The Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Citizens Hall of Fame feature at the park has been around since 1986 and the criteria for induction to WREB’s Hall of Fame requires that the individual must have brought recognition to Winnipeg or have made outstanding contributions to the quality of life and development of the city.

Organizers said in a media release that Shafai’s recognition was to celebrates his groundbreaking achievements and innovations in satellite and wireless communications, antennas, and electromagnetics.

“As a preeminent scholar, distinguished electrical engineer, pioneering researcher, esteemed professor, Canada Research Chair, and globally acclaimed authority in antenna and satellite technologies, Dr. Lotfollah Shafai is an eminently worthy honouree for the historic milestone of the 50th inductee into the Citizens Hall of Fame,” said Cliff King, Chair of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Citizens Hall of Fame Selection Committee. “The Citizens Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have profoundly enriched Winnipeg’s quality of life through extraordinary contributions. Dr. Shafai’s remarkable achievements and accolades have not only garnered international recognition for Winnipeg but have also solidified Canada’s leadership in satellite technology on the world stage.”

You can read more on professor Shafai’s induction on WREB’s Citizens Hall of Fame page on its website. 

This competition challenges the presenters to explain their research in just 3 minutes, using only one slide. A panel of 3 judges will evaluate participants on clarity, engagement and impact, while the audience will also have a chance to vote for their favourite presentation both in person and online via the live stream link.

The eight postdoctoral challengers ready to captivate the audience with their three-minute presentation this year are: 

• Daniel Zogona – Food Science, Bioactive compounds in cereals and their potential health benefits. 
• Titus Olukitibi – Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Immune markers associated with the natural clearance of HPV 
• Kaustav Dey – Electrical and Computer Engineering, Stability analysis of controller hardware-in-loop electro-magnetic transient simulations. 
• Minoo Dabiri Golchin – Occupational Therapy, An overlooked human right: Play 
• Abhay Srivastava – Physiology and Pathophysiology,  Nanotechnology can direct cellular fuel burn and fight inflammation!!! 
• Carmine Slipski – Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases,  Development of a rapid saliva test for detection of oral health
• Illia Roskoshnyi – Law, Legal technological unemployment in the age of AI 
• Nicola Gasparre – Food Science, Green technology for upcycling protein industry co-products into high value food ingredients 

Mark Your Calendars -This competition is open to students, faculty, and members of the public to attend and promises to be both informative and inspiring, offering a rare glimpse into the future of research across multiple disciplines. “This is a great opportunity to learn about the work our postdoctoral fellows are pursing at UM””, says Dr. Kelley Main, dean of the faculty of graduate studies, “I hope to see our community come out to support these students in this competition.”

Location: Bannatyne Campus, Theatre B, Basic Medical Science Building 

Date: September 20, 2024

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm 

Please register to attend here: https://forms.office.com/r/h9JXQUMpvv 

Bellili is the 2023 recipient of the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award in the Applied Sciences category, in recognition of his innovative work in wireless communication and networking infrastructure. UM Today caught up with Bellili to learn more about him and the research he is undertaking.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your research?

I’m an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a co-founder of the MARCONI Lab at the University of Manitoba. Marconi is named after the scientist who made the first transatlantic wireless transmission and stands for Manitoba Advanced Research on Communication and Networking Infrastructure.

My research focuses on wireless communication and covers many aspects of communication engineering. I follow a holistic research approach, addressing the limitations of the conventional divide-and-conquer methodology that is prevalent in communication engineering.

My work lies at the intersection of different theories, including communication and information theory, electromagnetic and antenna theory, circuit theory, signal processing and network design. By merging these concepts, I aim to develop cost-effective communication systems for future generation wireless networks, ensuring communication speed, energy efficiency, reliability, massive connectivity and security. My research involves both theoretical exploration and hardware prototyping to ensure practical relevance.

Why is this research important?

My research, particularly in wideband antenna array design and the associated signal processing algorithms, aims to create a sustainable and flexible wireless infrastructure. This infrastructure would allow multiple service providers to share the same network, much like how highways or bridges are shared.

Currently, each provider deploys its own network due to the lack of antenna technology that can operate across a broad spectrum. Developing this shared infrastructure can significantly reduce both capital and operational costs, making wireless services more affordable and accessible. It can also serve multiple purposes, including communication and sensing functionalities, encouraging investment in urban and remote areas.

