February 2013 Gradzette

GradzetteTHE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA’S GRADUATE STUDENT MAGAZINEFEBRUARY 2013

GradzetteTHE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA’S GRADUATE STUDENT MAGAZINE

Gradzettec/o The Manitoban NewspaperPublications Corporation105 University CentreUniversity of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2

General inquiries and advertisingPhone: (204) 474.6535Fax: (204) 474.7651Email: [email protected]: Sheldon BirnieCopy Editor: Ryan HarbyDesigner: Leif LarsenContributors: Alycia Rodrigeus, Beibei Lu, Foster Lyle, Bryce HoyeCover: Beibei Lu

The Gradzette is the official student magazine of the University of Manitoba’s graduate student community and is published on the first Monday of each month byThe Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation.

The Gradzette is a democratic student organization, open to participation from all students. It exists to serve its readers as students and citizens.

The magazine’s primary mandate is to report fairly and objectively on issues and events of importance and interest to the graduate students of the University of Manitoba, to provide an open forum for the free expression and exchange of opinions and ideas and to stimulate meaningful debate on issues that affect or would otherwise be of interest to the student body and/or society in general.

The Gradzette serves as a training ground for students interested in any aspect of journalism. Students and other interested parties are invited to contribute. Please contact the Editor for submission guidelines.

The Gradzette reserves the right to edit all submissions and will not publish any material deemed by its editorial board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or libelous. Opinions expressed in letters and articles are solely those of the authors.

The Gradzette is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national student press cooperative with members from St. John’s to Victoria.

All contents are ©2013 and may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation.

Yearly subscriptions to the Gradzette are available, please contact [email protected] for more information.

tudent Life, an organization developed August, 2011, is designed to benefit current U of M students and has been working with the Graduate Student Association for further improvements. Their current programs

are designed to help students “learn by doing,” offering students opportunities to get involved in community work either locally or globally in places like El Salvador, Ecuador, and Bangladesh. Student Life promotes healthy lifestyles

through sports, literacy, and learning about sustainable rural development. " Director of Student Life Brendan Hughes stated the organization has worked on obtaining the co-curricular record certificate. Students who participate in these programs are eligible to receive a co-curricular record, independent of their transcript, which shows their extracurricular effort in core

areas like awards, governance, leadership, service, and volunteer work.

" In November they were able to establish a visit from Spencer West, who also attended We Day as a motivational speaker. His feat was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with no legs and he left the crowd of youngsters hopeful for social change. West’s message is that if he can climb one of the tallest mountains, a feat considered impossible given his physical condition, then tackling the

seemingly impossible mountain of social change can also be achieved.

" Student Life has also been working on a campaign called the respect campaign, which aims to make the University of Manitoba a respected working and learning environment. In 2012 the Graduate Student Association council approved a member of Student Life to attend their meetings in order to facilitate communication about opportunities and issues. For example, although it is not a project Student Life is involved with, Hughes made a point to say the University of Manitoba is the first University in Canada to offer an

online research integrity course for both students and staff." The organization also hopes to help the university become more welcoming of Graduate students, who Hughes encourages to help with the

Student Life strives to help graduate students

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Co-curricular record certificate looks great on graduate and job applicationsBy Alycia Rodrigues

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THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA IS THE FIRST UNIVERSITY IN CANADA TO OFFER AN ONLINE RESEARCH INTEGRITY

COURSE FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF

Photo by Beibei Lu

development of a mentorship program. " “Graduate students could help by either volunteering to act as mentors to new graduate students, or be willing to help us develop these improved programs,” Hughes told the Gradzette. Hughes claimed the importance of collaborating partnerships is to keep open communication, which will also

benefit students in regards to opportunities and issues." Opportunities with Student Life help better prepare students for graduate studies and work outside the academic setting. The co-curricular record certificate looks great on both future graduate study applications and job

applications. Benefits are directly associated with graduate students since Student Life works with the Graduate Studies Association to further improve

the programs available. " Hughes says it is recognized that graduate students work hard while

studying and that students seek to be treated fairly by their faculty advisors. " “We can help bring awareness to this issue and be supportive of efforts to

ensure an equitable working and learning environment,” said Hughes. " Hughes made it clear they are open to suggestions in favour of improvements that will further help graduate students.

