Judge zombies not, lest ye be judged Zombies have political, social, and cultural relevance -- If you believe zombies are a manifestation of evil, check the mirror. The ugly truth, suggests PhD student Kelly Doyle, is that deep down, zombies have a lot more in common with living, breathing humans than we'd like to believe. "The hardest thing to face is that there might be something about your existence that you don't want to acknowledge," she says. As Halloween nears Doyle suggests zombies are symbolic of humanity's worst fears and most basic urges. More than any other monster, zombies represent what we hate and fear most about ourselves and society.
UBC's Okanagan campus talks trash -- and sorts through it too On October 2, 45 student volunteers sorted through two days worth of trash from every major building on campus as part of the 2012 waste audit. The waste audit, held in the courtyard, assesses the amount and types of items being put in the garbage that could otherwise be recycled, refunded or composted. The results from this year are promising. They reveal a drop in the number of disposable cups (three per cent less) and amount of paper (four per cent less) in the trash since the 2010 audit, as well as less trash overall, compared with previous years. Al King, manager of maintenance and grounds, remarked "our campus continues to improve its waste management efforts. In 2010, the entire grass area of the courtyard was full of garbage and this year only one-fifth of the courtyard was full."
Fourth provincial title in a row for Heat golfers After winning all four tournaments this season in the PACWEST, it came as no surprise when the Heat women's golf team walked away with the provincial championship after winning the final tournament of the golf season this past weekend at the Chilliwack Golf and Country Club. The team of Jen Woods, Alana Kent and Jessica Kozak have won their fourth consecutive provincial championship; Kent and Woods have been members of all four teams, while Kozak is in her first year. Individually, Jen Woods finished second and Alana Kent third in the PACWEST. In her first year playing in the PACWEST, Kozak performed admirably but did not complete the minimum number of holes to qualify on the individual leaderboard.
University theatre's debut gets royal treatment Repurposed venue will stage theatrical performances The first dedicated live-theatre space at UBC's Okanagan campus will be inaugurated next month by Henry VIII and his coterie of ex-wives. Staged at the newly crowned University Theatre, Til Death Do We Part is a critically acclaimed comedy billed as "Six Queens. Six Love Stories. Six Deaths. One Actress!" Presented by the Vancouver troupe Monster Theatre, the Nov. 3 play marks the venue's debut, followed by a wine-and-cheese reception. A second performance is on Sunday, Nov. 4. Tickets are $10 for students, $20 for non-students. For advance tickets, email melissa.mchugh@ubc.ca or call 250-807-9648.
Research grants awarded to UBC faculty members Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Nine faculty members at UBC's Okanagan campus are among more than 800 researchers across Canada sharing in $101 million in Insight Grants recently announced by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Grant competition winners include:
Through grants and scholarships awarded by SSHRC, investments totalling more than $200 million will support more than 3,200 of Canada's best researchers at post-secondary institutions across the country.
What does it mean to be human and alive? Explorer Wade Davis shares his experiences at Distinguished Speaker Series event Wade Davis -- ethnographer, writer, photographer, and filmmaker -- shared his vivid photography and captivating stories of global exploration with a capacity crowd Oct. 3, challenging the audience to contemplate the question of what it truly means to be human and to be alive. His presentation at the Kelowna Community Theatre was the first in this season's UBC Distinguished Speaker Series. "When the 7,000 cultures of the world respond to the question of what it means to be human and alive, they do so in 7,000 different voices and those answers collectively become our human repertoire in dealing with the challenges that confront us as a species for the ensuing centuries," said B.C.-born Davis.
Nursing workshop designed to build better approach to palliative care Nurses in rural areas often feel inadequately prepared to assist patients Rural nurses face vast challenges in delivering palliative care in remote areas. So UBC's Okanagan campus and Selkirk College are combining forces to provide specialized education for nurses in remote areas of the Kootenays. UBC and Selkirk are hosting a two-day workshop on Wednesday and Thursday, October 24 and 25. The workshop is part of the Enhancing Educational Capacity for a Palliative Approach in Rural Nursing at Selkirk College's Castlegar campus to better prepare rural nurses in palliative care. Rural nurses have practice challenges when it comes to delivering specialized care in isolated settings where there are limited resources, says Barb Pesut, Canada Research Chair in Health, Ethics and Diversity and an associate professor of nursing at UBC's Okanagan campus.
