President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Lloyd Axworthy is pleased to announce the latest round of UWinnipeg’s Future Fund grants to support academic programming, faculty research and experiential learning opportunities for students, totaling $75,000. Launched in fall 2012, the goal of the Future Fund is to raise $15 million in private funds to strengthen academic programs and foster innovation on campus. The Future Fund supports activities such as faculty research, academic enhancements and development, innovative programming, creation of Chairs and Fellowships, and specialized technology investments. To date, more than $ 1 million has been raised and distributed among our faculties of arts, science, business, education and kinesiology.
Faculty of Science – $25,000
The Faculty of Science is investing in several projects including a new ventilation system in Greenhouse (Biology). The rooftop greenhouse, exposed to the harsh realities of a Manitoba winter with temperatures at -40 and -50, necessitates on-site testing and optimization.
An innovative solution to climate-control problems has been designed in-house by adjusting the circulation of air in the building to protect the plants in our research and teaching collection.
Other projects receiving Future Fund grants include: Digital Polarimeter – Chemistry
A polarimeter is used to measure the ‘right-handedness’or ‘left-handedness’ of molecules and is an important aspect of the study of environmental pollutants, for example. This instrument will be incorporated into labs in organic chemistry and biochemistry;
Air conditioner for -80 degree freezers and alarm system – Biology
Some of our valued collections need to stay warm, but others need to be cold – to the tune of 80 degrees below zero. A few lifetimes of research samples from field biologists are preserved in specialty freezers in the basement of RCFE. Counter-intuitively, these freezers generate a great deal of heat. A sound and economical solution is to activate special air conditioning in the event of building power outages.
Science Rendezvous – The national Science Rendezvous held across Canada every May has been well-represented at UWinnipeg in recent years as friends, neighbours and families from all over Winnipeg come to explore science. For the last two years, Breakfast Television has reported live from RFCE during the week of this event. Student and faculty volunteers run exhibits in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Anthropology, etc.with strong public response.
Faculty of Business – $25,000
The Faculty of Business and Economics is focusing Future Fund grants to strategically support enhanced student experiences, including exchange programs and national and international competitions, which foster experiential learning.
In 2013, the Future Fund supported Manitoba’s first Chair in Co-operative Enterprises and a Bloomberg data terminal for business students and faculty.
Faculty of Arts – $25,000
The Faculty of Arts receives $25,000 to support research, travel and projects including: Shanghai travel course; Greece travel course; Indigenous Studies Field School; Endowment of Arts Teaching/Research Award; Women’s and Gender Studies Annual Students’ Colloquium; Centre for Writing Excellence (RHET); Educating Justice (Criminal Justice Annual Conference); Prairie Undergraduate Research Conference (Psychology); Interdisciplinary Linguistics Students’ Colloquium; Political Science Seminar Series; Religion and Culture Colloquium Series.
UWinnipeg is also allocating an additional $26,000 through the Faculty of Arts in privately raised funds towards the UWinnipeg- CBC Investigative Journalism conference which is taking place on campus in June 2014.
