PhD student: Chris Peck

Studying in: Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources

Advisor: Jens Ehn/Zou Zou Kuzyk

http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/environment/departments/ceos/people/jehn.html

http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/environment/departments/ceos/people/zkuzyk.html

Where are you from?

Sheffield, England

Why did you choose CEOS?

I obtained my Bachelor’s in Marine Biology and Oceanography, and my Master’s in Applied Marine Science, so when I noticed that CEOS was offering a PhD program in Oceanography and sedimentation, I applied for it.

What are you working on right now?

Right now I am preparing 5 ice tethered moorings that will be deployed later this week in North-East James Bay to measure the salinity and temperature directly under the ice. These instrument records will also allow us to calibrate the salinity record that we will obtain from ice cores, which we will be taking in late March.   

What did you want to be as a kid?

 A pilot.

Do you have any hobbies?

I love playing Rugby and play on a team here. I also love to Scuba Dive although I haven’t really been able to do that in awhile.

If you could be a SuperHero, what SuperHero would you be?

Iron Man or Captain America. Who doesn’t want to be a genius in a suit?

Salty or sweet?

Salty. Back home my favorite snack is sausage rolls, but here it’s chips.

Favorite movie?

Gladiator

Favorite TV show?

Scrubs for all-time. Right now it’s Game of Thrones.

Do you miss anything particular about home?

The food. I miss Steak and Ale pie and a good Sunday roast. I also miss watching Rugby games with friends, but since I’ve been here it’s now been replaced with Hockey.

What have you noticed about life in Canada that is different than back home?

You drink a lot more coffee than we do in England. The food here is different; we don’t have poutine or beaver tails back home. And you embrace the cold a lot more.

Are there things that people wrongly assume about you because you’re British that drives you a little crazy?

People assume that I drink tea all the time and that we have a set tea time. They also assume I love soccer (football). Which I don’t.

Since we’re talking about England, have you seen the Queen?

No, but I have seen Prince Charles. He toured my old department in Bangor, Wales.

Favorite Royal Family member?

Prince Harry

Do you watch Downton Abbey?

No

What puts a smile on your face?

Spending time with Kasey and friends, rugby and video games.

One thing not too many people may know about you:

I fell off a balcony once.

PhD student: Enoil de Souza Junior

Studying in: Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources

Advisor: David Barber, Canada Research Chair (Tier 1)

Where are you from?

I’m from Porto Alegre, Brazil.

What made you want to come here?

The program. I really wanted to work in the Arctic, as a lot of people in Brazil study the Antarctic, and I wanted to do something different. We also heard that Winnipeg has a lot of sun in the winter and we heard many good things about Canada.

Why did you choose CEOS?

I studied Geography back home in Brazil and wanted to continue with my studies in Climate Change. I spoke with my Supervisor in Brazil who knows many in the Arctic community, and together we put a few feelers out. Dr. Barber responded right away, and after checking out his CV, we were very impressed. Plus, we thought that he looks like Santa, so he must be nice.

What did you want to be as a kid?

A soccer player. Everyone in Brazil wants to be a soccer player.

Coffee or Tea? 

I drink both but drink tea when I’m cold.

Have you tried any new sports since you’ve been here?

I tried cross country skiing for the first time last winter. I fell a lot, but it was so much fun. I’m hoping to try snowboarding this winter.

Do you miss anything particular about home?

BBQ. Family BBQ’s on Sunday are the best. The food is so good and I haven’t found anything like it here.

Do we have any different customs here?

People here have personal space and it is important to them. In Brazil we are very touchy. When we meet someone, we always greet them with a kiss and a hug.

If you could be a SuperHero, what SuperHero would you be?

Wolverine. He’s very cool.

You spend your free time doing what?

My wife and I like to volunteer. Last winter we volunteered at Le Festival du Voyageur, and we have volunteered at the Manitoba Marathon, Bomber games and we joined the Rotary Club. It’s a good way to meet new people and getting involved in the community helps you learn about Manitoba.

One thing not too many people may know about you:

I really like to talk. I find most people here are quiet.

WHAT DO YOU DO AT THE U OF M?

Brian Dobie: I am responsible for running the football program here and everything that comes with that, from administration responsibilities to recruiting. And coaching a football team — I get to do that too.

I wanted to come back and make a difference. It was personal. It was professional for sure but it was also personal. The university impacted my life.

WHY WERE YOU ATTRACTED TO WORK HERE?

U of M  means a lot to me. I loved being a student here, I honestly did. I loved being a Bison athlete — I played football and ran track. I loved my Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. I had some great professors that I really respected and admired. They influenced me and made an impact on me

I wanted to come back and make a difference. It was personal. It was professional for sure but it was also personal. The university impacted my life.

HOW DID YOU END UP AT THE U OF M?

It was literally my dream job. The first time I applied for the position I made the final three picks but I didn’t get the job. Second time, I was in the final two but didn’t get it. Third time around I was really discouraged and I wasn’t sure I was going to apply, but I got the job in the spring of 1996.

That process has helped me and I share it with my players.  

