What's the Big Idea

A thought-provoking discussion with Dr. David Gerhard, a leading AI researcher and computer scientist on the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, its potential to transform society, and the ethical challenges that come with it. In this conversation, interspersed with excerpts from AI pioneer and Nobel Laureate, Geoffrey Hinton’s Knight Distinguished Lecture, we hear how AI's decision-making processes differ from human cognition, about the risks and benefits of large language models, the role of governance, regulation, and international cooperation in shaping AI development, and the importance of designing AI to serve human values.About David Gerhard: Professor and Department Head of Computer Science, University of Manitoba;2018 & 2014 Paragon Award of Innovation, University of Regina / Regina Chamber of Commerce);2016 Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Regina Alumni Association; Co-founder; Co-owner; Head of research and applied innovation, Shiverware Interactive Software Developments, Inc;About Geoffrey HintonEmeritus Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, University of Toronto; Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research;Set up the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit at University College London;Director of "Neural Computation and Adaptive Perception" program funded by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (2004-2013);Worked at Google where he became a Vice President and Engineering Fellow (2013-2023);Fellow of the UK Royal Society, the Royal Society of Canada, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence;One of researchers who introduced the back-propagation algorithm and first to use backpropagation for learning word embeddings;His research group in Toronto made major breakthroughs in deep learning that have revolutionized speech recognition and object classification;Awards include the David E. Rumelhart prize, the IJCAI award for research excellence, the Killam prize for Engineering, The NSERC Herzberg Gold Medal, the IEEE Frank Rosenblatt medal, the IEEE James Clerk Maxwell Gold medal, the NEC C&C award, the BBVA award, the Honda Prize, the Princess of Asturias Award, the ACM Turing Award and the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering;About Michael BenarrochPresident and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manitoba since July 2020;Professor in Department of Economics, Toronto Metropolitan University (2017-2020);Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Toronto Metropolitan University (2017-2020), acting as the institution’s chief academic and operating officer;Dean of the I.H. Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba (2011-2017);For more information about Michael Benarroch, see here.About What’s the Big Idea?What’s the Big Idea? is an award-winning podcast hosted by University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Each episode features conversations with big thinkers from the UM community who are contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of people everywhere. It is produced by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Everything Podcasts.Links and ResourcesQ&A with David Gerhard and Geoffrey Hinton. Dr. David Gerhard at the University of ManitobaCan Machines Think? David Gerhard | TEDxFort GarryGeoffrey Hinton - Nobel Prize in Physics 2024University of Manitoba: Discover programs and opportunitiesAlumni Relations: Stay connected with UMUM News: Read more about UM events and researchHelp make big ideas possibleResearch at the University of Manitoba is driven by curiosity and made possible through partnership and philanthropy. If this conversation sparked your curiosity, we’d love to connect you with opportunities to support world-class research and discovery at UM.Learn more or get in touch today.MusicAdrenaline Rush by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music.Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Help us spread the big ideas from the UM community.#podcast #Education

Season 4, Episode 5Zahra Moussavi discusses her findings into using non-pharmaceutical interventions for Alzheimer's and dementia. With a background in electrical engineering, Moussavi’s groundbreaking research highlights the role of synapses and brain activity in cognitive health. Her innovative treatment strategies include electrical stimulation, VR navigation, and neurorehabilitation. These have shown success in potentially slowing, stabilizing, and reversing cognitive decline. In her conversation with UM President Michael Bennaroch, she emphasizes the importance of early detection and the need for innovative approaches to manage dementia as a chronic condition rather than a progressive one. About Zahra Moussavi: Canada Research Chair Tier I.Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Manitoba.Founder and former director, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Manitoba.Recipient of the 2018 Technical Excellence Award.Awarded IEEE EMBS Distinguished Lecturer, 2014 and 2019. About What’s the Big Idea?What’s the Big Idea? is an award-winning podcast hosted by University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Each episode features conversations with big thinkers from the UM community who are contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of people everywhere. It is produced by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Everything Podcasts.Links and ResourcesProfessor Zahra MoussaviContact: Zahra.Moussavi@umanitoba.caAgewell – Canada’s Technology and Aging NetworkUniversity of Manitoba: Discover programs and opportunitiesAlumni Relations: Stay connected with UMUM News: Read more about UM events and researchHelp make big ideas possibleResearch at the University of Manitoba is driven by curiosity and made possible through partnership and philanthropy. If this conversation sparked your curiosity, we’d love to connect you with opportunities to support world-class research and discovery at UM.Learn more or get in touch today.MusicAdrenaline Rush by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music.Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Help us spread the big ideas from the UM community.

