University of British Columbia (UBC) Podcasts

Focus UBC: Opera 101

2008-07-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

Hear Professor Stephen J. Toope talk about what the University has been doing over the last few years followed by Head of the Voice and Opera Division Nancy Hermiston during Focus UBC: New York featuring Opera 101. Don’t miss the opera performances by UBC student and New York Met award recipient Simone Osborne. (Sponsored by UBC Alumni Affairs, originally presented on 22-Apr-2008)

The Shake, the Rattle and the Pole: Vancouver's Striptease Past, 1945-1980

2008-06-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

Hear Socilogy and Women's Studies Professor Becki Ross talk about the complex world of professional female burlesque/ striptease in postwar Vancouver.

Mountain Pine Beetle: Nature Catches Up with an Overmature Forest

2008-06-05T14:18:00.002-07:00

Hear Forestry Professor, John McLean discuss the destruction caused by the pine beetle and options for future forest management.

The Ch'nook Entrepreneurship Story: UBC and the Aboriginal Community

2008-06-05T14:18:00.001-07:00

Hear Academic Director of the UBC Ch'nook Aboringinal Business Education, Dr. John Claxton talk about the innovative program.

How to Create, Write and Produce Your Own TV Show

2008-06-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

Even wondered what it's like behind the scenes of a popular TV show? Panel participants, Cal Shumiatcher, BA'81, Mark McGuckin, BA'04, and Calum MacLeaod, BA'03, of Road Hockey Rumble fame, provide insights into "the biz" of running your own TV program.

The Loonie: What does it Mean for You and Me?

2008-06-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hear UBC Finance Professor Maurice Levi talk about the recent appreciation of the loonie and what is behind the major movement in our nation's currency.

What Makes People Happy

2008-06-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

For many centuries, thinkers have been trying to unravel the source of a happy and fulfilling life. Hear UBC Psychology Graduate Student, Lara Aknin, BA' 05, talk about why people often misunderstand what makes them happy. Please note, due to a technical error the first part of this lecture is missing.

Presidents in Reflection

2008-05-24T14:49:00.001-07:00

Hear UBC President, Prof. Stephen Toope and two of his predecessors, Dr. Martha Piper (UBC's 11th President & Vice-Chancellor) and Dr. David Strangway (UBC's 10th President & Vice-Chancellor) discuss their experiences as leaders of UBC. Hear about their inspirations, challenges, successes, memories and hopes for the future.

Security Integration and Rights Disintegration in the War on Terror (International Human Rights Lecture 3/3)

2008-04-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

After 9/11, the US pressured other states to integrate their police, intelligence and military with US security systems and policy. According to Maureen Webb, Canada has been in the forefront of complying states. She shares her views on how measures such as Project AO Canada (which left Maher Arar and other Canadians exposed to torture), the Anti-terrorism Act, the Smart Border Agreement, the Security and Prosperity Partnership, the Safe Third Country Agreement, the Security Certificates system, global surveillance initiatives and the military mission in Afghanistan have resulted in Canada violating international legal obligations to refugees, immigrants, criminal suspects, prisoners of war and Canadian citizens. Ms. Webb also discusses consequences for Canadians and the cost to democracy. (A special lecture offered by Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and UBC Continuing Studies, originally presented on 15-March-2008.)

Bush's War on the Rule of Law (International Human Rights Lecture 2/3)

2008-04-01T16:15:00.001-07:00

Professor Marjorie Cohn analyzes the six major ways she feels the Bush administration has violated US and international law. In her view, since 9/11 the Bush administration has used the "war on terror" as an excuse for the illegal invasion of other countries, torture, illegal spying on Americans, summary executions and willful killing, the Guantánamo Gulag and refusal to execute the law. Professor Cohn also discusses political responses and explains legal remedies. (A special lecture offered by Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and UBC Continuing Studies, originally presented on 23-Feb-2008.)

The Development of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (International Human Rights Lecture 1/3)

2008-04-01T16:13:00.001-07:00

The Honourable Claire L'Heureux-Dubé traces the development of international human rights and humanitarian law from the early days of the League of Nations, to the formation of the United Nations and the historic signing of the UN Charter, to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and on to the creation of the major human rights instruments and their incorporation into domestic legal systems around the world. (A special lecture offered by Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and UBC Continuing Studies, originally presented on 26-Jan-2008.)

