UBC Reports | Vol. 49 | No. 2 | Feb.
6, 2003
Forums focus on sustainability
By Hilary Thomson
How do we sustain our spirits, education and society?
These are some of the questions being discussed at Research
Awareness Week (RAW) 2003, a series of free public forums
and presentations focused on sustainability to be held March
8-15 at UBC’s Point Grey and Robson Square campuses and
partner hospital sites.
Usually associated with the environment, sustainability
has broad implications for the kind of world we want to live
in, says Sid Katz, executive director, Community Affairs,
who has co-organized RAW with Nichola Hall, of UBC’s
Continuing
Studies Dept.
“Sustainability is all-inclusive and key to the university’s
vision,” says Katz. “It involves developing citizens
who can create and maintain a civil society and a sustainable
world.”
UBC research projects look at sustainable systems in areas
ranging from environment to human settlement and blood supply.
“The research and education link is vital to sustainability,”
says Indira Samarasekera, vice-president, Research. “UBC
needs to be a model in this — producing young people who
have learned through discovery and can carry knowledge forward
when they’re out in the community.”
Panels of scholars from UBC and the community will debate
topics including climate change and sustainable food systems
in lunch-hour sessions at Robson Square March 10-14. The final
session will be a day-long discussion of the Kyoto accord,
co-presented with the Royal Society of Canada.
The future of sustainability education at UBC will be discussed
at a workshop that looks at links between sustainable studies,
global citizenship and ecological and social justice. Workshop
results will contribute to the creation of an interfaculty
program that addresses sustainable education.
Other RAW events include presentations of research posters
and awards at B.C.’s Children’s Hospital, UBC Library
exhibits and workshops as well as booths and displays showcasing
projects ranging from transportation to the future of the
Georgia Basin.
The week’s centrepiece is Celebrate Research 2003,
a gala event to be held the evening of March 13 at the Chan
Centre for the Performing Arts where more than 200 research
award winners will be honoured. There will be video vignettes
of researchers explaining their work as well as entertainment
provided by the University Singers, UBC Opera Ensemble with
a special appearance by UBC Theatre, Film and Creative Writing
program alumna and recent Governor General Award winner Joy
Coghill.
For a complete listing of RAW events, link from the website
at www.research.ubc.ca
or call 604.822.1700.
For free tickets to Celebrate Research 2003, contact Laurie
at celebrate.research@ubc.ca
or 604.822.6010.