There are all kinds of players that get frustrated in their studies, and get frustrated in their pursuit of football. It is very competitive.

The easy solution, of course, is just to quit. Most people get tired of going over roadblocks and succumb. But you really need to stay the course and persevere. Good things will happen if you do the right things. It worked out for me and you want your student athletes to learn the same kind of lessons.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE CHANGES YOU’VE SEEN AT U OF M DURING YOUR 22 YEARS HERE?

We’re sitting in the biggest one right now! The Investors Group Field and David Asper Manitoba Bison Football Centre is the nicest football or sports complex in our nation.

Time after time, I take recruits on campus tours and point out how this building didn’t exist five or 20 years ago. That rusted-out tin shed was Bison football for several decades! (laughs) Look at what we have now.

Nobody has this. Toronto and Calgary do not have this type of field. We are the leaders in the country.

The single best thing for me about this campus is the way colleagues treat each other. It’s a great place to be.

ANY ADVICE FOR A NEW EMPLOYEE OR SOMEONE CONSIDERING WORKING HERE?

My advice is to network everywhere you can professionally and socially. Get to know people because people on this campus are going to go out of their way to help each other. I experienced it when I started, and it has never stopped. The single best thing for me about this campus is the way colleagues treat each other. It’s a great place to be.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN YOUR ROLE THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?

I’m proud of raising the visibility, significance and profile of Bison football. I feel that our program is very respected nation-wide. There’s a real pride within the program.

Winning the Vanier Cup was the second greatest night of my life. My wife loves that comment! The best night was when our daughter was born, and then the night we won the Vanier Cup. Now, marrying my wife is number three — but we were engaged for a long, long time so it’s not quite as bad as it sounds!

We’re really lucky because our entire lives are based on these U of M students.

THE FAVOURITE PART OF YOUR JOB?

My job is to solve problems. Find a way to beat UBC, find a way to beat Calgary. Find a student athlete who is failing and put him on a path to improvement and success. Work with a player who is young and needs lots of development. It is super interesting and exciting.

Every day as I walk through here, I am surrounded by  20 year-olds who are highly motivated. They just bring it! We all see the students , walking through campus, in classrooms, and here on the football field. We’re really lucky because our entire lives are based on these U of M students.

He’s also one of those people who is just genuinely nice. And if his face looks a little familiar to some of you, it may be because Blanchard spent the past 22 years at U of M Libraries as head of reference services in Dafoe Library. “My first real job was at Winnipeg Public [Libraries],” he says, “and they used to have a program — you would work for them for two years, and then you could go to library school and they would hire you back.” After library school, though, he decided to go to Spain for a while, where he taught English.

Reference services head has been an ideal job, says Blanchard. Giving library workshops and presentations and ordering new books and reference tools are two components of his role — though his favoured aspect has always been helping the students. “Our students are the best … they are so courteous. Being on the information desk has always been my favourite thing,” he says. “You have to keep on your toes because you never know what questions are coming next…. If you do show [students] one of the organized databases, they are blown away. There’s so much [specific] information you can find, [as opposed to] a Google search for academic stuff … which is just chaotic. It’s kind of a mission to show them the [reference] products that we buy for them.”

Blanchard is also a writer and editor who’s published two historical accounts of Winnipeg history.

He says that he’s also enjoyed being part of Dafoe Library, in part because he’s very interested in its collection. Blanchard is also a writer and editor who’s published two historical accounts of Winnipeg history, Winnipeg’s Great War: A City Comes of Age and Winnipeg 1912, and one edited collection, A Thousand Miles of Prairie: The Manitoba Historical Society and the History of Western Canada. He’s currently working on another book, this one about Winnipeg in the 1920s — post-Great War, post-Winnipeg General Strike. “The War really shattered Winnipeg,” he says, “and the strike tore the fabric of the city….” He says that he’s already stumbled on “some interesting characters” through his research for the project.

Through his involvement with St. John’s College and St. Paul’s College libraries, he’s become even more a part of the university community. The colleges put an emphasis on “building community,” he says, which he’s enjoyed. What he especially appreciates about the U of M overall is its diverse student population due to its regional and accessibility mandate. “Most of the students who come here aren’t too privileged. Many have to work — as opposed to universities where most of the students are from very well off families. I like the fact that we’re open … and have access programs … that we make an effort to bring in Aboriginal students and students who need support, maybe some who are older or haven’t had many opportunities.

“I value that about the U of M. It has that role, that it has to accept everyone,” adds Blanchard. “And I think the libraries are very good, with great people working there.”

 –Mariianne Mays Wiebe

Q + A with Jim Blanchard

Coffee or tea? Coffee, black.

What puts a smile on your face? Little kids. Children between age six or so and 11 or 12 are very honest and generally have a lively curiosity about things. I do some ESL teaching and my favourite student is seven years old. She is a great little person.

What did you like about your childhood? We had my grandfather living with us and he was a pretty important influence on my early development. He was from another era, having come to Manitoba in 1886, and he gave me an interest in history.

Childhood hero? Roy Rogers. I think it was his hat.

