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UBC People

UBC J-school partners with The Globe and Mail

A team of 10 UBC journalism students investigating the global effects of shrimp farming has partnered with The Globe and Mail to produce a web video project for the paper’s food series, which launched Nov. 20.

The students, as part of the International Reporting program led by associate professor Peter Klein, addressed a key component of the Globe series, investigating the impact of industrial shrimp production on the environment and the consumer.

The student team included: Alexis Stoymenoff, Brandi Cowen, Darren Fleet, Faiza Khan, Karen Moxley, Kate Allen, Kerry Blackadar, Magally Zelaya, Rebecca TeBrake, and Sarah Berman. Sarah Stenabaugh and Erin Empey assisted in production of the series in Canada. Adjunct professor Trisha Sorrels Doyle and instructor Dan McKinney helped to lead production of the piece.

This is the second project of UBC’s International Reporting program. The first documentary, “Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground,” was produced in partnership with PBS Frontline/World and won an Emmy Award in September for magazine investigative reporting.

For more information, visit http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2010/11/22/ubc-j-school-partners-with-the-globe-and-mail/

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UBC prof helps identify culprit gene for common form of eye cancer

Catherine Van Raamsdonk, an assistant professor in the Dept. of Medical Genetics, has helped discover a gene associated with uveal melanoma, the most common form of eye cancer.

In an article published online Nov. 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine and appearing in the Dec. 2 print issue, Van Raamsdonk and her co-authors describe how they isolated an oncogene called GNA11 and found it in 37 pe rcent of tumor samples taken from patients with uveal melanoma. Van Raamsdonk is the co-lead investigator with Boris Bastian, Chair of the Dept. of Pathology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

For more information, visit http://www.med.ubc.ca/media/201011/UBC_helps_identify_culprit_gene_for_common_form_of_eye_cancer.htm

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UBC wins first place in Bike to Work Week

In the November Bike to Work Week, UBC won first place for Best Number of Trips in the Higher Education category and first place for Best in the 1000+ Organization category (1,292 commutes, 12,132 km travelled and 208 participants).

To view the final results, visit http://www.biketoworkmetrovan.ca/node/454

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Geoffrey Cundiff appointed Head of Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

UBC Faculty of Medicine announces the appointment of Dr. Geoffry Cundiff as Head, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Vancouver Acute, Providence Health Care, B.C. Women’s Hospital and the B.C. Cancer Agency effective Nov. 1, 2010 to June 30, 2015. 

Cundiff is a professor in the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and associate of the Dept. of Urological Sciences. He has been serving as the site head for the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Providence Health Care since 2006.

For more information, visit http://www.med.ubc.ca/__shared/assets/Dr_Cundiff_Appt_Announcement18635.pdf.

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UBC prof wins young scientist award for diabetes research

Prof. Timothy Kieffer from the Departments of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and Surgery, won the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Young Scientist Award.

The CDA established the Young Scientist Award in 1987 to encourage outstanding research conducted in Canada by scientists under 45. Kieffer was presented with the award at the 2010 Professional Conference and Annual Meetings in Edmonton in October, at which he gave his award lecture, “Cell-based Insulin Replacement for Diabetes.”

For more information, visit http://www.med.ubc.ca/about_us/Awards_and_Honours.htm#Kieffer

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Ike Barber named Outstanding Philanthropist

Irving K. Barber, a renowned forestry executive, visionary thinker and long-time supporter of projects at UBC, has been named as the Outstanding Philanthropist by the fourth annual Giving Hearts Award Program, presented by the Vancouver Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Barber is the principal donor for the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC, and is a generous supporter of many other post-secondary initiatives. View the full award announcement at http://www.afpvancouver.org/Giving-Hearts-Awards.aspx.

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Sauder students place second worldwide in Hong Kong, Citigroup case competition

UBC placed second in the eight annual Citi International Case Competition at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, one of the best business schools in Asia. Nineteen teams competed from ten countries: Canada, Finland, Japan, Korea, China, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the U.S.

The UBC B.Com students from the Sauder School of Business included Ben Cappellacci, Cathy Han, Lucas Lemanowicz, and Jason Ng. This is the first year that UBC has participated in this international competition. The team proposed a new strategic direction for Cathay Pacific Catering Services involving finance, human resources, and marketing, along with an implementation plan for each recommendation. They prepared 26 hours for the first round presentation, and advanced to the final round held in Hong Kong.

