Dear Deans and Director, and Associate Deans (Research) and Research Liaison Officer:

This is to advise of a new approach to recognizing research excellence at the U of M. The former RSC or New Fellows Reception to honour Fellows, Members, and Awardees of the Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences will be expanded to include recognition of the following:

* New and renewed Canada Research Chairs

* Endowed and Sponsored Research Chairs

* CFI Innovation Fund recipients

* Canada Council for the Arts awardees and prize winners (Killam, Diefenbaker)

* Canadian Academy of Engineering (fellows, special awards)

* Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (fellows, special awards)

* CIHR awards (health researcher, KT)

* Canadian Medical Association awards (Starr, Medal of Honour)

* Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

* Gairdner Canada awards (Wightman, International)

* Governor General's Innovation awards

* Ernest C. Manning Innovation awards

* NSERC awards (Brockhouse, Synergy, Steacie)

* Partners in Research awards

* Royal Society of Canada (members, fellows, special awardees)

* The Prix Galien

* Steacie Prize for Natural Sciences

The inaugural reception is scheduled for December 5, 2018 at Fort Garry campus. The recipients who will be honoured are:

* Meghan Azad, Pediatrics and Child Health, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences; Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba

* Pourang Irani, Computer Science - CRC in Ubiquitous Analytics (Tier 2)

* Lorrie Kirshenbaum, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences; St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre

* Puyan Mojabi, Electrical and Computer Engineering - CRC in Electromagnetic Inversion for Characterization and Design (Tier 2)

* Roberta Woodgate, Nursing - CRC in Child and Family Engagement in Health Research and Healthcare (Tier 1)

* Guozhen Zhu, Mechanical Engineering - CRC in Mechanical and Functional Design of Nanostructured Materials (Tier 2)

* Dr. Philip Ferguson, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Research Chair (IRC) in Satellite Engineering

* Dr. Marcia Friesen, Biosystems Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, associate professor and director of the Centre for Engineering Professional Practice and Engineering Education - NSERC Chair in Design Engineering for Sustainable Development and Enhanced Design Integration

* Dr. Julienne Stroeve, Canada 150 Research Chair in Sea Ice-Climate Coupling

* RSC new Fellows and Members elected in 2018 (not yet announced)

* 2018 recipients of Canadian Academy of Engineering and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences awards (not yet announced) Another new approach is to eliminate doing news conference funding announcements unless we are specifically required to do so by the funder or Minister. Over the past several years, these types of events have had limited uptake from the ever-shrinking media landscape in Winnipeg. Rather, sharing our research excellence successes via the many digital avenues that we have at our disposal, that we know are reaching our intended audiences in an effective way, is what we will focus on. This will provide an increased return on investment. Our combined social media channels reach an audience of 223,000 local, national and international readers - equivalent to one print and online Saturday edition of the Winnipeg Free Press. This is in addition to print media ads done throughout the year to highlight research excellence.

Please mark December 5 on your calendar. Further details will be sent later. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Digvir S. Jayas, Ph.D., P.Eng., P.Ag., FAZRA, FASABE, FCSBE, FAIC, FCIFST, FEC, FEIC, FCAE, FRSC, FNAAS, FISAE, FNASc, IntPE (Canada), APEC Engineer, FGC (Hon) Vice-President (Research and International) and Distinguished Professor 202 Administration Building 66 Chancellors Circle University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2 Phone: 204-474-9404 (office) Phone: 204-291-4505 (mobile) Fax: 204-261-1318 Email: digvir.jayas@umanitoba.camailto:digvir.jayas@umanitoba.ca Webpage: www.umanitoba.ca/researchhttp://www.umanitoba.ca/research