UBC's Centenary Celebrated in Victoria

2008-03-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

On March 7, 1908, the University Act was signed in Victoria. 100 years later fellow UBC alumni join in Victoria to celebrate. Dr. Patricia Roy (BA'60, PhD'70), Professor Emerita, Department of History, University of Victoria delivers the keynote address. Dr. Roy speaks about Victoria in 1908 - the political and social environment that created a provincial university. (A special event sponsored by UBC Alumni Affairs, originally presented on 07-Mar-2008)

Saving Tuna: Lessons from Cod Mismanagement

2008-02-19T16:28:00.003-08:00

At the AAAS news briefing in Boston, MA, UBC Professor Daniel Pauly joins Stanford's Barbara Block, World Wildlife Fund's Jose Ingles, and UBC Professor Rashid Sumaila in arguing that tuna may follow cod to possible extinction unless we change how we approach managing both migratory species and the broader ecosystem they inhabit. Pauly introduces the overall issues, Block argues that the "sushi economy" is pushing tuna to the brink of collapse, Ingles asks governments and NGO's to help protect juvenile tuna in the Coral Triangle by removing fish aggregation devices and implementing trans-boundary marine parks, and Sumaila posits the question, "Whose fish are we eating – ours or our grandchildrens'?", and says we must act now as if we are negotiating with future generations on catch levels in order to tackle the problem of overfishing. For more information on the AAAS Conference, visit www.ubc.ca/aaas. (Originally presented on 18-Feb-2008)

UBC President Toope on Campus 2020: Why Higher Education Matters

2007-10-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

Prof. Stephen Toope, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of British Columbia, discusses the Geoff Plant report on higher education, Campus 2020, and why three of its recommendations to the provincial government in particular require urgent attention. (Originally presented at the Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon on 30-Oct-2007)

Pancake Breakfast with UBC President Professor Stephen Toope and Aliette Sheinin (Alumni Weekend 2007 Presentation 6/6)

2007-09-15T16:30:00.005-07:00

UBC’s 12th president, Professor Stephen Toope and PhD candidate and Trudeau Scholar, Aliette Shenin, engage in a conversation about the student experience at UBC. Fuel your body and mind! In addition to her research in education, Ms. Shenin has immersed herself in research on climate change in Alaska, internally-displaced people in Africa, ecotourism in New Zealand and endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Uganda.

Join alumni, friends and family for this inspirational start to the day and learn how Professor Toope views UBC students as global citizens and how Ms. Shenin is using her UBC education across the globe. (A special Alumni Weekend 2007 presentation sponsored by UBC Alumni Affairs, originally presented on 15-Sep-2007)

Sustainability Panel: Actions that Make a Difference (Alumni Weekend 2007 Presentation 5/6)

2007-09-15T16:30:00.004-07:00

How big is your ecological footprint and what can you do to make it smaller? Sustainability: Actions that Make a Difference is a panel discussion moderated by UBC’s new Director of Sustainability, Charlene Easton, with Dr. John Robinson, Dr. Kathryn Harrison, Dr. Bill Rees, and second year Land and Food Systems student Tiffany Wong. How can alumni help UBC advance its leadership in sustainability? Don’t miss the discussion that will change your view of the world. (A special Alumni Weekend 2007 presentation sponsored by UBC Alumni Affairs, originally presented on 15-Sep-2007)

Eat Your Words: A Linguistic and Behavioural Profile of the Psychopathic Offender (Alumni Weekend 2007 Presentation 4/6)

2007-09-15T16:30:00.003-07:00

Why do homicidal psychopaths talk about food when they confess their crimes? Psychopaths are cold and callous individuals who often mimic appropriate emotional behaviour to ease interactions with others. Join UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Woodworth for this insightful lecture which considers both the criminal behaviour of psychopathic offenders as well as their own accounts of these incidents. (A special Alumni Weekend 2007 presentation sponsored by UBC Alumni Affairs, originally presented on 15-Sep-2007)

Ed Hundert on Arts One: Surviving The Bonfire of the Humanities (Alumni Weekend 2007 Presentation 3/6)

2007-09-15T16:30:00.002-07:00

Arts One, begun in 1967 as an experimental seminar- and tutorial- based program in the humanities, quickly became an established institution at UBC, one chosen by some of the university’s most promising and academically successful first-year students….but can it survive? Professor Hundert, an Arts One veteran professor of more than 12 years and past director of the program will explore how Arts One fits – or doesn’t fit – into the transformed academic environment of a research-based university. (A special Alumni Weekend 2007 presentation sponsored by UBC Alumni Affairs, originally presented on 15-Sep-2007)

Dr. Robert L. Evans on Renewable Energy (Alumni Weekend 2007 Presentation 2/6)

