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.

Sep. 18, 2003

• Two Faculty of Applied Science professors win innovation awards
• Film by UBC Law professor a hit with critics and audiences
• New drug advisory board includes two UBC members
• City Approves Vancouver-UBC Charter
  

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Two Faculty of Applied Science professors win innovation awards

Two members of UBC's Faculty of Applied Science have won Innovation and Science Council of B.C. awards for 2003.

John Grace, a professor of chemical and biological engineering, was honoured with the Chairman's Award for Career Achievement for distinguishing himself as an educator, researcher, and innovator in his 35-year career as a leading authority on fluidization and chemical reaction engineering.

Professor of civil and mechanical engineering Nemkumar Banthia received the Solutions Through Research Award for his work to make roads safer, buildings stronger, and bridges last longer.

The winners will be honoured at an awards dinner at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Nov. 3.

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Film by UBC Law professor a hit with critics and audiences

The Corporation, a feature-length documentary written by UBC law professor Joel Bakan, wowed critics and audiences alike when it premiered earlier this month at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. The film, which takes a comprehensive look at the dominance of corporations and its far-reaching repercussions, was second runner-up for the People's Choice Award.

Using case studies, anecdotes and true confessions, the film reveals the corporations' inner workings and controversial impacts. Among the 42 interview subjects are CEOs, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and a range of historians and critics including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Michael Moore. The film is based on Bakan's forthcoming book, to be published in Canada by Penguin Books in March, 2004.

The Corporation will be screened at the 2003 Vancouver International Film Festival on Oct. 6, 8 and 10. For more information, visit the festival website at www.viff.org.

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New drug advisory board includes two UBC members

Ken Bassett and Bruce Carleton have been appointed as members of the 11-person Canadian Expert Drug Advisory Committee (CEDAC), a new advisory body of drug therapy and drug evaluation experts.

Bassett is a medical consultant at the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research at UBC and is also a member of the UBC Therapeutics Initiative. Carleton is associate professor and chair, division of clinical pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

CEDAC will provide listing recommendations for new drugs based on the best available clinical and economic evidence. Further information is available on the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment website at www.ccohta.ca.

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City Approves Vancouver-UBC Charter

Vancouver City Council approved the City of Vancouver-University of British Columbia Charter at its meeting of Sept. 16.

The charter is designed to define and guide the university's relationship with the City of Vancouver.

In speaking to Council on the charter, UBC President Martha Piper outlined UBC's shared history with the city. Piper pointed out the number of UBC facilities in Vancouver -- including the Downtown Eastside Learning Exchange, UBC at Robson Square, the five teaching hospitals, the Portland Dental Clinic, Belkin Art Gallery Satellite and the new Great Northern Way Campus. She reviewed UBC's 3.8 billion economic impact on the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

Piper said the current $600 million in academic construction at UBC's Point Grey campus makes it the largest construction site west of Ontario. She reported how sustainability objectives, particularly transportation initiatives, are being met for the emerging University Town at Point Grey that will allow more university community members to live where they work.

The report on which Council voted is at: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20030916/rr1.htm.

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