Recognizing internet access as a fundamental human right, this research aims to democratize access to broadband, creating new opportunities and fostering inclusivity, thus contributing to a world where no one is left behind.

What does the Rh Award mean to you?

Winning the Rh Award is a great honour. It represents more than just recognition of my achievements—it symbolizes dedication, perseverance and passion in my pursuit of excellence.

This award signifies validation and affirmation from my peers, mentors and the broader community, acknowledging the hard work and commitment invested in my research. Beyond personal gratification, this award brings a profound sense of responsibility, motivating me to push the boundaries of my capabilities and make meaningful contributions to my field and society. It reflects the collective effort of those who have supported and inspired me. Ultimately, this award fuels my determination to use my talents and resources to effect positive change and leave a lasting legacy.

What do you hope to achieve in the future?

In the future, I hope to make significant contributions to my field by pioneering innovative solutions that push the boundaries of current knowledge and technology. I aim to collaborate with diverse teams of experts from various disciplines, fostering multidisciplinary approaches to tackle complex problems in wireless communication.

My aspirations extend beyond academic pursuits—I want to translate research findings into real-world applications that improve people’s lives. I also hope to inspire and mentor the next generation of researchers, nurturing their curiosity and passion for discovery while instilling a sense of social responsibility and ethical conduct.

Ultimately, my goal is to leave a meaningful legacy of innovation, progress, and positive change.

What about you might people find surprising?

What’s perhaps most unexpected about me is my journey into communication engineering. Throughout my formative years, my sights were set on a career in aeronautics, a field that continues to captivate me.

However, my path changed when I encountered a professor whose passion for telecommunications ignited a new fascination within me. His influence redirected my academic and professional trajectory.

Now, as a professor, I carry the weight of that transformative experience with me, reminding me of the impact educators can have on their students’ lives. It is a privilege to impart knowledge and inspire the next generation of learners.

Any advice for early career researchers and students?

My advice is to follow your passion. Pursue research topics that genuinely interest and excite you, as your passion will drive innovation and resilience through the inevitable challenges.

Stay curious and open-minded, embracing new ideas, perspectives and methodologies. The most innovative research often comes from interdisciplinary approaches and unconventional thinking. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity—research involves experimentation and setbacks, so view failure as a chance to learn, grow and refine your approach.

Anderson, who researches AI, says the technology serves an important role in our society, but as its use grows, we also need to be better aware of how it can be used negatively.

“The worst of the bad actors are nation-states, and they are doing that to further their own interests,” said Anderson.

But as we continue to not only rely more on but also invest in AI, a problem that Canada is already facing might just be exacerbated­­­­­: a lack of skilled workers.

“We have a lot of talented students that graduated with high skills in AI,” said Vahab Khoshdel, an assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Manitoba. “The issue is that, at least for now for Canada, is that usually U.S. companies pay more. Talented students are probably going to find a job in the U.S. Right now, most jobs in AI are remote, so they don’t have that kind of (immigration) condition anymore.”

For the full story, please visit CityNews Winnipeg.

“It’s important to expose girls to give them opportunities to see themselves in engineering,” says Wise Kidnetic Energy’s Rebecca Chin.

Wise Kidnetic Energy hosted “Go ENG Girl” on Saturday – a hands-on mentorship program held at universities across Canada. The event pairs women engineering students with young girls and non-binary kids in a design challenge. 

Read here

“We are proud to promote research and development of innovative ideas essential for economic development through this diverse funding platform that demonstrates innovation, talent and collaboration in Manitoba,” said Karen Dunlop, CEO of Research Manitoba.

“UM researchers are leading the way with new advancements in information technology and healthcare services with potential to improve lives, here in Manitoba and worldwide,” said Dr. Mario Pinto, vice-president (research and international). “I congratulate these researchers on achieving this vital support to bring these game-changing concepts into reality.”

Dr. Ji Hyun Ko

Dr. Marcus Ng

Ji Hyun Ko and Marcus Ng, departments of human anatomy and cell science and internal medicine (section of neurology), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: A real-time electroencephalography-guided non-invasive brain stimulation to suppress epileptic seizures.

The Ko and Ng research team has developed a new non-invasive brain stimulation treatment that can reduce the impacts of epileptic seizure “spikes.” This breakthrough has significantly improved the patient intensive care discharge rate from 37 per cent to 90 per cent. This new project seeks to further optimize this for use in patients’ homes and develop a prototype wearable system called the “Ictopauser.”

