UBC Reports | Vol. 49 | No. 2 | Feb. 6, 2003

Research Awareness Week 2003

Forums focus on sustainability

By Hilary Thomson

How do we sustain our spirits, education and society?

These are some of the questions being discussed at Research Awareness Week (RAW) 2003, a series of free public forums and presentations focused on sustainability to be held March 8-15 at UBC’s Point Grey and Robson Square campuses and partner hospital sites.

Usually associated with the environment, sustainability has broad implications for the kind of world we want to live in, says Sid Katz, executive director, Community Affairs, who has co-organized RAW with Nichola Hall, of UBC’s Continuing
Studies Dept.

“Sustainability is all-inclusive and key to the university’s vision,” says Katz. “It involves developing citizens who can create and maintain a civil society and a sustainable world.”

UBC research projects look at sustainable systems in areas ranging from environment to human settlement and blood supply.

“The research and education link is vital to sustainability,” says Indira Samarasekera, vice-president, Research. “UBC needs to be a model in this -- producing young people who have learned through discovery and can carry knowledge forward when they’re out in the community.”

Panels of scholars from UBC and the community will debate topics including climate change and sustainable food systems in lunch-hour sessions at Robson Square March 10-14. The final session will be a day-long discussion of the Kyoto accord, co-presented with the Royal Society of Canada.

The future of sustainability education at UBC will be discussed at a workshop that looks at links between sustainable studies, global citizenship and ecological and social justice. Workshop results will contribute to the creation of an interfaculty program that addresses sustainable education.

Other RAW events include presentations of research posters and awards at B.C.’s Children’s Hospital, UBC Library exhibits and workshops as well as booths and displays showcasing projects ranging from transportation to the future of the Georgia Basin.

The week’s centrepiece is Celebrate Research 2003, a gala event to be held the evening of March 13 at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts where more than 200 research award winners will be honoured. There will be video vignettes of researchers explaining their work as well as entertainment provided by the University Singers, UBC Opera Ensemble with a special appearance by UBC Theatre, Film and Creative Writing program alumna and recent Governor General Award winner Joy Coghill.

For a complete listing of RAW events, link from the website at www.research.ubc.ca or call 604.822.1700.

For free tickets to Celebrate Research 2003, contact Laurie at celebrate.research@ubc.ca or 604.822.6010.