Doctors’ training to take real life turn

The Faculty of Medicine has won approval for the most sweeping changes to its
undergraduate curriculum since the medical school opened its doors in 1950.

When members of the Class of 2001 enter UBC this August their courses will
have a new emphasis on ethics, social issues, critical thinking and computer
and communications skills.
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Ecologist, rock physicist, garner research prizes

A leading researcher on small mammals and a rock physicist are winners of UBC’s
top research prizes for 1996.

Ecologist Charles Krebs, a professor in the Dept. of Zoology, is the recipient
of the Jacob Biely Research Prize and Assoc. Prof. Rosemary Knight, with the
Dept. of Earth and Ocean Sciences, has won the Charles A. McDowell Award for
Excellence in Research. Knight is also among 10 recipients of UBC Killam Research
Prizes.
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Scholar urges schools fix on child’s `greatness’

Can’t balance your chequebook? You could be the next Agatha Christie.

Christie, like many creative, successful people, including Leonardo da Vinci
and Albert Einstein, had a learning disability. In the famous mystery writer’s
case, it was difficulty with adding numbers. Both da Vinci and Einstein were
dyslexic.
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Botanist cites nitrogen in reforestation failure

Hiking through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains almost 10 years ago, botanist
Herbert Kronzucker was presented with a picturesque puzzle: to his left arose
a mountainside of blue spruce; to the right, a slope of trembling aspen.

A ranger mentioned that the aspen side had been logged 15 years earlier and
replanted with young spruce seedlings. But if the spruce thrived before, thought
Kronzucker, why were they being so totally out-competed by aspen?

After nearly a decade of research, the UBC-based scientist thinks he’s found
an answer, one which may have dramatic implications for B.C.’s efforts at reforestation.

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Campus saddened by loss of long-time friend

Helen Belkin, a long-time friend and patron of UBC, has died at the age of
77.
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Committee invites input on Faculty Club

The Advisory Committee on the Faculty Club continues to examine the feasibility
of re-opening the former Faculty Club as a financially viable university gathering
place.
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Arctic stakeout yields hare-raising results

UBC zoologist Charles Krebs has just completed the most ambitious ecological
stakeout ever.

The life and death cycle of snowshoe hares in Canada’s North has been observed
for more than 300 years but remains one of nature’s enduring mysteries. In regular
nine to 10-year intervals, hares from Alaska to Labrador increase and then die
in startling numbers. Populations can plummet from 300 animals per square kilometre
to one.
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Centre aids campus research innovations

An Innovation Centre created by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada
on the UBC campus will enhance the B.C. research community’s ability to maintain
strong research programs in several key areas, said Bernard Bressler, UBC’s
Vice-president, Research, following the centre’s opening Jan. 27.
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Keeping fit while aging focus for int’l conference

North America’s top authorities on fitness and aging will gather at UBC Feb.
21-23 for the Strength and Conditioning International Conference.

Entitled Changing Aging and Training the Master’s Athlete, the conference
will address a broad range of issues associated with physical health, fitness,
training and the aging population. Conference speakers range from doctors and
medical researchers to coaches and fitness trainers.
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Street food comes to CK Choi lobby

Juicy Hainan chicken rice, spicy rendang and sizzling satay. These are some
of the culinary delights offered during a series of monthly festivals of Asian
street foods and cultural events at the Institute of Asian Research (IAR).
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Campus tops United Way goal

Organizers of UBC’s United Way campaign are all smiles following the latest
report on contributions which shows a total of $301,543, surpassing the campaign
goal of $290,265.

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Nursing faculty receive nat’l teaching, research honours

The School of Nursing will honour five of its faculty members for the national
awards they received in 1996 at a campus reception Feb. 7.
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Annual festival spotlights the arts

ArtsFest ’97, a celebration of student theatre, film, music, visual art and
literary events, begins today and runs until Saturday, Feb. 8.
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