Season 4, Episode 3Episode Summary:What are the challenges and the opportunities in creating a just and inclusive economic future? Hosted by Angie Bruce, Vice President (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba, this episode of "What's the Big Idea?" explores the theme of economic reconciliation. Featured are Indigenous leaders and experts, Diane Roussin, a member of Skownan First Nation and project director of the Winnipeg Boldness Project, Kathleen BlueSky, a Cree Ikwe from Nisichiwasik Cree Nation and CEO of Treaty One Development Corporation, and Dr. Peter Pomart, a member of Mathias Cologne First Nation, an Asper School of Business lecturer and the former director of Indigenous Business Education Partners. Their public conversation considers the impact of racist policies like the Indian Act, the complexity of building Canadian sovereignty without infringing on Indigenous rights, the Carney government’s Bill C-5 or Building Canada Act and the relationship-building that is fundamental to successful economic reconciliation. Host and panelists: About Angie Bruce:Red River Métis from St. Laurent, Manitoba. Vice-President (Indigenous) of University of Manitoba, since February 2024.MBA from UM’s Asper School of Business and a PhD from Nipissing University.Former Assistant Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada's Nókwewashk sector.Former Deputy Minister in Manitoba's Indigenous and Northern Relations and Municipal Relations departments.Grew the Indigenous Natural Resource Program to $100 million.Led the development of an Indigenous Research Ethics policy.Led the highest number of Treaty Land Entitlement land transfers in Manitoba's historyHas held senior positions with the Legacy of Hope Foundation and the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. About Diane Roussin:Anishinaabe and member of the Skownan First Nation.Passionate advocate for Mino bimaadiziwin (the good life) for all families and children.Holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work degrees.Project Director of the Winnipeg Boldness Project, seeking to empower the Point Douglas community and create large-scale, systemic change for children and families living there.Former Executive Director of the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre. Former Co-Director of Community Education Development Association.Former Coordinator of The Winnipeg Foundation’s Centennial Neighbourhood Project.Received the 2018 Governor General’s Award for Outstanding Indigenous Leadership. Kathleen BlueSky:A Cree and Anishinaabe Ikwe from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Minegoziibe Anishinabe First Nation.CEO of Treaty One Development Corporation, leading a major economic development project at Naawi-Oodena, a Treaty One Joint Reserve lands located in Winnipeg, MB.MBA from Asper School of Business. Founder of Seven Feathers ConsultingFormer CEO of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.Serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the $300M First Nation Market Housing Fund Co-founded Wiijii’idiwag Ikwewag, securing Manitoba’s first Social Impact Bond in 2019. About Peter Pomart:A member of Mathias Colomb First Nation - and a second-generation residential school survivor - Pomart is dedicated to advancing reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Lecturer at the I.H. Asper School of BusinessCompleting his doctoral studies in Business Administration.His primary research aims to provide an Indigenous-centered perspective on how industry actors may better align their engagement practices with Article 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. About What’s the Big Idea?What’s the Big Idea? is an award-winning podcast hosted by University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Each episode features conversations with big thinkers from the UM community who are contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of people everywhere. It is produced by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Everything Podcasts.Links and ResourcesThe Winnipeg Boldness ProjectMa Mawi Wi Chi Itata CentreTreaty One Development CorporationNational Indigenous Economic Development Board: Naawi-OodenaSeven Feathers ConsultingFirst Nations Market Housing FundUniversity of Manitoba: Discover programs and opportunitiesAlumni Relations: Stay connected with UMUM News: Read more about UM events and researchHelp make big ideas possibleResearch at the University of Manitoba is driven by curiosity and made possible through partnership and philanthropy. If this conversation sparked your curiosity, we’d love to connect you with opportunities to support world-class research and discovery at UM.Learn more or get in touch today.MusicAdrenaline Rush by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music.Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Help us spread the big ideas from the UM community. What’s the Big Idea? is a University of Manitoba production, created in partnership with Everything Podcasts.

