The Bulletin - January 17, 2013

The Bulletin

January 17, 2013 Vol. 46 No. 15

umanitoba.ca/bulletin

University of Manitoba

Students at G20

Trekking north

U of M represents at Youth Forum

Practicum for Education students lands in Gillam

Back page

Photo left by Luc Desjardins

Above: Melina Djulancic, Rebecca Kunzman, Christiane Fischer, Matthew Stewart and Laura Poppel. The students selected to represent the U of M at the G20 Youth Forum on April 17 to 21, 2013.

Students and student experience Special feature

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Pages 6 - 7

TWO POWERFUL WOMEN

U of M Events Black Hole Theatre: The Cripple of Inishmaan, Jan. 15 to 19, 22 to 26 Native Studies Colloquium, Jan. 23 Two lectures by Robbie Etheridge, Anthropology, Jan. 24 Native Studies Colloquium, Jan. 23 Stu Clark Distinguished Speaker Series, Jan. 28 to 30

Story, page 5

Photo by Mike Latschislaw

>>See page 10 for more

Janice Ristock, women’s and gender studies professor and vice-provost (academic affairs), and Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, head, department of pediatrics and child health.

U of M scholars make Top 100 list for trailblazing accomplishments

BY JANINE HARASYMCHUK The Bulletin Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, an expert in genetic diseases who championed DNA-based diagnostics in Winnipeg, and Janice Ristock, a women’s and gender studies professor who was among the first to research partner violence in same-sex relationships, have made the 2012 list of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100.

The Toronto-based Women’s Executive Network includes in their list women with various roles, from business owners to bureaucrats, from journalists to scientists. Top 100 award winners are proven achievers who are strong contributors to their organizations, their fields of endeavour and their communities.

The U of M researchers each earned a spot in the trailblazers and trendsetters category.

Rockman-Greenberg recognized the importance of molecular medicine early on and two decades ago was the driving force behind the opening of the first lab in Winnipeg for the diagnosis of genetic disease with DNA testing. The pediatrician is now head of and professor in the department of pediatrics and child health, a professor in the department of biochemistry and medical genetics, the medical director of the child health program within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, and a scientist at the Manitoba Institute for Child Health.

She and her colleagues have identified the molecular source of some of Manitoba’s most devastating inherited diseases, including those most prevalent in the province’s Aboriginal, Mennonite and Hutterite communities. As a clinical geneticist at the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital, she is the principal investigator of an international, multi-centre clinical trial involving a new treatment for hypophosphatasia, a genetic bone disease that is rare worldwide yet common in Manitoba and select communities in Canada. Dedicated to helping children and families in crisis, Rockman-Greenberg and her team successfully treated the disease in 2008 with a new investigational drug.

“I was truly very touched and actually quite amazed, first when I heard I was being nominated by the University of Manitoba for this award and then when I learned I was actually a 2012 Top 100 Women WXN award recipient! I sincerely hope my receiving this award can help focus even more attention on the important roles played by research and ‘knowledge translation’ in improving the health of our children and youth.”

Ristock, a community psychologist, is an international leader in the development of gay and lesbian studies and an advocate for some of society’s most marginalized members. Her work in gender and sexuality has changed how society thinks about domestic abuse. She began

researching violence in lesbian relationships in the late 1980s when there was only one trade book on the topic and little academic research, and tread through uncharted territory in her groundbreaking 2002 book No More Secrets: Violence in Lesbian Relationships. Her research has helped inform policy makers about the lack of services that exist for these women; her efforts have changed the landscape of support programming. In other areas of her community-based research program, she has made crucial contributions to our understanding of how diversity and discrimination affects the health and wellbeing of individuals from women’s, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit and Aboriginal communities. Committed to human rights and social justice, Ristock collaborates with many community groups and is currently U of M’s vice-provost (academic affairs). “I was very surprised and feel very honoured to be acknowledged alongside Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg and previous winners, Wanda Wuttunee [and President Emeritus Emke Szathmáry,” she says.

“We are extremely proud of Dr. Rockman-Greenberg and Dr. Ristock. In their own way, they have proved themselves as individuals who think outside of the box.

They are leaders whose hard work has benefitted many people,” said Digvir Jayas, vice-president (research and international) at the U of M.

The Bulletin

THE U OF M IN THE NEWS

Outfoxed January 4, 2013 BBC Biological sciences assistant professor James (Jim) Roth spoke to the BBC about the strange goings-on in the Arctic. Arctic fox sightings around Hudson Bay are at an unprecedented low this winter, yet red fox sightings have simultaneously surged. The surprising pattern prompted observers to question whether the elusive Arctic foxes are being driven out of their dens by invading red relatives. Roth told the BBC that while it is “possible,” the dip is more likely to have been caused by another factor such as food resources, disease or parasites. Roth’s annual observations of both Arctic and red fox dens around Churchill, Man., show that the success of the two species is highly correlated. “However, in 2011 Arctic fox den success was among the lowest ever recorded, while red fox den was among the highest,” he said. Roth went on to say that a different prey species such as snowshoe hare may have been abundant in red foxes’ forest habitat but was not available to Arctic foxes hunting on the tundra terrain.

Holley: Rules only work if enforced December 27, 2012 The Globe and Mail, Calgary Herald, CBC, CTV, Farmer, Canadian Press, Saskatchewan Star Phoenix Food science professor Rick Holley gave comment to the media about recent food safety issues. In early September U.S. food inspectors found E. coli bacteria in a shipment of beef from the XL Foods Ltd. plant in Brooks, Alta. The U.S. quickly closed its border to beef from the plant, which slaughters up to 40 per cent of Canada’s cattle. The event was damaging to many lives. And Holley said there is no excuse for the sanitation problems that led to the Brooks plant closing. Canada, Holley said, is respected around the world for the rules it has in place, but the problem is the rules are not enforced with the required vigor. “We see too much pressure being put on inspection staff to complete reports,” said Holley, who added that some inspectors need more training to effectively do their jobs. “They just have to get better at the proactive end of things, a lot better.” The responsibility for food safety also rests with company owners. Holley said managers and supervisors must set clear operating standards for hygiene and strictly enforce them. Part of that responsibility is to ensure workers, often immigrants who speak English as a second language, are fully trained to understand what is expected of them. Workers must also feel comfortable about being able to speak up if they have concerns. Holley said food safety in meat plants is everyone’s concern, but ultimately it is the federal food inspection staff that set the tone. “There is a constant requirement for regulatory oversight, but that regulatory oversight must be viewed by the plant’s managers and staff as competent,” he said. “When the activity doesn’t appear to be competent, then you end up with people taking shortcuts, and outcomes such as we have seen at XL Foods.”

Who decides?

Dec. 9, 2012 CTV National News Philosophy professor Arthur Schafer spoke to CTV about issues taxing the Supreme Court of Canada. In early December of last year the court was about to decide on a case that asked who decides when a hospital patient lives or dies: doctors, or families? The genesis for the case came from the family 60-year-old Hassan Rasouli, who was on a breathing machine for over two years in Sunnybrook Hospital after surgery to remove a brain tumor. The family saw hope for recovery; the doctors did not. Despite two court rulings in favour of the family, the doctors appealed to the Supreme Court. Schafer said the case will head off a debate that will only grow with new technology that keeps people alive indefinitely at great cost to the health care system. “I find it very difficult to believe that the Supreme Court will decide that health care professionals are mere technicians, and that whatever the family wants the health care team has to provide it, even if this involves wasting scarce health care resources.”

Headlines

BULLETIN

“Scientist to receive esteemed award,” Winnipeg Free Press, Jan. 4, article about scientists awarded for doing trailblazing work at the Experimental Lakes Area based at the University of Manitoba.

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January 17, 2013

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

NEWS

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Starting the new year by celebrating student success THERE IS NO BETTER TIME than the early days of the new year to celebrate the success of our outstanding students.

Many of you may have already heard that Thomas Toles has been named the University of Manitoba’s 97th Rhodes Scholar, the most of any university in Western Canada. That announcement was made in late November. All of our faculties and departments are contributing to this culture of excellence. Our most recent Rhodes Scholars represent the breadth of our academic disciplines including arts, science and engineering.

We were also proud of the success which has been achieved by graduate students Amy Scott and Harlyn Silverstein who in 2012 were recipients of Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships.

In addition to these exceptional individuals I am proud to recognize others who are also already embracing the unexpected, defying convention and blazing new trails.

Christiane Fischer, Laura Poppel, Mathew Stewart, Melina Djulancic and Rebecca Kunzman will be joining five of our faculty at the G20 Youth Forum April 17-21 that will bring together over 1,500 student leaders and academics in St. Petersburg, Russia.

I am very excited about the opportunities this conference provides for these student leaders.

They will participate in discussions and build relationships that will shape the rest of their lives and ultimately change our world.

In addition, two first-year students set themselves apart before they started attending classes here this fall. Kimia Sheikholeslami and Alexa McAdam were selected among the 977 Canadian nominees to receive the first-ever Schulich Leader Scholarships.

The Schulich Leader Scholarships program recognizes students from across Canada who demonstrate excellence in academics and/or community leadership and who plan to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics, during their undergraduate years of study at university.

Finally, I want to recognize two other groups of outstanding students at the University of Manitoba. While I would like to acknowledge each by name, I am proud to say there are far too many to do so.

In September, I attended a reception celebrating more than 400 President’s Scholars. I was moved by the level of intelligence and social commitment of these young people.

In order to be a President’s Scholar, a student must enter the University of Manitoba with a minimum average of 95 per cent. In order to retain this distinction, an individual must achieve a 4.0 Grade Point Average.