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Photo by Beibei Lu

arah Beattie is a University of Manitoba M.Sc. candidate in the department of environment and geography, studying mercury and

methylmercury cycling in Arctic sea ice environments. " “When I take my ice cores in the Arctic we can be out on the sea ice, take our ice cores, take them into the clean lab on the ship, and analyze the ice almost immediately. You’re able to tell whether they’re contaminated

or not [on site].”" Beattie spoke with the Gradzette about her research in the Arctic aboard the CCGS Amundsen (the same icebreaker/research vessel that graces the Canadian $50 bill), gathering and analyzing ice cores for trace levels

of methylmercury. " “We’re working in this little lab [on the Amundsen], and then you look outside the window and

see polar bears out on the ice!” " Beattie completed her honours in biochemistry at the University of Winnipeg and began

her master’s program shortly thereafter under the direction of Feiyue Wang in September of 2011. Well into her second year of the program, Beattie reveals that it was her twin passions in chemistry and the environment that first made working with Wang, an environmental chemist and Arctic sea ice expert,

appealing. " “I wanted to try to find something that would give me lab experience but also give me time outdoors. Environmental chemistry is perfect for that,” explains Beattie. " While her Arctic adventures aboard the Amundsen are now over, at least with respect to her current master’s project, Beattie, Wang et al. recently began a three-week-long international experiment at the U of M’s own Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility

(SERF)." Researchers from as far as Germany and Denmark are teaming up with Canadian

RESEARCHER PROFILE

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Sarah BeattieBy Bryce Hoye

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Photo by Bryce Hoye

researchers to utilize the unique ice pond over the three-week period. " Drs. Wang (SERF project leader), Soren Rysgaard (Canada Excellence Research Chair in Arctic Geomicrobiology and Climate Change), David Barber (Canada Research Chair in Arctic Systems Science), and Tim Papakyriakou are the principal investigators at the SERF, with several technicians, honours and

graduate students also involved. " Wang and Beattie’s main research concerns centre on trying to understand methylmercury pathways in the Arctic by studying sea ice. Having fresh sea ice at the SERF within walking distance of their new laboratories in Wallace Building makes conducting research all the more efficient and cost

effective.

" “My job is to measure total mercury distribution in the water, in the sea ice, and in the frost flowers at SERF,” says Beattie. “Feiyue will be measuring atmospheric mercury. We’ll be able to measure the transport of mercury from the atmosphere to the sea ice, to the underlying water column, or in the reverse

direction.”" In an interview with the Manitoban, Wang described frost flower

formation. " “Concentrated salt ejects from the surface [waters], and the water vapour

then condenses on it. It looks really pretty.” " Wang and others surmise that the highly salty brine of the frost flowers may play a key role in facilitating the transport of chemicals like mercury from

the atmosphere into the Arctic marine ecosystem.

" In their Ultra Clean Trace Elements lab as well as at the SERF, Beattie relies on instruments such as Cold Vapour Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy (CVAFS) to track mercury concentrations in the water, ice or surrounding

atmosphere." Starting with ice from ice cores and frost flowers, Beattie explains how the CVAFS functions to concentrate the sample and then “convert [it] from being any type of mercury species—this could include particulate mercury, [or]

oxidized mercury—to the elemental form of mercury.” " “The mercury is concentrated and converted to elemental mercury, and

then it’s analyzed using fluorescence,” Beattie concludes. " Beattie’s own research findings in the Arctic did not confirm the presence of methylmercury in the sea ice, nor in the multiyear (two years old or older) sea ice." Mercury is one of the most neurotoxic metals in the atmosphere. “The interesting thing about mercury is that it can be in so many different phases: it can be in the air, in the water, in the sea ice [ . . . ] It’s a fun thing to study, but

you have to be careful.” " “Whenever you hear about people getting sick from mercury, it’s [usually] methylmercury,” remarks Beattie, mentioning the death of chemist Karen

Wetterhahn to illustrate her point." Wetterhahn was a toxic metals specialist who passed away in the late 90s

from dimethylmercury poisoning. " “One drop fell on her,” states Beattie, “it actually went through her glove,” and she died less than a year later.

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‘THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT MERCURY IS THAT IT CAN BE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PHASES [ . . . ] IT’S A FUN THING TO STUDY, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL’ - SARAH BEATTIE

nce again the University of Manitoba’s Annual Career Week has been

a success drawing thousands of students and countless employers. " The event, which started Jan. 9 and continued through Jan. 16, is

put on annually by Career Services in conjunction with the Asper School of Business’s Career Development Center. Career Week consist of workshops, meetings and speakers that help students with a range of employment issues. The main event, the Career Fair, brought over 90 employers to University

Centre to connect w i th s tudents and ident i fy potent ia l t a l ent .

