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CTV Your Morning: AI in 2026: Hype vs. reality

Eleanor Coopsammy — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:25:27 +0000

David Gerhard, head of computer science at the University of Manitoba, breaks down what AI may actually mean for workers, students and businesses.

For the full interview, please visit CTV Your Morning.

CTV News: How to avoid holiday scams

Eleanor Coopsammy — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:44:16 +0000

CTV’s Maralee Caruso speaks with University of Manitoba’s David Gerhard, who is head of the University of Manitoba’s computer science department, about how you can avoid falling victim to frauds and schemes over the holidays.

For the full interview, please head to CTV.

CBC: Winnipeg moves to scrap bird-friendly window bylaw developers argue is barrier to development

Eleanor Coopsammy — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:09:17 +0000

Conservationists are raising concerns as the City of Winnipeg considers walking back a development bylaw designed to help save birds from fatal window strikes, less than a year after the rules came into effect. “I’m kind of … shocked,” said Dr. Kevin Fraser, associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Manitoba who focuses on bird migration and ecology.

For the full story, please visit CBC News.

CBC: What can you look out for when online banking?

Eleanor Coopsammy — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:14:58 +0000

Dr. Celine Latulipe, professor in the department of computer science at the University of Manitoba, joins CBC’s Marcy Markusa to respond to the news of couple who experienced online banking fraud and her research into older adults using online banking.

The full interview is available to listen to on CBC.

City News: A.I. misconduct on the rise at the University of Manitoba

Eleanor Coopsammy — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 04:38:54 +0000

A.I. is everywhere, including on the University of Manitoba campus, and while faculty leaders say work is being done to address its use in academics. Right now, its presence is overwhelming the school’s office of academic integrity and taking professors’ focus away from their students. “Currently, we’re not ready to handle it,” said Jenna Tichon, the Vice President of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association.

To read the full report, please visit City News.

CBC’s Quirks and Quarks: Arctic fox food web

Eleanor Coopsammy — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 22:23:11 +0000

Dr. Sean Johnson Bice, PhD Candidate at the University of Manitoba was featured on his research on Arctic foxes and the Tundra food web. The Arctic Fox moves between the tundra and the sea ice of the Hudson Bay for a diet of both marine and rodent species

You can listen to the full interview here.

Winnipeg Free Press: Big data, big footprint

Eleanor Coopsammy — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 21:48:50 +0000

Premier Wab Kinew has been dropping hints the province could soon look to position itself as a leader in what some commentators are calling the “fourth industrial revolution.” “All the internet is, is someone else’s computer,” said Dr. John Anderson, computer science professor at the University of Manitoba who has spent his career researching artificial intelligence. “A data centre is a large collection of computers that is used usually for a particular purpose, but not necessarily for only one purpose, in an installation in one place.”

To read the article, please visit Winnipeg Free Press.

Classic 107: University of Manitoba student wins Winnipeg Crime Stoppers website redesign challenge

Eleanor Coopsammy — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 20:21:27 +0000

A second-year University of Manitoba student has been chosen as the winner of the Winnipeg Crime Stoppers Website Redesign Challenge. The challenge was open to UM students, with the opportunity to win a $1,000 prize and the opportunity to enhance the nonprofit’s online presence. Hamza Haque, a second-year Bachelor of Science student at the University of Manitoba and a dual-credit graduate of the PTEC/MITT Software Development program, won the challenge with his user-friendly interface, accessibility, and modern design.

To read the full article, please visit Classic 107.

CBC News: Sask. content creator says she’s frustrated after Facebook mistakenly took down 22,000-follower page

Eleanor Coopsammy — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 20:06:55 +0000

A Saskatchewan content creator says her business has been thrown into turmoil after Facebook unexpectedly deleted her page. AI service agents, which are significantly more advanced versions of older chatbots that could only respond to certain keywords, have become increasingly common as major AI platforms develop.

Nevertheless, David Gerhard, head of computer science at the University of Manitoba, says he doubts they will ever reach the level of a human being.

To read the entire article, please visit CBC.

From Manitoba to Berlin: Breaking Walls in Antibiotic Resistance!

