Gradzette
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA’S GRADUATE STUDENT MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2013
Gradzette THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA’S GRADUATE STUDENT MAGAZINE Gradzette c/o The Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation 105 University Centre University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2 General inquiries and advertising Phone: (204) 474.6535 Fax: (204) 474.7651 Email: publisher@gradzette.com
Editor: Sheldon Birnie Copy Editor: Ryan Harby Designer: Leif Larsen Contributors: Alycia Rodrigeus, Beibei Lu, Foster Lyle, Bryce Hoye Cover: Beibei Lu
The Gradzette is the official student magazine of the University of Manitoba’s graduate student community and is published on the first Monday of each month byThe Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation. The Gradzette is a democratic student organization, open to participation from all students. It exists to serve its readers as students and citizens. The magazine’s primary mandate is to report fairly and objectively on issues and events of importance and interest to the graduate students of the University of Manitoba, to provide an open forum for the free expression and exchange of opinions and ideas and to stimulate meaningful debate on issues that affect or would otherwise be of interest to the student body and/or society in general. The Gradzette serves as a training ground for students interested in any aspect of journalism. Students and other interested parties are invited to contribute. Please contact the Editor for submission guidelines. The Gradzette reserves the right to edit all submissions and will not publish any material deemed by its editorial board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or libelous. Opinions expressed in letters and articles are solely those of the authors. The Gradzette is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national student press cooperative with members from St. John’s to Victoria. All contents are ©2013 and may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation. Yearly subscriptions to the Gradzette are available, please contact publisher@gradzette.com for more information.
Student Life strives to help graduate students Co-curricular record certificate looks great on graduate and job applications By Alycia Rodrigues
S
tudent Life, an organization developed August, 2011, is designed to benefit current U of M students and has been working with the Graduate Student Association for further improvements. Their current programs
are designed to help students “learn by doing,” offering students opportunities to get involved in community work either locally or globally in places like El Salvador, Ecuador, and Bangladesh. Student Life promotes healthy lifestyles through sports, literacy, and learning about sustainable rural development. "
Director of Student Life Brendan Hughes stated the organization has
worked on obtaining the co-curricular record certificate. Students who participate in these programs are eligible to receive a co-curricular record, independent of their transcript, which shows their extracurricular effort in core areas like awards, governance, leadership, service, and volunteer work.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA IS THE FIRST UNIVERSITY
"
IN CANADA TO OFFER AN ONLINE RESEARCH INTEGRITY
campaign, which aims to make the University of Manitoba a respected working
COURSE FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF "
Photo by Beibei Lu
In November they were able to establish a visit from Spencer West, who
Student Life has also been working on a campaign called the respect
and learning environment. In 2012 the Graduate Student Association council approved a member of Student Life to attend their meetings in order to facilitate communication about opportunities and issues. For example,
also attended We Day as a motivational speaker. His feat was climbing Mount
although it is not a project Student Life is involved with, Hughes made a point
Kilimanjaro with no legs and he left the crowd of youngsters hopeful for social
to say the University of Manitoba is the first University in Canada to offer an
change. West’s message is that if he can climb one of the tallest mountains, a
online research integrity course for both students and staff.
feat considered impossible given his physical condition, then tackling the
"
seemingly impossible mountain of social change can also be achieved.
welcoming of Graduate students, who Hughes encourages to help with the
The organization also hopes to help the university become more
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2
Photo by Beibei Lu
development of a mentorship program.
applications. Benefits are directly associated with graduate students since
"
Student Life works with the Graduate Studies Association to further improve
“Graduate students could help by either volunteering to act as mentors to
new graduate students, or be willing to help us develop these improved
the programs available.
programs,” Hughes told the Gradzette. Hughes claimed the importance of
"
collaborating partnerships is to keep open communication, which will also
studying and that students seek to be treated fairly by their faculty advisors.
benefit students in regards to opportunities and issues.
"
"
ensure an equitable working and learning environment,” said Hughes.
Opportunities with Student Life help better prepare students for
Hughes says it is recognized that graduate students work hard while
“We can help bring awareness to this issue and be supportive of efforts to
graduate studies and work outside the academic setting. The co-curricular
"
record certificate looks great on both future graduate study applications and job
improvements that will further help graduate students.
Hughes made it clear they are open to suggestions in favour of
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3
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Sarah Beattie By Bryce Hoye
S "
arah Beattie is a University of Manitoba M.Sc. candidate in the
her master’s program shortly thereafter under the direction of Feiyue Wang in
department of environment and geography, studying mercury and
September of 2011. Well into her second year of the program, Beattie reveals
methylmercury cycling in Arctic sea ice environments.
that it was her twin passions in chemistry and the environment that first made
“When I take my ice cores in the Arctic we can be out on the sea ice,
working with Wang, an environmental chemist and Arctic sea ice expert,
take our ice cores, take them into the clean lab on the ship, and analyze the ice almost immediately. You’re able to
appealing. " “I wanted to try to find
tell whether they’re contaminated
something that would give me lab
or not [on site].”
experience but also give me time
"
outdoors. Environmental
Beattie spoke with the
Gradzette about her research in the
chemistry is perfect for that,”
Arctic aboard the CCGS
explains Beattie.
