Five University of British Columbia faculty members have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) for their outstanding achievements ranging from superconductivity in physics to new ways of treating personality disorders.
UBC was second only to the University of Toronto in the number of faculty members elected to the RSC.
“It’s the highest honour for a scholar or scientist, and we’re very proud that these investigators are being celebrated and recognized for their tremendous contributions,” says David Dolphin, UBC acting vice-president, Research.
Physicist Douglas Bonn ‘s pioneering work in quasi particle dynamics has shed new light on superconductors. Bonn has also helped to produce high quality copper oxide crystals at UBC, which have been central to a wide range of key experiments on high temperature superconductivity at laboratories in Canada and around the world.
At UBC Sauder School of Business, Izak Benbasat has blazed a trail in the design of human-computer interfaces, especially for web-based business. Benbasat is looking at intelligent support systems for improving productivity and knowledge transfer for users.
Dean of Science John Hepburn is an expert on the interaction of laser light with atoms and molecules. Most recently, Hepburn has developed a new technique, called threshold ion-pair production spectroscopy, which he has used to measure chemical bond strengths to unprecedented accuracy.
Geneticist Philip Hieter’s studies of cell division on the molecular level will lead to more effective cancer therapies. He is internationally recognized for his work on structural and regulatory proteins that ensure the healthy development of chromosomes.
Psychiatry professor John Livesley is Canada’s preeminent expert on personality disorders. His innovations have shaped current thinking about the origins, diagnosis, classification and treatment of personality disorders.
Established in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada is Canada’s most prominent academy of scholars and scientists. More than 160 UBC faculty are members.
-30-