The fact that we have so many President’s Scholars is an indication of the quality of students who attend this university and maintain those high standards throughout their academic careers and the faculty who teach and mentor them.

I also want to recognize our 1,043 University 1 Honour Roll students. These are University 1 students who have an average of 3.5 or better. I am told this is one of the largest honour roll classes in our university’s history.

Past behaviour is often the best predictor of future behaviour so I look forward to even more success in the future.

Throughout our university’s history, many outstanding people have had their lives transformed by their experience at the University of Manitoba. Their success requires the commitment of family, faculty, staff, alumni as well as our community and government partners.

The students we are celebrating today are not only continuing that tradition of excellence, they are taking us to new and exciting places. I am proud to have the opportunity to share in that journey.

Remembering food services manager Daryl Lucyk On behalf of the University of Manitoba’s leadership team, faculty and staff, I want to express our deep sadness at the passing of Daryl Lucyk on December 12, 2012. As ARAMARK’s general manager of food services and caretaking for the University of Manitoba, Daryl provided dedicated and invaluable service to our community and was a trusted and respected member of our team. We offer our sincere sympathy to his family.

In addition, I want to express our condolences to his colleagues in food services and caretaking who share our sadness and will miss his sound counsel and strong leadership.

Paul A. Kochan, Vice-President (administration)

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ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Sandy Klowak, Pat Goss, Sean Moore, Katie Chalmers-Brooks, Mike Latschislaw, Andrea Di Ubaldo, Luc Desjardins, Grant Warren, Janice Labossiere, Katie ChalmersBrooks

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January 17, 2013

The Bulletin HEALTH SCIENCES CLUSTER UPDATE Joanne Keselman, VP (academic) and provost at the U of M, issued this report to all staff and faculty on December 6, 2012.

In October, I provided my second update on the work of the health sciences cluster to assess the benefits and risks of a more integrated academic structure. As you know, this work stems from the conversation initiated by President David Barnard earlier this year about ways to create an academic structure that better reflects our size and scope, and enhances our ability to deliver on our threefold mission of learning, discovery and engagement. In my October update, I indicated that we anticipated being in a position to advance a proposal or series of options by early November for consideration and debate through our collegial governance processes.

On November 15, 2012, a Town Hall was held to which faculty, staff and students of the units comprising the health sciences cluster were invited. At this Town Hall, which was attended by over 350 individuals from our two campuses, I presented for consideration and initial feedback two options for a more integrated structure in the health sciences. At the same time, next steps and associated timelines were outlined, in terms of opportunities for input and feedback, and the process for formally considering a proposal for structural change. A copy of this presentation is available on my website. At the President’s Town Hall on November 19, 2012, I had an opportunity to provide a summary of this presentation to the wider university community.

Consultation on the options presented for consideration is ongoing, and I look forward to participating in these discussions over the next two months. I want to thank, once again, all those who continue to contribute to this conversation and encourage others to participate in this important discussion. Feedback on or questions about this initiative can also be submitted through a ‘feedback button’ on my website.

I look forward to hearing your views and receiving your suggestions, and will continue to provide updates as this initiative evolves.

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Research Day on the road for dentistry

BY GRANT WARREN For The Bulletin The annual showcase of oral health student and faculty research will now be easily available to oral health professionals from across the province at Research Day 2013.

Student scientists, along with their academic counterparts, will present their latest achievements on January 25 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in room 16 on the first floor of the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The poster competition will take place throughout the day on the East Mezzanine.

The 2013 event marks the first time Research Day will be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of oral health professionals in Manitoba held by the MDA, one of the largest professional gatherings in the province.

“Oral health professionals throughout the province now have the opportunity to see, first-hand the outstanding quality of research underway at the Faculty of Dentistry,” says Raj Bhullar, associate dean (research). “We hope that the many professionals gathered here will take the time to visit us and gain a new appreciation for the work being done by the students and academics of their former school.”

Speakers are once again expected to deliver presentations that run the gamut, from scientific research to topics that cover everyday social and societal issues. Several award-winning scientists are already confirmed for the event.

While the event should appeal to oral health professionals in particular, Bhullar notes everyone will find something of interest during the half day of presentations.

“Research Day always offers something of interest and discovery for everyone,” says Bhullar.

“We hope to see everyone for what is always a fascinating day.”

>>For more, see: umanitoba.ca/dentistry/

Terry’s cause on campus

On January 26, 2013, the U of M joins many Canadian colleges and universities in Terry’s College and University Student Engagement (CAUSE) on campus, an initiative focussed on student engagement to raise awareness about cancer prevention and to help fundraise for the Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research. This event is co-hosted by Recreation Services and Student Life.

The event takes place at the Max Bell Field House with check-in at 2:30 p.m. and the indoor and outdoor run starting at 3:30 p.m. The indoor course is a 5km relay with 30 teams of five participants per team. The outdoor course is an individual 5km route consisting of three laps around Fort Garry campus. If the temperature is below –30 degrees centigrade including wind chill, the outdoor portion of the event will be cancelled.

Online registration closes January 22.

>>For more information about registering, see: www.umanitoba.ca/terryscause/ >>umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/bsal/programs/ >>umanitoba.ca/student/studentlife/index.html

ROSE UPDATE

ROSE initiatives streamline application procedure, space management

BY SANDY KLOWAK The Bulletin Two ROSE initiatives are aiming to streamline their services to better serve students, as well as maximize the time and resources of staff.

Grad student enrolment management A pair of innovative web-based tools has just been rolled out in the Faculty of Graduate Studies to make its application process more efficient and its relationships with students more dynamic.

The implementation of UMGradConnect is part of the graduate student enrolment management initiative within the ROSE program. Launched less than three months ago, in November 2012, the tool is already being used by thousands of prospective graduate students.

One aspect of UMGradConnect is an online application system that allows students to upload their own documents for application, facilitating a faster admissions process, and making it easier for departments to review applications in a competitive timeframe.

The system also includes communication tools to help graduate program offices build a connection with admitted students, sending out information that is relevant to them via email, like registration procedures and student award deadlines. It also provides easilyaccessible admission statistics to staff on a regular basis.

“The old application system was somewhat cumbersome,” explains Faculty of Graduate Studies communications coordinator Doug Barkman. “Now as soon as students upload their own documents, departments and Graduate Studies can all view it at exactly the same time so it removes the backlog, and that’s a huge benefit. We can now use our time evaluating a bit more intelligently, rather than just processing papers.”

The new digital tools have pared down a former potentially months-long application process to one that could take just a few days, says Gayle Tillie, admissions assistant in the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

In addition, the tools facilitate communication between graduate students and the Faculty of Graduate Studies via customized emails to applicants.

Photos by Sandy Klowak

Left: Gayle Tillie, Faculty of Graduate Studies admissions assistant and Doug Barkman, Faculty of Graduate Studies communications coordinator. Right: Neil Marnoch, U of M registrar.

SINCE THE LAUNCH OF UMGRADCONNECT: • •

1,458 students have started an application 872 students have submitted an application

“I think it’ll be good from the students’ perspective,” says Tillie. “With the use of UMGradConnect, our admissions office will be able to communicate more effectively with applicants from creation of an application through to registration.”

Classroom scheduling As the university expands, it experiences an increasing demand for space, and streamlining the way each faculty books its instructional space is one way to ensure it’s being used as efficiently as possible.

That’s why, as part of the ROSE initiative, the university is developing a new classroom scheduling policy, and has implemented software to optimize the use of instructional space.

The Ad Astra Schedule Suite, implemented this past spring on the Fort Garry campus and expected next year at Bannatyne, is helping to better coordinate the allocation of teaching space across the university.

“The main goal is to make sure that we’re using all of our instructional space optimally to meet the needs of all our programs,” explains U of M registrar Neil Marnoch, whose office has taken on the management of the new system.

Optimal space use includes ensuring as many courses as possible are scheduled into the standard university timetable for minimal wasted time, combining classes or increasing class size to make better use of large theatres, and being flexible with building locations when a space outside the course’s faculty might best suit its needs.

Along with the Ad Astra Schedule Suite comes Platinum Analytics. It will provide academic units and administration with enrolment trend analysis and identify scheduling bottlenecks to inform timetable planning.

The office is still working out the kinks in the system, and is taking steps to address any faculty concerns.

Marnoch acknowledges a significant adjustment period comes with this kind of software change. But he says he expects classroom scheduling to work more smoothly as time goes on, since much of the most difficult work has already been done.

In the end, says Marnoch, providing an improved experience for students is the bottom line, and he’s confident the university’s new classroom scheduling strategy is well on its way to making that a reality.

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The Bulletin

January 17, 2013

True North, Canada’s ‘final frontier’? Discussion

BY MARIIANNE MAYS WIEBE The Bulletin “Where is the North?” A seemingly simple question, and one used by Norman Halden, professor, geological sciences, and dean, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Earth, Environment, and Resources, at the recent Visionary Conversations installment, “The True North: Canada’s Final Frontier.”

It “very much depends on your perspective,” he said.

The discussion in the Visionary Conversations series, in its second year, took place on November 21 and featured four expert panelists from the U of M. As part of Halden’s presentation, a slide of a geological map of North America demonstrated the North as an area incredibly rich in geological resources.

He called this “the base layer” for why the North has become a “hot topic.” In addition to concerns about renewable energy and shipping considerations, he said, “[the issue of resources] is a political question coloured by the many who have a stake in it,” from consumers to producers to Northern peoples who live on the land and are working towards their independence. “Who pays the price, and who gets the benefits?” he asked.