Amundsen (the same icebreaker/
" While her Arctic adventures
research vessel that graces the
aboard the Amundsen are now
Canadian $50 bill), gathering and
over, at least with respect to her
analyzing ice cores for trace levels
current master’s project, Beattie,
of methylmercury.
Wang et al. recently began a three-
"
week-long international experiment
“We’re working in this little
lab [on the Amundsen], and then
at the U of M’s own Sea-ice
you look outside the window and
Environmental Research Facility
see polar bears out on the ice!”
(SERF).
"
" Researchers from as far as
Beattie completed her
Germany and Denmark are
honours in biochemistry at the University of Winnipeg and began
Photo by Bryce Hoye
teaming up with Canadian
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4
researchers to utilize the unique ice pond over the three-week period.
"
"
relies on instruments such as Cold Vapour Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Drs. Wang (SERF project leader), Soren Rysgaard (Canada Excellence
In their Ultra Clean Trace Elements lab as well as at the SERF, Beattie
Research Chair in Arctic Geomicrobiology and Climate Change), David Barber
(CVAFS) to track mercury concentrations in the water, ice or surrounding
(Canada Research Chair in Arctic Systems Science), and Tim Papakyriakou are
atmosphere.
the principal investigators at the SERF, with several technicians, honours and
"
graduate students also involved.
the CVAFS functions to concentrate the sample and then “convert [it] from
"
being any type of mercury species—this could include particulate mercury, [or]
Wang and Beattie’s main research concerns centre on trying to
Starting with ice from ice cores and frost flowers, Beattie explains how
understand methylmercury pathways in the Arctic by studying sea ice. Having
oxidized mercury—to the elemental form of mercury.”
fresh sea ice at the SERF within walking distance of their new laboratories in
"
Wallace Building makes conducting research all the more efficient and cost
then it’s analyzed using fluorescence,” Beattie concludes.
effective.
"
‘THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT MERCURY IS THAT IT CAN BE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PHASES [ . . . ] IT’S A FUN THING TO STUDY, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL’ - SARAH BEATTIE "
“My job is to measure total mercury distribution in the water, in the sea
ice, and in the frost flowers at SERF,” says Beattie. “Feiyue will be measuring atmospheric mercury. We’ll be able to measure the transport of mercury from the atmosphere to the sea ice, to the underlying water column, or in the reverse direction.” "
In an interview with the Manitoban, Wang described frost flower
formation. "
“Concentrated salt ejects from the surface [waters], and the water vapour
then condenses on it. It looks really pretty.” "
“The mercury is concentrated and converted to elemental mercury, and
Beattie’s own research findings in the Arctic did not confirm the presence
of methylmercury in the sea ice, nor in the multiyear (two years old or older) sea ice. "
Mercury is one of the most neurotoxic metals in the atmosphere. “The
interesting thing about mercury is that it can be in so many different phases: it can be in the air, in the water, in the sea ice [ . . . ] It’s a fun thing to study, but you have to be careful.” "
“Whenever you hear about people getting sick from mercury, it’s [usually]
methylmercury,” remarks Beattie, mentioning the death of chemist Karen Wetterhahn to illustrate her point. "
Wetterhahn was a toxic metals specialist who passed away in the late 90s
from dimethylmercury poisoning. "
“One drop fell on her,” states Beattie, “it actually went through her
glove,” and she died less than a year later.
Wang and others surmise that the highly salty brine of the frost flowers
may play a key role in facilitating the transport of chemicals like mercury from the atmosphere into the Arctic marine ecosystem.
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5
Over 90 employers seeking employees at U of M Career Services say career week a success . . . others not so sure By Foster Lyle
O
nce again the University of Manitoba’s Annual Career Week has been
explained Hiebert. “It’s also a unique chance to learn about different
a success drawing thousands of students and countless employers.
o c c u p a t i o n s i f y o u a r e s t i l l d e c i d i n g o n a c a r e e r p a t h . ”
" The event, which started Jan. 9 and continued through Jan. 16, is
"
Job fairs have always played an important role on campuses across
put on annually by Career Services in conjunction with the Asper School of
Canada and the United States, but in recent years they have been even more
Business’s Career Development Center. Career Week consist of workshops,
crucial. With economies having slowed in the mid and late 2000s, companies
meetings and speakers that help students with a range of employment issues.
across Canada have either implemented hiring freezes or reduced employment
The main event, the Career Fair, brought over 90 employers to University
numbers. This directly affects students as companies are no longer looking to
C e n t r e t o c o n n e c t w i t h s t u d e n t s a n d i d e n t i f y p o t e n t i a l t a l e n t .
hire new talent, and if they are then only the best and brightest are able to
‘EMPLOYERS REALLY ONLY COME FOR GOOD [PUBLIC
m a ke
RELATIONS]. I’VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE GETTING A JOB
"
THROUGH A JOB FAIR’
time of economic downturn” but went on that the Career Center, and Career
-AVRIL TYLER
themselves
"
“[Employers want to] reach students, market themselves, raise their
Hiebert, an employment advisor with Career Services. “The Career Fair is funded by both the fees from employer’s booths, and from their financial s u p p o r t . ” Clearly it isn’t only employers who are receiving benefits from Career
We e k "
and
the
Career
“We have a diversified economy,” Hiebert stressed, “which can help in a
Week is an important resource to help students career plan and network
profile, promote opportunities, and build networks with students,” said Lindsey
"
i t .
