UBC News Digest

The UBC News Digest is a weekly summary of news stories about UBC people, research, learning, community, and internationalization initiatives. News Digest past issues are also available on-line.

Jan. 23, 2003

• UBC Debaters Make Their Mark in the World
• 2010 Olympic Bid Information Session on Campus
• UBC Experts Featured on Knowledge Network

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UBC Debaters Make Their Mark in the World

UBC students Kevin Massie (Fifth Year History) and Rahim Moloo (First Year Law) made a big splash at the World University Debating Championships in South Africa by reaching the Quarter-Finals of the prestigious event. In doing so, the pair had the highest placement for a North American team among the 200 teams entered. Massie was also the top Canadian debater, beating out competitors from Queen's, McGill and the University of Toronto.

Two UBC students - Moloo and Michael Kotrly (Fourth Year Economics) - reached the finals of the Public Speaking Competition at the tournament, taking two of the final six spots. Ashley Thorvaldson (Fourth Year Political Science) qualified for the Semi-Finals and was the top female Public Speaking competitor.

The tournament was won by Cambridge University.

The UBC Debating Society meets Tuesdays at 5 p.m. and Fridays at 4 p.m. in Angus 415.

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2010 Olympic Bid Information Session on Campus

The Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation will hold a community information session at UBC on Wednesday January 29 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the foyer of War Memorial Gym.

Bid staff and volunteers will provide information and answer questions on all aspects of Vancouver and Whistler's bid to host the 2010 winter Olympic and Paralympic games. The session will not feature a formal presentation, instead using an open house format to enable as many members of the campus community as possible to drop in, get information and provide feedback.

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UBC Experts Featured on Knowledge Network

UBC faculty will be featured in a Knowledge Network series highlighting research at B.C.'s post-secondary institutions. The programs will be aired on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

Programs featuring UBC researchers are:

Jan. 28
Animals: Justin Brashares and Tim Karels work with the Marmot Recovery Foundation to manage captive animals and reintroduce Vancouver Island marmots to the wild.

Feb. 4
Anthropology: Julie Cruikshank, Anthropology Dept. is documenting oral traditions of Athapaskan and Tlingit elders in the Yukon who tell of surging glaciers, floods and extremely cold summers. Their stories may contribute to the understanding of climate change.

Feb. 18
Health: Karen Bartlett of the School of Environmental and Occupational Hygiene discusses how researchers are tracking down the origins of a deadly fungus on Vancouver Island trees.

Dr. Karim Qayumi, Dept. of Surgery, presents CyberPatient, an interactive web-based tool to teach medical students.

Feb. 25
Humans and Computers: PhD student Simon Di Maio and Prof. Tim Salcudean of the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering present their virtual biopsy needle that will help doctors learn how to inject accurately.

Gary Birch, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Steve Mason discuss their work on a direct brain-computer interface that will help disabled people to communicate using brainwaves.

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