the largest and highest in Canada, spanning 190 meters, rising to 200 feet in the air Roof provides coverage from elements for 80 per cent of patrons 9000 tons of steel 28,000 cubic meters of concrete 450 pieces of precast bleachers 272,000 concrete blocks 8 acres of indoor floor space 33,500 seats (expandable to 40,000 for major events) Playing field dips 25 feet below ground 400,000 man hours 2 HD video boards (30’ x 123’) 240 TV monitors 6 elevators 4,000 square-foot retail store 46 executive suites More washrooms, concessions, legroom and amenities than the former CanadInns Stadium
Major Events:
• • • • • •
June 12, 2013: First Bombers’ preseason game June 22, 2013: Taylor Swift Concert June 27, 2013: Winnipeg Blue Bombers Home Opener & Grand Opening August 12, 2013: Paul McCartney Concert Friday, August 30: Bisons Football Home Opener June 2015: FIFA Women’s World Cup