In February Vancouver will play host to more than 8,000 researchers from more than 60 countries. UBC experts are helping lead discussions on some of our most vexing global challenges.
From February 16 to 20, Vancouver will play host to more than 8,000 scientists, engineers, policy makers and educators from more than 60 nations. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest scientific society, is hosting its annual meeting outside of the U.S. for the first time in 30 years.
The event is expected to also attract more than 900 international media and public information officers to B.C. to meet leading experts and report on four days of symposia, lectures, seminars work-shops, and poster sessions that cover every area of science, technology, and education.
The University of British Columbia will play an important part. President Stephen Toope is honorary co-chair, along with Simon Fraser University President Andrew Petter and Perimiter Institute for Theoretical Physics Director Neil Turok. And 27 UBC researchers will be participating in symposia on topics as diverse as defeating HIV/AIDS, bringing biofuels to market, increasing water security, and regenerative sustainability.
In keeping with a recent UBC Reports tradition of highlighting big ideas in January for the New Year, this special online-only edition profiles eight UBC researchers and the big questions they will be exploring with their counterparts from around the world in February.
To learn more about the conference:
http://www.aaas.org/meetings/
To learn more about UBC’s participation, watch here: http://www.aaas.ubc.ca/.
This web page will soon profile all of UBC’s participating researchers.
Members of the public can enjoy the AAAS Family Science Days:
http://www.aaas.org/meetings/2012/program/fsd/