Season 4, Episode 1Episode Summary:No longer just a frontier for governments and billionaires, space is a shared environment that needs protection. As companies like SpaceX and Amazon launch mega-constellations of satellites, the risk to our atmosphere and orbital space grows. How can we ensure that the future of space is sustainable, inclusive, and serving communities on Earth?In this episode, Philip Fergusson, an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, President of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute, and Director of the University of Manitoba’s STARlab, joins President Benarroch to discuss his big idea. From co-developing satellites with Arctic communities to designing drone airships for northern connectivity, we explore how responsible innovation, reconciliation, and a focus on local needs can shape a better future for space exploration.About Philip Fergusson:Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Price Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba.Magellan Aerospace Industrial Research Chair in Satellite Technology.President of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute.Director of the University of Manitoba’s STARlab.Studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where his PhD focused on astronaut movement during long-duration spaceflight missions.His work at STARlab includes building satellites launched from the International Space Station to study asteroids.Committed to reconciliation through innovation, advancing space technologies to serve northern, Indigenous, and remote communities, his work directly addresses digital inequity and supports self-determination.As a university-based researcher, he is positioned to lead a critical, evidence-informed conversation about sustainable materials and better international regulation for space.About What’s the Big Idea?What’s the Big Idea? is an award-winning podcast hosted by University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Each episode features conversations with big thinkers from the UM community who are contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of people everywhere. It is produced by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Everything Podcasts.Links and ResourcesUniversity of Manitoba’s Starlab. University of Manitoba: Discover programs and opportunities.Alumni Relations: Stay connected with UM.UM News: Read more about UM events and research.Help make big ideas possibleResearch at the University of Manitoba is driven by curiosity and made possible through partnership and philanthropy. If this conversation sparked your curiosity, we’d love to connect you with opportunities to support world-class research and discovery at UM.Learn more or get in touch today.MusicAdrenaline Rush by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music.Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Help us spread the big ideas from the UM community. What’s the Big Idea? is a University of Manitoba production, created in partnership with Everything Podcasts.