The following speaker, Chris Trott, Native studies, and warden and vice-chancellor, St. John’s College, questioned the word “frontier” in the title itself.

As opposed to a vision of “wilderness” conjured by the word “frontier,” said Trott, there are people who live in the North and make it their home. Their traditional activities, including hunting, comprise a “highly productive, viable economy,” one that is neither subsidized nor that operates on tax incentives, he noted. Because we are constitutionally obligated and have formally agreed, through the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, to support this economy, he said, “Are we willing to subsidize this economy to that extent [in the case that the economy is damaged due to environmental degradation or other impacts of resource development]?”

Umut zsu, Faculty of Law, covered the development of the Northwest Passage as another consideration. The mass melting of Arctic ice due to climate change, he said, means that “the passage could become navigable by nonstrengthened vessels by at least a part of the year by mid-

Photo by Mike Latshislaw

Left: President David Barnard introduces the panelists before the presentations and discussion. Right: Panelist Norm Halden presents. century.” If the passage is granted status as an international passage, “Canada would have a limited number of rights over it.” However, if Canada’s argument that the passage “has always been, and always will be, internal waters” holds up, he said, the waters would be “governed by Canadian laws and regulations.” This, he contended, is actually the claim that would best serve concerns about international security or environmental degradation.

The final presenter of the evening was James Fergusson, director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, department of political studies, Faculty of Arts. According to Fergusson, the Canadian Arctic is a case of rare and remarkable consensus — across political parties, federal and provincial levels of government, the media and the public — that “Canadian sovereignty is at issue if not at threat.” This “demands that Canada enforce its sovereignty” in the Arctic, both through the monitoring of land mass and to demonstrate Canadian presence in the Arctic. The idea of a future envisioned as “a race to resources,” in which “potential [military] threats will emerge to Canada’s claims” can be traced back to the Cold War, he said. Another factor is other national claims to the Arctic; “a recipe for war.” Citing cases of other nations which have settled similar disputes, Fergusson suggested that, in spite of beliefs to

the contrary, “there is no threat to the Arctic.”

“It’s not really about armed force; it’s about constabulary issues.”

The evening culminated in a lively question-andanswer period with the audience. “How are we going to prosper and benefit with Canada?” asked one audience member who self-identified as Indigenous. Norm Halden responded by saying that working in the North for 25 years he had many one-on-one conversations, “trying to learn what these things mean to the people.”

He suggested “a new model of sharing ... based on equity [is necessary] if we are going to move forward on this.” James Fergusson added, that while he couldn’t answer the question, “As long as this issue continues to be raised in sovereignty, jingoistic and nationalist terms […], the real, key issue is the issue you’re speaking of.

“Because that’s where investment and resources need to go, to improve on the lessons, hopefully, we’ve learned from our past experiences, which have not gone well.

“And Canada must forge ahead in collaboration with Indigenous peoples.”

>>Watch the “True North” conversation in its entirely on U of M’s YouTube channel: bit.ly/13Drj4Z The Dec. 12 panel at Bannatyne campus, “Trailblazing Indigenous Success” can also be viewed online.

CHERD joining extended ed.

The Centre for Higher Education Research and Development (CHERD) joined the Continuing Education area of Extended Education as of January 1, 2013.

Kathleen Matheos will serve as interim director of CHERD for 18 months starting January 1, 2013. Matheos is currently the associate dean of Extended Education.

She has been involved with CHERD in various capacities over the last five years and brings more than 25 years’ experience in higher education administration in both the college and university sectors, along with a range of international experience.

Sheila Brown, president emerita of Mount St. Vincent University and longtime CHERD professional associate and course instructor for CHERD has agreed to serve as senior strategic advisor for CHERD over the next 18 months.

CHERD plays a key role in higher education leadership and management development and looks forward to continuing and expanding its services within and beyond the university. Established in 1987, CHERD offers regional and national courses, programs, seminars, and workshops dedicated to scholarship and the professional development of faculty and administration in post-secondary education.

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY COLLOQUIUM SERIES

ADAIR INTERNATIONAL DISTINGUISHED LECTURER

>>For more information on CHERD, see: umanitoba.ca/centres/cherd/

New events calendar begins

BY JANICE LABOSSIERE For The Bulletin The new year brings a new calendar to campus. On February 14, nTreePoint will be replaced as the university’s web-based event calendar system.

The new events calendar, built using Active Data’s software, is a significant improvement for both website visitors and content editors. The new system sports an enhanced design that is easier to read and navigate, but more importantly, includes a variety of search features. Events can be searched or sorted by category, keyword, and event or audience type. Individual events can also be shared via email, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media channels.

As of February 14, the following changes will be in effect: • The weekly EMEMO will point exclusively to the new event calendar; • Umanitoba.ca landing web page feeds will only point to the new system; • nTreePoint will no longer be supported; • No new events will be added to nTreePoint; and • Archived nTreePoint events will stay online for historical reference.

All staff and students who currently enter events in nTreePoint are encouraged to attend a short training session prior to using the new system. Switching faculty and department webpage feeds from nTreePoint to the new calendar is easy and can be done after training through IST has taken place. Please note that registration is required for upcoming training sessions. For further information contact Brian McLean at brian_mclean@umanitoba.ca.

>>Questions about the new calendar? See: umanitoba.ca/computing/ist/staff/neweventscalendar.html >>To view the new events calendar, see: umanitoba.ca/events

DR. MICHAEL HARRIS BOND EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG VISITING CHAIR PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING, HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

CULTURE AND OUR BELIEFS ABOUT HOW OUR WORLD OPERATES: TWO DECADES OF RESEARCH ON SOCIAL AXIOMS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 3:00 P.M. Room P412, Duff Roblin Building All are welcome Wine & Cheese to follow talk

For more information, visit

umanitoba.ca

January 17, 2013

The Bulletin

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Faculty of Education students go north for teaching practicum

BY ANDREA DI UBALDO For The Bulletin When people hear the name of the Northern town of Gillam, Manitoba, they might imagine something cold, small and remote.

In November, four teacher candidates from the Faculty of Education embarked on the faculty’s first practicum placement at Gillam School in the Frontier School Division in years. The Northern practicum cohort (NPC), comprised of Sarah Barton, Lynne-Marie MacDuff, Dave Overgaard and Allison Steedsman, immersed themselves in the community and gain new experiences.

Upon arriving in Gillam, the NPC was treated to some warm hospitality, with tours around the area and invitations to movie nights and gatherings where they found themselves being taught local customs.

“The first thing I learned is that I am a ‘Southerner,’” laughed Barton, after attending a get-together with some locals. “I have also learned that going to a campfire on a day where it’s only 0 degrees Celsius outside does not require your Arctic parka. Everyone will know that you are not from Gillam!”

The NPC was able to experience many of the opportunities Gillam has to offer its residents. Overgaard attended a trapping course and is now legally entitled to trap animals in Manitoba. He also learned about trapping in the area and how education meets tradition.

“I met a man from the small town of Byrd who was there with his three sons,” said Overgaard. “He explained the community trapping area is part of a youth wilderness traditions program that encourages aboriginal youth to experience a traditional lifestyle which indicates a

Dave Overgaard starts his campfire. Insets: Dave’s home for the holidays.

Upon arriving in Gillam, the group was treated to some warm hospitality, with tours around the area and invitations to movie nights and gatherings strong local influence in the education of youth — something that is perhaps missing in formalized education.”

MacDuff connected her Grade 3 Gillam class with students she taught in Thailand this past summer with the help of the northern lights. She had the Gillam students make pictures and write something about the lights to teach the Thai students. The NPC is returning to Gillam next spring and she can’t wait to see the Thai students’ responses. “It was a great way to open up the world to both groups of kids!” said MacDuff.

“It’s even more special because I’m returning to Thailand to teach the same students next May!” Barton and Steedsman helped to coach and prepare the school’s soccer team for the Frontier Games in Churchill with Barton lucky enough to attend the games.

“What an eye-opening, life changing week,” said Barton. “I began the week with a busy Monday at Gillam School, preparing students for the week without me. I ended it very proud to have been able to coach and show support to all of the Gillam athletes while in Churchill. They made me proud, and I hope made themselves proud as well.”

Each teacher candidates had very different experiences while on practicum, but Overgaard was so taken by his that he decided to stay longer.

“Practicum is over and I am still in Gillam, spending the Christmas break at the lake,” said Overgaard after his practicum had ended. “I’m staying because I want to.”

>>Read more about the adventures of the NPC on the Faculty of Education newsblog at blogs.cc.umanitoba.ca/education

QUOTES FROM STUDENTS INVOLVED A big thank you to everyone who made this practicum experience possible and as great as it has been. I thank the Gillam administration and staff, the community of Gillam, and the students experiences office in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba. ~ Sarah Barton, middle years teacher candidate I had a great time in Gillam during the first term practicum.

I would encourage anyone who can live without the conveniences and routines of the urban environment to pursue such opportunities and gain a different perspective on just what the education system means. ~ Dave Overgaard, senior years teacher candidate The five weeks of practicum in Gillam flew by. I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences and developed some great relationships with my students that I will cherish always.

It was a very different practicum experience than what I had last year, and as such created some of the best learning experiences I could have. ~ Lynne-Marie MacDuff, early years teacher candidate It’s been nine days in Gillam so far and the town has been very welcoming. Sarah and I were taken on a tour of Long Spruce Dam. The tour was filled with laughter and good times, while learning about the processes of Manitoba Hydro. It was unreal to see how large the dam is and the process behind making electricity. ~ Allison Steedsman, middle years teacher candidate

Top, left: Lynne-Marie MacDuff works the clay in the art studio. Top right: Sarah Barton and Allison Steedsman at the beach. Above: Allison and Sarah at the Long Spruce Manitoba Hydro-Electric Dam. Left: Sarah works on some math problems with her students.

