UBC This Week

2009 marked a year of milestones for UBC’s Focus on People framework, with the achievement of more than 18 goals and a number of programs and initiatives established to support the workplace experience of faculty and staff. 

The latest issue of Perspective,  provides a spring – fall 2009 update to the UBC community. 

To view the full online version, visit http://www.focusonpeople.ubc.ca/sharingconnecting/perspectives.html or download a version at http://www.focusonpeople.ubc.ca/__shared/assets/Perspectives_20098203.pdf.

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The UBC Electric Car Project, led by third-year electrical and computer engineering student Ricky Gu, recently received a note of best wishes from City of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.

Extended to everyone involved with the project, the note states that the Electric Car Project is of special importance to Vancouver City Council because it has recently embarked on an ambitious initiative to become The Greenest City in the World and is a big supporter of electric vehicle infrastructure.

For more information, visit http://www.engineering.ubc.ca/news/2009/nov19.html

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The Dean of UBC’s Sauder School of Business, Daniel F. Muzyka, was honoured with an appointment as Knight of the National Order of Merit at the Résidence de France on Nov. 23.  

Founded by Charles de Gaulle in 1963, the National Order of Merit is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of the French Republic.

For more information, visit http://www1.sauder.ubc.ca/?CFID=4296593&CFTOKEN=37185388

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Faculty and staff are invited to attend the annual Faculty and Staff Seasonal Concert and spend a lunch hour enjoying performances by students from UBC’s School of Music at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. 

Date:    Dec. 1
Time:    11:45 – 12:45 p.m.
Place:   Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Info:     http://ceremonies.ubc.ca/seasonal/

Faculty and staff can pick up tickets at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts’ Ticket Office between 12- 5 p.m., Mon. to Sat., up to the day of the concert (UBC Card must be shown for identification). One member from each department can pick up tickets and must provide a list of names to the Box Office, indicating the number of tickets for staff and for faculty.

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The Olympic Programming Group at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre is accepting presentation proposals for a PechaKucha style event on Jan. 21, 2010.  Originated by architects in 2003, PechaKucha is based on a format of presenting 20 images for 20 seconds each.  The event will provide a forum for the UBC community to participate in a visual dialogue of the 2010 Winter Games. 

Submissions should be a brief (500 words or less) description outlining the research topic and its connection to the Olympic theme.  Five images (each smaller than 1 MB) that will be used in the presentation must be included.  Deadline for submissions is Dec. 11. Selected presenters will be notified by e-mail by Dec. 18. 

For more information, contact: ikblc-olympics@interchange.ubc.ca or visit www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca/ps/Olympics2010_PK.html.

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A collection of photographs capturing Southeast Asian culture will be featured throughout the C.K. Choi Building.  The photographs are by Sarah Youngblutt, photographer, archaeologist and student in the Institute of Asian Research Master of Arts – Asia Pacific Policy Studies program.  

Proceeds from the sale of photos will assist the Royal University of Fine Arts in Cambodia to train and equip a new generation of Cambodian archaeologists.  To purchase one of the images, contact syoungblutt@gmail.com or Kerry.Ross@ubc.ca.  The minimum donation is $250.

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The UBC Library Vault is offering 40 per cent off on seasonal card sets, matted prints and special packages at their booth in the SUB Fair until Dec. 4.  Other offers include: buy one card set and get the second for half price, single card discounts, and buy any size umbrella and receive a free seasonal card set.

The sale is also offered at the Library Development Office on level two of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, adjacent to the circulation desk.

For more on UBC Library Vault, visit http://www.ubcvault.ca/

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The President’s Annual Blue and Gold Revue will showcase music, inventions, videos and more from UBC’s outstanding students, faculty and staff. The event will officially launch the UBC 2009 Annual Report and Place & Promise: the UBC Plan, our strategic plan for the future.

Learn about a team of engineers who have built a robot that could work on the moon, a group of medical students who run a health clinic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and much more. Enjoy free appetizers, musical performances, a lion dance and a routine from the UBC Cheer Team.

The emcee for the event will be UBC alumna Jennifer Gardy, BSc’00, PhD, former co-host of Project X on CBC TV, blogger for The Globe and Mail and postdoctoral fellow and researcher.

Date:    Dec. 2
Time:    Reception:  5 p.m. (complimentary appetizers by Wescadia)
Revue: 6 – 7:15 p.m.
Place:   The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Info:     Order free admission tickets at  www.supporting.ubc.ca/revue

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UBC’s Human Resources Dept. recently launched two new social media vehicles as a way to connect and engage directly with faculty, staff and prospective hires. The UBC HR blog at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/blogs/hr provides timely and relevant information about all aspects of working at UBC.

Faculty and staff can also follow tweets at www.twitter.com/UBCHR for daily headlines of HR-related information. Recent tweets have included updates on the H1N1 vaccination clinics, volunteering on campus for the upcoming 2010 Winter Games, and important changes for those enrolled on UBC’s Group MSP plan.

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The Irving K. Barber will be open 24 hours a day from Nov. 30 to Dec. 22 (until 1 a.m.)   

The 24/7 hours apply to the Learning Centre’s core study areas on levels two, three and four of the south wing.  The Library book stacks, the Chapman Learning Commons and Ike’s Café will follow regular hours.  
For more information, visit http://www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca/. 

For more information, visit www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca. For information on the UBC Commuter Student Hostel, visitwww.housing.ubc.ca/student-residences-van/commuter-hostel

Student Hostel, visit

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