UBC Media Coverage Summary – 02/25/2016

The Media Coverage Summary is compiled from media clips Monday to Friday by UBC Public Affairs. Sign up for other Public Affairs e-mail services at http://news.ubc.ca/media-resources/digital-subscriptions/.

International/National
Forbes: Canada’s Best Employers 2016
Nature: Mysterious radio burst pinpointed in distant galaxy
Medical Daily: Genetic counseling may help dispel myths about mental illness for psychiatric patients
Globe and Mail: The Scout List: Comedians Sara Bynoe, Hari Kondabolu and Bach to Spring
Inside Higher Ed: UBC future forward

Across
CBC North: Researchers study beluga ears to learn more about impact of noise
CFRA 580 Radio: Five things the federal government needs to do on the marijuana file

Local News
CBC Early Edition: The debate about home birth in eastern European countries
Vancouver Sun: Opinion: International students provide major benefits
Vancouver Sun: Three pot dispensaries overcome hurdle in City of Vancouver approval
Vancouver Sun: UBC review into Franco Cavaleri is secret. Meanwhile, marijuana industry beckons the former bodybuilder
The Province: Christy Clark government takes on staff from Harper’s and Alberta’s ousted Conservative ranks

International/National

Forbes: Canada’s Best Employers 2016
Tom Knight, associate professor of organizational behaviour at UBC Sauder School of Business, is quoted in Forbes’ latest rankings of Canada’s best employers. According to the article, competition for top talent remains fierce in Canada despite the economic slump, making employee well-being a key pursuit for employers. Knight noted that even in Alberta, caught in the fallout of low oil prices, some employers aren’t cutting jobs to stay afloat: they’re offering creative benefits to keep their top talent and attract candidates once the economy rebounds. Forbes

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Nature: Mysterious radio burst pinpointed in distant galaxy
UBC astronomer Kiyoshi Masui was quoted in a Nature article on the discovery of the source of mysterious pulses that have been detected since 2007. The radio bursts are from a galaxy six billion light years, according to scientists with the Square Kilometre Array. Masui says the discovery is the “measurement the field has been waiting for.” Nature

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Medical Daily: Genetic counseling may help dispel myths about mental illness for psychiatric patients
A new UBC study suggests that genetic counselling–traditionally offered for conditions caused entirely by genes, such as Huntington’s–could help psychiatric patients understand their illness. “Psychiatric disorders arise because of a combination of genes and experience and our study shows that genetic counselling is just as valuable for these patients,” says senior author Jehannine Austin. Medical Daily

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Globe and Mail: The Scout List: Comedians Sara Bynoe, Hari Kondabolu and Bach to Spring
The Globe’s event listings includes a classical program this Friday at the Chan Centre featuring the University Singers and UBC Choral Union. Globe and Mail

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Inside Higher Ed: UBC future forward
Writer Kris Olds shared three suggestions to address leadership issues at UBC: hold a formal independent governance review, develop learning opportunities such as seminars and workshops, and shape the search process for a new president in a way that rebuilds community. Inside Higher Ed

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Across Canada

CBC North: Researchers study beluga ears to learn more about impact of noise
Researchers led by UBC’s Maria Morell are studying the ears of belugas to understand changes possibly caused by man-made noise such as seismic testing or increased shipping traffic. Preliminary results were presented this week. CBC North

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CFRA 580 Radio: Five things the federal government needs to do on the marijuana file
UBC public health expert Mark Haden says changes to marijuana regulation need to factor in Canada’s experience with tobacco and alcohol. The government should look at legalization from a public health standpoint, Haden told CFRA. CFRA

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Local News

CBC Early Edition: The debate about home birth in eastern European countries
UBC population and public health professor Patti Janssen discusses a trend in eastern European countries where some births attended by midwives have been criminalized and health professionals have been incarcerated on CBC’s Early Edition. “We’ve had a number of large studies in B.C. and Ontario that have shown that there isn’y any excess risk associated with planned home birth,” said Janssen. CBC Early Edition (segment starts at 2:40:00)

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Vancouver Sun: Opinion: International students provide major benefits
Andrew Wilkinson, B.C.’s minister of advanced education, highlighted the positive impact of international students on B.C. communities, economy and educational institutions in a Vancouver Sun op-ed. He noted that UBC had 18 international students, all from the U.K., when it opened in 1915, with the first student from Japan attending UBC in 1916. Vancouver Sun

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Vancouver Sun: Three pot dispensaries overcome hurdle in City of Vancouver approval
Three Vancouver marijuana dispensaries have passed the second hurdle towards approval, news media reported yesterday. Werner Antweiler, an expert from the UBC Sauder School of Business said many players are trying to get a foot in the door of the legalized marijuana industry. But it’s early days and the rules aren’t even in the place yet. A big shakeout could see many existing players disappear, Antweiler said. Vancouver Sun

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Vancouver Sun: UBC review into Franco Cavaleri is secret. Meanwhile, marijuana industry beckons the former bodybuilder
The Vancouver Sun’s Pamela Fayerman blogs about UBC’s investigation into the academic claims made by PhD candidate Franco Cavaleri. The article quotes UBC’s Matt Ramsey, who said privacy law prevents UBC from confirming a student’s attendance status or discussing an ongoing investigation. Vancouver Sun

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The Province: Christy Clark government takes on staff from Harper’s and Alberta’s ousted Conservative ranks
UBC political science professor Max Cameron commented on recent government hires from the ranks of federal and Alberta conservatives. “This reinforces the impression that the B.C. Liberal government was more closely aligned with the previous Conservative federal government than it is with the current federal Liberals,” said Cameron. The Province, Ottawa Citizen

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