Spending the summer with research
The Undergraduate Research Awards are given annually to ambitious undergraduate students who seek to analyze and address a wide range complex issues. With mentorship from University of Manitoba professors, the students spend 16 weeks carrying out their research before returning to their regular studies in the fall.
UM Today caught up with a few of this year’s winners to see how they’ve been spending their summers.
Grace Boyd
Grace Boyd, Fourth-year School of Art – Fine Arts
Grace traveled to Jingdezhen, China this summer with professor Grace Nickel to research the techniques behind a unique Chinese method of producing translucent porcelain.
“This research shows how important and crucial it is to reach out to different faculties, countries and ways of thinking. This diverse way of working has lead to important leaps and progress in the world of ceramics. To be a part of this research was an experience of a lifetime.”
Kaye Amira Quizon
Kaye Amira Quizon, Fourth-year Faculty of Science
Kaye is assisting professor David Levin in researching microorganisms – bacteria and yeast – that can convert waste into biomass without needing additional enzymes.
“We’re looking into making biofuels and bioplastics more affordable and sustainable. If we can do that, we can rely less on fossil fuels.”
Gabrielle Wiebe
Gabrielle Wiebe, Second-year Faculty of Education
Gabrielle is assisting professor Francine Morin in researching the long-term role of music in social justice at Sistema Winnipeg, an inclusive after-school orchestra program that seeks to effect social change through the pursuit of musical excellence.
“The comprehensive music assessments that I facilitated and am now analyzing are important not only in the further development of the Sistema Winnipeg program, but for music education programs in general. The long-term study, of which this is just one part, helps us understand the role of music and music education in social justice.”
Ryan Persaud
Ryan Persaud, Fourth-year Faculty of Pharmacy
Ryan is assisting professor Anita Kozyrskyj in researching the possible link between asthma and allergies and the use of antibiotics on infants.
“My research on antibiotic use in newborns will contribute to Dr. Kozyrskyj’s Synergy in Microbiota Research program, which aims to understand the impact of antibiotics on the development of the infant intestinal microbiome over the first year of life, and whether this is associated with the development of allergic and metabolic disease in children.”
Research at the University of Manitoba is partially supported by funding from the Government of Canada Research Support Fund.