Submitted photos.

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The Bulletin

January 17, 2013

SPECIAL FEATURE: STUDENTS AND STUDENT EXPERIENCE BRETT SHEFFIELD HASN’T LET A SECOND OF HIS TIME at the U of M go to waste. This busy agriculture diploma student not only runs two businesses but also finds time to make a difference in the U of M community, and beyond.

Sheffield is the owner of Sheffield Farms, a farm near Pilot Mound he expanded from 160 acres to 1,700 acres, and Stay Fit Health Club, a community fitness centre he revitalized.

Last November, he went to New York to compete as Canada’s representative in the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, an international competition for high school, college and university students running their own businesses.

Sheffield placed third in the finals.

In addition to course work and managing his two businesses, this busy student, who plans to graduate this spring, was able to establish a local chapter of Enactus, an international organization that connects university students with corporate partners to enact collaborative projects. In Manitoba, says Sheffield, the organization is “working towards creating sustainable business ideas that will help create jobs Brett Sheffield. and fight hunger across the province.”

– Sandy Klowak

Leo Baskatawang.

How has it been working on your two businesses while being in school? I owe a lot of my success in both of my businesses to the Agriculture Diploma program. Professors and mentors that I met while in school allowed me to expand my business and to gain a second opinion on decisions that I thought were risky. The incredible staff in this program met with me for many hours outside of class to help me build my business to what it is today.

Describe an opportunity provided to you by the U of M that has been meaningful to you: One of the greatest opportunities so far has been teaching grade 6 students from Ecole Robert H. Smith in Winnipeg. I was contacted by the grade 6 teacher, and I agreed to come and speak to the class. The Faculty of Agriculture and I provided these young students with the first agriculture program in their curriculum in the history of their school. We also took them on a field trip to the Farm and Food Discovery Centre, and the reception from the students has been incredible.

MA STER’S STUDENT LEO BA SKATAWANG has found a unique way to honour the stories of Indigenous people through his academic work.

“I committed myself to carry out a path of studies that would enable me to give something back to my community,” he says.

And for Baskatawang, that path was a major in Native studies, under the wing of professor Renate Eigenbrod, head of the department. With her help, he has been able to shape his academic career to focus on Native studies through the lenses

of politics and literature.

He’s working on a creative master’s thesis that allows him to explore the relationships between Indigenous peoples and early European explorers, through a work of creative fiction. It’s one of many facets of his educational career that focus on awareness of Indigenous issues and creating dialogues surrounding de-colonization.

– Sandy Klowak

Leo Baskatawang on his educational experience: The knowledge I acquired through my study in Native Studies, enabled me to think in a proactivel way about Indigenous issues, and my role in facilitating awareness about such issues, and thus embark on a path of de-colonization. De-colonization can manifest itself in any number of ways: Through literature, by illustrating the ills of colonial history and policy, and attempting to rectify it by creating a counter-discourse. It can also be achieved through political activism, something I did this past summer, by embarking on a March 4 Justice, a walk across Canada to raise awareness about federal policy and legislation that affects the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

KODLEY BOUACHANTHALA IS A MASTER’S STUDENT in the Physician Assistant program (PAEP) in the Faculty of Medicine.

Offered through the faculties of Medicine and Graduate Studies, it was Canada’s first and remains its only university-based, master’s level physician assistant program.

Bouachanthala was three years old when the United Church sponsored his family to come to Canada after they’d fled from Laos to Thailand. The family of five settled in Morden, where Bouachanthala attended high school and became valedictorian.

After graduation, he moved to Winnipeg to attend the U of M. A self-described “steadfast science nerd,” Bouachanthala says he chose the program because it aligned with his skills and interests. He enjoys applying scientific principles, but also wanted “to leave a footprint in the health care field.”

He also enjoys the close relationship and bond among those within the program. There is a great diversity of student backgrounds there, he says, and “faculty is very supportive and the quality of the profs is outstanding; they go the extra mile to ensure the highest quality of education.”

The small classroom size and one-on-one nature of much of the instruction has been another bonus of the program. The program has been particularly rewarding for him, he says, “because I experienced exponential growth, personally and academically.

I stepped into the program with a limited fundamental medical understanding. However, within a four-month time frame, I have already been able to acquire a vast body of knowledge and clinical skills.”

– Mariianne Mays Wiebe

Kodley Bouachanthala.

On his plans and integrating his acquired knowledge: Given my history as a refugee, I am intrigued to explore the impact of a physician assistant in a specialized international clinic. When considering the determinants of health for refugees, it is apparent that there are concerns with socioeconomic status, education, family planning and mental health. Thus, it is imperative that an efficient health care system is set in place to provide quality primary care for landed immigrants. A possible solution is the integration of physician assistants to mitigate the demands for health services. I am grateful to be a part of a program that creates an opportunity to research a topic that is so important to me.

CAREER WEEK 2013 CAREER FAIR 2013

The annual career fair takes place in January, and this year was hosted by career services and the Career Development Centre at the Asper School of Business.

BY SANDY KLOWAK THE BULLETIN The annual Career Fair took place on January 16. It was a chance for students to get out and explore the employment options that await them.

Part of Career Week, which took place from January 9 to 16, the Career Fair hosted a number of employers interested in recruiting U of M students for summer, part-time and full-time and volunteer opportunities with their organizations.

Last year, the 2012 Annual January Career Fair was a huge success, with 93 employers participating and over 4,000 students attending. It was an opportunity for employers to connect with students from all university faculties.

The Career Fair is hosted by Career Services and the Career Development Centre at the Asper School of Business.

The Career Development Centre provides a variety of resources for students looking for tips on how to market their skills, write a great

resume, explore their career options, speak to a career advisor, or just collect salary or labour market information.

Career Services assists all undergraduates and graduate students (including incoming students accepted to the University of Manitoba and alumni up to six months after graduation) at the University of Manitoba with career planning and job search issues.

Career Services also works with employers to help meet their recruitment needs. With a student population of over 28,000, these services are available to employers all year.

Drop by the Career Services office at 474 University Centre from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, for assistance with your career planning needs and questions, or call 204-474-9456.

Stop by the centre, located in room 254 Drake Centre, or call (204) 474-6596.

>>See more: umanitoba.ca/student/ counselling/2855.html

January 17, 2013 EMILY CHOY HAS ALWAYS BEEN passionate about the Arctic. Now her PhD research at the U of M allows her to work closely with northern communities, as well as with a diverse array of science and climate change experts on campus.

“I’ve always been interested in the Arctic and I wanted to do research that would help a community,” she says.

The doctoral student in biological sciences is working at the Freshwater Institute, studying the consequences of climate change on the Beaufort Sea beluga whale population, which Inuvialuit communities depend on as a main food source. Choy has been selected to receive the L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science scholarship for Canada for her research.

“Living with the Inuvialuit was basically the highlight of my research. It was

The Bulletin

Emily Choy.

Choy: ‘I love research and I love sharing that research with people’ amazing,” says Choy of her experience doing research with the Inuit community on Kendall Island. She stayed with a welcoming Inuvialuit family who shared with her details of their culture, including games, food preparation and language.

Back on campus, Choy says those in the biology department have also been very welcoming and approachable, rounding out a positive U of M experience.

But it’s not all work and no play for Choy. She mentions a few favourite extracurricular stress-relievers the U of M offers, including the weekly jazz nights, and Ultimate Frisbee tournaments at the soccer complex.

When she finishes her PhD, Choy says she hopes to become a university or college professor, and would also snap up a chance to work closely with another northern community.

Choy says she’s glad the U of M puts a high emphasis on Arctic and climate change research, an area she feels is very important, and one that helped her choose the U of M for her doctoral studies.

“I love research and I love sharing that research with people,” she says.

– Sandy Klowak IN GRADE 5, AFTER MATTHEW PACKER wrote what he calls a “small dissertation” on the digestive system in answer to a brief exam question, his teacher approached him after class. “You should become a doctor,” he said.

Packer says he has always been fascinated by science and “how the world works.” Upon enrolling in university, he kept taking science courses. In fact, he had so many science courses that at one point a friend told him he probably had enough for a degree; as a consequence, he’s working towards his B.Sc. But he was also pursing another love: Music.

Packer realized early on that he had to pursue music in some way. Coming from a musical Winnipeg family, he and his four siblings were all involved in music.

Matthew Packer.

His talent and love for music started with piano lessons, starting at age 6. Continuing with his piano and saxophone studies — he added sax in junior high — Packer is a student in the Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music, the faculty in which he enrolled when he entered university, where he is pursuing his Bachelor of Music (performance).

He loves the program, he says, for its “close-knit community” and one-on-one classes. “All the profs and students know you by name,” he says.

He has also been the recipient of many awards and fellowships since coming to the university, another aspect of his experience he appreciates.

Outside of his busy university life, he volunteers with an organization called “Welcome Home,” a local outreach program that offers music lessons to youth that might otherwise not be able to afford them.

– Mariianne Mays Wiebe

Matthew Packer on his student experience: I chose to pursue studies at this university with the hope that it would not only allow me to pursue my interests and work towards a career, but also satisfy my desire to learn in an comprehensive and challenging, yet enjoyable manner. Now in the fourth and final year of my undergraduate studies at the U of M, I can attest that it is an excellent place to do this and more. My post-secondary education has been much more than a singular means to an end. My professors, who include world-class musicians Allen Harrington and Dr. David Moroz and biochemist Dr. Sean McKenna, have been especially instrumental, providing the necessary guidance and inspiration to make my education a success. Not only imparting knowledge, they transfer by example their love for and dedication to their areas of expertise.

