Spin-off know-how helps fuel economy

When Westport Innovations Inc., a UBC spin-off company, unveiled its first
modified transit coach it marked another branch in the tree of success that
is UBC’s University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO).

The bus, powered by a diesel engine converted to operate using a unique natural
gas injection system, emits half the pollutants and costs close to half as much
as its gas-guzzling counterparts. Over the next decade, the company hopes to
transform the diesel industry worldwide from diesel fuel to low-emission natural
gas.

The Westport story, and those of many other UBC spin-offs, has helped place
UBC third in North America in the creation of new companies, behind only Stanford
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to survey results published
in the Report on the UBC Spin-off Company Formation and Growth, released
today by the UILO. The Westport example is just one of a growing list of UBC
spin-off companies and UBC-licensed technologies.
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Board okays business-education committee

UBC’s Board of Governors has approved the establishment of an advisory committee
to develop a comprehensive set of guidelines which will provide a framework
for the university as it enters into business-education partnerships.
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Survey shows support for business partnerships

A majority of faculty, staff, students and alumni are in favour of UBC developing
strategic partnerships with business to raise funds, a poll
conducted for the university shows.
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New program focuses on animal welfare

Two internationally recognized researchers with a life-long interest in animals
have been appointed to lead UBC’s new Animal Welfare Program.

Prof. David Fraser and Prof. Dan Weary will investigate topics such as the
way living conditions affect the well-being of animals, and ethical issues surrounding
the use of animals in scientific research, sport, and food production.
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New transportation director goes green

UBC’s new director of transportation planning, Gordon Lovegrove, takes his
advocacy of car-free commuting seriously. He ran, cycled or occasionally rode
a bus to his previous workplace.
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Campus commute options in the offing

At one time, most everyone drove to UBC and parked in one of the vast surface
parking lots. Those days are gone.
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Remember Nov. 11

Members of the university community will gather in War Memorial Gym Nov. 11
for UBC’s annual Remembrance Day service.
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Donations move to goal

United Way’s campus campaign co-ordinator Kelly Gray performs a simple exercise
with groups of potential United Way donors.
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Sports stars, grads receive honours

UBC honoured some of its most outstanding alumni and saluted varsity sports
stars of the past at the 1997 UBC Alumni Achievement and UBC Sports Hall of
Fame Dinner Oct. 23.
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UBC botanist, chemist, zoologist newest Royal Society members

Three UBC researchers will receive one of the highest honours in the Canadian
academic community when they are inducted into the Royal Society of Canada next
month during a ceremony in Ottawa.
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Research networks awarded $94 million

Seven networks in the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program have
been awarded $94.3 million over four years by the federal government.
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Chan to take Board helm for second term

Shirley Chan has been re-appointed chair of UBC’s Board of Governors for a
one-year term, ending Aug. 31, 1998.
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First Nations help guide future foresters’ studies

As the Faculty of Forestry’s new co-ordinator of forestry programs for First
Nations, Madeleine MacIvor will oversee a series of initiatives that have introduced
First Nations content into the Forestry curriculum, and made forestry education
more accessible to First Nations students.
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Samhain, Halloween — it’s the same thing

“Trick or treat!”

As costumed children go from home to home on Halloween collecting goodies,
they will be acting out rituals dating back to a popular pre-Christian festival
called Samhain, says David Lertzman, a PhD student in Community and Regional
Planning.
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Interns go to work in developing countries

David Sadoway sees his placement in Mongolia as a chance to do some skiing.
If he has time.
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Asian fires not just bad for health says air expert

When the World Health Organization called environmental health scientist Michael
Brauer, he knew what they wanted had something to do with the smoke blanketing
large areas of Southeast Asia.
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Physicists behind two “brutal” global exams

Preparing exams may not be everyone’s first choice of summer activities, but
a couple of UBC physicists were happy to spend a portion of their summers slaving
away to create questions in theoretical and practical physics.
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Great Trek set student activist stage in 1922

As an example of student activism and serious commitment to a goal, the Great
Trek is hard to beat.

But for those who were there on Oct. 28, 1922, it was also a lot of fun.
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Better communication goal of doctor training

The Faculty of Medicine is developing a new training program to help doctors
in B.C. communicate more effectively with patients.
(more…)