2007-09-15T16:30:00.001-07:00

Dr. Evans, UBC Engineering professor, will tackle the prospect of global climate change brought about primarily by our prolific energy use and heavy dependence on fossil fuels. Learn how all of our energy needs are supplied from just three primary energy sources, why some proposed solutions are more sustainable than others and how the link between energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions can be broken. (A special Alumni Weekend 2007 presentation sponsored by UBC Alumni Affairs, originally presented on 15-Sep-2007)

The Ageing Brain: How to Age Successfully (Alumni Weekend 2007 Presentation 1/6)

2007-09-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Dr. Max Cynader is Director of the Brain Research Centre, a Canada Research Chair in Brain Development, and a Professor of Ophthalmology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and a Fellow of the Order of British Columbia. Come hear him speak on how to age successfully, diseases of the aging brain, and what you can do to cope. (A special Alumni Weekend 2007 presentation sponsored by UBC Alumni Affairs, originally presented on 15-Sep-2007)

The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Eating Locally

2007-05-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

This book chronicles Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon's attempt to feed themselves for a year on food grown and produced within 100 miles of Vancouver.

The publishers describes The 100-Mile Diet as "The remarkable, amusing and inspiring adventures of a Canadian couple who make a year-long attempt to eat foods grown and produced within a 100-mile radius of their apartment.

When Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon learned that the average ingredient in a North American meal travels 1,500 miles from farm to plate, they decided to launch a simple experiment to reconnect with the people and places that produced what they ate. For one year, they would only consume food that came from within a 100-mile radius of their Vancouver apartment. The 100-Mile Diet was born.

The couple’s discoveries sometimes shook their resolve. It would be a year without sugar, Cheerios, olive oil, rice, Pizza Pops, beer, and much, much more. Yet local eating has turned out to be a life lesson in pleasures that are always close at hand. They met the revolutionary farmers and modern-day hunter-gatherers who are changing the way we think about food. They got personal with issues ranging from global economics to biodiversity. They called on the wisdom of grandmothers, and immersed themselves in the seasons. They discovered a host of new flavours, from gooseberry wine to sunchokes to turnip sandwiches, foods that they never would have guessed were on their doorstep.

The 100-Mile Diet struck a deeper chord than anyone could have predicted, attracting media and grassroots interest that spanned the globe. The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating tells the full story, from the insights to the kitchen disasters, as the authors transform from megamart shoppers to self-sufficient urban pioneers. The 100-Mile Diet is a pathway home for anybody, anywhere."

Call me naive, but I never knew that flour would be struck from our 100-Mile Diet. Wheat products are just so ubiquitous, “the staff of life,” that I had hazily imagined the stuff must be grown everywhere. But of course: I had never seen a field of wheat anywhere close to Vancouver, and my mental images of late-afternoon light falling on golden fields of grain were all from my childhood on the Canadian prairies. What I was able to find was Anita’s Organic Grain & Flour Mill, about 60 miles up the Fraser River valley. I called, and learned that Anita’s nearest grain suppliers were at least 800 miles away by road. She sounded sorry for me. Would it be a year until I tasted a pie? (A Talk of the Town public lecture originally presented on 14-May-2007)

My Best UBC Memories

2007-05-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

In this special podcast compilation of audio clips, a number of 2007 University of British Columbia graduating students speak on how their time at UBC has influenced their personal and professional growth.

Each of the graduates is featured in the May 2007 edition of UBC Reports, the university's monthly news publication.

To read these graduates' complete stories, or to learn about the latest research and teaching achievements at UBC via e-mail subscription, visit www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

2007-03-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

My new friends have begun to suspect I haven't told them the full story of my life.

"Why did you leave Sierra Leone?"

"Because there is a war."

"You mean, you saw people running around with guns and shooting each other?"

"Yes, all the time."

"Cool."

I smile a little.

"You should tell us about it sometime."

"Yes, sometime."

This is how wars are fought now: by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. Children have become soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. What is war like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But until now, there has not been a first-person account from someone who came through this hell and survived.

Beah came to the United States when he was seventeen and graduated from Oberlin College in 2004. He is a member of Human Rights Watch Children's Division Advisory Committee and has spoken before the United Nations on several occasions. He lives in New York City.

In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now 26 years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty. (A UBC Talk of the Town public lecture originally presented on 29-Mar-2007)

2007 Great Trekker Alumni Luncheon

2007-03-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

Local UBC Toronto Alumni and Great Trekker award recipients, John Turner, BA'49, LLD'94, Allan Fotheringham, BA'54, and the late Pierre Berton, BA'41, DLit'85, connected through UBC and kept their UBC spirit alive in Toronto. Years ago, they created a tradition with an annual luncheon which we brought back with the Great Trekker Alumni Luncheon.

