Research

We will crack the secrets to climate change.

We are trailblazers.

Officially opened in February 2012, the Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility (SERF) at the University of Manitoba will give scientists a better understanding of climate change. SERF is the first research facility of its kind in Canada and features a large outdoor saltwater pond, equipped with analytical instruments which allow researchers to monitor the formation of sea-ice for comparison with what occurs in the high Arctic.

By “growing” sea-ice under controlled conditions, scientists will learn how sea-ice forms and melts on polar oceans, and gain insight into the processes that regulate the exchange of molecules between the ocean and atmosphere. The main feature of the SERF facility is the outdoor pool, complete with a movable roof to control snow cover and various sensors and instruments to allow real-time monitoring.

Along with concurrent field studies onboard the Canadian Research Icebreaker CCGS Amundsen in the Arctic Ocean, experimental studies at SERF are expected to improve the ability to predict the impact of the rapid sea-ice loss on the marine ecosystem, on Arctic and global climates, on transport and biogeochemical cycles of greenhouse gases and contaminants, and on the human use of sea-ice.

Watch a video highlighting the new facility.

CANADA’S HIGHEST MARKS FOR HEALTH RESEARCH

Dr. Terry KlassenDr. Terry Klassen and his team of pediatric emergency physicians at Pediatric Emergency Research of Canada (PERC) were recognized with one of the Top Canadian Achievements in Health Research in 2011 by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Medical Association Journal. As Founding Director of PERC, Klassen generated important new knowledge that has improved the outcomes of acutely ill or injured children seen in emergency departments in Canada and around the world. PERC has made key advances in three common childhood problems: bronchiolitis, mild head injuries, and a substantial influence on how croup is treated around the world.

SUPPORTING WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Annemieke FarenhorstAs a renowned soil scientist Dr. Annemieke Farenhorst researches pesticides, but as the new University of Manitoba NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, Prairie Region, she is researching how universities can encourage women to pursue science careers. Farenhorst has been appointed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to work with the University of Manitoba to achieve this goal. She will develop programs and projects that foster more opportunities for women in science and engineering – with a focus on Indigenous women – thereby advancing equality and equity in education and professions across the prairies.

A TRAILBLAZER AND TRENDSETTER

Wanda WuttuneeDr. Wanda Wuttunee, a professor in the department of native studies and director of Aboriginal Business Education Partners at the Asper School of Business, was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters category, a category which recognizes women who are first in their field and who have made a great contribution to Canadian society. Wuttunee is the second University of Manitoba recipient -- the University’s past President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Emőke Szathmáry, won the award in the same category in 2004.

VISIONARY LEADER AWARDED
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S MEDAL

John WadeWith each change of hat over the course of his career — dean of Medicine, Deputy Health Minister, Board Chair of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and many other leadership positions on provincial and national boards — Dr. John Wade has fulfilled the need for creative, highly skilled individuals in the public sector. His long-standing interest in public administration earned him the 2011 Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Excellence in Public Administration. Wade was one of the first to travel up north during a time when surgeries for northern residents were solely performed in Winnipeg. This insightful experience was one that influenced him and as the dean of Medicine from 1982-88, Wade established the ACCESS Program with a mandate to encourage Indigenous students to attend medical school and other professional programs.

Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC)

The CERC awards are among the most prestigious and generous available globally.

  • Søren Rysgaard, Canada Excellence Research Chair, Arctic Geomicrobiology and Climate Change

Canada Research Chairs

The Canada Research Chair (CRC) program awarded the University of Manitoba four new CRCs and renewed 11 existing CRCs in 2011/12.


The four new CRCs include:
  • Jason Trebert, Tier 2, Environmental Dynamics and Metabolism
  • Tamra Werbowetski-Ogilvie, Tier 2, Neuro-oncology and Human Stem Cells
  • Zhenyu Wu, Tier 2, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Michael Hart, Tier 2, Indigenous Knowledges and Social Work

The 11 renewed CRCs include:
  • Lorrie Kirshenbaum, Tier 1 (advanced from Tier 2), Molecular Cardiology
  • Mario Tenuta, Applied Soil Ecology
  • Abraham Quan Wang, Solid Mechanics
  • Ehab El-Salakawy, Advanced Composite Materials and Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure
  • James Davie, Chromatin Dynamics
  • Mostafa Fayek, Isotope and Environmental Geochemistry
  • Kiera Ladner, Indigenous Politics and Governance
  • Andrew Halayko, Airway Cell and Molecular Biology
  • Aaron Marshall, Molecular Immunology
  • Trust Beta, Food Processing in Functional Foods
  • Joerg Stetefeld, Structural Biology

The University of Manitoba held 47 CRCs in 2011/2012