Season 3, Episode 6Healthcare systems across Manitoba—and Canada—are facing a critical challenge: a shortage of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. In this episode, we explore the root causes of this crisis, and dive into our guests’ big ideas to help solve it.Just as there is a family physician designation in Canada, Dr. Aaron Jattan argues that there should be one for rural doctors, recognizing the extra training and skills needed in this role.Dr. Peter Nickerson believes we need a distributed education model to train learners across the province. With Winnipeg exceeding its training capacity, rural communities who want physicians need to invest in training them locally.Expanding training programs is a step in the right direction, but long-term solutions to multi-faceted problems require strategic planning, policy changes, and investment in retention efforts. Tune in to hear how Manitoba is working to address these challenges—and what more can be done.About Dr. JattanAssistant Professor and Associate Program Director at the Max Rady College of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba.Chief Medical Officer (acting), Winnipeg Regional Health AuthorityChairs and sits on national committees with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)Family physician and hospitalist working primarily out of St. Boniface Hospital.Completed his medical school at the University of Ottawa and his residency at the University of Manitoba in the Brandon streamCompleted his master’s in medical education through the University of Dundee.Actively engaged in research involving clinical feedback and curricular innovation.About Dr. NickersonDean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine at UMTransplant nephrologist at the Health Sciences Centre WinnipegMedical consultant to the Transplant Immunology Laboratory at Shared Health.2020 Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Society of Transplantation2020 Rose Payne Distinguished Scientist Award, American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics2018 Medal for Research Excellence, Kidney Foundation of Canada2016 Paul I. Terasaki Clinical Science Award, American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics2016 Clinical Science Established Investigator Award, American Society of Transplantation2016 Scholastic Award, Doctors Manitoba2012 Fellow Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences2012 Dr. John B. Dossetor Research Award, Kidney Foundation of CanadaAbout What’s the Big Idea?What’s the Big Idea? is an award-winning podcast hosted by University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Each episode features conversations with big thinkers from the UM community who are contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of people everywhere. It is produced by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Everything Podcasts.Links and ResourcesA comparison of teaching opportunities for rural and urban family medicine residents, Dr. Aaron Jattan.Dismantling the hub and spoke: Social accountability and rural medical education, Dr. Aaron Jattan.University of Manitoba: Discover programs and opportunities.Alumni Relations: Stay connected with UM.UM News: Read more about UM events and research.SourcesHow this med school is tackling the rural doctor shortage, CBC News, The National, June 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqdU0OzF6-4 Manitoba needs to do more to woo doctors to rural northern communities, CBC News, Feb 2023 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/rural-er-docs-are-struggling-to-do-it-all-peer-support-programs-try-to-lessen-the-load-1.6735155 Doctors Manitoba ‘optimistic’ about rural health care changes outlined in new report, Global News, October 2022 https://globalnews.ca/news/9233856/doctors-manitoba-optimistic-rural-health-care-changes/MusicAdrenaline Rush by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music.Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Help us spread the big ideas from the UM community. What’s the Big Idea? is a University of Manitoba production, created in partnership with Everything Podcasts.

Get Dying Right: Why Dignity in Care Matters with Dr. Harvey Chochinov Season 3, Episode 5 How can we get dying right? In this episode, Distinguished Professor Dr. Harvey Chochinov helps answer this question by sharing stories and insights gained from decades of research in palliative care wards. Dr. Chochinov pioneered “dignity therapy” and now he shares his bigger idea on how dignity-centered health care can transform our experiences of end-of-life care and our views on medical assistance in dying (MAID), personhood, family, and much more. About Dr. Harvey Chochinov Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba. Senior Scientist at the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute. Officer of the Order of Canada, member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, and recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for Academic Innovation from the University of Manitoba. Co-founder of the Virtual Hospice, the world’s largest repository of information and support for patients, families, and care providers. Author of Dignity Therapy: Final Words for Final Days, winner of the 2011 Prose Award. Author of Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine About What’s the Big Idea? What’s the Big Idea? is an award-winning podcast hosted by University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Each episode features conversations with big thinkers from the UM community who are contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of people everywhere. It is produced by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Everything Podcasts. Links and Resources Dignity Therapy: Final Words for Final Days: Learn about the book by Dr. Harvey Chochinov. Dignity in Care: Explore this initiative. University of Manitoba: Discover programs and opportunities. Alumni Relations: Stay connected with UM. UM News: Read more about UM events and research. Music Adrenaline Rush by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music. Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Help us spread the big ideas from the UM community. What’s the Big Idea? is a University of Manitoba production, created in partnership with Everything Podcasts. #podcast #education #university

