UBC Reports | Vol. 51 | No. 3 | Mar. 3, 2005

Celebrate Research: A Week-Long Focus on UBC Ingenuity

By Hilary Thomson

Killer spores, the aging brain and e-commerce hazards are some of the topics to be explored in Celebrate Research Week March 5-12 at UBC’s Point Grey and UBC Robson Square campuses and partner hospital sites.

“This is a chance to showcase our outstanding research and investigators, many of whom are world leaders in their field,” says David Dolphin, UBC acting vice- president, Research. “And it’s an opportunity to share with the public, who funds much of our research, the results of their investment.”

Ingenuity: Seeing the World Through New Eyes is the theme of this year’s series.

“Many of the great discoveries in all areas of research have been made by standing back as it were and looking at things from different perspectives. It’s these kind of stories that we want to highlight in this year’s program,” says Sid Katz,
executive director, community affairs and Celebrate Research organizer.

Ever wondered where you picked up that cough? Or why you just can’t hear as well as you could? The many hidden health hazards in our environment, workplaces and homes will be revealed by scientists at UBC’s Centre for Health & Environment Research and the School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene in a presentation to take place Wed. March 9 at 8 p.m. at UBC Robson Square.

Karen Bartlett will discuss her work in tracking a deadly fungus found on Vancouver Island trees, Murray Hodgson will look at designing noise out of classrooms and Kay Teschke talks about risks associated with theatrical fogs and smokes. The scientists will offer tips on detection, measurement and protection.

Fraud and discrimination in online communications is the topic for UBC Sauder School of Business professors Paul Chwelos and Marc-David Seidel in a discussion to take place at UBC Robson Square on Tuesday, March 8 at 5:30 p.m.

An expert in electronic marketplaces, Chwelos will offer suggestions on how to spot fraudulent practices in online purchasing. Seidel will discuss the role of e-mail in reputation management and offer a survival guide for telecommuters on how to protect their reputation and handle issues related to discrimination.

Max Cynader, director of the Brain Research Centre at UBC will discuss the aging brain in a presentation on Sat. March 12 at 8:15 p.m. at the Woodward Instructional Resources Centre at UBC.

Fears of cognitive loss are widespread among older people. Cynader will discuss evidence showing it’s possible to ward off age-related memory and cognitive loss by doing some very simple things. Activities as diverse as reading mystery stories, doing crossword puzzles, and frequent social interactions are all known to be predictive of successful aging.

Breakthroughs in transplantation will be discussed by a panel of researchers from Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Providence Health Care and B.C. Transplant Society, in a presentation at St. Paul’s Hospital lecture theatre March 8 at 7 p.m.

Celebrate Research Week also includes daily noon-hour sessions at UBC Robson Square in subjects ranging from psychology to art history and offered by the Faculty of Arts. Prof. Michael Byers of the Liu Institute for Global Issues kicks off the series with a presentation of The Laws of War, U.S. Style.

A highlight of the week is the March 10 Celebrate Research Gala, where UBC honours its outstanding investigators. The accomplishments of more than 200 UBC research award winners will be celebrated with video vignettes and performances by members of the UBC School of Music.

For a complete listing of Celebrate Research Week events, visit www.research.ubc.ca and click on the information box. For free tickets to the gala, contact kally.basra@ubc.ca.