UBC Reports | Vol. 48 | No. 11 | Sep. 5 , 2002

Kudos

Barclays Award goes to UBC

Asst. Prof. of Finance Kai Li was awarded the annual Barclays Global Investors Canada Ltd. Research Award. Li won the $10, 000 prize based on her paper "What Explains the Growth of Global Equity Markets?". Her research proved that the growth of global equity markets between 1974 and 1997 was primarily because of overconfidence among investors, and therefore not sustainable.

Engineer earns award of a lifetime

Prof. of Mechanical Engineering Clarence de Silva has been presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Automation Congress, "in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of Intelligent Automation and Its Practical Applications." The award plaque was presented in June at a meeting held in Orlando, Florida. Also, earlier this year, de Silva was appointed the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal, Control and Intelligent Systems (founded in 1972).

UBC Prof. joins elite group

Prof. Walter Hardy of UBC's Physics and Astronomy Dept. is in good company. By winning the prestigious Fritz London Memorial Prize for Low Temperature Physics, he joins an elite group of previous recipients - eight of whom have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. The international honour, awarded every three years for outstanding experimental and theoretical contributions to low temperature physics, was presented at the International Low Temperature Conference in Hiroshima, Japan in August. Hardy was recognised for his pioneering research in hydrogen and high-temperature superconductors. A cash award of $21,000 will be divided equally between Hardy and two other winners, Russell J. Donnelly of the University of Oregon, and Allen M. Goldman of the University of Minnesota.

New portfolio supports med school expansion

Dr. Joanna Bates has been appointed Senior Assoc. Dean, MD Undergraduate Education for an initial three-year term.

The new portfolio is designed to recognize the increasing scope of responsibilities in the area of MD undergraduate education as the faculty expands its undergraduate enrolment in a distributed program of medical education.

Bates will chair the MD Undergraduate Expansion Taskforce and the Curriculum Management Committee.

After joining the Dept. of Family Practice in 1992, Bates served in a variety of leadership roles including Associate dean, Admissions in the faculty from 1997 to 2002. She has expertise in the areas of medical education programs, medical informatics and telehealth.

UBC alumni tread the boards at Bard on the Beach

UBC alumni have been strutting and fretting their hour upon the stage at Bard on the Beach this year, but they are far from poor players.

Several graduates of the Theatre program have played leading roles in performances at Vancouver's popular annual Shakespeare festival.

Katey Wright, who helped to found the Bard 13 seasons ago, has the role of Viola in the comedy Twelfth Night. Moya O'Connell, returns to Bard for her second season in the role of Imogen in Shakespeare's epic adventure Cymbeline.

Two recent UBC grads making their debut at the festival this year are Damon Calderwood, a Theatre and Science major, who has parts in Twelfth Night and Henry V, and Joshua Reynolds who appears in Cymbeline.

Another graduate, Kevin McAllister, designed the set of Twelfth Night.

Bard on the Beach runs to Sept. 22 in Vanier Park. For more information call 604-739-0559 or visit www.bardonthebeach.org.

Arts space expands

School life just got more pleasant for Arts students, thanks to renovations to Buchanan D block. An open area on the first floor of the building has been enclosed to provide larger office facilities for the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) and more social space for students.

The new space will also house a variety of amenities for students including several iMac computers, showers for bicycle commuters, and a fully furnished lounge with a stage and small bar area.

The move to expand began two years ago when the AUS held a referendum asking students to pay an extra $5 per year to help fund the renovations. The university put in $250,000, and alumnus James Meekison (BA'61, MA Economics'62) donated $450,000.

Health Policy forum

UBC has been chosen by the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada to host a public policy debate on the "Pros and Cons of Globalization in Health Care."

The discussion will take place at UBC at Robson Square on Thursday September 19 from 7-9:30 p.m. The free event is part of a series of policy forums across the country organized by the Romanow Commission to consult with Canadians about health care issues.

Moderator John Gilbert, Principal of the College of Health Disciplines at UBC, will welcome a panel of six speakers including Robert Evans, health care economist and UBC Economics professor, and Susan Harris, clinical associate professor in family practice.

The guests will speak to a discussion document provided by the Commission, and the public will then be invited to give feedback.

United Way kickoff

This year's United Way is set to kick-off on Wednesday, Sept. 25th with a BBQ at the SUB South Plaza. Co-hosted by the Alma Mater Society, it will feature burgers, live music, prizes, and fun! The event is scheduled to run from 11:30am-1pm and the cost is $5. Tickets are available from any campaign volunteer, the campaign office or at the door.

"This year, UBC employees hope to raise $400,000 and money raised from the Kick-Off BBQ sales will go towards our goal," Campaign Chair Deborah Austin says.

For more information about the United Way, volunteering for UBC's campaign or information about the Kick-Off Event, call 604-822-8929 or e-mail united.way@ubc.ca.

Or visit online at www.unitedway.ubc.ca.

Hampton Place flea market

The Hampton Place Community Fund is holding a Flea Market and Fair on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2002. It will take place from ten a.m. to two p.m. at the War Memorial Gym. Organizers are expecting up to 100 exhibitors. Residents' tables will carry a variety of items for sale from books to small furniture.

The event will also host food concessions, local musicians, and a silent auction with gifts donated by merchants in the community. Proceeds will go towards building the "community within Hampton Place and with the university, "said Committee member Diane Alfred.

Freddie Wood calls alumni back

UBC's Frederic Wood Theatre kicks off its 50th anniversary activities with an invitation to all former company members to attend a gala reunion on Dec. 7. If you were a member of the Theatre, the UBC Players' Club or MUSSOC, you can add your name to the Frederic Wood Theatre's anniversary database by visiting www.theatre.ubc.ca or calling 604-822-0050.

Organizers are also collecting memorabilia such as programs, photos and reviews, as well as historical observations and anecdotes for use in the anniversary activities. These will include a commemorative exhibit on the history of campus theatre at Robson Square to be held Nov. 18 - Dec. 5, and a series of salons with former UBC students who are now working in the industry, beginning Nov. 23.

On Dec. 7, the Theatre will throw open its doors for an afternoon open house. This will be followed by the anniversary gala where guests will be treated to a variety show.

Two students have been elected to UBC's Board of Governors. Science student Mark Fraser and former AMS president Erfan Kazemi join our new chancellor Allan McEachern on the 15-member board. For further information about board members visit www.bog.ubc.ca.