Dinner with friends: Cooking at home or out at a restaurant? I like to cook for people. I make simple things like lamb stew and salmon, nothing fancy. I also like Hermanos Restaurant and The Peasant Cookery.

Something that not too many people may know about you: I once started out to be an Anglican priest but I didn’t make it through the first year.

Something you do better than anyone else (or most people) you know: Brag about myself.

Something you appreciate or admire in another person: Loyalty.

Underrated: Comedy.

Overrated: Money.

Something essential or enjoyable to do every day: Reading. I am always reading several books.

You are always thrilled to spend any free time doing: I am a writer and I like to do research.

A goal: I want to be able to speak basic French.

What is your guiding principle or motto? Keep on improving and learning new things.

What do you like to read? I read mysteries and history. I enjoyed Danubia by Simon Winder. It’s that rare thing — a history that has jokes and fun in it.

Favourite TV show, blog or website: I don’t watch TV. I have come to enjoy reading books from the Public Library online. I like the BBC 3 Radio website and listen to it every day.

A favourite place: I lived in Madrid for a couple of years in the late 1970s and I would like to go back for a visit soon.

Anything else you’d like people to know about Jim Blanchard? I am a grandpa with two grandsons. Unfortunately for me, they live in Sydney, Australia, but I get lots of emails and pictures and movies from their mom.

She and her husband, who’s also a prof in the department of computer science, Faculty of Science, started at U of M in 2009. They met in grad school at UBC.

Bunt researches human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence and all things interactive technology — and she spends a lot of time thinking about people. “A lot of my work is looking at how people use existing technology, and ways it’s supporting or not supporting what they need to do, and trying to propose alternatives. My work definitely involves computer science and knowledge of it, but I also spend a lot of time thinking about people, and actually working with people.” She finds the research “varied, creative and exciting,” she says.

“Even if you don’t come up with the solution, you’re working towards a solution [with] potential for really tangible benefits for people…. That’s what drew me to it.

Bunt: “You’re working towards a solution [with] potential for really tangible benefits for people…. That’s what drew me to it.”

 

Bunt’s major area of focus is complex software applications with many options and potential tasks — specifically, research into making these less overwhelming for newcomers and helping users to understand what’s possible. What’s changing is the ever-expanding user-base, previously more limited to office workers performing specific tasks. It’s evolved to become a more general, everyday user with a broad range of usage types.

Which means it is all the more urgent to help students to understand that they are not the typical or representative user — one of the greatest challenges for teaching computer science, she says.

What might people find surprising about what she does? “The strong interdisciplinary component, with both psychology and sociology. A lot of our methods are inspired by those disciplines.”

In her work, she finds teaching and working with students especially rewarding, in spite of being an introvert, she says. She notes that U of M has many outstanding students and that the university’s size is “kind of perfect” — big enough to have the resources and supports, but small enough to be supportive of individuals, as she puts it.

“It’s a stimulating, supportive environment.”

— Mariianne Mays Wiebe

Q + A with Andrea Bunt

Coffee or tea? Coffee, with cream. I just gave up sugar; it took about a week to stop missing it.

One thing not too many people may know about you: I was a competitive squash player as a kid/teenager and was given the opportunity attend the Canada Games in 1991 in PEI. I lost all but one of my matches, but it was a wonderful experience.

Where did you grow up? Saskatoon.

A favourite childhood memory: Many of my favourite childhood memories involve watching or attending sporting events with my dad. For example, we attended the Canada vs.
Russia Gold medal game during the 1991 World Junior Hockey tournament in Saskatoon. The energy in the building was amazing.

Childhood hero: My dad is a big Boston Bruins fan and he brainwashed me into liking them as well. Growing up, Cam Neely was my favourite player.

What puts a smile on your face? My kids. In my biased opinion, they are at incredibly cute ages right now (2 and 6).

Dinner with friends — Cooking at home or out at a restaurant? Going out for dinner is one of my favourite activities, but since most of my friends also have young kids, dinner with friends these days often involves take out or something really easy and kid-friendly.

Something essential or enjoyable to do every day: I find it really important to have at least 30 to 45 minutes of downtime at the end of every day. Life with two working parents and no family support in town can sometimes make finding this time challenging. But if I don’t make time for it, I don’t sleep well and I become a very grumpy person.

How do you like to spend your free time? Activities that the whole family enjoy. As the kids get older, this list is growing and growing. For example, there are now movies that we all like, we’ve had some great days at amusement parks (Canada’s Wonderland last year), we can almost all go skiing together, etc.

Place to visit: I love visiting France. The French really know how to live. The food is amazing, people are relaxed and the geography is beautiful and diverse (and the country not quite as spread out as Canada). I would love to spend a sabbatical there at some point.

Something eye-opening you’ve experienced: I’m unfortunately drawing a blank on this. That probably means that I live a very sheltered life.

A recent book you enjoyed: I recently read Lynne Coady’s Hellgoing and really enjoyed it. Inside by Alix Ohlin also really stuck with me.

