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Faculty of Science community and partners News Archive

A student smiling at the camera, sitting in a chemistry lab.

Faculty of Science

Empowering future scientists: The power of co-op and hands-on experience

February 13, 2025 — 
February is Black History Month in Canada, a time to reflect and honour the legacy and contributions of Black people and their communities. The theme this year is, “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.” At the Faculty of Science, we take the chance to celebrate the accomplishments of science students in this community and hear about their experiences, hoping to create understanding and opportunities to flourish.

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Dr. Katie Mitchell-Koch, associate professor at the Department of Chemistry and Kara Loudon, undergraduate chemistry student

Faculty of Science

2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science

February 11, 2025 — 
February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Faculty of Science is proud to have many brilliant women contributing to our community as curious students, visionary researchers, empowering leaders, innovative instructors, and insightful support staff. This year, we talked with Dr. Katie Mitchell-Koch, associate professor at the Department of Chemistry and Kara Loudon, undergraduate chemistry student about their experience as a woman in science, their proudest achievements, and the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome those.

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Photo from left to right: Nicole Rutbeek (MSc Microbiology - UM, current position: PhD student, University of Copenhagen Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research) Tasneem Hassan Muna (MSc Microbiology - UM, first author on the study) Gerd Prehna (Associate Professor Dept. of Microbiology, Principal Investigator) Julia Horne (Undergraduate student, Faculty of Science UM - current)

Faculty of Science

UM students discover a new protein while investigating the question: “Why does Streptococcus make you sick?”

February 7, 2025 — 
Strep throat, something we’ve all had at some point in our lives, is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. Infection by Streptococcus can be fatal in serious cases and is the leading cause of death among flesh-eating diseases resulting in over half a million deaths annually. That scratchy, sore feeling at the back of your throat is a result of Streptococcus pyogenes infected by viruses called bacteriophages. These “phages” carry the genes for toxins that are responsible for strep throat, and when they invade Streptococcus pyogenes, they transfer these genes, enhancing the bacterium’s ability to cause infection.

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Planetary alignment happening in January, 2025.

Faculty of Science

Portage Online: Stargazing in Portage la Prairie: Don’t miss the planetary alignment

January 27, 2025 — 
Stargazing in Portage la Prairie: Don't miss the planetary alignment

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Research and International

Newly funded research could revolutionize quantum technologies

January 22, 2025 — 
A new research project is set to explore what is sometimes called ‘quantum weirdness’ in certain types of magnetic materials. Researchers are examining how excitations that can be produced in some magnetic materials through interactions with light might be used in quantum technologies.

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Dr. Melanie Lalonde at the WXN award ceremony standing in front of the BEBOLD sign.

Faculty of Science

Be bold! Dr. Melanie Lalonde on being among Canada’s most powerful women: top 100 awards

January 17, 2025 — 
Dr. Lalonde's recent accomplishment, being among Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women as an Amex Emerging Leader, comes to no one's surprise as she is an extraordinary example of making bold choices and exploring new perspectives.

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A volunteer creating a big soap and water bubble around a little kid.

Faculty of Science

Volunteer with Science Rendezvous 2025

January 10, 2025 — 
Science Rendezvous 2025 volunteer applications are now open!

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Compilation of people's photos at the Faculty of Science.

Faculty of Science

That’s a wrap – 2024 at the Faculty of Science

December 16, 2024 — 
Welcome to our 2024 journey of innovation and discovery at the Faculty of Science. This was yet another year where we made transformative progress in expanding the frontiers of knowledge, enhancing student experience and fostering an inclusive community. Join us as we take a look back at the highlights of 2024.

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From left to right Julieta Novomisky Nechcoff, Dr. Silvia T. Cardona, Dr. ASM Zisanur Rahman.

Faculty of Science

UM Scientists’ recent discovery opens up possibilities for developing a new antibiotic through AI

December 11, 2024 — 
Dr. ASM Zisanur Rahman, Julieta Novomisky Nechcoff, and Dr. Silvia T. Cardona have recently published their article, "Rationally designed pooled CRISPRi-seq uncovers an inhibitor of bacterial peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase" in Cell Reports. In this study, the team created a collection of bacterial mutants to help them understand how a new type of antimicrobial molecule, discovered with their artificial intelligence tools, stops bacteria from growing. Their research has now identified a unique combination of a compound and its bacterial target, opening up exciting possibilities for developing a new antibiotic. In this interview, we talk with Cardona, a professor and associate head graduate in the Department of Microbiology and an expert in antibiotic discovery to provide a deeper understanding of her research and recent work.

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UM Prairie iGEM group photo.

Faculty of Science

Thought compostable PLA plastics was the solution to sustainability? Think again!

December 9, 2024 — 
Although sustainability seems to be the new trend, plastic pollution still remains a great threat to the environment and human health. Turns out those compostable coffee cups and food containers are rarely degraded even in standard composting conditions. The UM Prairie iGEM team strives to solve this problem and received the gold medal for the best new basic part award in the 2024 Grand Jamboree - the world expo of synthetic biology!

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