Physical Plant are in the process of installing the new electrical meters for the parking lot AC, necessitating an electrical distribution shutdown lasting 1-2 hours. Please be aware that this shutdown, which will impact the Plant Field Station building, was supposed to happen today, but the contractor did not show up.
The shutdown is now planned for tomorrow, January 5th.
Contractor staff will be there to do the work at 8am. , the power will be back on no later than 10am.
Please let me know as soon as possible, if there are any issues with this shutdown tomorrow.
Thanks,
Bev
Hello,
I have included the minutes from the November meeting. Meetings have been the first Wednesday of every month and that's when I receive the minutes from the previous meeting. If you have any questions or concerns that you want me to address at the next meeting, please let me know.
Thanks,
Becky
Condensed November 1 meeting minutes
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Potato Chair - awaiting Senate approval
2. Jarislowski Chair - 30% wage is supposed to come back to the department
3. Bendelow Lecture recap - a small recap and thanked Curt McCartney and all involved in making Dr. Baldwin's visit a success.
REPORTS
Post-Doc/RA report - recap of workshop held on October 26, another workshop planned on December 14. On October 26, attendance was 100 PDF and RA from our faculty.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Animal Science Layer barn - introduction of this opportunity and some discussion. A committee of faculty and technicians to lead this was considered a good idea. Martin Entz suggested hiring outside help to manage the project and alleviate faculty time.
2. MB Ag meeting - November 15, 2023 on campus full day - reminded people of this and indicated that Ras and Post-docs are invited to attend
The process of planning the installation of new electrical meters for the parking lot AC, necessitating an electrical distribution shutdown lasting 1-2 hours. Please be aware that this shutdown will also impact the Plant Field Station building.
This shutdown may be scheduled during daytime hours on either Jan 04th or Jan 05th.
Please let me know by Friday, Dec 1st if you have any concerns regarding this issue.
Thanks.
Bev
Hello to all,
Hearing tests will occur Dec 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th, anytime between 12:00-4:30.
Please let me know by Wednesday, November 22nd if you would like to be scheduled for a hearing test .
Thanks,
Bev
Hello,
Please see below for a summary of the Department Council minutes from July 5. If you have any comments/questions, please let me know.
Thanks,
Becky
BUSINESS ARISING
i. Martin Entz updated on the Departmental Spirit committee, - it has not met as yet
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Horticulture Storage Building is nearing completion of the upgrades and will be commissioned. Please remove anything for the rooms as they will be filled with potatoes to ensure the proper function as a storage facility.
REPORTS
1. Graduate student report - PSGSA will be meeting in August to elect board and appoint representatives for departmental committees.
2. Support staff report: storage containers at the Point - who is responsible for shelving. Rebecca Dueck to look at Dr. Lawley's shelving and get quotes for shelving to enhance storage space.
3. Postdoc/RA Report: Mohammad Sayeri,
During the department council meeting, it was announced that the department of Plant Science and the department of Food and Human Nutritional Science (FHNS) have jointly established the first PDF/RA association at the faculty level.
Additionally, we are pleased to inform you that we have secured a $3000 endowment fund from the faculty. This fund will be utilized to organize an event exclusively for PDFs within our faculty.
Furthermore, we have planned two lunch events that were open to all PDFs across the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses of the University of Manitoba.
We are excited to share that a 3-minute PDF talk (3PT) is scheduled to take place on September 22nd. The specific date and venue will be announced in the near future.
Lastly, the faculty of postgraduate study has generously agreed to provide four PDF Distinguished Awards. These awards will be presented to outstanding PDFs across the University of Manitoba. More detailed information will be communicated via email shortly.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Committee member replacement
Elected Members:
* Advanced Plant Science Seminar Committee - Harmeet Chawla elected.
Moved/Seconded that the committee look into the terms of reference and propose that the committee be expanded to include a member from the PostDoc/RA group within the Department and determine the length of term if membership is proposed.
* Bunge Canada NSERC Innovation Award Committee -
passed to approach Sean Walkowiak/Colin Hiebert/Malcolm Morrison be approached in this order to serve on this committee.
* Gift Advisory Committee - Rob Duncan to serve on this committee.
* Land and Equipment Resources Committee - Rob Duncan serve on this committee.
* Lab Equipment Resources Committee - Harmeet Chawla to serve on this committee.
Appointed Members:
* Controlled Environment Committee - Replacement for Dr. Stasolla
* Gift Advisory Committee - Dr. Gulden
* Graduate Studies Committee - Dr. Ayele
* Lab Equipment Resources Committee - Replacement for Gurnoor Kaur;
* Point Management and Operations Committee - Replacement for Dr. Lawley; Ardelle Slama
2. Laboratory charge backs. Lab fees are collected and are to pay for the costs incurred in the delivery of the labs. Please keep track and submit.
3. Teaching Assignments for fall 2023.
i. PLNT 2500 and PLNT 0401 - Dr. Cattani will be assigning these courses to be co-taught.
ii. PLNT 0820 - assessing applicant for suitability.
iii. PLNT 4270 - two applicants and we are making a decision based upon teaching experience.