Fa i r
t h o u g h .
“The Career Fair is an excellent opportunity to network with over 90
employers that are coming to the University of Manitoba campus to speak with students who are looking for part-time, full-time or summer employment,”
"
with
potential
e m p l o y e r s .
“I think it’s important because there are so many options out there and
it’s hard to get an idea about what some of them are.” said Keith Ramos, a second year student who is still deciding on his program. “It’s nice to be able to s e e a l o t o f d i f f e r e n t j o b s a l l a t o n c e . ” " with "
Though most students seemed to have a good time, some didn’t agree the
motives
of
e m p l o y e r s .
“I’ve been to a lot of these and they’re really pointless.” argued third year
science student Avril Tyner. “Employers really only come for good [public relations]. I’ve never heard of anyone getting a job through a job fair.” "
Tyner’s opinion is not supported by Career Services, though, who believe
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Photo by Beibei Lu
that Career Week and the Career Fair directly contribute to the success of students "
after
undergraduate
and
graduate
s t u d i e s .

Career Week is the largest event put on by Career Services, but it is
certainly not the only one. Year round Career Services has an up-to-date job portal called careerCONNECT that assists students in finding meaningful
Services oers year round resume and cover letter workshops, interview practice as well as countless other resources. For more information on Career Services, Career Week and the Career Fair go to their website at umanitoba.ca/student/employment/.
employment, and employers in finding qualified students. Additionally, Career
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Taxing the fizzle Soda could weigh heavy on consumer wallets following U of A study Michelle Mark – The Gateway (University of Alberta)
E million
DMONTON (CUP) — Two University of Alberta researchers have
"
proposed a tax on all sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) sold in
learned from for example tobacco control that [by] raising the price of
Alberta, saying it could decrease consumption and result in up to $750
s o m e t h i n g , p e o p l e t e n d t o c o n s u m e l e s s o f i t , ” s a i d R a i n e .
in
new
"
r e v e n u e .
“The number one motivation was to decrease consumption, and we’ve
“The idea that if you put a tax on these you would bring in about $750
After researching SSB consumption in Alberta, PhD student Sue Buhler
million a year, well, what could you use that money for? Our healthcare system
and her supervisor Kim Raine were surprised to discover Albertans drink
really spends a lot of money on treating these chronic diseases that are
approximately 1.5 billion litres of SSBs over a year, amounting to over one litre
preventable [ . . . ] only about three per cent of the healthcare budget goes
per
person
towards
"
Raine pointed out SSBs often lead to chronic diseases through obesity
"
each
d a y.
"
p r e v e n t i o n . ”
Although there has been some negative reception to implementing a tax,
and are the only types of food or beverages in which consumption has been
Buhler said over 65 per cent of surveyed Albertans support it, and tend to look
d i r e c t l y c o r r e l a t e d w i t h o b e s i t y i n b o t h c h i l d r e n a n d a d u l t s .
upon it more favourably when told the revenue will be used for health
"
promotion
“They’re one of those foods that [have] no nutritional value, provide only
and
disease
prevention
in
A l b e r t a .
sugar [ . . . ] really, we should be doing some work to tr y to decrease
"
consumption,”
effective, so it’s putting in a strategy that will also benefit the government and
" one
said
R a i n e .
Drinking 500 calories of SSBs in one day won’t actually decrease the food consumes,
Buhle
hopefully "
a d d e d .
“I think the nice thing about taxing, to be honest, is that it is more cost
benefit
public
health,”
said
B u h l e r.
“There are people that just don’t want any interference with the food
“Over time, that’s just going to put you in positive energy balance where,
supply, but the problem is we’ve let it run so rampant, that now our food
e v e n t u a l l y, i f y o u c o n t i n u e t o d o i t y o u ’ l l g a i n w e i g h t . ”
environment does not support healthy choices. It’s not always easy to even find
"
The researchers also found by implementing a tax of $0.05 per 100
healthy food [ . . . ] We’re not really controlling what the volume is that people
millilitres of SSBs, consumption could decrease by 10 to 17 per cent in Alberta
can buy. We’re just saying that if you want to buy that, you’re going to have to
and also provide a revenue that could be used to start a wellness foundation or
pay more for it.”
"
other wise
promote
health
throughout
the
p r o v i n c e .
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