Favourite TV show, film, blog or website: Breaking Bad is probably my all-time favourite show. I love shows with good acting and it had a fantastic cast.

Something you do better than anyone else (or most people) you know: You would have to ask my friends or colleagues. Self confidence is not my strong suit.

A goal (or two): I’ve started running again after a few years of sadly ignoring exercise. My goal is to keep it up over the Winter, even if it means running on the track for a couple of months.

Something you appreciate or admire in another person: Humility

Underrated: Being able to laugh at yourself.

Overrated: Working long hours. At a certain point productivity diminishes rapidly.

Guiding principle or motto: To work towards a work-life balance that I’ll be proud of when I look back. I wanted to make sure that I enjoy this time with my kids. I feel like before I know it, they will be embarrassed to be seen with me. So I try to make time for things like volunteering at their school or daycare.

Anything else you’d like people to know about Andrea Bunt? I think that pretty much covers it!

Coming from an accounting and finance background (Kinley has a B. Comm (Hons)  and CMA), Kinley’s first position was with the Office of Institutional Analysis — and he has also worked for the Vice-President (administration), during which time he chaired committees that launched several recommendations of the 1998 “Building On Strengths” strategic plan under then-president Emőke Szathmáry.

It’s been gratifying to work on initiatives that contributed to the enhancement of the university, and more recently, the enhancement of St. Paul’s College, he says.

Kinley: “It’s been gratifying to work on initiatives that contributed to the enhancement of the university.”

St. Paul’s College is a liberal arts college that became affiliated with the U of M on October 27, 1931. According to its mission and ethos, “St. Paul’s embodies the Catholic heritage, but imposes no creed. It asks only a commitment to the College Ethos, in conformity with its mission and aims, and to the continued pursuit of high academic achievement.” (It’s the one with the bell tower — you can keep up with St. Paul’s news by reading its publication, The Belltower.)

At the time of its affiliation, St. Paul’s had a staff of 15 — eight priests and seven laymen — and a total of twelve students in the university program. Last year, its students numbered 1,147, many of whom come from Catholic high schools — but also those who are not religiously affiliated with Catholicism. Between its regular and associated members and research fellows, its faculty numbers 42, half of whom are regular members (last year there were also an additional three visiting scholars and twelve senior scholars).

Its community, while Catholic in foundation, is diverse. “You don’t have to be Catholic to be part of it,” as Kinley puts it. (Kinley himself is Anglican, he says with a smile.)

For Kinley, who’s been with St. Paul’s for three years, it’s been a wonderful experience. In fact, he has only good things to say about his university career as a whole.

“I just enjoy working with the folks at physical plant and many other units on campus, and I also work with some really interesting people at St. Paul’s. In all of my years at the university, over 30 years, I’ve made lifelong friends — with people from all religions, cultures and walks of life. To my mind, that really enriches your experience in any environment.

“Looking back over the years, with the exception of maybe one or two hiccups, it’s been marvelous working at such a great institution. I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”

— Mariianne Mays Wiebe

Q + A with Randall Kinley

What puts a smile on your face? I have sailed since I was a teenager and own a  catamaran, a laser and several windsurfers. Taking a windsurfer out in a steady 20 knot breeze brings a smile to my face.

Dinner with friends: Cooking at home or out at a restaurant? My wife and I find the most enjoyment in having a family dinner at home with our three kids and their “significant others”. We tend to watch our diet so prefer seafood and chicken but certainly enjoy the occasional steak.

Place you’d like to visit or favourite place you have visited: Our oldest son and his girlfriend are spending the summer touring Europe and the UK so my wife and I were recently able to coordinate some time with them in London. Even though my kids have all travelled Europe, I haven’t been there so that is on my list of places to visit. As for my favorite locations to make return visits to I would say Whistler for the skiing, Maui for the sailing and London for everything else.

Something essential or enjoyable to do every day: I bicycle commute to work as often as possible from April to November. It is a great way to get daily exercise and is quite effective at getting you going in the morning and then eliminating any stress you may have had during the day. It also pays dividends by saving you some transportation costs and reducing your environmental footprint.

You are always thrilled to spend any free time doing: Any number of the outdoor sports that I enjoy doing such as biking, sailing, kayaking and skiing. As well, over the years I have periodically done volunteer work for various organizations. I like being involved in community, making contributions to charitable organizations and meeting people from all walks of life.

Guiding principle or motto: Always choose the right path even though at times the cost can be high.

A goal: I would like to re-learn how to play the piano. My mom taught me how to play when I was eight years old but I let it go after a number of years. I have a piano at home which in recent years has been nothing more than a nice piece of furniture. Who knows, with lots of practice maybe someday I will be on the cover of dig! magazine with my friend Steve Kirby from the Faculty of Music!

Where did you grow up? I grew up in East Kildonan, Winnipeg, and attended River East Collegiate.

A favourite childhood memory: Favorite childhood memories are of spending summers with family at West Hawk Lake. At that time there were three family owned cottages all on one of the subdivision roads so I have many fond memories of much time spent with uncles, aunts and cousins.