For the love of tariffs: Amanda Lang on how Trump’s re-election will impact Canada: UM president, Michael Benarroch and renowned business and political journalist Amanda Lang [BES/91] discuss what Canadians should expect following the results of the US election. How will Trump’s America first approach impact our trade relationship? Will he takes steps to erode academic freedom or freedom of the press? Which industries stand to benefit, and which may face challenges? Amanda Lang [BES/91] is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. With over 25 years covering North America’s top business stories, alum Amanda Lang has appeared on Bloomberg TV, CBC, and now hosts “Taking Stock” on CTV. She’s not only a journalist but a keen observer of politics, leadership, and business in the global political landscape. What's the big idea? is an award-winning podcast featuring President Michael Benarroch in conversation with some of today's big thinkers. Together, they unpack “the big idea” their work explores. The series features an exciting and diverse array of voices from the UM community contributing to the cultural, social and economic well-being of the people of Manitoba, Canada and the world. The University of Manitoba, Western Canada’s first university, is a hub of research, innovation, and learning. Located in Winnipeg, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, fostering a diverse and inclusive community of over 30,000 students. UM is one of Canada’s top research universities and the largest source of skilled professionals in Manitoba. From breakthroughs in health and climate action to meaningful partnerships that advance Reconciliation, UM is a world-class university shaping the future of our province and beyond.Links: Enrol today – Learn more about all UM has to offer: Explore UM.University of Manitoba Alumni Relations – Find more ways to stay connected: UM Alumni.UM News – Read more about UM events and research: UM Today.Sources: CBC News: The National | Donald Trump’s return to power, November 2024https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIGsJKnQNsg Forbes Breaking News, Trump Lays Out Economic Promises, October 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhZYn5dymBs CTV News, ‘Canada will be absolutely fine’, November 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_NFUkq07Z0 MusicAdrenaline Rush, by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music

AI and the Future of Humanity: Work, Worship, and Relationships with Neil McArthurNamed by Maclean’s Magazine as one of Canada’s leading experts on AI, Dr.Neil McArthur specializes in ethics and technology and his current research focuses especially on how artificial intelligence is used for companionship and intimacy. In 2023, he created a new course exploring issues ranging from humanity’s potential annihilation by artificial intelligence (AI) to what happens to copyright law when an algorithm can create songs with Neil Young’s voice. Dr.McArthur believes AI has huge benefits and can make society better but only if humans truly understand and harness its power. Neil McArthur is a Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba S3, Episode 1

Michael Benarroch is joined by Dr. Meghan Azad, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba with cross appointments in immunology and food and human nutritional sciences. Dr. Azad studies the science of breast milk and is one of the world's foremost experts on the wonderful substance. In this episode, they explore why breast milk matters to all of us, and explain how The Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC) is at the forefront of human milk and infant feeding research.For more information, visit the podcast's website. The episode features clips from: Global News, and Melinda French Gates. About the host:Michael Benarroch became President of the University of Manitoba on July 1, 2020. Throughout his career, Dr. Benarroch has demonstrated his lifelong dedication to transformative higher education and has made significant contributions to the fields of economics, research, and post-secondary administration. A passionate teacher and researcher, he has taught economics at Canadian universities since 1989. His career includes serving as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Toronto Metropolitan University (2017-2020), Dean of the I.H. Asper School of Business (2011-2017) and 21-years with the University of Winnipeg, where he was chair of the department of Economics (1999 - 2007). About the University of Manitoba:For more than 140 years, the University of Manitoba has delivered life-changing learning experiences for students, conducted world-class research and shared knowledge and discovery to shape our province, country and world. UM is western Canada’s flagship university, Manitoba's only research-intensive university, is located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.An Everything Podcasts production.

Show notes:How can you become a better leader? In this episode, Michael Benarroch explores this question with Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, the Associate Dean of Professional graduate programs at I.H. Asper School of Business, the inaugural director of the Burns Leadership Institute and the Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education. At the start of this episode, you hear clips from the following: Roselinde Torres' Ted Talk: What it takes to be a great leaderBrené Brown on leadership.For more information, visit the podcast's website. About the host:Michael Benarroch became President of the University of Manitoba on July 1, 2020. Throughout his career, Dr. Benarroch has demonstrated his lifelong dedication to transformative higher education and has made significant contributions to the fields of economics, research, and post-secondary administration. A passionate teacher and researcher, he has taught economics at Canadian universities since 1989. His career includes serving as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Toronto Metropolitan University (2017-2020), Dean of the I.H. Asper School of Business (2011-2017) and 21-years with the University of Winnipeg, where he was chair of the department of Economics (1999 - 2007). About the University of Manitoba:For more than 140 years, the University of Manitoba has delivered life-changing learning experiences for students, conducted world-class research and shared knowledge and discovery to shape our province, country and world. UM is western Canada’s flagship university, Manitoba's only research-intensive university, is located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.An Everything Podcasts production.

