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.
May 28, 2003
Receive UBC News Digest via
e-mail.
Learning Centre begins construction
Preparation for construction has begun on the Irving K. Barber
Learning Centre, which will transform the historic Main Library
into a $60 million learning and research facility.
Construction will be staged, allowing the services and resources
of Main Library to remain accessible throughout the development.
In the first stage of the project, the north wing of Main Library
has been vacated in preparation for demolition in late spring.
Areas affected include:
- Fine Arts Division -- moved to 5th floor of Main Library to
share
- space with the Science and Engineering Division.
- Fine Arts Gallery -- closing for construction.
- Ridington Room (study area and computer terminals) -- closing
for construction. See the Chapman Learning Commons web site for
alternate library and campus computer labs and study areas (www.library.ubc.ca/chapmanlearningcommons).
- The Chapman Learning Commons - - will remain open during construction.
- The Wallace B. Chung and Madeleine H. Collection -- will remain
- open during construction.
- Pages Café -- closing for construction.
- Disability access -- provided as part of the loading dock relocation.
Completion of the new north wing is scheduled for 2004. Demolition
and construction of the south wing will begin in Fall/Winter 2004.
The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre will be the first in Canada
to integrate information resources, services, research activities
and interdisciplinary learning support in one building. It will
provide 15 years of growth space for UBC Library's print collection
through the first Canadian installation of an Automated Retrieval
System (ARS), capable of holding more than 1.4 million volumes.
For more information, visit www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca.
to top
UBC prof wins Bright and Shiny Award
UBC Surgery Professor Dr. Karim Qayumi will be presented with the
Bright and Shiny Award at the Fifth Annual B.C. Innovation Awards
in Educational Technology on May 30.
To take place during the Spring Workshop on Educational Technologies
at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology/University College
of the Cariboo (Merritt Campus), the Awards honour and recognize
post-secondary educators (individuals or teams) who test, implement,
and use educational technologies to enhance teaching, learning,
and/or who provide greater service and support to students or staff.
Qayumi is recognized for using technology to support a fundamentally
innovative way to teach medicine. His CyberPatient allows medical
students to practice surgical techniques on a 'virtual patient'.
He has integrated problem-based instructional methods that allow
students to apply theory in their practice by their second year
of medical school.
Dr. Qayumi's work is a showpiece for BC. www.surgicalexcellence.org
to top
UBC prof elected to Royal Society of Canada
Dr. John Schrader, Director of The Biomedical Research Centre
at UBC, has been elected to The Royal Society of Canada. This is
the highest academic accolade for scientists in Canada.
Dr. Schrader is among the first 19 researchers to be named Canada
Research Chairs at UBC. His research involves determining the signals
the immune system cells send to each other and how these signals
might go wrong in a process known as a faulty immune response. A
better understanding of immune response could aid in therapies for
diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
The Royal Society of Canada was established in 1882 and is regarded
as the country's most prominent academy of scholars and scientists.
More than 160 UBC faculty are members of the Royal Society of Canada.
to top
Nursing bursary established
The UBC Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
of nursing (Xi Eta Chapter) has given $18,000 to the Registered
Nurses Foundation of B.C. to administer a bursary for B.C. Registered
Nurses who are enrolled in nursing studies at the baccalaureate
level.
Money for this bursary was raised from fees, revenue from annual
Research Forum, fall and spring dinners, workshops, door-prize draws,
and fundraising events. The Chapter strives to foster excellence,
scholarship and leadership in nursing.
to top
I.House donation to UNICEF
Students at UBC's International House raised $1,375 for UNICEF
in a new humanitarian aid campaign 'Meeting the Needs of Diverse
Peoples around the World'.
The campaign, part of the annual FESTIVA event, raised $375 through
a display table and the posters and information sheets supplied
from the UNICEF office in Vancouver.
Students worked hard and soon exceeded the $800 target. They raised
the additional $575 by asking UBC member clubs to donate their annual
International House deposits to this fundraiser.
The following groups decided to contribute to the fund: Association
for Bahai Studies, International Students Association, Kendo Club,
Muslim Students Association, Pacific Rim Club, Wing Chun Kung Fu
Club, World University Services of Canada, UBC Dance Club, UBC Persian
Club and Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques
et Commerciales.
to top
|