Childhood hero: I would say that my grandmother, who lived to 95, had quite an influence on me. She was truly a family matriarch – a very intelligent, strong, sensible, generous and caring person. In fact I have no doubt that if she had been born a few decades later she would have become a corporate CEO. She kept all of us grandchildren in line and taught us many important life lessons (see below).

What you appreciate or admire in another person: Strong moral values such as honesty, integrity, charity and respect for others.

A recent book: I am currently enjoying a book called “Documents in World History” from the era of 1500 A.D. to present and have read extensively about the development of Christianity through the first and second centuries. Perhaps related to my interest in history I have also enjoyed the occasional autobiography ranging from Che Guevara’s The Motorcycle Diaries to Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler’s Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? The latter is probably the craziest book I have ever read.

Describe something eye-opening you’ve experienced: Being part of a crew sailing a Farr 40 one blustery afternoon off the coast of Tortola, BVI.

In fact, after talking with the acting director of Learning and Development Services (LDS), you might get the distinct impression that he has a zest for adventure. He’s traveled a lot — he’s been seemingly everywhere, from New Zealand and Australia to China and Korea to South America to most of Europe. Each year, he and his wife take one trip to a more familiar location, such as London, and another as an “adventure.” Planned next is a trip to Istanbul, Turkey.

That adventurous spirit is well applied in his role with LDS. Many will recognize O’Riley because of the professional development (and other) sessions he’s led over the years. (A colleague commented that walking with him across campus is a bit like walking with the King of Kensington. According to O’Riley, it can lead to some embarrassing moments, since people who’ve attended his sessions know his name, of course, but he doesn’t always recall theirs.)

Working at a university and at the U of M in particular was a deliberate decision for O’Riley after his own positive student experience at the University of Lethbridge. Working in a BC coal mine after high school was enough to send him back for more education — and university, he says, “changed my view of the world. The world just opened up.”

O’Riley: “Going to university changed my view of the world. The world just opened up.”

He decided he wanted to be a part of that venture — enriching others’ lives in the same way his own was enriched. He values the way a university education “moves us away from simple answers,” he says.

Winnipeg was also a place to set down roots after a childhood spent moving from place to place, and what he loves most about the U of M is “the people.”

After launching his university career as manager of the Book Store’s calculator desk — back in the day, fancy calculators were kind of a big deal — he made it his practice to apply for a different job at the university every few years.

Leading technology sessions and managing many projects throughout his university career, he came to the conclusion that the success of projects was dependent, to a large degree, on how participants worked together. Today he finds himself leading sessions on topics that address just that insight — from sessions on core competencies, communication and collaboration to navigating through multiple priorities, from career advancement to supporting supervisory and management needs.

He sees what he does at LDS as “helping people to feel more excited and motivated about coming to work.”

As LDS evolves and grows, and becomes more client based in the services offered, he adds, the opportunities are limitless. “We’re working towards more connections within the community, such as networks that would put those in similar roles across the campuses in touch with each other for support and [professional] development. Another question we’re asking right now is how much [of our services] can we put online? Making e-learning resources and support immediately available.

“Much of the process [of growth for LDS right now] is about building on strengths,” he says. “It’s really exciting.”

— Mariianne Mays Wiebe

Q + A with Mark O’Riley

Something not too many people know about you: I play bass in a band.

Dinner with friends: Cooking at home or out at a restaurant? I love Ethiopian cooking, there is a great restaurant called Kokeb that I frequent with friends. It’s not just the food it’s also the communal approach to dinning that really make some of the meals there stand out. A table of 4 will be served on a single platter which we all eat off of with our hands. Experiencing a meal this way often makes the discussion much more personal and engaging.

Favourite place you have visited: My wife and I went to South America. We went into Northern Argentina and then through the Andes to the Atacama Desert in Chile. It’s one of the driest places on earth, some regions it’s like being on the moon. It’s also strikingly beautiful. I was also amazed a how little I knew of this part of the world so there was lots to learn about the cultures in these regions that made the trip a real adventure.

What is something you find essential or enjoyable to do every day? I get to work every day by walking or ride my bike. Once in a while I’ll take the bus but it’s usually pretty rare.

You are always thrilled to spend any free time doing: Playing music.

Something you do better than anyone else (or most people) you know: The way I deal with that is by telling myself that I have surrounded myself with really talented people. I guess if I do have a particular skill it’s in finding ways to realize the talents of the folks around me.

Guiding principle or motto: The work we do is a marathon not a sprint, so it’s important to things about the long term. We have short term goals that we need to honour but we need to do that while keeping our core values in mind.

Where did you grow up? Across Canada. In the 22 years I was with my parents they lived in 12 different houses. We moved around quite a bit.

Favourite childhood memory? Childhood hero? My favourite childhood memory was discovering music. From when I was about 9 or 10 till now it’s played a big part in my life. My childhood hero was Joe Strummer of the Clash. He seemed to approach his life and his music with a fearlessness. His lyrics opened me up to different world issues and approaches to life. The music of the Clash came along at just the right time for me.

What you appreciate or admire in another person? There are so many characteristics of other people that I admire. I guess the big one is honesty.

