UBC This Week

Neglected global disease experts from the United Nations, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UBC are gathering this weekend at UBC to find ways to eradicate diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. 

The Neglected Global Diseases Initiative (NGDI) aims to bring together the technical expertise and perspectives of a variety of disciplines at UBC ­ including bench science, pharmaceutical and health research, business, social policy, and law ­ to develop interventions for neglected global diseases and ensure their delivery to those in need. 

Date: Sept. 18-19
Place: Chan Centre for Performing Arts
Info: Registration and full program http://www.ngdi-ubc.com/

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UBC students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to a symposium entitled Our Campus as a Living Lab, hosted by the UBC Sustainability Initiative. 

Through lively presentations, panels and discussions, participants will explore the concept and practical application of our campus as a living laboratory for sustainability. Campus leaders as well as representatives from the City of Vancouver, BC Hydro, UBC Neighbourhood Association and others will contribute their perspectives on sustainability successes, challenges and opportunities for addressing sustainability in our campus life and campus systems.

Date: Sept. 27
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Place:  Graduate Student Centre (Thea Koerner House) 6371 Crescent Road
Info: Free admission.  Reception to follow. Register online at http://ubclivinglab.eventbrite.com

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UBC Music alumnus and leading operatic tenor Ben Heppner will be given the title of Companion of the Order of Canada.  “This is a promotion within the order,” said Marie-Pierre Bélanger, spokeswoman for the Rideau Hall Press Office. Prior to this, Heppner was made an initial member in 1999. 

Heppner is among the 53 honourees at an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on Sept. 9.

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Dr. Andrew Deonarine, a resident in the UBC School of Population and Public Health (SPPH), has won The Economist magazine and Innocentive’s 21st century Cyber-Schools Challenge for his plan for a cell phone-based educational system. 

EduCell can be used to educate large segments of a given population with minimal infrastructure, finances and manpower. The Challenge asked participants to address the problem of providing educational opportunities to the tens of millions of school-age students in developing nations around the world.
 
The prize package includes $10,000 and a trip to New York to present his winning plan at The Economist’s Ideas Economy: Human Potential Event on Sept. 15-16. His winning plan will be featured in an upcoming issue of The Economist.
 
Deonarine completed his Master of Health Sciences through the School of Population and Public Health in 2009 as part of the Community Medicine Residency program at SPPH.

For more details, visit
http://www.spph.ubc.ca/?p2=modules/blog/viewcomments.jsp&bid=79

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UBC PhD student Ben Paylor won third prize and $1,000 for his short film Epigenetic Landscapes in Gene Screen BC’s first film competition.  Genome BC and the BC Clinical Genomics Network partnered to create a competition for student and amateur filmmakers to make short films on the topic of genomics and health. 

SFU Masters of Science student Suraaj Aulakh won first prize and $3,500 for her short film Sequence Me.  The $2,500 second prize award went to Superbug, be gone by Vancouver’s Aliya Sadique and Dan Vasquez.  Twenty-three films including entries from the US and Europe competed for over $8,000 in prizes which were awarded at a gala Sept. 8 at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. 

The films will be distributed to schools through Genome BC’s Geneskool educational program and will also be used by the BC Clinical Genomics Network to inspire BC physicians to learn more about genomics and health.

The films can be viewed at www.scivee.tv/node/16377 or at www.bccgn.ca/resouces/Education.htm.

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Every year, UBC sends six staff members abroad on the Leave for Change program, to volunteer overseas, sharing their knowledge and skills with others in an international setting. 

Together with international volunteer agency Uniterra, UBC works to provide successful applicants with diverse volunteer positions that range from technology training to youth leadership. Placements are  offered in Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guatemala, Malawi, Nepal, Vietnam and more. 

Applications are now being accepted until Oct. 4. 

For eligibility criteria, program details, and application instructions, visit http://www.focusonpeople.ubc.ca/leave-for-change/.

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The President’s Office and Human Resources Dept. will host the UBC Welcome Back Staff barbeque to welcome staff at the Vancouver campus to the new academic year. The event will feature a complimentary barbeque lunch by UBC Catering, live entertainment, and information booths from groups across UBC.

This year, in support of the UBC Community United Way 2010 campaign, the Human Resources and Health, Safety and Environment departments are partnering to co-host a 50/50 draw at the event, with proceeds going to the United Way (visit the United Way booth for more information).

 Date: Sept. 21
Time: 11:30 am. – 1:30 p.m.
Place: Flagpole Plaza
Info: http://www.ceremonies.ubc.ca/staffbbq/ or communications@hr.ubc.ca

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