For more information, visit http://www.bm.ust.hk/bm/Web/PressReleasePage.aspx?PressReleaseId=163&Version=English

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UBC finishes second in North America-wide energy-saving competition

In the pilot year of this competition, UBC beat out 38 American campuses to place second in the Campus Conservation National’s Energy competition, held in Totem Park Nov. 1-10. UBC saved 8,989 kWh of electricity, enough to power one 60-watt light bulb for 17 years, or 200 bulbs for a month. The entire competition saved 510,191 kWh, enough to power one 60-watt light bulb for a thousand years, or a thousand bulbs for one year. 

This ranking reflects the partnership between the Campus Sustainability Office, Student Housing and Hospitality Services Rez Life, the hard work of a team of student organizers, and the Totem Park residents’ enthusiasm for energy conservation. The six houses in Totem also competed against each other, with Haida House emerging as the winner, with an overall reduction in electricity use of 24.1 per cent. Prizes for the top house and for best organizing efforts will be given during the Totem Park fall banquet on Nov. 26.

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Learning Centre launches small business resource for B.C. communities

Small businesses across British Columbia now have a free, comprehensive resource to boost their business-planning efforts and foster an online community of information and support through the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.

The Small Business Accelerator (SBA), which launched this week at www.sba-bc.ca, is a gateway to business information for small firms and entrepreneurs throughout the province. It’s a valuable tool for public and college libraries, community development organizations and other agencies to support their clients.

The site also serves as a venue for an online SBA community, where those who create content for B.C. businesses – such as libraries, economic development agencies and others – are invited to share resources and expertise.

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Special PIMS Distinguished Lecture

UBC will be presenting Prof. Louis Nirenberg of the Courant Institute for the Mathematical Sciences at New York University an honorary degree during its 2010 Fall Congregation on Nov. 24-26.  Nirenberg was born in Hamilton, ON and obtained his undergraduate degree from McGill University before emigrating to the United States. UBC recognizes his longstanding interest in the Canadian mathematical community and his contributions to the mathematical sciences.

He will deliver a special Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) Distinguished Lecture titled “Remarks on singular solutions of nonlinear elliptic equations.”

Date:  Nov.  26
Time: 3 p.m.
Place: MATX 1100 (Math Annex, UBC)
http://www.icm2010.in/prize-winners-2010/chern-medal-louis-nirenberg

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Memorial Service held for women killed of l'Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal

 A memorial will be held for the 14 women who lost their lives at l’Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, as well as the countless women who have been victims of gender-based violence.

Date:  Dec. 2
Time: 12:15 p.m.
Place: Outside the Frank Forward building, 6350 Stores Road
Reception to follow.

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UBC Engineering holds open house

UBC Engineering welcomes the community to their open house.  Engineering teams Thunderbird Robotics, Solar Car and Heavy Lift Aerodesign will showcase their designs. Information sessions will includeMaking the Products You Use Every Day”; “How to Think Globally and Act Locally”, “Super Materials that Can Change Our World” andFriendly Robots”. Lab tours will given in Biomedical Engineering, System-on-Chip, Protein Solar Cells, Nanotechnology, and the Aerodynamics Laboratory – also known as the Wind Tunnel.

Date: Nov. 27
Time: 9 a.m. –  4 p.m.
Info: www.engineering.ubc.ca/openhouse

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Reminder: Dec. 1 deadline for UBC’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards

Nomination deadline for UBC’s two volunteer recognition awards is Dec. 1, 2010. 

  • Slonecker Award for Outstanding Volunteer Contributions to UBC
  • The Outstanding Student Award for Volunteer Contributions to UBC

For information on eligibility and to download nomination forms, visit http://www.ceremonies.ubc.ca/what-we-do/volunteer-contribution-awards/

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CUFA BC accepting award nominations

The Confederation of University Faculty Associations (CUFA) of B.C. continues to recognize important contributions to the larger community made by faculty members at its member universities.
 
They are now accepting nominations for the Early in Career Award, Academic of the Year Award and the Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award.  The deadline for nominations for the 2011 awards is Feb. 25, 2011. For more information visit www.cufa.bc.ca/awards

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