Underrated: The importance of a liberal arts education is highly underrated in our society. The idea of investing in yourself to enhance the possibilities of having a richer life does not get talked about as much. The focus seems to be about getting training that will directly apply to a career.

Overrated: I guess in my life I over rated money and the difference it would make.

Something eye-opening you’ve experienced: I worked in a coal mine after I got out of high school. It was pretty boring work and my heart wasn’t in it. I remember making the decision that I was going to go to university. That first year was amazing, almost instantly the world became a bigger much more interesting place.

A recent book you enjoyed? I  just read Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale For the Time Being. It was great.

Favourite TV show, film, blog or website: My favourite movie would be Akria Kurosawa’s “Ikiro”. It’s not his best know movie but it’s kind of like a Japanese version of It’s a Wonderful Life, it’s message is timeless. My favourite TV show is The Wire.

It’s not strange for Vandewaeter to find herself involved in unusual occupations.

Her current pursuit, for instance, is power lifting, which she took up a year and a half ago. A determination to challenge herself paid off: she’ll compete in her fourth power lifting competition at the end of August and hopes to go to Nationals in 2015. So far, she has come away with four provincial records for her weight class after her first meet, first and second place medals in her weight class, and one first place overall win.

“I’ve never really been a conventional person,” she says.

Vandewaeter: “I’ve never really been a conventional person.”

“No one was that surprised when I ended up working at a funeral home. My dad thought it was cool, my mom thought it wasn’t ladylike — but my Baba loved it because it meant she got all the funeral home gossip. She thought it was fabulous!”

Because she has an aunt who’s still in the biz, funeral work continues to be a topic of conversation.

“It makes for great stories at family dinners,” she laughs.

Vandewaeter also enjoys being part of a larger picture, the way “death is a part of life,” as she says. That appeal holds for her current position. As contracts coordinator, what she loves most is contributing “a tiny part to a much bigger picture.” Looking after research contracts for our university researchers, she ensures that policy and procedure requirements are met, and helps researchers to fill in all the blanks, consulting with the university’s legal department to ensure that the contracts are legally sound and in compliance with university policies for the protection of the researchers, their work and their students.

“It’s all in the details,” she says.

And there are myriad details. Typically, she can be dealing with many separate files simultaneously, and all at various stages of completion; luckily enough, she has a good memory. (So much so that in her last job, she was nicknamed “Rainman.”) Due to the volume she’s dealing with on a daily basis, she says a typical day means exchanging a multitude of emails and the phone ringing often, with questions about individual case files. Her instantaneous recall on individual files helps her keep it all organized.

With her natural curiosity, interruptions don’t trouble her — more often than not, they are a welcome component of her work.

“There are just so many interesting projects going on, and I love being able to get a glimpse into them,” she says.

Coming from the Office of Clinical Research at St. Boniface Hospital, she was hoping to get into Research Services at the U of M and she says she feels incredibly blessed to be here.

“Ultimately we [in research services] are here to help the researchers. I empathize with their timelines and respect the work they do. I see the university as a huge window of opportunity for me,” she says.

And should you be looking for her in Frank Kennedy, you might want to scan the room for the small woman with a big laugh, in pink Converses and doing power lifts that draw a few sidelong glances from the other patrons.

 — Mariianne Mays Wiebe

 Q + A with Krista Vandewaeter

Coffee or Tea? and how do you take it? Coffee, black. I try to stick to one a day in the morning, but it is extra large.

One thing not too many people may know about you: I’m a Star Wars aficionado. I’m waiting with baited breath for Episode VII to come out.  I have high hopes for J.J. Abrams’ directorial abilities.

What puts a smile on your face? Sunshine, blue skies, cold barley beverages, my boyfriend, shoes, purses, pedicures, picking up heavy things and putting them back down again.  Not necessarily in that order.

Dinner with friends: Out or home? Both. I love cooking, and using my friends as my personal guinea pigs for new recipes. I also equally enjoy a meal where I didn’t have to lift a finger to make it appear on my plate! As for what and/or where, that all depends on the mood and group of friends.

Place you’d like to visit and why, or favourite place you have visited: I’d like to pretend I have a deep and thoughtful answer planned out, but all I’ve got is Vegas.

Something essential or enjoyable every day: Laughing is mandatory – it keeps you relatively sane!

You are always thrilled to spend any free time doing what? I don’t have a lot of free time these days with training, so I tend to stick to anything that makes me happy and is relaxing. Lately it’s going for walks, or doing a cross-stitch of Christian Louboutin shoes.

Something you do better than anyone else (or most people) you know: Consume protein.

Guiding principle or motto: Believe in yourself.

A goal: Push past my current deadlift slump, and qualify for the 2015 Nationals

Where did you grow up? North end of Winnipeg.

What do you appreciate or admire in another person? Selflessness.              

Underrated: Stepping outside of your comfort zone.

Overrated: Sushi.

Something eye-opening: Competing, and being a front-runner. Not even as a kid did I play sports, or do anything really competitive. It’s pretty wild to experience it for the first time in my 30s, and be a contender.  It consistently gives me a bar to set higher and higher for myself, every time I hit the platform.