4. Once the computer upgrade is made in Room 2018, we will have a dedication of the room.
5. Internal communication announcement that Dr. Cattani was awarded the "Teacher of the year award" for 2023. This award is selected by the graduating degree class and presented at Grads Farewell.
6. Kristen Macmillan was appointed for a second 5-year term as "Agronomists in Residence". Co-funded by MPGA, Faculty and the Department. Kristen will be teaching PLNT 0410 and the experiential learning Crop Scouting course when she returns from leave.
1. Martin updated dept council on the degree review process that involves Agroecology, Agronomy, Plant Biotech and Animal Systems. Visits by reviewers are to take place in the fall.
Hello All,
Please see the information from the last department council meeting. This meeting was the last meeting held on April 26. Next meeting is July 5. If you have any questions for the department, please let me know before then.
Thanks,
Becky
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Mask mandate Wearing of masks at UM will no longer be mandated as of May 1. Mask wearing is however encouraged.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
* Graduate Studies Committee - Increase PhD departmental assistantships to $24,500/year (currently $24,000) and MSc departmental assistantships to $21,500/year (currently $21,000) effective September 1, 2023
REPORTS
* Graduate student report - Lauren Gislason reported that two PSGSA events were cancelled lately due to lack of interest and poor weather. The FAFS graduate student get-together was successful. Dr. Entz asked Lauren what the PSGSA thinks about Dr. Paliwal's proposed integrated agriculture course to be taken by all FAFS graduate students. Lauren thinks this would be very useful.
* Support staff report - Becky Dueck reported that the safety seminar on May 1 will be held in 290 Education.
Dr. Cattani responded to Becky's question about a new lunch/coffee room. Room 310 will remain a meeting room but when not booked for meetings, can be used as a staff lunch/coffee room. A sink will be re-installed in the room.
NEW BUSINESS
* Visit by Dr. Scanlon - Dr. Scanlon reported that he is willing to extend his term as Dean for two more years and that he will not seek re-election. He asked members what issues they want dealt with in the next two years:
* Building security: Members do not feel safe. The entire campus will eventually be accessed using key cards. Dr. Scanlon can ask for the Agriculture Building to be moved up in this process. He was asked if the Plant Science wing could be secured separately during evenings and weekends. He will look into this as well as securing the greenhouse area during evenings and weekends.
* Replacement of our Point facilities and adding storage space to the prairie crops and soils research facility
* Curriculum and student experience: Spaces for students to get together are needed in the Agriculture complex. The Dean responded that with reduced need for computer facilities, space for this will become available.
* Classroom equipment: In the ideal world, all classrooms would have a web cam to facilitate the hybrid experience.
* Controlled Environment Facility: The Dean reported that he has received no feedback on the request to UM for the controlled environment facility. There is currently no new funding at UM for infrastructure.
* To enhance the curriculum, establish a space in the new controlled growth facility for a farmers market.
* Department Head: Dr. Cattani has agreed to extend his acting head role until June 30, 2024. They are currently looking at re-structuring departments within FAFS to facilitate greater ownership of degrees.
* Adjunct Professor recommendation Recommendation of Dr. Malcolm Morrison as adjunct professor in Plant Science. Dr. Morrison made a presentation to Department Council for a recent appointment as adjunct professor, so he was not asked to present again.
Seminar attendance
* Dr. Entz indicated that attendance at seminars is low and thinks graduate student attendance at the Plant Science Seminar series and the master's seminar series should be mandatory. As well, attendance by faculty members should be monitored. The Seminar Committee should put a policy in place to require attendance.
* Faculty members should be required to attend defenses.
* Faculty members should present.
* Lauren Gislason added that attendance at events in general is poor. Graduate students no longer know each other.
* There was a consensus that the department in general is fragmented since COVID.
* Lauren Gislason, Dr. Entz, Dr. McCartney and Dr. Chawla agreed to form a committee to investigate strategies to reunite the department.
* Dr. Cattani added that a "meet and greet" will be held in the summer.
Please see below for the minutes from the May 24 meeting.