CAELIN WHITE’S UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE has been about pushing himself to the limits, learning to think creatively, and following his passions.

Hailing from Vancouver, this clinical psychology PhD candidate’s area of research focuses on psychology from an evolutionary perspective.

Because this area is somewhat rare, White has been able to take a leadership role in starting dialogue about it within the university, doing guest lectures for other students. He says it’s been an enriching experience.

Pushing himself into new and uncomfortable circumstances is something White says is helping him prepare for his career, and he credits the U of M clinical psychology program for helping him do that through the many opportunities to work out in the community Caelin White. with clients.

“To be a clinical psychologist you have to think scientifically but you also have to think outside the box.” White says it’s essential to have the confidence to “be open to new experiences and learning things, and to situations that are highly unfamiliar to you.”

In addition to a hectic academic schedule, White has found time to do advocacy work in the area of mental health awareness, as the student director on the board of the Manitoba Psychological Society, through involvement in their “Mind Your Mental Health” campaign, and through participation in a physically gruelling world championship obstacle course called World’s Toughest Mudder, in which he placed as the top Canadian and 12th overall.

– Sandy Klowak

Why did you do the World’s Toughest Mudder race and what do you see as the connection to mental health? For those struggling to deal with mental health problems in the face of stigma and a shortage of available resources, life can be like one big obstacle course; challenge after challenge. My participation in this race reflects the struggle of so many Canadians and my hope is that this broader MPS campaign will not only draw attention to the struggles of those dealing with mental health problems, but would also encourage individuals and the government to not shy away from the issue of mental health.

What advice would you give other students? Challenge yourself to do something new that intimidates you a little bit. It yields confidence that will likely carry over into other areas in your life. Second, challenge yourself to positively contribute to, or be a part of, something bigger than you. The personal benefit is that it will likely create a deep sense of purpose and connection with yourself, with others, and with the community.

Thomas Toles.

THOMAS TOLES IS LOOKING FORWARD TO a new academic adventure next year, but he won’t forget the school that got him to where he is today.

This ambitious 21-year-old will be graduating from the U of M with a double honours major in English and psychology in April.

As Toles worked on his degree, it became clear his passion lay with writing and film analysis. As the recipient of a 2013 Rhodes Scholarship, he plans to attend Oxford University for the next two years, doing two one-year master’s degrees (English and film).

“It’s important to be able to think critically about anything,” he says when asked why he’s chosen to study film. “It’s emotionally educational. You learn a lot about empathy, and just understanding strange people who

Toles: ‘The Black Hole Theatre Company ... has been like a family’ might seem incomprehensible, through studying art.”

Toles said he would like to follow in the footsteps of his father, U of M film professor George Toles, and become a film professor himself.

“It just has always seemed to me like this great thing, if you’re really passionate about film and a job that you could love for your entire life — so that’s exciting.”

Toles is nothing if not well-rounded. One of his passions lies with creative and satirical writing. Another is theatre, which he has been able to cultivate at the U of M’s theatre company outside class time.

“I can’t praise highly enough the Black Hole Theatre Company. It’s been like a family, and a stress reliever,” says Toles.

He has acted in a good half dozen productions with the Black Hole, including The Cripple of Inishmaan, which launched on Jan. 15.

He also played the role of director, and founded his own theatre company, The 28th Minute, with a friend.

Toles says the Black Hole is a place he found friendly community at the U of M, and he is grateful for the group’s welcoming and inclusive nature, even to those outside the theatre department.

The larger U of M community has been just as nurturing, he says, providing him with support and advice through the long application process for the Rhodes Scholarship. “It’s great. I think they really care about their students,” he says.

– Sandy Klowak

Degree Exploration Day

It’s a day any student with questions about their academic paths won’t want to miss.

On Tuesday, February 5, all U of M students are invited to Degree Exploration Day, which is designed to help students answer questions about choosing a degree program. The event, which is hosted by University 1, takes place in the Manitoba Room, 2nd Floor University Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Degree Exploration Day will give students the opportunity to explore various degree programs, connect with student advisors from across campus, meet with Career Services, discover student life and extra-curricular

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opportunities and attend mini workshops presented by Career Services at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

A wide variety of faculties and departments will be on hand to help guide students through the process of learning about their degree options. Students can also enter to win a new iPad Mini.

Degree Day is hosted by University 1, which provides U of M students with a unique first year planning method which can include the required courses for one or more target faculties, allowing time to build experience and study skills before making a faculty decision. It also provides a system of support services, including first year

focused academic advisors who are experts in guiding students through the earliest and often most challenging stage of their degree.

For more information on University 1 and its academic advising and support programs targeted at diverse groups of students — including mature students, international students, Aboriginal students through the Promoting Aboriginal Students Together (PACT), and Bison athletes —call 204-474-6209, email university_1@ umanitoba.ca or see the website at umanitoba.ca/u1/

>>See more on Degree Exploration Day: umanitoba.ca/ student/u1/116.html

Page 8

The Bulletin

January 17, 2013

FACULTY PROFILE STEVE KIRBY, JAZZ STUDIES, MARCEL A. DESAUTELS FACULTY OF MUSIC Steve Kirby finishes many of his sentences on the strings of his bass. That’s because for this veteran musician, a professor in the Faculty of Music who is also the director of jazz studies, jazz is a universal language, through which he strives to communicate with his students and fellow musicians.

Born of a confluence of African and European cultures, jazz has a unique ability to break down cultural and social barriers through its ability to communicate on a level all humans can tune in to, says Kirby.

“I like the understanding of music that you get from jazz.

It’s very organic,” he says. “Your instrument becomes your mouth — music becomes the language that you speak.”

Kirby got an unlikely late start in the music biz. His youth

“It was very organic,” Kirby says of his discovery of music. “I wanted to play music. I didn’t care what kind. I knew that it affected me and it affected the people around me in a positive way. Ultimately the jazz took over.”

After getting a bachelor of music in St. Louis, Kirby acquired his master’s degree in jazz composition from the Manhattan Faculty of Music. He cut his teeth in many well-known jazz joints in New York, making a name for himself as a bass player.

As time went on, though, he found the irregular musician’s schedule, which required a lot of time away from home, to be at odds with the needs of his young family, and Kirby was on the lookout for a job that would allow him to spend time with his wife and three children.

Steve Kirby with his upright bass.

Photo by Sandy Klowak

education includes exposure to a variety of top jazz musicians from across North America that Kirby brings in for master classes throughout the year.

But his ideas don’t stop at the U of M campus limits. Kirby has put a lot of effort into outreach in Winnipeg’s inner city, and the U of M’s Bridge Program (The Bridge: Music Learning for Life) is perhaps the best example. It provides musical education — delivered by his third- and fourthyear students — to core area youth who otherwise wouldn’t have access to it.

Kirby says sharing the transcendent language of jazz with these students can help them open otherwise inaccessible doors.

“It gives them a voice that can be heard universally,” he says. “It encourages them to

Kirby: ‘I like the understanding of music that you get from jazz. It’s very organic’ in St. Louis was marred with gang violence that left many of his friends dead or maimed.

Able to escape that life despite dropping out of high school, Kirby did a stint in the army that helped turn his life around. It wasn’t until his late twenties that he really got into the jazz scene.

He signed on as the director of jazz studies with the U of M in 2003. While a different pace from what he was used to, Kirby enjoys the academic role he now plays.

“I get a chance to share what I know about this music,” he says.

Mentorship is an important

The Marquez-Greene family.

CONDOLENCES: We were shocked and deeply saddened to witness the media coverage of the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. One of the victims was a vivacious, talented, and beautiful six-year-old girl named Ana Grace Marquez-Greene. Ana’s dad is our colleague, Jimmy Greene. In the international jazz community, Jimmy is often called “the gentle giant” in recognition of his giant talent as well as his gentle and giant spirit. From 2009 to 2012, Jimmy made a tremendous impact in our Faculty as a performer, teacher, and colleague. Ana’s mom, Nelba Marquez-Greene, is a marriage and family therapist who touched the lives of many through her work at the University of Winnipeg’s Aurora Family Therapy Centre. Ana’s older brother Isaiah, a bright and exceptional boy, was in another classroom at the time of the shooting and was safely reunited with his parents. The Marquez-Greene family moved here from Connecticut, and Jimmy was a professor in the Desautels Faculty of Music for three years. This past summer, he returned to Connecticut with his family to begin a new appointment at West Connecticut State University. We were sad to see them leave but excited for their new opportunities near Jimmy’s hometown. Since December 14, my colleagues and I have struggled to come to grips with this horrific incident, and we cannot even begin to comprehend how our dear friends and the many other victims’ families are coping with this tragedy. To the countless families impacted by this horrific event, we extend our deepest condolences and we keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

— Edmund Dawe, dean, Marcel Desautels Faculty of Music

component of musical programs like jazz studies because musical education is largely self-directed and thus a unique and deeply personal experience, says Kirby.

“It’s more suitable to have a mentor that helps you because you wind up having to discover yourself and who you are,

discover your truth. There is no one way to skin this cat. There’s so many ways to do it that it can be overwhelming.”