Using stimulation parameters tailored for each patient based on a comprehensive treatment database, Ictopauser will suppress spikes in real time as patients sleep. The Ictopauser has the potential to save lives and will bring peace of mind to the 65 million people worldwide who live with epilepsy.

Dr. Denice Bay

Denice Bay, department of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, with industry partner PerioDiagnostics Inc.: Rapid point of care strip test development to detect periodontal gum disease bacterial by-products in saliva.

Periodontal disease is a form of bacterial gum disease affecting seven in 10 Canadians over the age of 45 that causes damage to gum and bones, leading to tooth loss and serious infections. Despite being such a common condition, periodontal disease is difficult to diagnose using current tools.

Bay, in partnership with the company Periodiagnostics Inc., will undertake a two-year project to test dyes capable of detecting the bacteria responsible quickly and accurately at the point-of-care. To achieve this, saliva from volunteers with and without periodontal disease will be collected at Winnipeg dental clinics, with the outcome being a ready-to-distribute test kit for use by dental professionals and community clinics.

Dr. Puyan Mojabi

Puyan Mojabi, department of electrical and computer engineering, Price Faculty of Engineering: Reconfigurable Electromagnetic Metasurfaces for Smart Radio Environments

This new research project by Puyan Mojabi, Canada Research Chair in Electromagnetic Inversion for Characterization and Design, seeks to improve wireless communications. This is motivated by the fact that current wireless infrastructure is heavily taxed in attempts to fill demands for higher performance, data transfer rates and security requirements. To this end, Mojabi aims to create new software to facilitate the precise design of reconfigurable thin panels, known as electromagnetic metasurfaces.

These reconfigurable panels, resembling thin poster frames, can be strategically used to tailor the environment between transmitters and receivers. The resulting “smart radio environment” then provides an extra degree of design freedom to allow users to define improved wireless service specifications.

CRCs are world leaders in their field funded by the Government of Canada in the areas of natural sciences and engineering, health sciences, and social sciences and humanities. “These symposia were a wonderful opportunity for researchers to get to know each other’s specialties, and to spark new collaborations with students and the wider community,” says Mario Pinto, Vice-President (Research and International). “I thank all the CRCs for their groundbreaking contributions to address the issues faced by society today.”

This thought-provoking look at current UM research is available to view online, each featuring a brief presentation from the gathered CRCs followed by a question-and-answer period with the audience.

CRC Symposium 1, February 2, 2023 – Fort Garry Campus

Featuring presentations from: Heather Armstrong, Chair in Integrative Bioscience; Guozhen Zhu, Chair in Mechanical and Functional Design of Nanostructured Materials; Trust Beta, Chair in Grain-Based Functional Foods; Eric Collins, Chair in Arctic Marine Microbial Ecosystem Services; Britt Drögemöller, Chair in Pharmacogenomics & Precision Medicine; Ned Budisa, Chair in Chemical Synthetic Biology and Xenobiology; Lori Wilkinson, Chair in Migration Futures; Jason Kindrachuk, Chair in Epidemiology and Global Public Health; Sabine Mai, Chair in Genomic Instability and Nuclear Architecture in Cancer; Jörg Stetefeld, Chair in Structural Biology and Biophysics; Carl Ho, Chair in Efficient Utilization of Electric Power; and Nandika Bandara, Chair in Food Proteins.

CRC Symposium 2, February 27, 2023 – Bannatyne Campus

Featuring presentations from: Tracie Afifi, Chair in Childhood Adversity and Resilience; Robert Lorway, Chair in Global Intervention Politics and Social Transformation; Janilyn Arsenio, Chair in Systems Biology of Chronic Inflammation; Puyan Mojabi, Chair in Electromagnetic Inversion for Characterization and Design; Annette Desmarais, Chair in Human Rights, Social Justice and Food Sovereignty; Zulma Rueda, Chair in Program Sciences & Global Public Health; and Kathryn Sibley, Chair in Integrated Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation Sciences.

CRC Symposium 3, March 28, 2023 – Fort Garry Campus

Featuring presentations from: Ties Boerma, Chair in Population and Global Health; Kiera Ladner, Chair in Miyo we’citowin, Indigenous Governance & Digital Sovereignties; Rotimi Aluko, Chair in Bioactive Peptides; Zahra Moussavi, Chair in Biomedical Engineering; Terry Klassen, Chair in Clinical Trials; and Galen Wright, Chair in Neurogenomics.