Recent book enjoyed: I’m currently addicted to the Tudor Series books by Philippa Gregory.

Favourite TV show, film, blog or website: TLC is my guilty pleasure.

Anything else you’d like people to know about Krista Vandewaeter? Stay tuned!

It’s why the position of director of the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) suits him. Since arriving at the U of M in 2012, Fast has enjoyed building relationships between the university and industry through the recently developed Tranfsormational Partnerships Initiative.

Historically, the office has had a more of a role in pushing out new technologies or by patenting and licensing for new innovations or technologies developed by university researchers, he says. “It was a one-way road.

“Now, that’s changed. There’s an effort to bring industry in for collaborative research efforts.”

Fast: ‘There’s an effort to bring industry in for collaborative research efforts … creating win-wins.’

Not only do research partnerships leverage the cost of the research and provide companies with improved products and/or services, they also mean increased relevance of the university to the local community, Fast points out. Such ties with the local (and global) community result in additional opportunities for students too — it gives students exposure to employment opportunities, he adds.

Fast has more than 17 years of experience covering technology transfer, business development, intellectual property, new product development, and venture capital, working for industry, government and running his own consulting company. Part of his work as director of the TTO is helping to identify partners in industry; “creating win-wins,” as he puts it.

“The concern for researchers is their [academic] freedom, of course, to keep the rights for publishing and teaching,” says Fast.

“Our work is to find the balance. We don’t think that researchers should be 100 per cent involved with industry-research.

Fast: ‘Our work is to find the balance.’

“These partnerships facilitate knowledge-transfer to the community, a way of applying research.”

The road to this current position has been winding, he says. Having pursued a doctorate degree in biochemistry (his undergraduate and master’s degrees are from U of M), Fast started as someone who intended to do at-the-bench research.

Along the way, project management became his expertise and he found he was able to apply an academic perspective in a new, exciting way.

Still, he understands and appreciates the university environment. He particularly loves “the creativity, bright researchers, supportive environment, the freedom to explore and take risks” at the U of M.

And the director role in the TTO is exhilarating for Fast.

He explains, “I like being in the early stages of this program, seeing things come together.”

 –Mariianne Mays Wiebe

Q + A with Darren Fast

Coffee or tea: Coffee, black.

A Djembe is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.

One thing that not too many people may know about you. I have a dream that one day I will have enough rhythm to be a competent Djembe player and be able to play in a band.

What puts a smile on your face?  Sunshine. I love the warmth of bright sunshine, particularly in the winter.

One of the most unusual experiences you’ve had is:  Going to the Burning Man festival in Nevada, which was like entering an alternate reality for a week. The creativity, energy, and acceptance were truly amazing.

Place you’d like to visit: I’d really like to visit the tropical rainforests in Central America and live in the jungle for a few weeks so that I could experience the environment fully.

Something essential or enjoyable to do every day: While I don’t do it every day, I do like going for long runs as it helps me think and being outside is essential.  I hate running indoors so you’ll find me running outside all year long.

You are always thrilled to spend any free time doing: Photography, particularly abstracts and patterns and playing with light.

Guiding principle or motto?  Take the whole system into account, there’s more than one perspective that’s valid and everything is connected to everything else.

A goal:  An ongoing goal is to clean up my desk which seems to be a magnet for piles of paper.

Where did you grow up?   I grew up in Winnipeg right on the northern edge of the city.

A childhood memory?  I remember taking apart almost everything I could get my hands on to see how it worked and then put it back together.

Childhood hero: Not quite a hero, but my grade 6 teacher Mr. Gillis made a huge impact on me as he went way out of his way to ensure that we all got what we needed to thrive in his classroom.  I remember him taking us to the museum over the holiday break on his time and at his expense, because he was so passionate about teaching.

What you appreciate or admire in another person: Integrity. Integrity for me is being who you are even if it’s not the popular or easy thing to do.

Overrated: I think celebrity is highly overrated.

Under-rated: Taking time to think, it’s too easy to be “busy” and not understand all the implications of what’s going on.

Something eye-opening you’ve experienced. I think I’ll refer back to the Burning Man festival for this one. One of the most amazing things I experienced; there is the radical acceptance of everyone. This was also an entire week where I had this huge variety of experiences and no money was exchanged. My wallet stayed in the car for the entire week.

Recent book enjoyed: A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilber.  This book really allowed me to see an integral perspective of the world and how I could apply it to everyday life.

Favourite TV show, film, blog or website: Right now, I’d have to say my favourite TV show is Game of Thrones because it is so well done and it feels like you are immersed in the world that has been created.

The work of the Canada Foundation for Innovation projects management coordinator requires her to maintain a perspective that accounts for small details along with the big picture.

“You have to be able to anticipate what’s coming in a project,” she says. The Canada Foundation for Innovation funds research infrastructure in Canada. “It’s where a large portion of the university’s scientific infrastructure comes from,” says Cooney.

