Piper to become UBC’s next president

Dr. Martha C. Piper, vice-president, Research and External Affairs, at the
University of Alberta, and a leading advocate for university research, has been
appointed 11th president of The University of British Columbia.
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UBC to play part in Year of the Asia Pacific

Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced while in Vancouver last week that 1997
will be Canada’s Year of the Asia Pacific.

The announcement was made at Canada Place to a room filled with UBC students,
faculty and administators, as well as business leaders, MPs and cabinet
ministers. UBC President David Strangway introduced the prime minister.
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Debaters set sights on world championships

The UBC Debate Society will compete against teams representing universities
from around the world including Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and Harvard at this
year’s World Debating Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.

As the current western debating champions, the UBC team will represent all of
Western Canada at the six-day event taking place Dec. 28 to Jan. 3 at the
University of Cape Town.
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Proposed Liu Centre elicits praise, criticism

About 80 faculty and staff attended a four-hour Open House on Nov. 19 to
discuss the proposed Liu Centre for International Studies and University Centre
for faculty and staff.

A forum session during the Open House, attended by about 45 faculty and staff,
elicited both praise for the concept of an international studies centre and
criticism of the site chosen for it.
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B.C. students above average in int’l testing

Canadian students scored significantly higher than the international average in
the world’s largest test of mathematics and science skills written by students
representing more than 40 countries.
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Survey says UBC first for tomorrow’s leaders

Consistency is the hallmark of UBC’s performance in Maclean’s magazine’s
annual ranking of Canadian universities.

For the second consecutive year the survey ranked UBC as second-best in the
reputation category among post-secondary institutions offering medical and
doctoral programs. Kingston’s Queen’s University remains number one.

In the same category, Maclean’s again put UBC among the top five
universities with a winning reputation for highest quality and innovation. UBC
was first on the “Leaders of Tomorrow” list.
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Researchers probe alternative therapies

UBC researchers are playing a prominent role at the recently opened Tzu Chi
Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Vancouver Hospital and
Health Sciences Centre.

The institute will conduct research on acupuncture, the use of herbs and other
alternative therapies that are increasingly popular with patients but have not
undergone the rigours of scientific testing.
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Publisher a survivor of challenges in funding

When UBC Press staff and authors gather today to toast the academic publisher’s
25th anniversary, the cheers will be mixed with a sigh of relief.

Given the precarious state of many scholarly presses around the world today,
their mere existence is cause for celebration.

“The fact that we’ve survived in difficult times makes this something of a
landmark in itself,” said Peter Milroy, director of the Press since 1990. “But
we’re not only surviving, on some levels, we’re really thriving.”
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UBC’s 100-plus MRC award winners honoured

More than 100 UBC recipients of significant Medical Research Council (MRC)
awards were recognized at the inaugural MRC Celebration of Excellence Reception
held earlier this month.
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Holiday break sees slowdown in sports

Athletics activity is winding down for the December break with a handful of
home games and fewer still away.
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Time to give draws to close

With the Nov. 30 close just days away, UBC’s United Way Campaign is nearing its
goal of raising $290,260. As of Nov. 22, the total was $256,742.
(more…)