An old language brings A New Hope 
Creatures across galaxies both near and far, far away celebrated the world premiere of the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) version of Star Wars: A New Hope. Cary Miller, Assistant Professor, Department of Indigenous Studies, served as one of the project leads and Patricia Ningewance, Assistant Professor, Department of Indigenous Studies, was the lead translator. The movie trailer uses behind-the-scenes and interview footage shot by UM Film Studies students. 

Our herd moves the world 
In September, President Michael Benarroch penned a bold letter to Manitobans inviting them to see the Bisons at the centre of every industry in our province: from entrepreneurship, to finance, health care, Reconciliation, human rights, the arts and so much more. It kicks off UM’s first reputational campaign in ten years, designed to attract more Bisons to the university. 

Giving the best shots 
Thanks to the largest federal research investment in its history, UM will soon be home to two world-leading vaccine and biomanufacturing facilities. Manitoba’s first Containment Level 3 lab, to be located on the Bannatyne campus, will provide pre-clinical vaccine testing against high-risk pathogens of concern in a safe and secure environment. A second biosecure facility on the Fort Garry campus will develop new vaccines and approaches to improve the reliability and speed of biomanufacturing at scale. 

A defining moment 
Master of Human Rights student Nabil Iqbal is drawing attention to climate refugees in his graduate research – a rapidly expanding group who don’t have a legal definition and therefore can’t receive protection under law. With current estimates saying 2.8 billion people will face severe ecological threats by 2050, his work could have ground-breaking impact. 

Top of their class 
Seven UM students graduated this year at Spring and Fall Convocation with Governor General’s Academic Medals for outstanding achievement at their level of study. From taking risks in the name of learning to keeping an open mind, these bison are ready and able to take on the world. 

In solidarity 
A new scholarship is creating community through the shared experience of losing a family member. Alum Justin Price created a memorial fund in honour of his mother that is now supporting students who, like him, had to balance the pressures of school with the weight of grief. 

Equality and inclusion through education 
This October, 19 Indigenous teachers from St. Theresa Point First Nation graduated from an innovative post-baccalaureate program designed to respond specifically to community-identified needs, rather than starting from pre-determined requirements. Educators from St. Theresa studied culturally relevant assessment and instruction with a focus on inclusion and academics; Reconciliation in working with parents/families; the history and impact of residential schools; and trauma-informed pedagogy. 

A partnership with global reach 
UM has received more funding (over $450 million) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation than any Canadian post-secondary institution. This year, an additional donation of $12.5 million will expand the work of the Institute for Global Public Health to improve availability and access to reproductive, maternal and newborn health services in Africa and Pakistan. 

Five distinguishing faces 
A core group of UM alumni received the honour of a Distinguished Alumni Award for pushing the envelope in business, community health, research, community service and storytelling. At a sold-out gala event, they were shown to be some of UM’s best and brightest Bisons.  

Learning through adventure 
Savouring a pastel de nata in Portugal or climbing Sugarloaf Mountain in Brazil – glorious! All while completing a business degree – even better! Over 100 Asper students spent the past year travelling the world while studying at partner business schools through the faculty’s exchange program, gaining a truly transformative professional and personal experience. 

On Tuesday, the university announced the latest US$12.5-million grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had brought in more than $450 million in research dollars since the foundation’s first grant to it 22 years ago.

“We’ve had a lot of different projects with the Gates Foundation,” said Dr. James Blanchard, director of the Institute for Global Public Health and the Canada Research Chair in epidemiology and global health.

To read the full article, it can be found here on the Winnipeg Free Press site.