UBC This Week | July 23, 2009
UBC This Week is a weekly summary of UBC people in the news, recent media releases and upcoming event highlights. UBC This Week past issues are also available on-line.
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Recent UBC Media Releases
Upcoming Event Highlights
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Find out what else is happening at UBC this week. For sports events, visit the UBC Athletics site at www.gothunderbirds.ca/schedule.asp.
UBC People
UBC People
Library robot hits million-item milestone
On July 15, the one millionth item was loaded into the UBC Library’s automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) – also known as the Library robot.
A commemorative title was used to celebrate the special occasion: A Management Plan for the University of British Columbia Research Forest, a UBC thesis by Peter R.W. Sanders, an homage to Irving K. Barber, a longtime professional forester whose generosity led to the construction of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, which houses the ASRS.
UBC Library is the first Canadian library to install an ASRS, and remains one of the largest library-specific systems in North America. It holds books, maps, and records and features four GPS-guided robotic cranes that retrieve from more than 19,000 bins in a racking system nearly 45 feet high, 60 feet wide and 160 feet long. During UBC’s busy winter session, about 200 ASRS requests are received each day.
For more information, visit http://blogs.ubc.ca/ikblc/2009/07/library-robot-hits-million-item-milestone-posted-july-21/.
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UBC computer science team wins three golds and two silvers
A UBC computer science team won three first and two second prizes at the 2009 International Satisfiability Testing (SAT) Competition, with the first prizes in all three major tracks of the event.
The team included PhD students Lin Xu and Frank Hutter and associate professors Holger Hoos and Kevin Leyton-Brown. The winners were announced at the twelfth International Conference on Theory and Applications of SAT in Swansea, Wales. This is the second time that the same UBC team has won gold medals at this competition, and the third time a team from UBC has made it to the winners' podium.
For more information, visit http://www.cs.ubc.ca/labs/beta/Projects/SATzilla/.
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The life of Malcolm Lowry on display at Rare Books
A showcase about Malcolm Lowry, one of B.C.’s most famous resident-writers, is on display in the UBC Library Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC). The exhibition of Malcolm Lowry Collection coincides with the Malcolm Lowry Centenary International Conference, held at UBC from July 23-25 (http://faculty.arts.ubc.ca/mmota/lowry.htm).
A British poet and novelist, Lowry (1909-1957) was best known for his novel Under the Volcano, which he completed while he lived in Dollarton, B.C with his wife Margerie. The RBSC exhibition examines Lowry through four perspectives: his life, his work, Under the Volcano and the Malcolm Lowry Collection – the largest collection of material in the world related to the author. The exhibition is curated by UBC M.A. student Mark Diotte and is on display until September 30.
For more information, visit www.library.ubc.ca/spcoll/AZ/PDF/UV/Malcolm_Lowry_fonds.pdf
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UBC Library Vault on Twitter
The UBC Library Vault is now on Twitter with up-to-the-minute information, news and events on the Vault and UBC Library. Tweets will include information on copyright law, libraries, books, speakers, rare treasures, archives and more.
For more information, visit www.twitter.com/ubclibraryvault.
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Food Services hosts Blueberry Fest
UBC Food Services will be hosting the first Blueberry Fest. The event will include BC blueberries sold by the flat, daily prize draws, free recipes and UBC Bookstore discounts. A blueberry menu by Award winning Executive Chef Piyush Sahay will feature blueberry pancakes, parfaits, cream blintzes, muffins, scones, and UBC Farm mixed greens with blueberry vinaigrette.
Date: July 28-30
Time: 9 – 1 p.m.
Place: Bookstore Plaza
Info: www.food.ubc.ca
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UBC Childcare Services celebrates 40th anniversary
UBC Childcare Services will be hosting a block party in celebration of their 40 year anniversary. Festivities will include musical performances by Carnival Band and Masabo Culture Co., as well as a barbeque, bouncy castles, birthday cake, and a drum circle.
Date: July 25
Time: 3-7 p.m.
Place: 5690 Osoyoos Crescent
Info: http://40yearsoflovin.blogspot.com/
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TRIUMF celebrates 40th anniversary
TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics located at UBC, will be hosting an open house to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Since its inception as a local university facility, TRIUMF has evolved into a national laboratory with strong ties to the research of other Canadian universities. The science program has expanded from nuclear physics to include particle physics, molecular and materials science, and nuclear medicine.
The open house will include tours, physics demonstrations, food and games.
Date: Aug. 8
Time: 1-5 p.m.
Place: 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver
Time: 1:00 – 5:00pm
Info: http://www.triumf.ca/40years
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