Kirby ’s vision for the program is all about promoting jazz as a tool students can use to get what they want out of their musical education. That

dream of themselves as more than just some person in a hallway working through this factory model of education. It encourages them to have an esthetic opinion and share it, to work together with other students to create something beautiful.” – Sandy Klowak

BOOKS

BY U OF M STAFF AND FACULTY

On Tuesday, December 18, the Desautels Faculty of Music held a vigil, “Ana Grace: A vigil of music and words,” to honour the memory of Ana Grace Marquez-Greene, the other victims and the many families affected by the Newtown tragedy.

IT’S EASY TO BE BEGUILED by the glossy, stylized world of forensic crime TV shows, in which science and law come together seamlessly to solve the perfect murder every time.

But the reality is far more complex and imperfect, according to a new book authored by three professors.

The Law of Science and the Science of Law: Cases in Forensic Science by Hyman Davidson Gesser, A. Burton

Bass and Bradley Myers aims to break through the pop culture myths to explain how science really interacts with the law in a court setting. The international trio of authors consists of Gesser, a U of M professor emeritus of chemistry, Bass, a retired U of M law professor, and Myers, a law professor at the University of North Dakota.

Broken into chapters based on a sampling of Canadian and American

cases in which Gesser has acted as an expert witness, including house fires, a )poisoning and drunk driving, the book provides a comprehensive legal and scientific analysis of each in order to illustrate the practical application of science in real-life legal circumstances.

The book provides a wealth of information for each case, including scientific data, scientific reports and court judgments.

– Sandy Klowak

The Law of Science and the Science of Law: Cases in Forensic Science (2012) by Hyman Davidson Gesser, A. Burton Bass and Bradley Myers is published by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. What inspired you to write this book?

My next door neighbour in River Heights was a lawyer and we had many chats over the back fence about his cases. He (A. Burton Bass) often called on me as an expert witness for his cases. He eventually returned to university for a graduate degree and joined the Law School as a professor. While cleaning up my office at home I came across the file of all my legal cases and decided to put some of these into a book.

How do you feel television portrayals of forensic science differ from reality?

TV law is a major simplification of reality. The role of scientific evidence is seldom displayed, probably because the technical information is beyond the capability of the public.

Why is it important for people to understand the way science interacts with the law?

The rules and regulations governing law are well beyond the lay person and in many situations, a knowledge of science helps with the truth and justice that can be realized.

Hyman Gesser.

Hyman Gesser is professor emeritus in the department of chemistry.

January 17, 2013

The Bulletin

Page 9

LIBRARIES Grand re-opening of Elizabeth Dafoe Library To celebrate the exciting new renovations of the Elizabeth Dafoe Library main floor, a grand reopening celebration took place on January 17, hosted by President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard and the U of M Libraries.

The bright and fresh new space reflects changes in student needs and contributes to exceptional student experience at U of M. LM Architectural Group designed the space around the concept of a collaborative Learning Commons, which aims to facilitate the use of the library, provide centralized access to staff, and build a sense of community amongst students.

The new state-of-the-art features of the Learning Commons include access to high quality and personalized service at a new ‘one-stop shop’ service desk. Versatile furniture can be rearranged for individual or group work. The new space also features self-serve circulation kiosks, an openaccess reserve collection for convenience and an interactive media space.

The renovations also include a stunning entrance with lots of natural light, warm and plentiful energy-efficient lighting, attractive modern washrooms, flat panel displays, flexible display cases, photocopiers located in vented rooms, security cameras, and new signage to come.

The cost of the first phase of the project was $5M and involved renovations of 24,000 sq. ft. of space, including mechanical and electrical upgrades with additional computer wiring.

The next phase of the renovation project will involve the design of several wired group study rooms in the northwest corner of the floor by the windows. It will also include meeting rooms, multipurpose electronic classrooms, and a writing centre, plus additional upgrades to the 2nd and 3rd floors.

>>For information, see: umanitoba.ca/libraries/

Graphic Health at Health Sciences Library

Pictured at left: Books in the graphic novel series, “With the Light.”

THE NEIL JOHN MACLEAN HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY (NJM Library) is “getting graphic”! The library at the Bannatyne campus has acquired a comprehensive collection of health-related graphic novels for the Dr. Georgina Hogg Consumer Health Collection. All of these graphic novels have narratives that revolve around medicine and health care. The stories are often autobiographical, and sometimes take a quite-explicit look at the experiences of coping with illness and treatment.

Graphic novels use juxtaposed images and dialogue as a medium for storytelling. Not only are they entertaining, there is also an education element in many of the books. As Green & Myers write in their article on the use of comics in patient care, “Graphic stories have been used to promote public awareness and enhance patient care for various problems including substance abuse, HIV, diabetes and mental illness.”

A particularly interesting graphic novel series now available at the NJM library is the “With the Light” series

by Keiko Tobe. These books are Manga (Japanese comics) and the story is of a young mother raising her autistic son. Beautifully illustrated and an accessible read, it may resonate deeply with readers who are parents of children with autism.

Another recommended choice is Epileptic by David B. This is a chronicle of Jean-Christophe (David’s older brother) who has severe epilepsy. Though many different and often spiritual treatments are tried, they are portrayed as dead ends. The author uses visual metaphors of writhing monsters to depict the effect of the illness on the characters.

The library’s collection includes graphic novels on a plethora of topics, including cancer, autism, mental health and mental illness, reproductive health and health practitioner’s stories. The graphic novels will be on the shelves and available for anyone to check out. These books are meant to be read and enjoyed. Graphic novels can be checked out if you have a U of M library card or a consumer health library card, available to anyone for free at circulation.

The NJM library is located on the second floor of the Brodie Centre at 770 Bannatyne.

>> The website of the Consumer Health Library (part of the Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library) can be found here: libguides.lib.umanitoba.ca/consumerhealth

UPCOMING ARCHITECTURE EVENTS All events take place in Centre Space, John A. Russell Building, Faculty of Architecture, unless otherwise noted.

January 22 | 6:00 p.m. | Warming Huts v. 2013: An Art + Architecture Competition on Ice January 23 | Last Date for Atmos 5 Early Bird registration | www.atmos.ca January 31 | 6:00 p.m. | Omer Arbel February 7 to 9 | Atmos 5: Ecology + Design | www.atmos.ca February 25 |6:00 p.m. | Mary Ellen Tyler February 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Karen Lee

The Black Hole Theatre season 2012 - 2013 The Cripple of Inishmaan

By Martin McDonagh January 15 to 19 and January 22 to 26 at the Black Hole Theatre The Pluto Shot

By Robert Smith March 12 to 16 and March 19 to 23 at the Black Hole Theatre

Inspired by Aristophanes, The Pluto Shot is an hilarious exposé about the politics of science which boldly forecasts a change in the… weather? Set in northern California in the early 1960s, it’s the midst of the cold war. The population of San Francisco Bay is about to “explode” and scientists are developing the ultimate deterrent.

Will San Francisco survive this snafu? Will the world crumble apart? Amid panicked hearsay and speculation, it is no surprise that alien abduction seems a genuine hope. Playwright Robert Smith developed this play as part of the latest New Play Development project cycle in the theatre program in the department of English, film, and theatre at the at the U of M.

Tickets $15/$12. Visit the website: bhtc.ca For reservations, contact box office at 474-6880

ART EXHIBITION What are you scared of?

January 18 to March 1 School of Art Gallery, 255 ARTlab, 180 Dafoe Road Exhibition tour/artist talk, Jan. 30, 12:00 p.m. | Opening reception, Jan. 31, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Home-grown collage artist Bonnie Marin’s newest project plays with the intersection of humour and the grotesque in a series of haunting images inspired by secret fears and anxieties as well as inner-most desires. The exhibition “What are you scared of?” includes paper, wax reliefs and sculpture, and is on display at the University of Manitoba from January 18 until March 1.

– Kim Parry, consumer health librarian, NJM Library

UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS

All music events at Eva Clare Hall (Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music, 65 Dafoe Road) unless otherwise noted. For more music events: >>umanitoba.ca/music (click on “events”)

Saturday, January 19 | 6:00 p.m. | University Singers annual fundraising dinner and auction. 6:00 p.m. cocktails & hors d’oeuvres; 7:00 p.m. dinner & entertainment. Tickets $75.00 per person or $525.00 for a table of eight. Fort Garry campus, 2nd floor University Centre, McLuhan Hall. For information, to purchase tickets, or to provide an auction item, contact Elroy Friesen, choral director: Elroy.

Friesen@ad.umanitoba.ca Sunday, January 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Faculty brass quintet concert. Richard Gillis, Paul Jeffrey, Ken MacDonald, Steve Dyer and Chris Lee present a concert at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 830 North Dr. Tickets $10 or $25 family.

Wednesday, January 30 | 7:30 p.m. | University Wind Ensemble at the WSO New Music Festival. Under the direction of Fraser Linklater. The concert takes place at Pantages Theatre. Selections include Staniland’s “Four Horsemen” and Reich’s “Vermont Counterpoint” (flutes only). Contact WSO for ticket information.

Monday, February 4 | noon | Faculty at midday. Laura Loewen & University of Western Ontario faculty members Thursday, February 7 | School Concert: U of M Wind Ensemble. An hour of great wind ensemble and wind chamber music for band students. Cost is only $2 per student; teachers and chaperones free. Seating is limited to about 120. To reserve seats, email Fraser Linklater. In Great Hall, University College.

Friday, February 8 | 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. | XIE at Midday. eXperimental Improv Ensemble (XIE) directed by Gordon Fitzell performs. Free admission.

Friday, February 8 | 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. | University Wind Ensemble & Concert Band. “Dance Fantastique” repertoire includes Serrano’s “Concertango” and Berlioz’s “March to the Scaffold,” along with other selections. At Jubilee Place theatre, Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute. Tickets $15/$5.