Thrive organized for November 5 to 9 How can you Thrive at UBC? This year's Thrive week begins on November 5 and features a huge selection of events to help staff and faculty engage with their campus community. The week will kick off with a pancake breakfast with Provost Wes Pue, a free flu clinic, lunch and learn, smudging ceremony and zumba class on the Monday. The rest of the week will include a selection of healthy and engaging activities to keep UBC thriving. Employees can take advantage of two talks on the science of happiness by psychologist Mark Holder (Increasing Your Positive Well-Being and Evidence-Based Methods to Create Well-Being), as well as cooking demonstrations, workshops and several yoga sessions. To find out more visit the full events schedule or the Thrive website. UBC Digital*U mobile apps contest What kind of mobile app would make UBC a better place? Students, faculty and staff are invited to propose a new mobile app or service that could dramatically enhance the UBC online experience. It can be for fun, function, or achieving one of UBC's global missions. First prize wins $5,000 cash. Second prize wins $3,000. The contest closes on January 15, 2013. Submissions must include a presentation, demonstration (prototype or storyboard), video, and a proposal. Judging will be based equally on originality, feasibility, potential impact and benefit to UBC. To find out more visit Media and Graphics Interdisciplinary Centre website or email digitalu@magic.ubc.ca. School of Engineering makes connections The latest edition of the School of Engineering's SOE Connect is now online to read, download and share. SOE Connect is an annual report on items of interest to the school. Activities, achievements, and the latest news about the school are highlighted. Download the September 2012 edition from the School of Engineering website. Bringing the UBC brand to life This new website includes information about our brand, how to incorporate it into a wide range of projects, artwork and template downloads, and examples of how UBC units have applied the brand to their projects, to help inspire others. This is the first version and the UBC Brand Office is committed to improving the site. Feel free to provide your comments and suggestions via the feedback form. Equity Enhancement Fund applications due Oct. 31 Members of the campus community have until October 31 to apply to the Equity Enhancement Fund -- a program established to help provide funding for new initiatives designed to enhance equity on campus. In March 2012 the fund provided a total of $17,800 to the following Okanagan campus initiatives:
Guidelines for the fund can be viewed on the Equity Enhancement Fund Guidelines website. The funding is available to any academic or administrative unit with the endorsement of the unit or department head. To find out more, or to submit a proposal, contact Associate Vice President Equity Tom Patch.
UBC's Hallisey Atrium dedicated to engineer, business leader An expansive, light-filled atrium in the University of British Columbia's new Engineering, Management and Education building in Kelowna has been dedicated to the memory of the late Richard S. Hallisey. Hallisey, who passed away in 2011, was a UBC-educated professional engineer who enjoyed a successful career in engineering and as a business leader. Born in Lytton, BC, he moved to Kelowna at the age of 15. He graduated from the UBC in 1963 with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in civil and geological engineering. After working in the oil fields of Alberta, Hallisey completed a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1968. He then launched his career in Canada's financial capital on Toronto's Bay Street, starting with Pitfield McKay Ross as an oil and gas analyst. In 1978, he co-founded First Marathon Securities Limited, where his passion for mining and the impact it had on communities around the world allowed him to develop global mining projects and financing structures that touched the lives of thousands in Canada and abroad.
School of Nursing earns top fundraiser honours Hearty congratulations go out to the School of Nursing team that participated in the CIBC Run for the Cure on September 30. The team -- composed of faculty, students and staff from the school -- raised $7,608 for the event and earned the Top Post Secondary Team in British Columbia award. They were also one of the top 10 fundraising teams in Canada.
UBC professors examine residential schools at symposium Right to truth, reconciliation among goals of UBC Indigenous Studies professors Margo Tamez and Greg Younging returned recently from delivering talks at the Carlisle Symposium in Pennsylvania. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was the first off-reservation boarding school, and it became a model for Indian boarding schools in both the United States and Canada. "Most, if not all Canadian residential schools were based on the model of Carlisle -- it was the ultimate regimented industrial model of assimilation in its day," says Tamez, who is a faculty member with the Indigenous Studies program in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences. The symposium brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, leaders, elders, artists, and community members to share their knowledge, research and experiences.
UBC professor part of study showing weed takes care of its own Biology Prof. John Klironomos of the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences is co-author of a study with colleagues at McMaster University and the University of Guelph that shows that ragweed behaves altruistically with its siblings, investing precious resources for the benefit of the group. Findings are published in the online journal PLOS ONE.
Upcoming HR workshops
Open forum: Research and IT Faculty members are invited to an Open Forum to address Research and IT requirements and challenges at UBC's Okanagan campus. Topics for discussion will include the Research IT Support Advisory Committee, research and IT support initiatives as well as research priorities and opportunities for IT support. Date: Wednesday, Nov. 21 This forum is open to all faculty members and researchers. To RSVP, contact Andrea Osachoff, administrative and special projects coordinator. Workshops at a glance Here are some professional development workshops for faculty and staff at UBC's Okanagan campus over the next few weeks: For a full listing visit the Okanagan campus events calendar. |
OKANAGAN CAMPUS News • Judge zombies not, lest ye be judged People • UBC's Hallisey Atrium dedicated to engineer, business leader Research Spotlight • UBC professors examine residential schools at symposium
Hypertension in Zambia: primary care aspects in urban and rural areas Dr. Fastone Goma is an active lecturer and researcher in cardiovascular sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Zambia. He will be in Kelowna this week for a talk on hypertension in Zambia and a panel discussion on global health research initiatives. Dr. Goma is the principle investigator on the project "Understanding Hypertension as experienced by Zambian adults and their Health Care Professionals," which was conducted with members of the School of Nursing. Date: Thursday, Oct. 18 There is no charge for this seminar but registration is required. Don't stay in your office for coffee this Friday Sponsored by Facilities Management, all faculty and staff are invited to the next Pitstop for coffee on Friday. Coffee, tea and a variety of pastries will be served for only $2 per person. All proceeds will be donated to the Okanagan campus United Way campaign.