Poonam Chopra — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:48:04 +0000

Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden and Luma Clarindo Lopes to Represent Manitoba at the 2025 Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin

Dr. Hans Joachim Wieden will join Luma Clarindo Lopes, winner of the 2025 Falling Walls Lab Manitoba in front of the Admin building.

WINNIPEG — In a proud moment for Manitoba’s innovation community, Dr. Hans‑Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President Partnership, Knowledge Mobilisation and Innovation, joins Luma Clarindo Lopes, winner of the 2025 Falling Walls Lab Manitoba, on her journey to Berlin this week for the Falling Walls Science Summit.

IDEA START, in partnership with the University of Manitoba (UM) and the University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg), hosted the Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2025, bringing together some of the province’s brightest minds in a celebration of innovation, research, and collaboration. The event’s success underscored Manitoba’s commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive innovation culture, making it a truly Manitoban initiative.

At the prestigious global summit, Luma will present her groundbreaking idea alongside 99 other Lab winners from around the world. She’ll be representing the University of Manitoba, our province and Canada alongside fellow Canadian finalists Annika Benson (Atlantic Canada), Artem Kushnirenko (Toronto), and Harry Wilton‑Clark (Edmonton), showcasing the strength and diversity of Canadian innovation on the world stage.

This participation underscores Manitoba’s growing footprint in research, development and innovation, reinforcing how platforms like Falling Walls can bridge local insight with international opportunity.

Empowering Manitoba’s Innovation Narrative

With Manitoba’s research and innovation sector rapidly evolving, the arrival of Luma and Dr. Wieden in Berlin represents more than mere attendance, it signals strategic alignment and ambition. As the province continues to build capacity in science‑driven enterprise, having a representative stand on the global stage advances our story and elevates local credibility.

Dr. Wieden commented:

“Berlin is not only a centre for science but a nexus of global collaboration. For Manitoba to have a voice among the world’s leading early‑career innovators is a powerful step. This platform enables us to put Manitoba squarely on the map of breakthrough research and enterprise.”

Spotlight on Luma Clarindo Lopes

Luma, whose innovative project earned her the Manitoba Lab winner title, is preparing to showcase her idea at the Fallings Walls Summit and engage with peers, mentors and global decision‑makers.

She shared:

“Representing Manitoba on this global stage is incredibly exciting. Meeting other finalists‑innovators from around the world, exchanging ideas and learning from diverse perspectives will be a career‑shaping experience. I’m proud to carry the province’s flag and eager for every minute of the journey.”

Strategic Value for Manitoba’s Ecosystem

Platforms like Falling Walls Lab offer powerful momentum for both individuals and regions. For early-career innovators, it’s a chance to gain global exposure, sharpen their pitching skills, and build international networks. For ecosystems like Manitoba, it means a stronger talent pipeline, greater visibility, and new opportunities for collaboration.

These ripple effects support broader provincial goals, from accelerating research-to-market pathways to attracting investment and deepening ties between academia and industry.

In this landscape, Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden plays a pivotal role. He’s not only helping Luma prepare for the global stage but also positioning Manitoba’s innovation story within a wider international narrative. His mentorship highlights a key truth: behind every standout idea is a community working toward lasting impact.

Canadian Cohort Joins Global Innovation Line‑Up

Annika Benson (Atlantic Canada): Winner of the Falling Walls Lab Atlantic Canada, now advancing to present in Berlin to present her research on development and testing of a miniature, high-resolution, tracked ultrasound probe for brain surgery.
Artem Kushnirenko (Toronto): PhD candidate and Lab Toronto winner, heading to Berlin to pitch his translational surgical analytics innovation.
Harry Wilton‑Clark (Edmonton): First‑place winner at Lab Edmonton 2025 with a project on antisense therapy for rare diseases.

Together with Luma, they form a Canadian cadre taking local innovation to the world’s premier science summit.

In Summary

The trip to Berlin is not simply a travel opportunity, it is a tangible expression of Manitoba’s ambition to be recognized among global centres of innovation. With Luma Clarindo Lopes representing Manitoba on the world stage, accompanied by Dr. Hans‑Joachim Wieden, the province is charting a path from local ingenuity to global relevance. The journey will unfold not just in Berlin, but in how Manitoba leverages this spotlight to advance its innovation agenda.