Hear Professor Stephen Toope "in conversation" with UBC Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Frank Iacobucci (BCom'61, LLB'62, LLD'89).

A Justice of the Supreme Court until his retirement in 2004, Frank Iacobucci has shared his professional insight broadly, providing guidance to private practice, academia and government as well as the judiciary. He has stated that the noblest attribute of membership in a profession is service to both clients and the public, and in this he has been exemplary. He was a law professor and Dean of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, then a high-ranking university administrator, including a period as the interim president of the University of Toronto. During the 1980's, he was Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada before being appointed Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada.

Frank Iacobucci is current holder of the Walter S. Owen (visiting) Chair, the first endowed chair in the Faculty of Law at UBC. In 1993, he was appointed Commendatore dell'Ordine Al Merito by the Republic of Italy. In 1999 he became an Honorary Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge University (where he completed his Masters and a diploma in International Law), and also of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

He has received eleven honorary doctorates, including one form UBC, and received the UBC Law Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and the UBC Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. (A UBC Alumni Association luncheon event originally presented on 26-Mar-2007)

Campus Architecture and Urban Design: UCLA Case Study

2007-03-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

Learn about the architectural challenges facing the UBC Vancouver Campus through a case study of the University of California Los Angeles featuring UCLA campus architect Jeffrey Averill. Using the development of the distinctive and visually-unified architectural style of the UCLA campus, Mr. Averill presents techniques for improving the architectural image and urban design using a prescribed pallette of building materials.

Following the lecture component of this presentation, UBC respondents consisting of architect Bryce Rositch, chair of the UBC Board of Governors' Property and Planning Committee, architect Joyce Drohan, who chairs the UBC Advisory Urban Design Panel, and art history and design professor Rhodri Windsor-Liscombe provide their viewpoints on the comparisons and contrasts between UBC and UCLA campuses.

Jeffrey Averill is the Campus Architect for the University of California, Los Angeles, and has been practicing architecture for over 25 years as a member of numerous offices around the World. A graduate of the Master's of Architecture degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Mr. Averill was also a Principal with Johnson Fain Partners where he managed a number of large design projects, including the new MGM Tower in Sacremento. He joined UCLA Capital Programs in early 2001 as a Project Manager responsible for a new laboratory building, and in June 2003, he was formally appointed Campus Architect and Director of Design Services. He currently serves as vice-chair of the City of Los Angeles Westwood Design Review Board. (A Vancouver Campus Plan Speakers Series lecture originally presented on 22-Mar-2007)

Campus and Student Life at UBC

2007-03-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

Is there a place on campus where you really feel connected to UBC? Join Dr. Peggy Patterson and participants in this "World Cafe" discussion, the third presentation of the UBC Campus Plan Speaker Series, as they consider how physical space can generate a campus lifestyle where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and residents connect as a community. In this event, participants draw from their experiences at UBC and respond to questions about those places on campus which they feel have special meaning, and where they feel connected to UBC and to learning. Dr. Patterson highlights some common characteristics among these successful spaces, and offers a model for campus and student connections that links the level of social connectedness to a range of factors, including campus design, public spaces, academic mission, and educators.

Dr. Peggy Patterson is a Professor in the Graduate Division of Educational Research at the University of Calgary and the Co-coordinator of the Higher Education Leadership specialization. With 28 years as an academic administrator, adjunct faculty member, and graduate supervisor at both U of C and the University of Guelph, she is a student of Higher Education, as well as a leader and educator. Her passion and her professional research interests focus on students, their learning and their development. She is also the Director of the Canadian Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CCSHE) - an initiative that will bring attention, research interest and collaborative activity to this exciting area. Dr. Patterson’s efforts have earned her recognition with numerous awards and honours at both the University of Calgary and internationally. Ultimately, Dr. Patterson has made colleges and universities better places for all students through her inspiration and leadership. (A Vancouver Campus Plan Speakers Series lecture originally presented on 22-Mar-2007)

An Evening With a Nobel Laureate

2007-03-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

Nobel Laureate and UBC Prof. Carl Wieman talks about his passion for science education and why he decided to come to Canada to join UBC in January, 2007. This Celebrate Research Week event was hosted at UBC's Robson Square campus by Prof. Sid Katz, Executive Director, Community Relations. (A Celebrate Research Week lecture originally presented on 09-Mar-2007)

Focus UBC: Victoria

2007-02-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

Professor Stephen Toope visited alumni in Victoria for the first time since his Inauguration. At this event, he was joined “In Conversation” by special guest Don Avison, President of The University President Council. Together, they discussed not only the future of UBC, but the future of higher education in Canada and beyond.

