Sustainable transportation, personalized genomics, the Downtown Eastside and the role of the entrepreneur are some of the topics to be discussed during the University of British Columbia’s Celebrate Research Week.
This year’s theme You are here: Navigating in an uncertain world focuses on UBC research that touches lives and communities in a series of public forums, talks and presentations. More than 50 events will be held March 7-14 at UBC Vancouver, Robson Square, Okanagan, and research campuses at hospital sites. Most events are free and open to the public.
“Celebrate Research Week is an opportunity for UBC researchers to engage with the public and generate an understanding and appreciation for the benefits of university research,” says John Hepburn, UBC Vice-President, Research. “We warmly welcome members of the public to participate in Celebrate Research Week events with our researchers who are working to cure disease, investigate the mysteries of space and matter, promote sustainability through technological and social solutions, and much more.”
Presentations include:
- The Gairdner Foundation 50th Anniversary Symposium: The Science and Future of Medicine features eight presenters including Nobel Laureates Carl Wieman, Harold Varmus, Sydney Brenner and Roger Tsien. March 11, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts.
- The 2009 Michael Smith Memorial Nobel ForumPersonalized Genomics: Hope or Hype is a free public forum discussing the science and issues around personal genetic testing featuring medical geneticists Dr. Cynthia Kenyon, Dr. Muin Khoury, and Nobel Laureate Dr. Harold Varmus. The forum will be moderated by former NBC correspondent Charles Sabine. March 11, 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts.
- A Wealth of Knowledge and Experience: Research Partnerships in the Downtown Eastside. This session will showcase health research being conducted in partnership among university researchers, community members and service providers in the Downtown Eastside. March 9, 2- 5 p.m. at the Phil Bouvier Centre, 717 Princess Street.
- Inside the Entrepeneur is an interactive evening with Larry Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Harry Rosen. This event is an opportunity to learn from business leaders and to hear the behind-the-scenes stories of some of Canada’s most innovative entrepreneurs. March 9, 4:30 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia Street.
- Bridging the Gap: Bringing Medicines to the Poor of the World features UBC researchers Drs. Brett Finlay, Robert Hancock, and Kishor Wasan, with Ian Bell from UBC’s University-Industry Liaison Office, and Michael Gretes from UBC-UAEM, will discuss UBC’s role in addressing the growing health care gap between developing and developed countries. March 9, 7- 8:30 p.m. at UBC Robson Square.
- Getting to Negative 80: The Role of Land Use and Urban Form in Achieving GhG Emissions Targets. UBC’s Design Centre for Sustainability in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture will showcase some of the tools and processes being developed and used to estimate the linkages between land use, urban form and greenhouse gas emissions to understand how to achieve 80 per cent reduction in GhG emissions by 2050. March 11, 11:30a.m. – 1 p.m. at UBC Vancouver, Kaiser Atrium, 2332 Main Mall.
- Men’s Health: Minds, bodies and masculine ideals. This panel explores the relationships between men’s health and masculinity by presenting research on men’s experiences with depression, smoking, and heart health, and explores how young men are represented in research on sexual health and risk. March 13, 5:30 -7 p.m. at UBC Robson Square.
- Sustainable Transportation: How BC can be a showcase for the new “Electricity Economy” UBC Prof. Robert Evans will describe a systems approach to analyzing energy use, so that the consequences of choosing a particular energy source, or energy carrier, can be clearly seen. March 14, 8:15 p.m. at UBC Vancouver, Woodward Lecture Theatre 2.
- Gala. The week’s centerpiece is a gala event to be held the evening of March 12 at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, where research video vignettes will be shown and more than 200 research award winners will be honoured.
For a full listing of events visit: www.celebrateresearch.ubc.ca
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