UBC This Week

A UBC professor and alumna have received Fulbright awards to conduct research in the U.S.   The Fulbright program is an educational movement based on the principle of scholarly exchange between the United States and various countries from around the world. 

Assoc. Prof. Kai M. A. Chan from the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC, has been granted a Fulbright Canada Visiting Research Chair to do research at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Chan will spend four months at UCSB, beginning in January 2012, on  a project entitled “Connecting Human Decisions to Impacts on Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services.”

UBC alumna Colleen Cunningham (‘07 Bachelor of Arts, Economics and Political Science) received a Fulbright award to conduct research at Duke University as a Fulbright Canada-Toronto Dominion Bank Award Recipient. Cunningham will be working towards her PhD in business at Duke, beginning September, on a project entitled “U.S. Innovation Policies Targeting Pharmaceutical Development: A Theoretical and Empirical Evaluation.”     

UBC will also host three American Fulbright award recipients in the 2011-2012 academic year: Chia-Chi Ho from the University of Cincinnati, Philip Kachmar from the University of Scranton, and Jill Woelfer from the University of Washington.

Chia-Chi Ho will be doing research with UBC’s Engineering Research Centre for a project entitled “Development of a Nanoscale Technology for Dynamic Substrate Modification: Application to Neuronal Networks.”   Kachmar will be doing research with the Dept. of Political Science on a project entitled “North American Political Identity.”   Woelfer will be doing research with the School of Library on project entitled “A Comparative Study of Information Systems Uses by Homeless Young People: Vancouver/Seattle.”

The Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program is a bi-national program of educational exchange, with a mandate to enhance mutual understanding between the people of Canada and the U.S.  

For more information, visit http://sustain.ubc.ca/research/ubc-professor-and-alumna-receive-fulbright-awards.

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The UBC Graduate School of Journalism’s International Reporting Program (IRP) web project, “Cheap Shrimp, Hidden Costs”, has been nominated for a 2011 Online Journalism Award (ONA).  It is a finalist in the category of Online Video Journalism, Small Site, and the only ONA nomination for a web project created by a Canadian university.

“Cheap Shrimp, Hidden Costs” showcases a year-long reporting project on the social and environmental impact of intensive shrimp farming.  Ten students in the International Reporting class led by Prof. Peter W. Klein at the School of Journalism travelled to Thailand, the largest supplier of shrimp to North America.  The students partnered with The Global & Mail to produce a web video project for the Globe’s food series, “The high environmental cost of global shrimp”, which launched on November 20, 2010.

The students involved in the project include Kate Allen, Sarah Berman, Kerry Blackadar, Brandi Cowen, Darren Fleet, Rebecca Lindell, Karen Moxley, Alexis Stoymenoff, Faiza Zia Khan, and Magally Zelaya. Sarah Stenabaugh served as project coordinator, and Erin Empey was the web developer. 

Klein was the lead producer, along with co-instructors Trisha Sorrells Doyle and Dan McKinney.  Prof. Alfred Hermida was the web project supervisor. 

Klein’s “The Civil Rights Cold Case Project” was nominated for an ONA in the category of Specialty Site Journalism, Affiliated.

This is the second project of UBC Graduate School of Journalism’s IRP. The program’s first project, the Frontline/WORLD piece “Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground,” won the Emmy for Best Investigative Magazine piece and the Sigma Chi Delta Award for Best Documentary.

IRP’s third project is an ongoing series about the global shortage of medical morphine.  All three projects are available on the IRP’s website, http://www.internationalreporting.org/.

 Read more on tinyurl.com/44k7mdd.  Follow their twitter feed @IRPonline.

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The Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) announced that the winner of the Pierre De Celles Award for Excellence in Teaching Public Administration has been awarded to Allan Tupper, professor and department head of the Dept. of Political Science at UBC.

Tupper is described by Richard J. Dixon, Executive Director of the Centre for Applied Business Research in Energy and the Environment at the University of Alberta, as, “our guide, mentor and teacher in professional development and public management. Through his work, knowledge and expertise he has influenced the direction and thought of public management.”

Tupper is known as an enthusiastic educator who has taught a wide variety of students including undergraduate, graduate, extension, and management development levels of public administration. He has been instrumental in the development of the government of Alberta’s Senior and Executive Management Development Program, where he is one of the program’s most accomplished instructors.

The medal will be presented at IPAC’s 63^rd Annual Conference. For more information, visit http://www.ipac.ca/.

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On its 100th birthday, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Vancouver Section honoured its most influential contributors with centennial awards. Among those recognized were UBC Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering’s Prof. Emeritus Hermann Dommel, Prof. Victor Leung, Prof. José Martí and Prof. Rabab Ward. Centennial awards distinguish members who have been influential in the development of Canadian technology.

For more information, visit www.ece.ubc.ca/news/201108/ieee-vancouver-section-centennial-awards

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Five members at UBC’s Okanagan campus were recognized with Staff Awards of Excellence for their contributions to the university.  The Deputy Vice Chancellor and Principal award recognizes exceptional contribution to the campus and community at large.

• The Deputy Vice Chancellor and Principal Award: Shelley Kayfish, director of health, safety and environment for UBC’s Okanagan campus. 
• Enhancing the UBC Experience:  Craig Eden, voice systems and data network specialist, IT, media and classroom services.
• Leadership: Teija Wakeman, department administrator, School of Engineering. 
• Sustainability:  Russell LaMountain, Laboratory Manager, School of Engineering. 
• Global  Citizenship: Garry Appleton, director, parking and security. 

For more information, visit https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2011/09/01/ubcs-okanagan-campus-honours-its-own.

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On Sept. more than 6,000 faculty, students, and staff celebrated the start of the new school year at the Imagine UBC Pep Rally in the Doug Mitchell Winter Sports Arena. To pounding music, flashing lights and waving towels, the Class of 2015 was welcomed, celebrated and challenged to use their imagination and creativity during their time at UBC. 

Collectively the audience attempted to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most simultaneous high-fives.  Currently held by the University of Guelph at 1,790, once verified and confirmed UBC’s over 3,000 high fives should break the record.  

A highlight for students, the record breaking was the first of many accomplishments this incoming class with a mean average of 89.5 per cent is sure to accomplish.

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24 Hours has extended the deadline for Lower Mainland post-secondary schools to continue nominating students for a Campus Life feature highlighting the best and brightest students in B.C. – the top 24 under 24.

For more information on selection process, qualifications and how to nominate, visit http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2011/08/28/18610696.html.

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In his annual address to the Vancouver Board of Trade, Prof. Stephen Toope, UBC President and Vice-Chancellor, will describe how the University’s approach to learning, research and intellectual property is fostering new opportunities for creative, world-changing partnerships.

Date:    Sept. 14
Time:    11:45 a.m.
Place:   The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Waterfront Ballroom
               900 Canada Place Way
Info:    http://www.boardoftrade.com/

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The Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (PWIAS) Wall Exchange presents Derek Gregory, an award-winning political geographer and writer. Gregory will speak on what he calls “The Everywhere War,” the multiplicity of late modern wars that have sprung up in the shadows of 9/11 and can occur anywhere. His talk will be followed by a moderated question period. The public is invited to join the conversation.

Date:    Sept. 26
Time:    7:30 (doors open at 6:30)
Place:   Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
Info:     To order free tickets http://www.pwias.ubc.ca/the-wall-exchange/2011-fall.php or call Vogue Box Office at (604) 569-1144

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