The position also allows Cooney to engage with people, especially researchers, something she considers a favourite part of the job.

The “back door education” in science research, as she says, “has been interesting for me as well, to get all these experiences in different fields.

“You get to read a lot about science and what’s cutting edge — especially working with research infrastructure, where people are setting up a lab for the first time to do new research. You’re getting to see five to ten years into the future and the benefits expected for Canadians from this research.

“And it definitely feels good to be able to support people who are doing research: climate change, Indigenous, global health — all kinds of areas that are super relevant,” she says.

Cooney says it feels good to be able to support researchers in myriad relevant areas, such as climate change, Indigenous, global health.

 

Seeing projects through their life cycle, Cooney works with researchers at the earliest stages to help develop their budgets and their operating plans — through to when the projects become operational.

“Sometimes researchers have a bit of shock when they realize what the real timeline is, but you get to follow up with these projects in reporting years down the road, from when you’re starting the project and the researcher doesn’t even have the first piece of equipment in their lab, to years later, when they’re really seeing results — that’s really satisfying,” she says.

One thing she’s learned from her work? “Things always take longer than expected,” she laughs.

It was during her own master’s degree in gender and women’s history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that Cooney decided she wanted to wanted to work in post-secondary administration. “I had a great grad studies administrator within that program, and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s what I want to do!'” she says.

Cooney says though she decided academic life wasn’t for her, she really liked the post-secondary environment.

Plus, she says, “It just seemed natural to come home to Manitoba. I definitely had a bit of homesickness, living in the U.S — although I loved my program.”

Cooney: ‘I really value the community that exists here between researchers and support staff — and students as well. There’s some reciprocity or closeness, the feeling that everyone is supporting each other.’

 

Asked what she enjoys about the U of M, Cooney doesn’t hesitate. “I really value the community that exists here between researchers and support staff — and students as well. There’s some reciprocity or closeness, the feeling that everyone is supporting each other.”

As a first year student at the U of M, she wanted to be an economist; a job at Lower Fort Garry changed her mind. She worked there four summers — a formative experience for her in wanting to study history.

Has she maintained her interest in history outside of work? Definitely, she says. “Especially when I travel. Historical sites are the main attraction.”

Unsurprisingly, she’s an avid reader. In fact the campus community might recognize her because of it.

“There’s definitely a small cluster of people who ride the 36 [bus] who would recognize me and my daily riding with a heavy, hardcover book every day for four years,” she smiles.

Q + A with Jackie Cooney

Coffee or tea and how do you take it? Coffee, with cream and sugar. I try to stay with one cup, because I’m still recovering from my 10 cups per day graduate school addiction.

What puts a smile on your face? The sun! I couldn’t live anywhere where it rained all year. A good craft beer can only enhance a perfect sunny day.

Dinner with friends: Cooking at home or out? My fiance and I just bought a house in the West End and on a Friday you can usually find us at a great neighbourhood restaurant – Pho Hoang and Mercadito Latino are favourites. At home I usually make pizza or lasagna for company, or, lately, giant batches of carnitas for tacos.

Place to visit: I visited the Maritimes for the first time last summer – learning to sea kayak and visiting Louisbourg and PEI national park were highlights. Headed to Yellowstone this year and Utah’s national parks are also on the list for the next few years. Maybe balancing out all that nature with a visit to NYC for museums and great food.

What is something you find essential or enjoyable to do every day? As soon as it gets warm enough I like to spend at least a little time in my garden every day, even if just ten minutes of close observing, preferably in bare feet. It’s the most grounding thing I know how to do.

You are always thrilled to spend any free time doing: I recently started taking a pottery class, which I’ve wanted to do forever, so at the moment I’m spending spare time learning to throw on the wheel and, failing that, watching pottery videos on Youtube. I also enjoy playing European-style board games with family, friends, and sometimes against strangers to let my viciously competitive side out.

What is your guiding principle or motto? The perfect is the enemy of the good.

A goal: I started running this year – at a very slow shuffle. A goal for 2014 is to run my first 5k race.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Old Kildonan with a very close-knit extended family. As a small kid, I was pretty sure South Winnipeg had a warmer climate, it seemed so far away.

What did you like about your childhood? Going to the Forks with my dad, brother and sister, buying cookies and trying to “feed” crumbs to the prairie dogs that lived there before it was all built over. Summertime at the lake – waiting for the days with the biggest waves and jumping right in them, looking for frogs on the beach. Learning to cook with my gramma, sitting on the counter throwing noodles into soup. Too many!

What you appreciate or admire in another person: Compassion, and being able to express it well.

Underrated? Sloan. Greatest Canadian band of all time? I say yes.

Overrated: Being “always-on” and connected to social media, email, or whatever.

Favourite book – or a recent book you enjoyed? I just finished Hild by Nicola Griffith – it’s a minutely textured, luminous historical fiction about the early life of St. Hilda of Whitby and the women around her. I’m a big fan of science fiction and fantasy and am eagerly waiting for The Magicians’ Land to be released this year, the last book in a great trilogy by Lev Grossman riffing on Harry Potter and Narnia.