Be sure to update your email and mailing address so you can be notified the next time Professor Toope is in your area. To update your information or learn more about future UBC Alumni events, visit www.alumni.ubc.ca. (A UBC Alumni Association event originally presented on 19-Feb-2007)

Future Trends and Implications for Physical Learning Environments

2007-02-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

Explore the future of higher education in the first Vancouver Campus Plan Speaker Series presentation, as William J. Flynn examines critical changes that are unfolding in the way students learn. Advances in digital technology, in particular, have tremendous implications not only for the way institutions educate, but also for the physical planning of campuses. Learn how universities and colleges, including UBC, can adapt to these changes by using new forms of learning environments, and by shifting the focus of contemporary pedagogy from teaching to learning.

Mr. Flynn is the Director for the U.S. Council for Continuing Education & Training (NCCET) and has presented more than 130 keynote addresses, seminars and forums across the United States and Canada. Flynn is also an accomplished educator with over 30 years experience working as faculty and administrator, as well as a published author of numerous articles on teaching and learning. His critical views on higher education target such issues as the impact of technology on teaching and learning, lifelong learning, and trends in workforce development. (A Vancouver Campus Plan Speakers Series lecture originally presented on 05-Feb-2007)

Professor Toope Visits UBC Alumni in Hong Kong

2007-02-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

Professor Stephen Toope visited Hong Kong for the first time since his Inauguration. At this private event, he spoke to UBC alumni about the overwhelming welcome he has received since joining the UBC community. He expressed that alumni engagement must be a priority and that the Asia-Pacific connection, in particular, is fundamental to UBC and its success.

Professor Toope will visit Hong Kong again soon, so be sure to update your email and mailing address so you can be notified. To update your information or learn more about future UBC Alumni events, visit www.alumni.ubc.ca. (A UBC Alumni Association event originally presented on 02-Feb-2007)

Cultures on the Edge

2006-11-08T18:54:00.001-08:00

Wade Davis is an anthropologist, botanist, and best-selling author. He spent more than three years in the Amazon and Andes as a plant explorer, living among 15 indigenous groups in eight Latin American nations while making some 6,000 botanical collections. Davis' work later took him to Haiti to investigate folk preparations implicated in the creation of zombies, an assignment that led to his writing Passage of Darkness (1988) and The Serpent and the Rainbow (1986).

Please join Davis as he takes you on a journey through the realm of vanishing cultures, using compassion, eloquence and expertise to illustrate the pressing need for preserving and protecting the vast knowledge, language, wisdom and world views of indigenous cultures. (Originally presented on 08-Nov-2006)

Anxiety and Fear: The Range from Adaptive to Disabling

2006-11-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

UBC Psychology Professor Sheila Woody, an expert on anxiety disorders and fear, talks about disorders such as panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias. She will explore the range of fear from everyday adaptive responses to the disabling extremes of anxiety disorders. (Originally presented as an Arts Wednesday lecture on 08-Nov-2006)

Sugar and Spice: Understanding Girls' Meanness

2006-11-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

UBC Sociology Professor Dawn Currie, expert on gender and girl studies, addresses 'girlhood' as an important social phenomenon -- one that can restrict a girl's self-image. (Originally presented as an Arts Wednesday lecture on 01-Nov-2006)

Digitizing the News

2006-10-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

Industry experts and UBC scholars address the consequences of worldwide access to news though on-line media, and assess its impact on current and future journalism. Moderated by Prof. Ira Nadel, UBC Department of English, the panel features Kirk La Pointe, Managing Editor, The Vancouver Sun; Luciana Duranti, UBC School of Library and Archival Science; and Alf Hermida, UBC School of Journalism. (Originally presented as an Arts Wednesday lecture on 11-Oct-2006)

Great Cities and Great Universities

2006-10-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

Universities are essential to both economic and social innovation. They are incubators of ideas; incubators of companies; and incubators of social change. That is why universities are fundamental to the health of our society. In a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade, UBC President Prof. Stephen Toope outlines some of the points of connection between UBC and the community, and discusses his vision for strengthen those ties. (Originally presented as an address to The Vancouver Board of Trade on 05-Oct-2006)

Older Adults with Dementia: Families and Nurses Giving Care

2006-09-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

As the number of persons who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias increases, families will continue to be faced with the challenges, rewards and complexities of giving care to a loved one. In this talk by UBC Nursing Associate Professor Jo-Ann Perry, we will visit some of the experiences of wives, husbands, daughters and sons as they tell their stories during in-depth interviews. In addition, some of the issues that emerge when kin have been placed in long term care facilities will be discussed. (Lecture originally presented as part of Alumni Weekend 2006 on 30-Sep-2006)

Crime Scene Investigation @ UBC: Is What You See on TV Actually Possible?

