UBC Reports | Vol. 46 | No. 16 | Oct. 19, 2000

Digest

Organizers hope women get into IT

A free one-day session on how to boost women's participation rates in information technology will be held at Simon Fraser University's Harbour Centre Oct. 21.

Entitled "Getting IT" the meeting will share ideas and generate awareness among students, parents, teachers, industry and government on the importance of computers in all career fields for women.

The session will address how to land a first job in science and IT; explore creating diverse computer science curriculum in high schools and universities; and provide hands-on demonstrations.

Female university and high school students account for less than 20 per cent of those taking computer science courses.

The session is organized by Supporting Women in Information Technology (SWIFT) in partnership with UBC, SFU, Science Dean Maria Klawe, who is the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council-IBM Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for B.C and Yukon, the New Media Innovation Centre, Wired Women, and the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science and Technology.

For registration information visit http://taz.cs.ubc.ca/swift/pan.

Focus on globalization's effect on women

UBC's Centre for Research in Women's Studies and Gender Relations is hosting a major conference.

Women's Studies: Asian Connections -- which is co-sponsored by UBC's Institute for Asian Research and UBC and SFU`s Women's Studies Departments -- will take place Nov. 2 through Nov. 5 at UBC..

"Most of the discussion on the impact of globalization has focused on economic concerns and development issues, despite the fact that considerable research has been done on the impact on women," says Valerie Raoul, director of the Centre for Research in Women's Studies and Gender Relations and professor of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies.

Representatives of non-government organizations and community groups will join academics at the conference. Sessions on diasporic women will be included.

Fees vary, but the conference is free for UBC and SFU students.

For program and registration information visit the Web site www.wmst.ubc.ca or call 604-822-9171.

Celebrate alumni and athletic achievements

The outstanding accomplishments of graduates, students, faculty, community leaders and athletes will be recognized at the sixth annual Alumni Recognition and Sports Hall of Fame Dinner on Nov. 2.

Among those to be honoured are the 12 recipients of the Alumni Awards announced earlier this year: Geordie Aitken, Pathology and Chemistry Prof. Donald Brooks, May Brown, Nicola Cavendish, former Board of Governors chair Harold Kalke, Lyall Knott, Medicine Prof. Donald McKenzie, George Puil, Paul Rosenau, Jesse Sims, David Suzuki, Bruce Verchere.

New members to be inducted into UBC's Sports Hall of Fame include: Barbara (Bim) Schrodt, director of women's athletics at UBC during the 1950s; former football and rugby player Donn Spence; basketball, volleyball and track star Marilyn Peterson Kinghorn; basketball, football, hockey and soccer star Reg Clarkson; and the 1948-50 ice hockey team.

The celebration at the Westin Bayshore starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person.Tables of 8 are $1,000. Net proceeds go to support UBC Alumni and Athletic scholarships, bursaries and development.

Call 604-822-3313 or (800) 883-3088, or e-mail aluminfo@ubc.ca for more information.

Putting the `e' in library

As information technology radically changes the way knowledge is created, communicated and preserved, librarians, students, researchers, teachers and the public are gathering at UBC to discuss the issues and implications for the university.

The second eLibrary symposium, eLibrary@ubc2, takes place Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Main Library's Dodson Room.

"We have had a very enthusiastic response from the widest possible range of experts at UBC, from graduate students to Barry McBride, vice-president, Academic and Provost, UBC Press, University-Industry Liaison and representatives from many departments," says Catherine Quinlan, university librarian.

Also taking part are Michael Rosenzweig, publisher and editor-in-chief, Evolutionary Ecology Research and professor, University of Arizona, and SFU School of Communications Prof. Donald Gutstein, author of E.con: How the Internet Undermines Democracy."

As well a Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence workshop, Knowledge Futures: Alternative Models for Scholarly Publishing, will be held at the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There is no charge, however space is limited.

For program information and to register visit the Web site www.library.ubc.ca/home/elibrary.