CRC Symposium 4, April 24, 2023 – Bannatyne Campus

Featuring presentations from: Lisa Lix, Chair in Methods for Electronic Health Data Quality; John Ataguba, Chair in Health Economics; Nicole Wilson, Chair in Arctic Environmental Change and Governance; Lorrie Kirshenbaum, Chair in Molecular Cardiology; Meghan Azad, Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease; and Kristine Cowley, Chair in Function and Health after Spinal Cord Injury.

CRC Symposium 5, May 16, 2023 – Fort Garry Campus

Featuring presentations from: Kristina Brown, Chair in Arctic Marine Biogeochemistry; Nicole Rosen, Chair in Language Interactions; Robert Mizzi, Chair in Queer, Community & Diversity Education; Samar Safi-Harb, Chair in Extreme Astrophysics; and Susan Logue, Chair in Cell Stress and Inflammation.

CRC Symposium 6, June 19, 2023 – Bannatyne Campus

Featuring presentations from: Andrew Halayko, Chair in Chronic Lung Disease Pathobiology and Treatment; Colin Gilmore, Chair in Applied Electromagnetic Inversion; James Blanchard, Chair in Epidemiology and Global Public Health; Marcelo Urquia, Chair in Applied Population Health; and Souradet Shaw, Chair in Program Science & Global Public Health.

UM has an allocation of 50 CRCs funded by the Government of Canada in the areas of natural sciences and engineering, health sciences, and social sciences and humanities. CRCs are frequently recognized in Manitoba and around the world, for their leadership in wide-ranging fields, such as maternal and infant health, in Canada and the United States, and overseas in Uttar Pradesh, India.

“Researchers are motivated by the impacts of their work to improve lives of people in our communities, and around the world,” says Mario Pinto, Vice-President (Research and International). “These symposia are an opportunity to spark new and exciting collaborations across disciplines between researchers, students, and the wider community. I hope that everyone will join us for this thought-provoking look into the groundbreaking research taking place every day at UM.”

RSVP by June 15 to join the sixth CRC Symposium

Monday June 19, 2023, at 2pm

Theatre C / Buhler Atrium, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Bannatyne Campus

This is a hybrid event, with both in-person and online options to attend. All are welcome.

Presenters at the upcoming June 19 Symposium will include:

• Andrew Halayko, Tier 1 Chair in Chronic Lung Disease Pathobiology and Treatment, Max Rady College of Medicine (Physiology)
• Colin Gilmore, Tier 2 Chair in Applied Electromagnetic Inversion, Price Faculty of Engineering (Electrical & Computer Engineering)
• James Blanchard, Tier 1 Chair in Epidemiology and Global Public Health, Max Rady College of Medicine (Community Health Sciences)
• Marcelo Urquia, Tier 2 Chair in Applied Population Health, Max Rady College of Medicine (Community Health Sciences)
• Souradet Shaw, Tier 2 Chair in Program Science & Global Public Health, Max Rady College of Medicine (Community Health Sciences)

“The Rh Awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our outstanding researchers across disciplines at UM,” says Mario Pinto, Vice-President (research & International). “The exemplary presentation by Dr. Forget, emphasized the return on investment and avoided costs to society with guaranteed basic income for all Canadians. Her lecture on Monday and previous appearance on the president’s What’s the Big Idea podcast beautifully illustrate why she is so highly deserving of this prestigious award.”

Awards are given in two categories: The Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award, awarded to one established faculty member annually and the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Awards, awarded to seven early career faculty members.

Evelyn Forget presents at the Rh Awards.

Evelyn L Forget, professor of community health sciences at Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is the recipient of the Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award in recognition of the important impacts of her work to improve the lives of Canadians living in poverty. As a health economist, Forget has gained international renown for advancing anti-poverty initiatives such as guaranteed basic income.

Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award recipients are:

Applied Sciences – Dr. Amine Mezghani (electrical & computer engineering) investigates signal processing in wireless communication. His innovative work seeks to enhance the capacity, efficiency and sustainability of wireless communication systems. Mezghani’s ultimate goal is to develop new techniques to address the challenges posed by the growing complexity of data transmission.

Health Sciences – Dr. Mandy Archibald (nursing) is working to improve the care of youth and families with chronic illness and disabilities. Her research program seeks to develops integrative research methods to improve patient care.

Humanities – Dr. Sean Carleton (history & Indigenous studies) studies the history of Canada’s Indian Residential School system, the relationship between settler colonialism and capitalism, and residential school denialism. Carleton is a specialist in cultivating understanding of In

digenous histories and experiences among Canadians.