" “[Employers want to] reach students, market themselves, raise their profile, promote opportunities, and build networks with students,” said Lindsey Hiebert, an employment advisor with Career Services. “The Career Fair is funded by both the fees from employer’s booths, and from their financial s u p p o r t . ” " Clearly it isn’t only employers who are receiving benefits from Career

Week and the Career Fa i r though . " “The Career Fair is an excellent opportunity to network with over 90 employers that are coming to the University of Manitoba campus to speak with students who are looking for part-time, full-time or summer employment,”

explained Hiebert. “It’s also a unique chance to learn about different

occupat ions i f you a re s t i l l dec id ing on a ca reer path . ”" Job fairs have always played an important role on campuses across Canada and the United States, but in recent years they have been even more crucial. With economies having slowed in the mid and late 2000s, companies across Canada have either implemented hiring freezes or reduced employment numbers. This directly affects students as companies are no longer looking to hire new talent, and if they are then only the best and brightest are able to make i t . " “We have a diversified economy,” Hiebert stressed, “which can help in a time of economic downturn” but went on that the Career Center, and Career Week is an important resource to help students career plan and network

themse lves w i th potent ia l employers . " “I think it’s important because there are so many options out there and it’s hard to get an idea about what some of them are.” said Keith Ramos, a second year student who is still deciding on his program. “It’s nice to be able to

see a lo t o f d i f fe rent jobs a l l a t once . ”" Though most students seemed to have a good time, some didn’t agree

wi th the mot ives o f employers . " “I’ve been to a lot of these and they’re really pointless.” argued third year science student Avril Tyner. “Employers really only come for good [public

relations]. I’ve never heard of anyone getting a job through a job fair.”" Tyner’s opinion is not supported by Career Services, though, who believe

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By Foster Lyle

Gradzette

Over 90 employers seeking employees at U of MCareer Services say career week a success . . . others not so sure

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‘EMPLOYERS REALLY ONLY COME FOR GOOD [PUBLIC RELATIONS]. I’VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE GETTING A JOB THROUGH A JOB FAIR’

-AVRIL TYLER

that Career Week and the Career Fair directly contribute to the success of

s tudents a f te r undergraduate and g raduate s tud ies . " Career Week is the largest event put on by Career Services, but it is certainly not the only one. Year round Career Services has an up-to-date job portal called careerCONNECT that assists students in finding meaningful employment, and employers in finding qualified students. Additionally, Career

Services offers year round resume and cover letter workshops, interview practice as well as countless other resources.

For more information on Career Services, Career Week and the Career Fair go to their website at umanitoba.ca/student/employment/.

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Photo by Beibei Lu

DMONTON (CUP) — Two University of Alberta researchers have proposed a tax on all sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) sold in Alberta, saying it could decrease consumption and result in up to $750

mi l l ion in ne w re venue . " After researching SSB consumption in Alberta, PhD student Sue Buhler and her supervisor Kim Raine were surprised to discover Albertans drink approximately 1.5 billion litres of SSBs over a year, amounting to over one litre

per per son each day." Raine pointed out SSBs often lead to chronic diseases through obesity and are the only types of food or beverages in which consumption has been

d i rect l y cor re l a ted wi th obes i ty in both ch i ldren and adu l t s . " “They’re one of those foods that [have] no nutritional value, provide only sugar [ . . . ] really, we should be doing some work to try to decrease

consumpt ion , ” s a id Ra ine ." Drinking 500 calories of SSBs in one day won’t actually decrease the food

one consumes , Buh le added . " “Over time, that’s just going to put you in positive energy balance where,

e ventua l l y, i f you cont inue to do i t you ’ l l ga in we ight . ”" The researchers also found by implementing a tax of $0.05 per 100 millilitres of SSBs, consumption could decrease by 10 to 17 per cent in Alberta and also provide a revenue that could be used to start a wellness foundation or

other wise promote hea l th throughout the pro v ince .

" “The number one motivation was to decrease consumption, and we’ve learned from for example tobacco control that [by] raising the price of someth ing , peop le tend to consume le s s o f i t , ” s a id Ra ine ." “The idea that if you put a tax on these you would bring in about $750 million a year, well, what could you use that money for? Our healthcare system really spends a lot of money on treating these chronic diseases that are preventable [ . . . ] only about three per cent of the healthcare budget goes

towards pre vent ion . ”" Although there has been some negative reception to implementing a tax, Buhler said over 65 per cent of surveyed Albertans support it, and tend to look upon it more favourably when told the revenue will be used for health

promot ion and d i sea se pre vent ion in A lber ta ." “I think the nice thing about taxing, to be honest, is that it is more cost effective, so it’s putting in a strategy that will also benefit the government and

hopefu l l y benef i t pub l i c hea l th , ” s a id Buh ler. " “There are people that just don’t want any interference with the food supply, but the problem is we’ve let it run so rampant, that now our food environment does not support healthy choices. It’s not always easy to even find healthy food [ . . . ] We’re not really controlling what the volume is that people can buy. We’re just saying that if you want to buy that, you’re going to have to pay more for it.”

Soda could weigh heavy on consumer wallets following U of A study

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Taxing the fizzle

Michelle Mark – The Gateway (University of Alberta)

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