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.
Jun. 20, 2003
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Distinguished University Scholars
Barry McBride, Vice President Academic and Provost, is pleased
to announce a second round of Distinguished University Scholar nominations.
As was done previously, the designation "Distinguished University
Scholar" will be conferred by the President on the recommendation
of the Deans and the VP Academic and Provost to recognize exceptional
members of faculty who have distinguished themselves as scholars
in research and/or teaching and learning.
This Scholars program is designed to aid in the retention of exceptional
scholars at UBC, especially, but not exclusively, in the humanities,
social sciences, and creative and performing arts. This emphasis
will help to balance the impact of the Canada Research Chairs program,
which has disproportionately benefited the Medical, Natural, and
Physical Sciences, both in retention and in recruitment.
A Distinguished University Scholar Review Panel, chaired by a distinguished
faculty member and composed of other exceptional senior scholars,
will make recommendations on the awards. Excellence in scholarship
will continue to be of paramount importance in the selection of
Scholars.
For a second round allocation of approximately twenty awards the
deadline is September 1, 2003. We encourage nominations from both
emerging international scholars and from established international
scholars.
List of Distinguished University Scholars http://www.vpacademic.ubc.ca/Research/dus1.htm
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CFI funding brings support for nine New Opportunities
projects
UBC researchers have received more than $1 million in Canada Foundation
for Innovation funding through the New Opportunities Fund and the
Infrastructure Operating Fund, part of a national investment of
upwards of $40 million distributed to 46 institutions this week.
Nine UBC projects were funded for infrastructure ranging from an
underwater vehicle to help measure the dynamics of water flow and
temperature in coastal and inland waters to a laboratory to study
the fungus-root networks that supply soil nutrients to forest plants.
The funds are awarded through allocation rather than open competition
and are designed to assist newly recruited investigators establish
their research programs.
A complete list of New Opportunities projects can be found at www.innovation.ca.
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Harry Potter Day at UBC Bookstore
Wizards, muggles (skeptics) and normal folks of all stripes are
invited to Harry Potter Day at the UBC Bookstore on Saturday, June
21, 2003 to celebrate the arrival of the fifth title in the series,
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
The Bookstore will open at 9:30 AM and then host a Harry Potter
Party from 10 AM to Noon. There will be activities for children
of all ages, including making a wand, face-painting, and a reading
of the new book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which
will be available for 40% off the regular price for June 21 in-person
sales only.
Customers can park for free on June 21 on the north side of the
Bookstore and the Health Sciences Parkade.
For more information and to reserve your copy of the new Harry
Potter book, call 604-822-2665 or click on www.bookstore.ubc.ca.
(You must pick up your reserved book on June 21 to receive the special
discount.)
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e-Strategy Town Hall a success
UBC is one of the world's leading universities that is strategically
using information technology and providing technology-enabled services,
according to the Vice-President of Educause, the association for
higher education and information technology (IT).
"What the University of British Columbia is doing in information
technology is viewed by Educause, by me and many of your colleagues
as true exemplars and leaders," said Richard Katz, the Vice-President
of Educause, during his keynote address at the third annual e-Strategy
Town Hall, held last Wednesday, June 4 at the UBC Forest Science
Centre. "For IT to be strategic, it needs to serve the purpose
of your institution. You have done this masterfully."
Over 325 staff, students, faculty and visitors registered for
the one-day conference. The event featured 23 presentations discussing
ways technology is being used to improve learning, research and
administration at UBC.
For a complete report on the e-Strategy Town Hall, visit http://www.estrategy.ubc.ca/townhall/030611-th3highlights.html
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Prof named 3M Teaching Fellow
Prof. Judith Johnston, of the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences,
has been named a 3M Teaching Fellow, one of eight Canadian university
educators to be so honoured.
A faculty member since 1989, Johnston says her role as teacher
is similar to a path-maker, or someone who puts trail markers in
the forest, indicates the direction of travel, put signs up where
the road splits, and strategically positions a few benches to encourage
pauses for reflection.
Johnston is an active supporter of UBC's Centre for Teaching and
Academic Growth and is the recipient of a Lily Teaching fellowship,
an AMOCO Foundation Teaching Award and in 2002, she received a UBC
Killam Teaching Prize.
She specializes in developmental language disorders and early language
and cognitive development.
The fellowships are given annually by 3M Canada and the Society
for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education to recognize excellent
teachers who also show an exceptionally high degree of leadership
and commitment to the improvement of university teaching.
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Undergrad Chemistry Society recognized
The UBC Undergraduate Chemistry Society has been recognized by
the Canadian Society for Chemistry as the number one chemistry club
in Canada, out of 73 other universities and colleges this year.
The student-run organization is committed to providing chemistry
students with the resources for academic success as well as social
opportunities to take full advantage of the undergraduate experience.
This year, the 24 member executive team organized a total of 34
events, which included: a Professor Research Night, Chemistry Mentorship
Program, weekly graduate school info sessions, course review sessions,
a student tutoring service, a major annual chemistry conference,
various research seminars, movie nights, Chemistry Magic Show, Buck-a-Beaker
beer gardens, and supported numerous intramural sports teams.
"We're very proud to receive such an award," says club
executive Mark Chen. "More importantly, it's been a lot of
fun, and we fill an important role in the undergraduate careers
of our fellow students."
Visit the UCS Web site at http://www.chem.ubc.ca/personnel/chemclub/index.html
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Infants and toddlers wanted for study
The UBC Dept. of Psychology is looking for children (under five
years old) and their parents to participate in language studies.
The parent, the child, and a trained researcher will play a word
game using puppets and toys or pictures. During their visit, the
parent will remain with their child at all times.
Anyone interested in the 30-minute visit to the Dept. of Psychology's
research playroom should contact Dr. Hall's Language Development
Centre at 604-822-9294.
For more information visit http://language.psych.ubc.ca/.
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