Cures for hunger FCCS Visiting Author Series features Deni Y. BÉchard on October 21 The second event of this year's FCCS Visiting Authors Series is on October 21 at the downtown Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library. It will feature B.C.-born author and journalist Deni Y. Béchard. Béchard's recently-published memoir, Cures for Hunger, describes growing up with his father who was a bank robber and has been Amazon Canada's editor's pick as the best memoir/biography of 2012. He is currently working on Empty Hands, Open Arms, a book about conservation in the Congo rainforest. Books will be on sale at the event. Date: Sunday, Oct. 21 To find out more contact Melissa McHugh at 250-807-9648 or Sonnet L'Abbe at 250-807-8897. Peeking at peak oil: the tap of the Canadian oil sands Kjell Aleklett, professor of global energy systems at Uppsala University in Sweden, will be on campus on October 23 to discuss the major social and economic impacts of the peak of the oil age. This presentation is part of the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences' Unit 7 Seminar Series. Date: Tuesday, Oct. 23 Open Access forum: the democratization of knowledge Moderated by Provost Wesley Pue, this discussion will provide insight into how the open access movement is democratizing access to scholarly publications and transforming higher education. The panel at this event will include Barbara Sobol, Learning Services Librarian, discussing the global movement to Open Access, Peter Arthur, director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning discussing Open Access education and Lawrence Berg, professor of critical human geography discussing Open Access journals. Date: Tuesday, Oct. 23 To RSVP for this forum, email Lynne McPherson. Staying mobile: the secret to ageing well? As one ages, it's natural for the body to start slowing down. Muscles weaken, joints wear out and bones start losing strength. Join UBC experts in bone and hip health for a panel discussion about mobility and get some practical tips to help you maintain your body, mind and independence into the later years. Panelists at this event include:
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 24 There is no charge, but online registration is required.
Spanish Film Series: Yo también The Spanish Program and Latin American & Iberian Studies present a screening of the film Yo también on October 26. There is no charge for admittance and the film will be presented with subtitles in English. Date: Friday, Oct. 26
United Way used The United Way used book sale has been organized for October 30. Prices are a steal for fiction, non-fiction, children's books, cook books, CDs and DVDs. The book sale runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Fipke Centre foyer. To find out more visit the United Way campaign website. Donations needed Donations are now being collected for this sale. Free up some space at home or the office, while supporting the United Way. Drop off all donations to the library by October 29 or contact Sarah Stang, Okanagan campus United Way Campaign Chair, at 250-807-9606. Preparation H-alloween An opportunity for students to celebrate Halloween while learning more about how to have a safe evening. Preparation H-alloween will feature a costume party, condom contest, a drunken driving exposé, mocktails, and a candy apple station. Date: Wednesday, Oct. 31 To find out more contact Melissa Feddersen, Health and Wellness research coordinator. Farming the city: a future of localized food The Cultural Studies program's next AlterKnowledge Discussion Series event takes place next on November 7. The discussion at this event will focus on urban food production, the culture and economy of food, and the future of farmers' markets. A screening of the short film Screening of A Growing Vision, which was produced by UBC cultural studies student Ethan Foster, will also be featured. The panel at this event includes Ethan Foster, Curtis Stone owner and operator of Green City Acres and Matt Klasen, local food activist. Date: Wednesday, Nov. 7 To find out more about this discussion, contact David Jefferess, associate professor of cultural studies and English.
Everything is connected "We must now speak environment, economy, foreign policy, health and human rights in the same breath," says Sheila Watt-Cloutier. "Everything is connected." In this truly globe-spanning talk, Watt-Cloutier -- renowned citizen advocate on Arctic climate change -- provides a clear, meaningful, and comprehensive understanding of the way these issues are interconnected, and what it means for the future of our planet. Watt-Cloutier will speak in Vernon on November 14 as part of UBC's Distinguished Speaker Series sponsored by the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences. Date: Wednesday, Nov. 14 There is no charge for this talk but online registration is required. Global Gala 2012 Global Nursing Citizens, a fourth-year group of nursing students who are heading to Ghana and Zambia in March, have organized a fundraiser gala on November 17. Global Gala 2012 will feature a three-course meal, cash bar, silent auction, and live entertainment with proceeds going to UBC's African Health Initiatives. The group hopes to raise $15,000 to help students provide necessary supplies and equipment while in Africa. Date: Saturday, Nov. 17 Tickets are $45 each or $350 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets or find out more, contact the organizers at globalgala.ubco@gmail.com. What's Happening on campus The Okanagan campus events calendar is the central point for online information about university-related events, on and off campus. Events at a Glance:
For a full listing visit the Okanagan campus events calendar.
Exchange your information The Exchange is your newsletter. Let everyone know what's going on in your corner of campus. Send submissions to University Relations c/o Chris Guenard.
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