2006-09-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

The BOLD Forensic Lab at UBC studies methods of applying modern scientific techniques to crime scene evidence. Police investigators from Canada and around the world use BOLD as a resource to solve crime and keep people safe. BOLD's Director, Dr. David Sweet, is continually asked by movie directors and crime novelists for up-to-date information on what is possible and what is not. This one-hour talk by one of the world's leading experts on the analysis of trace evidence from unsolved cold cases will inform you and entertain you. Listen and discover how forensic science is used in actual investigations to prosecute the guilty and free the innocent. (Lecture originally presented as part of Alumni Weekend 2006 on 30-Sep-2006)

On Thinning Ice - Challenges to Canadian Sovereignty in the Northwest Passage

2006-09-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Climate change is opening up the Northwest Passage and reviving a dispute between the United States and Canada over who controls the potentially lucrative shipping route. The United States calls the passage an international strait, open to all. Canada claims control because it considers the passage an internal waterway. Until recently, the decades-long dispute has been mostly academic; thick sea-ice blocks the passage for about 11 months of the year. But as global temperatures rise and polar ice caps melt, the ice-free season may lengthen, making the Northwest Passage a viable shipping route within decades or, the U.S. Navy says, even a few years.

Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. Prior to 2005, he was a Professor of Law and Director of Canadian Studies at Duke University; from 1996-1999 he was a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford. Professor Byers writes and teaches on issues of military force, the laws of war, international human rights, the law of the sea, and Canada-US relations. He is the author of War Law: Understanding International Law and Armed Conflict (New York: Grove / Atlantic, 2006). (Lecture originally presented as part of Alumni Weekend 2006 on 30-Sep-2006)

Beautiful Thing

2006-09-18T16:52:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what it was like to step onto the stage on opening night? The Theatre at UBC Podcast Series provides an intimate glimpse into the process of mounting a theatrical work. Catch this, the premiere of the series, and listen in as we prepare for the first show of Theatre at UBC's 54th Season -- and the Vancouver premiere of Jonathan Harvey's acclaimed play, Beautiful Thing.

This podcast features original music by Patrick Pennefather, interviews with director Stephen Heatley and his cast of 5th year BFA acting students from Theatre at UBC's acclaimed acting program: Ira Cooper, Kevin Kraussler, Evan Frayne, Olivia Rameau, and Joanna Rannelli.

First performed in 1993 at the Bush Theatre in London, Beautiful Thing was a West End hit and won author Jonathan Harvey an Olivier nomination as well as the John Whiting Award. This celebrated play was subsequently made into a BBC film and developed a cult following. The play completed successful revivals in London's West End, Chicago and San Francisco in 2006.

For more information on Theatre at UBC, visit www.theatre.ubc.ca.

Discoveries in Organic Chemistry

2006-03-20T22:51:00.000-08:00

Dr. David Dolphin, University of British Columbia professor emeritus, speaks of his discoveries at an Ottawa dinner on March 20, 2006 on receiving the 2005 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. Canada's most prestigious science award comes with a guarantee of $1 million in research funding over the next five years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

Dr. Dolphin was honoured for his work on Visudyne, a blindness treatment growing out of his interests in organic chemistry and the basis for the global pharmaceutical company he co-founded, QLT Inc. (A speech made by Dr. David Dolphin on his acceptance of the 2005 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering on 20-Mar-2006)

The Biotech Context

2006-03-13T22:01:00.000-08:00

David Suzuki is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster, and is well known to millions as the host of CBC's popular science television series, The Nature of Things. An internationally respected geneticist, David Suzuki was a full Professor at the University of British Columbia from 1969 until his retirement in 2001. Currently, he is a professor emeritus with UBC's Sustainable Development Research Institute. Through his role as chair of the David Suzuki Foundation, is widely recognized as a world leader in sustainable ecology. He is the author of more than 40 books, the most recent of which is entitled David Suzuki, The Autobiography (April 2006).