Friday, February 8 | 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. | Piano recital. Elizabeth Craig presents her fourth year recital. Free.

Monday, February 11 | 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. | University Symphony Orchestra.

Premier of a new work by our own composition student, Michael Ducharme, and Symphony No. 4 by Bruckner. Richard Lee, conductor. Tickets $15/ $5 at the door.

At Westworth United Church, 1750 Grosvenor Ave. February 11 to 13 |8:00 p.m. | Musical Theatre Performances. The university’s Musical Theatre Ensemble under the direction of Donna Fletcher presents “For Jay” in memory of Jay Dirks, a student in his final year of the Integrated Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education degree and member of the ensemble.

Dirks passed away in late August 2012 after a six-month fight against cancer. The performances take place February 11, 12 and 13 at 8:00 p.m. at the Gas Station Arts Centre, 445 River Avenue. Tickets $15/$10 at the door.

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events

January 17, 2013

ACADEMIC JOB OPPORTUNITIES

University of Manitoba

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.

FORT GARRY + BANNATYNE CAMPUSES

EXTENDED EDUCATION

PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY SEMINAR

Press Cafe, 237 McDermot Ave.

Friday, January 18 | 3:30 p.m.

“Supernovae and Dark Energy” by Christopher J. Pritchett, physics and astronomy, University of Victoria. In 330 Allen Building.

Wednesday January 30 Evening Seminar 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

“Cross border governance: Building on NY/ Michigan-Ontario cases.” In Robert Schultz Theatre, St. John’s College.

HLHPRI SEMINAR SERIES Friday, January 18 | 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

“Perceptions of Visitors to a Developing Tourist Destination” by Michael Campbell.

Presented by Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute (HLHPRI). In 238 Investor’s Group Athletic Centre.

NATIVE STUDIES COLLOQUIUM SERIES WINTER 2013 — FORWARD MOTION: CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND RESILIENCE Wed., Jan. 23 | 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

“Promoting and Striving for Better Health: Indigenous Nurses in Canada, 1900-2000” by Mary Jane Logan McCallum, history, U of W. In 223 Migizii Agamik (Aboriginal Students Centre).

DISTINGUISHED VISITOR LECTURE: LAW Thursday, January 24 | 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

“Language Rights in the Canadian Constitution” by Michel Bastarache, C.C. Counsel, Heenan Blaikie, Litigation Department. In Moot Court Room, Faculty of Law, Robson Hall.

TWO LECTURES BY ROBBIE ETHERIDGE, ANTHROPOLOGY Thursday, January 24 | 3:00 p.m.

“Global Capital, Violence, and the Making of a Colonial Shatter Zone” by Robbie Etheridge, professor of anthropology, University of Mississippi. In 206 Tier Building.

Friday, January 25 | 2:30 p.m.

“The Contours of Contact: A Continental North American Perspective” by Robbie Etheridge. In 335 Isbister Bldg.

SOCIAL MEDIA & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SEMINAR Friday, January 25 | 8:00 a.m.

Through extended education. 8:00 a.m. breakfast and registration (continental breakfast included); 9:00 a.m. seminar begins. In 160 extended education complex. $25 registration fee. Limited seating. For information: umanitoba.ca/faculties/coned

PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY SEMINAR Friday, January 25 | 3:30 p.m.

“Hitting the JACPOT: Probing Accretion Disk — Radio Jet Coupling Over Entire Outbursts of X-ray Binaries” by Gregory R. Sivakoff, physics, U of Alberta. In 330 Allen Bldg.

STU CLARK DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES January 28 to 30: Stephen Blank, Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Governance and Public Administration, U of Ottawa. Register: kathy.chmelnytzki@ad.umanitoba.ca Monday January 28 Breakfast 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. “Widening Competition in North American Freight Transport: The Impact of Cabotage.” At the Viscount Gort Hotel.

Tuesday, January 29 Breakfast 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. “Looking Beyond the ‘What’ to ‘How.’ At Winnipeg Free

NATIVE WOMEN AND FILM 3 Monday, Jan. 28 to Friday, February 1 The following filmmakers have been confirmed: Alanis Obomsawin; Tasha Hubbard; Helen Haig-Brown; Lisa Jackson; Caroline Monnet; Danis Goulet; Alethea Arnaq-Baril; Nanobah Becker; Tracy Rector.

Specific venues and times TBA.

NATIVE STUDIES COLLOQUIUM SERIES Wed., Jan. 30 | 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

“A conversation with Alanis Obomsawin, independent filmmaker” (Montreal). In 223 Migizii Agamik (Aboriginal Students Centre).

ARCHITECTURE GUEST SPEAKER Thursday, January 31 | 6:00 p.m.

“Process” by Omer Arbel. In Centre Space, John A. Russell Bldg.

VISIONARY CONVERSATIONS: CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON Wednesday, February 6 | 6:30 p.m.

Our panel of experts discuss implications and opportunities that the rise of China as an economic powerhouse has for western nations. Speakers: Tina Chen, associate professor, history, Faculty of Arts; George MacLean, associate dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies; Hari Bapuji, associate professor, business administration, I.H. Asper School of Business. RSVP to: Visionary_Conversations@ umanitoba.ca. Robert Schultz Theatre, St. John’s College, Fort Garry campus. Reception, 6:30 p.m., discussion, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

NATIVE STUDIES COLLOQUIUM SERIES Wed., Feb. 6 | 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

“Don’t let this die with you, make sure you pass this on to others: Indigenous knowledge recovery and archaeology” by Kevin Brownlee, curator of archaeology, Manitoba Museum.

In 223 Migizii Agamik (Aboriginal Students Centre).

ATMOS 5 SYMPOSIUM Thursday, Feb. 7 to Saturday, Feb. 9 Ecology + Design, a symposium exploring intangible and overlooked design, planning and architecture issues. At Faculty of Architecture.

See: umanitoba.ca/architecture/atmosphere/

ADAIR INTERNATIONAL DISTINGUISHED LECTURE Friday, February 8 | 3:00 p.m.

“Culture and our beliefs about how our world operates: Two decades of research on social axioms” by Michael Harris Bond, cultural/ international psychology, professor emeritus, psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

HLHPRI SEMINAR SERIES Friday, February 8 | 2:30 p.m.

“Representing kids in action: A film screening & panel discussion on children’s sport and play” moderated by Russell Field, U of M. Presented by Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute (HLHPRI). In E3-262 EITC (Senate Chambers, Engineering Information and Technology Complex).

events • • •

The Bulletin publishes events involving the university community at no cost.

Deadline for the February 7 issue is January 30 at 4:30 p.m.

Email events to bulletin@umanitoba.ca.

Distance and online education Position: Two-year term Instructional Designer position at the rank of Instructor I or II, instructional design of distance and online education courses Position number: 15010 Deadline: February 17, 2013 Start Date: April 1, 2013 For Information: Dr. Lori Wallace, Dean, Extended Education, at: Dean_ Extended@umanitoba.ca . Inquiries may be made by email to Dean_Extended@ umanitoba.ca or by phone to 204-4748010

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE

Department of Interior Design Position: Full-time tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor Position number: 12056 Deadline: March 4, 2013 (review of applications continues until position filled) Start Date: July 1, 2013 For Information: Dr. Ian Wight, Search Committee Chair, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba, 201 Russell Bldg, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3T 2N2, tel.

(204) 474-7051, fax (204) 474-7532, email Ian.Wight@ad.umanitoba.ca

FACULTIES OF MEDICINE & GRADUATE STUDIES

Master of Physician Assistant Studies Position: Full time Instructor I/II Position number: 15905 Start Date: February 1, 2013 For Information: Ian W Jones, Program Director, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Manitoba, P121 - 770 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA R3E 0W3, e-mail paep@cc.umanitoba.ca Fax: 204.272.3068

FACULTY OF MEDICINE & WINNIPEG REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY CARDIAC SCIENCES PROGRAM

Department of Internal Medicine P o s i t i o n : D i r e c t o r, C a r d i a c Catheterization Laboratory of Cardiology Position number: 15939 Deadline: April 1, 2013 Start Date: July 1, 2013 For Information: Dr. James Tam, Head, Section of Cardiology, Department of

Internal Medicine, Y3015B, St. Boniface General Hospital, 409 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 2A6

FACULTY OF NURSING

Position: Full-time two-year term position, Instructor I or II Educational Technologist, instructional design of online and blended courses Position number: 15839 Deadline: February 19, 2013 Start Date: April 1, 2013 For Information: Dr. Beverly O’Connell, Dean, Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, 293 Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2. Inquiries may be made by email to Beverly.Oconnell@ad.manitoba.ca or by phone to 204-474-9201

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

Department of Physics and Astronomy Position: Full-time, tenure track position at the Assistant Professor level in theoretical condensed matter physics with a core expertise in contemporary magnetism Position number: 15971 Deadline: March 1, 2013 Start Date: July 1, 2013 For Information: Dr. K.S. Sharma, Head, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CANADA R3T 2N2, email sharma@physics.umanitoba.ca, website physics.umanitoba.ca, tel. (204) 4749817, fax (204) 474-7622

SCHOOL OF ART

Position: Full-time tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor, Contemporary Art History and Theory Position number: 15923 Deadline: March 11, 2013 (review of applications continues until position filled) Start Date: July 1, 2013 For Information: Mary Ann Steggles, Chair, Search Committee, School of Art ARTlab, 180 Dafoe Road, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, email maryann.steggles@ ad.umanitoba.ca

U OF M PSYCHOLOGY COLLOQUIUM SERIES 2012-2013 Friday, March 1 Renée El-Gabalawy, clinical psychology, U of M, Vineberg Award winner.