Michael Benarroch sits down with Professor Niigaan Sinclair, one of the most sought after national voices on education, politics and Reconciliation. Sinclair is the former head of the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, an indigenous content consultant and columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press.Their conversation explores whether the university is doing enough to attract and support indigenous students; the stories that help and those that hinder Reconciliation; the significance of indigenous-led economic development in Winnipeg and much more. Part way through the episode you will hear a recording of Justice Murray Sinclair speaking about making reconciliation a reality.About the host:Michael Benarroch became President of the University of Manitoba on July 1, 2020. Throughout his career, Dr. Benarroch has demonstrated his lifelong dedication to transformative higher education and has made significant contributions to the fields of economics, research, and post-secondary administration. A passionate teacher and researcher, he has taught economics at Canadian universities since 1989. His career includes serving as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Toronto Metropolitan University (2017-2020), Dean of the I.H. Asper School of Business (2011-2017) and 21-years with the University of Winnipeg, where he was chair of the department of Economics (1999 - 2007). About the University of Manitoba:For more than 140 years, the University of Manitoba has delivered life-changing learning experiences for students, conducted world-class research and shared knowledge and discovery to shape our province, country and world. UM is western Canada’s flagship university, Manitoba's only research-intensive university, is located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.An Everything Podcasts production.

Why Guaranteed Income is affordable, effective and just with economist Evelyn Forget. University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch in conversation with economist and academic director of Manitoba Research Data Centre Evelyn Forget. Together they’ll discuss how a basic income guarantee is not only possible and affordable, but an effective and just way to reduce poverty in Canada. About the guest:Evelyn Forget is an economist, academic director of Manitoba Research Data Centre, and a professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences. She is a multidisciplinary political economist who uses the tools of economics to inform policy debate locally, nationally and worldwide. Her methodological innovations, which ground big data and experimental techniques in a profound understanding of history and culture, have re-invigorated research on social welfare policy and created new hope for people caught up in dysfunctional bureaucratic systems. She is an officer of the Order of Canada and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Her fourth book on basic income, which came out in 2022, is called Radical Trust: Basic Income for Complicated Lives. It amplifies the stories of those who are often left out of the dialogue around public policy. It advocates that all citizens in a wealthy nation like Canada should be guaranteed a modest standard of living. Her book, Basic Income for Canadians: The Key to a Healthier, Happier and More Secure Life, made the 2018/2019 Donner Prize shortlist. The award recognizes the best public policy book by a Canadian. About the host:Michael Benarroch became President of the University of Manitoba on July 1, 2020. Dr. Benarroch isa Manitoban and former Dean of the I.H. Asper School of Business (2011-2017). He returns to Winnipeg where he maintains strong community-wide connections and a lifelong dedication to transformative higher education. His career includes serving as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Toronto Metropolitan University (2017-2020), acting as the institution’s chief academic and operating officer as well as a tenured professor in the department of Economics, Faculty of Arts. He co-chaired Toronto Metropolitan University's Truth and Reconciliation Implementation Committee and is an active advocate for the advancement of Indigenous engagement and reconciliation.About the University of ManitobaThe University of Manitoba is western Canada’s first university, Manitoba's only research-intensive university, is located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.

The University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch in conversation with Executive Director of the University of Manitoba’s Institute for Global Public Health Dr. James Blanchard. Together they’ll discuss how the University of Manitoba can be at the center of engaging the academic sector in global public health and how Canada can become a world leader in this field.