David writes, "As a geneticist, I am thrilled and excited with the profound insights and manipulative powers acquired by molecular biologists. I am absolutely sure there will be important applications that will be derived from this technological prowess. However, I also believe it is far too premature to begin to apply these techniques for medical treatments, food, or to condone the release of manipulated organisms into the wild (like salmon or trees). While our acquisition of knowledge has been stunning, biotechnology is an infant field where our technological dexterity has not been matched by our understanding of the complex interactions and interconnections that make an organism and community of organisms what they are. Nor does this knowledge guarantee its confident and ethical use in the arenas of economics or politics. In this talk, I will present my case for the hazards of our current rush to apply this limited knowledge." (A Global Citizenship Seminar Series seminar originally presented on 13-Mar-2006)

UBC Discovery Tour

2006-03-09T00:06:00.000-08:00

The UBC Discovery Tour podcast was developed as a unique way for Grade 11-12 students in BC's Lower Mainland to experience the UBC campus during Celebrate Research Week 2006, an exciting week packed with events from all Faculties showcasing amazing researchers and their work at UBC. (A special podcast produced by UBC Community Affairs for Celebrate Research Week 2006, originally presented on 09-Mar-2006)

Killer Germs: Confronting the Global Menace

2006-02-28T22:51:00.001-08:00

"The world may be on the brink of another pandemic. All countries will be affected. Widespread illness will occur." - World Health Organization, 2005

13 million people a year die from infectious diseases worldwide. In the next hour, more than 1,500 will have died from infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever, and cholera. New diseases are constantly emerging, and microbes are becoming resistant to cheap and effective "first-line" drugs.

Award winning microbiologist and UBC Peter Wall Distinguished Professor, Dr. Brett Finlay speaks about how modern science and technology provide new ways to prevent and treat diseases.

Not just for the future doctors and scientists of the world, this fascinating discussion sheds light on an issue that should be on everyone's mind. (An Office of UBC International Global Citizenship Speakers Series lecture originally presented on 28-Feb-2006)

From Brazil to Banda Aceh and Beyond: UBC Students Reflect on Global Citizenship

2006-01-30T23:27:00.001-08:00

From an engineering student working in Indonesia to an exchange student from Mexico, hear what these dynamic panelists think about UBC's Trek 2010 goal to prepare students to become "exceptional global citizens". Learn more about their experiences and what they really think about the concept of global citizenship in this invigorating discussion.

Student Panel:

Shane Joshua Barter – Currently in the first year of a Ph.D. in Political Science, Shane has worked extensively in tsunami relief.

Stephen Bentley – A Master's candidate in the School of Community and Regional Planning, Stephen spent the summer of 2005 studying governance and planning challenges in Brazil and here in Canada.

Shelley Jones – As part of her Ph.D. in Language and Literacy, Shelley spent a life-altering year in rural Uganda researching gender, literacy and development.

Kelty McKerracher – This second-year Arts student has volunteered in Ecuador and participated as a UBC delegate to the National University of Singapore's Global Education Convention.

Rogelio Paredes – An economics major, Rogelio is on exchange through the Tec de Monterrey program. He has previously been an exchange student to the US, Switzerland, and Quebec.

Sahar Safaie – While working on her M.A. in Earthquake Engineering, Sahar participated in a post-tsunami reconstruction project in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Omid Zargaran – In summer 2005 this third-year Life Sciences student volunteered in remote Ecuadorean communities on health promotion and sustainable community projects.

(A Global Citizenship Speakers Series lecture originally presented on 30-Jan-2006)

The End of Education

2006-01-13T01:34:00.000-08:00

Dr. David W. Orr is Professor and Chair of the Environmental Studies Program at Oberlin College. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering work on environmental literacy in higher education and his recent work in ecological design. This includes his efforts to build a $7.2 million Environmental Studies Center at Oberlin College, as well as a continued presence in the environmental literacy scene with 4 books and over 120 articles in scientific, social science, and popular journals. (A Global Citizenship Seminar Series seminar originally presented on 13-Jan-2006)

Human Security Report 2005: We Live in a Safer World?