RESEARCHPALOOZA Poster sessions & social hour Friday, March 22 Dr. Ira Cohen, New York Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities.

Talks start at 3:00 p.m. in P412 Duff Roblin unless otherwise noted. Refreshments and snacks served 30 minutes before all talks in the psychology lounge. A wine and cheese will follow.

Classified Ads

The Bulletin welcomes classified ads.

Rate for ads is $5 for the first 45 words.

SHANTOU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, a rapidly growing medical school located in coastal Guangdong Province of China (40-minute flight from Hong Kong) that is jointly funded by the government and Li Ka Shing Foundation, is recruiting full or part time clinical faculties. Clinicians in general practice/family medicine, or in any specialties, are welcome.

The clinician must have a very good command of English language and clinical experience in a western health facility. He/she will teach medical students via lectures & in small groups.

A 12-month stay is most preferable, shorter duration is negotiable. The school will provide a decent salary and comfortable accommodation. Interested candidates may contact Dr. Karen Mai for more information. Email karenmai@stu.edu.cn

January 17, 2013

The Bulletin

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Bringing Research to LIFE Upcoming Events Café Scientifique NATURE AND NURTURE (NOT VERSUS): THE NEW SCIENCE OF EPIGENETICSM Epigenetics steps in where mapping the human genome left off. Nature says we inherit our genetic make-up or DNA code from our parents. Many believe this code and the genes it represents set the ‘program’ for who we are and what health risks we might possess. Nurture (or epigenetics) says that this program can be ‘hacked’ by life experience, either increasing or decreasing health risks already in our DNA code.

Join our experts in a discussion about whether we can control our health destinies by controlling what we eat, drink, breathe, and where we live.

Experts: Dr. Jim Davie Dr. Kirk McManus Dr. Mojgan Rastegar Moderator: Dr. Peter Cattini Jan. 28, 2013 – 7pm McNally Robinson Booksellers 1120 Grant Ave., Event Atrium RSVP to: Research_Communications@ umanitoba.ca or 204-474-6689

Visionary Conversations Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Does the Rise of China Mean the Decline of the West?

Join our panel of experts as they discuss the implications and opportunities that the rise of China as an economic powerhouse has for western nations.

Feb. 6, 2013 Reception in galleria: 6:30 – 7 pm Panel discussion: 7 – 8:30 pm Robert B. Schultz Theatre St. John’s College, Fort Garry Campus Featured speakers: Tina Chen George MacLean Hari Bapuji Colin Robertson RSVP to: visionary.conversations@ ad.umanitoba.ca

# ſTUV KP TGUGCTEJ NKPMKPI RQNKVKEKCPUŏ behaviour to increased votes Groundbreaking study to be published in top political science journal

BY KATIE CHALMERS-BROOKS For The Bulletin Researcher Royce Koop has some good news for Canadian democracy: voters do in fact care about what members of Parliament do on the job, and will reward—or punish—them at the polls.

Koop is part of an international research group that discovered that MPs who introduced a private member bill had a seven per cent greater chance of winning their seat again.

“We were pretty shocked by this, shocked in a good way,” says Koop, noting that study after study reveals Canadians are disenchanted by how they’re represented in Ottawa. “It does seem that people are paying attention, maybe more than we give them credit for. Politicians should be aware of that.”

Proving whether or not representative democracy works as it’s designed to is tough. A key component of this political model requires citizens notice and respond to the behaviour of their elected officials. “But establishing that this relationship exists is actually tricky because many other variables intervene at some point,” says the political studies assistant professor.

He and his research colleagues (from Toronto, San Diego, Calif., and Williamsburg, Va.) figured out a way to eliminate these variables. They were first to recognize that the way private member bills are awarded to Canadian MPs provides the element of randomness required for a natural experiment. The Speaker of the House of Commons draws from a hat the names of those chosen to present a bill dealing with an issue of the MP’s choosing—from the repercussions of selling a local hospital in a particular riding to the creation of harsher penalties for offenders who wear masks during riots. The 308 MPs have an equal chance of being chosen.

Since they aren’t picked based on other factors—like how good a communicator they are—it creates a level playing field to measure research outcomes.

“This random element provided us with a natural experiment where we could observe whether acquiring the right to introduce a private member bill had any effect on subsequent vote shares for MPs,” says Koop. “When we looked at the numbers, we were shocked to find that there was a clear effect: government MPs received a 2.5 per cent boost (in votes) solely as a result of winning the lottery and introducing one bill.”

This is the first study to show experimentally that citizens respond to and reward the activities of their elected MP. The findings were recently accepted for publication in the American Journal

umanitoba.ca/research

Political studies assistant Prof. Royce Koop of Political Science, widely considered the discipline’s top journal.

The study stretched five years and covered the 2006 and 2008 federal elections. The researchers also compared their findings with Election Canada survey results which showed MPs who introduced bills experienced additional benefits: more campaign donations and greater likability among constituents.

Koop is now delving deeper into the representational behaviour of MPs and city councillors. He and his research team are observing their day-to-day activities and doing interviews to better understand

Photo By Mike Latschislaw

how they communicate with their constituents. His goal is to provide government with recommendations for improvements and to educate the public about what these elected officials are accomplishing behind closed doors. “They’re not just trained seals in Parliament, yelling at each other,” Koop says.

Researchers south of the border have done a lot of this type of observational research but that hasn’t been the case so far in Canada. “We’re trying to be trailblazers in this area,” Koop says.

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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January 17, 2013

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT SPOTLIGHT The programming team is three thirdyear undergraduate students: Josh Jung, Aman Sachar and Alex Sachs. Jung is in computer science, while Sachar is in computer engineering and Sachs is in actuarial mathematics. The three met in high school at River East Collegiate. Jung notes, “I thought it would be a fun thing to do, so I recruited my friends to join in.”

To make it to world finals, more than 300,000 students participate in local contests worldwide, in which institutions select teams for the next level of competition. Nearly 30,000 students from 91 countries participated in regional contests this past fall, with the U of M team competing in the North-Central North America region that includes Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as well as teams from across the American Midwest. Out of Michael Domaratzki, associate head, computer science, with 239 teams, Manitoba placed in the top ten students on the Bisons With Byte team (l to r), Josh Jung, Aman and snagged a wildcard spot for a berth in Sachar and Alex Sachs. the world final.

Only 115 teams get an invitation to the World Finals, and only six Canadian university teams STUDENT PROGRAMERS HEAD TO WORLD made the final cut: UBC, Calgary, Lethbridge, Manitoba, COMPETITION Waterloo and Toronto.

According to the sponsor of the contests, the A student programming team from the U of M is heading Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the world’s to world competition for first time largest educational and scientific computing society, For solving difficult computer programming “These teams represent the best of the great universities problems at a regional contest in December, the student on six continents — the cream of the crop.” team known as “Bisons With Byte” has been invited to The contest pits teams of three university students the world finals in Russia in June 2013. against eight or more complex, real-world problems with “This is the first time the University of Manitoba a grueling five-hour deadline. has succeeded in being invited to the world finals,” says ACM describes the contest as a “battle of logic, strategy Michael Domaratzki, associate head, computer science. and mental endurance” in which competitors race against “Only the top one per cent of all programming teams the clock “huddled around a single computer.” is invited each year and many universities never get the Bisons With Byte will travel to the Association for opportunity, even after years of competing. This is only Computing Machinery (ACM), International Collegiate the sixth year that we have been competing in the contest, Programming Contest 2013 World Finals in St. so to make the finals now is indicative that our computer Petersburg, Russia, in June 2013 science program is as exceptional as our students.”

Photo by Luc Desjardins

L to r: Melina Djulancic, Rebecca Kunzman, Christiane Fischer, Matthew Stewart and Laura Poppel. The students selected to represent the U of M at the G20 Youth Forum April 17 to 21.

STUDENT DELEGATION SELECTED FOR G20 YOUTH SUMMIT Five students and five professors from the U of M are going to the G20 Youth Summit in St. Petersburg Russia in April of 2013. Students selected for the delegation are: Melina Djulancic, a second year law student originally from the former Yugoslavia; Laura Poppel, a second year law student, significant focus on international law and human rights; Matthew Stewart, a second year B.Comm. student at Asper, International Marketing; Chrissi Fischer, a third year political studies student and an Academic All Canadian athlete (basketball) who is originally from Germany; and Rebecca Kunzman, a first year U1 student who participated in the G8 and G20 summits in 2010 in Toronto. Five faculty members have also been selected to make the delegation ten members in total. Look for future updates.

A SPEAKER SERIES HOSTED BY

DR. DAVID T. BARNARD PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA

WE EDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013 Join our panel of experts as they discuss the implications and opportunities that the rise of China as an economic powerhouse has for western nations.

FEATURED SPEAKERS: Tina Chen – Associate Professor, History, Faculty of Arts George MacLean – Associate Dean, Graduate Studies Hari Bapuji – Associate Professor, Business Administration, I.H. Asper School of Business Colin Robertson (Alumnus) - Vice President and Senior Research Fellow, Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute

Robert B. Schultz Theatre, St. John’s College, Fort Garry Campus Reception In Galleria – 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Panel Discussion – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

RSVP at visionary.conversations@ad.umanitoba.ca

UMANITOBA.CA/VISIONARYCONVERSATIONS JOIN THE CONVERSATION #UMVISIONARY