Announced earlier last week, the University of Manitoba received funding for a number of different research areas in many different programs all around the campus. The funding is provided through the Manitoba Research and Innovation fund.
This funding is going to be given to different areas around the university such as science, technology, engineering and more.
The announcement, made on Sept. 22 by Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau stated, “Manitoba is committed to supporting research in the province’s health sciences and innovation and technology fields.”
Ten different projects will split $1.45 million dollars that has been given to the university. The amount of money the departments will get depends on the amount of technology they use and what exactly they have to do for their projects.
Many of the projects include bio-fuels, biotechnology, molecular imaging, multidimensional cellular imaging, reverse genetics, ecosystems of different prairie birds, nuclear magnetic imaging and more.
David Levin, a U of M engineering professor conducting a biofuels biotechnology project was excited to hear of this funding announcement.
Levin’s project looks to extract and convert cellulose in agricultural residue into ethanol.
“This type of project goes on all over the world. The U of M gets lots of graduate students and even scientists from all over the world. We even have people coming in from New Zealand to do research for this.”
The start date for this project is Oct. 1, and on Oct. 5 an announcement will be made in the engineering building to announce the starting of this project.
According to Digvir Jayas, U of M vice-president (research), “This funding provides important infrastructures to allow the university’s research laboratories to be both state-of-the-art and world class.”
Jayas also said, “All projects are looked at and reviewed by the province and then it is decided which projects will receive the funding. Most funding usually goes to the projects that are using new technologies, which is in the areas of science and humanity.”
Jayas indicated the funding would play a big role in the future for the university, the professors and especially the students.
“This is great for the students. They are being exposed to the latest technology and therefore they are being shown many different ways to do research,” he said. “This state of the art technology will also help out the professors with their labs and teachings.”
Rondeau said this type of funding is good for the future.
“Research and innovation in the 21st century will be a major player in global competitiveness and provide good jobs and better lives for Manitobans. We believe the funding provided today will stimulate research in the province,” he said.
“We wish all of those who are receiving grants much success with their projects and look forward to hearing about their progress.”