2005-11-21T01:13:00.001-08:00

Launched at the United Nations (UN) in New York on October 17, the Human Security Report 2005 documents a dramatic, but largely unknown, decline in the number of wars, genocides and human rights violations over the past decade. The Report argues that the single most compelling explanation for these changes is found in the unprecedented upsurge of international activism, spearheaded by the UN, which took place in the wake of the Cold War. Professor Andrew Mack is Director of the Human Security Centre at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia. He was Director of the Strategic Planning Unit in the Executive Office of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan 1998-2001. He has held research and teaching posts at world-class institutions all over the globe, and his career has included periods as a pilot in the UK's Royal Air Force, as a meteorologist in Antarctica, as a diamond prospector in Sierra Leone and as a journalist with the BBC. (An Office of UBC International Global Citizenship Speakers Series lecture originally presented on 21-Nov-2005)

Science Education in the 21st Century: Using the Tools of Science to Teach Science

2005-11-21T00:33:00.000-08:00

Dr. Carl Wieman, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001, discusses the failures of traditional educational practices, even as used by "very good" teachers, and the successes of some new practices and technology that characterize this more effective approach. Research on how people learn science is now revealing how many teachers badly misinterpret what students are thinking and learning from traditional science classes and exams. However, research is also providing insights on how to do much better. The combination of this research with modern information technology is setting the stage for a new more effective approach to science education based on using the tools of science. This can provide a relevant and effective science education to all students. (A special lecture sponsored by the Institute for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, the Offices of the Vice Presidents Academic and Provost, Research, and Students, the Faculty of Science, and the Faculty of Education, originally presented on 21-Nov-2005)

Mao: The Unknown Story

2005-10-31T22:18:00.000-08:00

Jung Chang (author of Wild Swans) and Jon Halliday, authors of Mao: The Unknown Story. (A Talk of the Town lecture originally presented on 31-Oct-2005)

Roots of Empathy: Changing the World Child by Child

2005-10-03T23:55:00.000-07:00

When Mary Gordon began the Roots of Empathy as a pilot program in Toronto in 1996, there were six schools involved and about 150 students. In the 2004/05 school year Roots of Empathy programs were running in 1,141 classrooms across 8 provinces in Canada, in English and French, in rural, urban, and suburban communities, and in Aboriginal communities, both on and off reserve, reaching 28,525 elementary school children from Kindergarten to Grade 8. So far more than 67,000 children have taken part in the program. (A Talk of the Town lecture originally presented on 03-Oct-2005)

The Meanings of Global Citizenship

2005-10-03T13:47:00.001-07:00

Dr. Michael Byers, Canadian Research Chair in International Law and Politics at UBC, explores the meanings of global citizenship, how and where power vests and is wielded in today's world, Canada's complicity in the global power game, and the hypocrisies and hollowness of less rigorous or more benevolent conceptions of global citizenship. (An Office of UBC International Global Citizenship Speakers Series lecture originally presented on 3-Oct-2005)

The Air India Bombing: How the Bombers Got Away with Murder

2005-09-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

Kim Bolan is an award-winning investigative reporter who has covered the Air India bombing case since the day Flight 182 went down off the coast of Ireland in June 1985. All 329 people on board died, making it the largest mass murder in Canadian history and the one of the most deadly terrorist attacks before those of September 11 th 2001; less than an hour earlier, a bomb in a bag intended for Air India 301 went off at the Narita International airport, killing two baggage handlers and injuring four others. In her book Loss of Faith, Bolan chronicles the bombing and the ultimate trial that resulted in the acquittal of two suspects in March 2005. (A Talk of the Town lecture originally presented on 26-Sep-2005)

Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities

2005-09-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey Rosenthal is a math professor, musician, improvizational comedian and a man fascinated by the probabilities in ordinary life. In a September 2005 article in the National Post he calculated the chances that his name would be drawn in the lottery for ticket buyers at the Toronto Film Festival. In his new book, Struck by Lightning, Rosenthal has put his mathematical mind to the probability behind all kinds of everyday occurrences. From lotteries to casinos, insurance rates to crime rates, gameshows to airline crashes, cancer to SARS, Struck byLightning deconstructs the odds and oddities of chance in an understandable, relevant and irreverent exploration. (A Talk of the Town lecture originally presented on 14-Sep-2005)

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed

2005-05-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

When journalist John Vaillant journeyed to the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia for an article he was writing on kayaking, he didn't know that he would end up writing a book that is part mystery, part anthropology and social commentary, and nothing about kayaking. The Golden Spruce, a unique spruce tree 50 meters tall and covered with luminous golden needles -- sacred to the Haida on whose land it had stood for over 300 years, and beloved by local loggers who singled it out for protection in the midst of vast clear cuts -- was cut down by a logger-turned-activist named Grant Hadwin in 1997. The loss of the mythic golden spruce united loggers, natives and environmentalists in sorrow and outrage. But while heroic efforts were made to revive the tree, Grant Hadwin, the tree's confessed killer, disappeared under suspicious circumstances. John Vaillant's book The Golden Spruce grew out of an article published in 2002 in The New Yorker. (A Talk of the Town lecture originally presented on 12-May-2005)