* Carman :
* Shed is under construction
* Please be careful when driving around it
* When purchasing under university name please add your name so that we do not need to chase thing down
* Canola planting done and moving to Soy beans
* Point:
* Seed storage building
* in short term we do not know if and when we can get back into building
* Please get as much off of south side of seed storage building
* 4 permanent seed storage containers
* Each group will have ½ a container to fill with seed
* Working on locks for storage containers
* Tentative updates for Seed Storage and Processing
* Dept Heads and the Dean of research (Nazim) meet to look as a space currently vacated by Animal Science
* The layer barn has 6000sqft divided in to 3 spaces
* It is on campus with parking
* In the next 3 months this space will be emptied of equipment
* It would be a permanent space possibly to use as a drying and processing facility
* Anything stored there would need complete rodent proof containers
* Cooler in Basement (plant rm 008)
* Waiting for parts that have expected arrival in June
* It is expected to be a quick installation
* Vernalization room: is not currently included in this update but the hope it to apply for funding this summer
* Touch base with Cathy if you need this space
* Hort Shed at the Point
* When it is ready the cooling will be tested for 3 months with potatoes
* There may not be space to put in any other items in while it is being tested
* Safety Training
* A copy of safety training video will be email to department along with a form
* The form will confirm the completion of training and both the trainee and advisor sign and send to PSHEAD(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:PSHEAD@umanitoba.ca>
* This will possibly be adding on another platform soon
* Fire Drills
* Drills will happen in the building in the next couple of week
* Two Muster Points: ag engineering and architecture
* Security Meeting for May 18, 2023
* This will possibly be followed up on with a more direct conversation with the department
* Labs equipment
* Clean out form Hills Lab glassware, stopper and pipette. Please contact Jon Rosset. (email of specifics to come later)
From: Ralph Kowatsch <Ralph.Kowatsch(a)umanitoba.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 3:08 PM
To: Emily Wolverton <Emily.Wolverton(a)umanitoba.ca>
Subject: Fire warden and Fire extinguisher training
EHSO is offering Fire Warden and Fire Extinguisher training in May. Information is through EHSO Fire Safety site.
Fire safety | Environmental health and safety | University of Manitoba (umanitoba.ca)<https://umanitoba.ca/environmental-health-and-safety/fire-safety>
Risk Management - Calendar (umanitoba.ca)<https://eventscalendar.umanitoba.ca/site/risk/?view=grid&search=y>
There are some potatoes that have been left at the gate to the point since earlier this week. To prevent them from unadvertedly walking away through theft or rotting, I wanted to bring awareness to whoever those may belong to so they can pick them up and store them properly. See attached image.
Cheers!
Jonathan Rosset
Hello All,
Please see below for the minutes from the last (April 26) Department Council meeting. If you have any comments/questions please let me know.
Becky
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mask mandate
Wearing of masks at UM will no longer be mandated as of May 1. Mask wearing is however encouraged.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Graduate Studies Committee
Increase PhD departmental assistantships to $24,500/year (currently $24,000) and MSc departmental assistantships to $21,500/year (currently $21,000) effective September 1, 2023.
REPORTS
Graduate student report
Lauren Gislason reported that two PSGSA events were cancelled lately due to lack of interest and poor weather. The FAFS graduate student get-together was successful.
Dr. Entz asked Lauren what the PSGSA thinks about Dr. Paliwal's proposed integrated agriculture course to be taken by all FAFS graduate students. Lauren thinks this would be very useful.
Support staff report
Becky Dueck reported that the safety seminar on May 1 will be held in 290 Education. Dr. Cattani responded to Becky's question about a new lunch/coffee room. Room 310 will remain a meeting room but when not booked for meetings, can be used as a staff lunch/coffee room. A sink will be re-installed in the room.
NEW BUSINESS
Visit by Dr. Scanlon
Dr. Scanlon reported that he is willing to extend his term as Dean for two more years and that he will not seek re-election. He asked members what issues they want dealt with in the next two years:
* Building security: Members do not feel safe. The entire campus will eventually be accessed using key cards. Dr. Scanlon can ask for the Agriculture Building to be moved up in this process. He was asked if the Plant Science wing could be secured separately during evenings and weekends. He will look into this as well as securing the greenhouse area during evenings and weekends.
* Replacement of our Point facilities and adding storage space to the prairie crops and soils research facility
* Curriculum and student experience: Spaces for students to get together are needed in the Agriculture complex. The Dean responded that with reduced need for computer facilities, space for this will become available.
* Classroom equipment: In the ideal world, all classrooms would have a web cam to facilitate the hybrid experience.
* Controlled Environment Facility: The Dean reported that he has received no feedback on the request to UM for the controlled environment facility. There is currently no new funding at UM for infrastructure.
* To enhance the curriculum, establish a space in the new controlled growth facility for a farmers market.
* Department Head: Dr. Cattani has agreed to extend his acting head role until June 30, 2024. They are currently looking at re-structuring departments within FAFS to facilitate greater ownership of degrees.
Adjunct Professor recommendation
Recommendation of Dr. Malcolm Morrison as adjunct professor in Plant Science.
Dr. Morrison made a presentation to Department Council for a recent appointment as adjunct professor so he was not asked to present again.
Seminar attendance
* Dr. Entz indicated that attendance at seminars is low and thinks graduate student attendance at the Plant Science Seminar series and the master's seminar series should be mandatory. As well, attendance by faculty members should be monitored. The Seminar Committee should put a policy in place to require attendance.
* Faculty members should be required to attend defenses.
* Faculty members should present.
* Lauren Gislason added that attendance at events in general is poor. Graduate students no longer know each other.
* There was a consensus that the department in general is fragmented since COVID.
* Lauren Gislason, Dr. Entz, Dr. McCartney and Dr. Chawla agreed to form a committee to investigate strategies to reunite the department.
* Dr. Cattani added that a "meet and greet" will be held in the summer.