Interdisciplinary – Dr. Marcos Cordeiro (animal science) uses digital tools to improve the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems. His modeling efforts employ drone-mounted hyper-spectral sensors and indoor positioning systems to encompass the entire data life cycle. Cordeiro’s multidisciplinary research program includes colleagues from computer, plant, animal, soil, and environmental sciences, as well as engineering.

Natural Sciences – Dr. Richard Mikaël Slevinsky (mathematics) studies spectral methods and orthogonal polynomials. His work is focused on the development of new spectral methods and the creation of free, open-source software to make these methods accessible to the scientific community.

Social Sciences (two recipients):

Dr. Kristin Reynolds (psychology) is working to improve mental health in older adults, perinatal people and healthcare providers working with these populations. She uses innovative research methods to increase access to evidence-based mental health information and services.

Dr. Benjamin Schellenberg (kinesiology and recreation management) explores how meaningful activities impact psychological well-being. His research focuses on the construct of passion and works to maximize positive experiences in sport. Schellenberg conducts research with various populations, including athletes, sports fans, exercisers, students, and gamblers.

To learn more about research excellence at UM, visit our Awards and Recognition webpage.

2022 Rh Award presenters and honourees (l-r): Juliette Cooper, Peter Nickerson, Mandy Archibald, Kristin Reynolds, Mario Pinto, Evelyn Forget, Mikaël Slevinsky, Benjamin Schellenberg, Amine Mezghani, Marcos Cordeiro, Diane Hiebert-Murphy. (Sean Carleton not pictured)

Mezghani is the 2022 recipient of the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award in the Applied Science category, in recognition of his innovative work to enhance the capacity, efficiency and sustainability of wireless communication systems. UM Today caught up with Mezghani to learn more about him and the research he is undertaking.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your research.

My research focuses on the design and development of future wireless communication systems and cellular networks, and my research team is part of the communication laboratory at the electrical and computer engineering department.

We are interested in improving the performance and efficiency of wireless communication systems to meet the growing demand for reliable and high-speed wireless connectivity. We are also exploring new, innovative ways to reduce the carbon footprint of wireless networks and make them more sustainable. We are also interested in the application of wireless communication in various domains, such as robotics, health care, transportation and the Internet of Things.

In addition to my research, I enjoy mentoring students and encouraging them to explore all of these fascinating applications of wireless communication.

Why is this research important?

The world is increasingly reliant on digital technologies, and the demand for high-speed, resilient connectivity is growing exponentially. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend. Wireless communication is almost everywhere, and we take being connected for granted, from remote work to telemedicine to online education. High-quality broadband connectivity has become essential for many use cases, and it’s expected to be more and more critical for our future societies and economies.

What does the Rh Award mean to you?

This award is validation not just for my own work but also for all the people, colleagues and students who have been instrumental in helping me. It also motivates me to continue pushing boundaries and looking for excellence.

This award also provides a platform for me to work on a new vision for future wireless communication systems, particularly in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency. I’m truly grateful for this recognition, and I will continue to work towards making a meaningful impact in my research category.

What do you hope to achieve in the future?

In terms of research, I would like to contribute to the creation of a sustainable communication infrastructure which has much less impact on our environment and our cities. I would like to address the fundamental challenge of connectivity in rural areas and universal coverage by developing low-cost, energy-efficient solutions for wireless networks, which I think is going to be critical to bridge the digital divide problem. What would make me feel very proud in the future is, of course, to see my current graduate students succeeding, flourishing and becoming leaders in the industry and academia.

What about you would people find surprising?

I have lived in five different countries on three different continents—Tunisia, Germany, France, United States and Canada. It has been an incredible experience getting to know different languages, different ways of life, and that definitely shaped the way I am today.

Any advice for early career researchers and students?

Finding a topic that you are very passionate about can make a lot of difference in your work. When you are passionate about your work, about your topic, you are more likely to be curious, persistent and motivated to overcome the challenges that generally come with any research activity, because we are somehow trying to do something that nobody did before. 

I also think that engagement in interdisciplinary research and collaboration can offer opportunities for more creative and original research outcomes. Working on the interface between different domains might be challenging because it requires leaving our comfort zones and working with colleagues from different disciplines, but it can also be very rewarding because most original ideas and interesting problems are somewhere in the interface between different areas.