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. 26, 2003

• Frank McKenna to speak at UBC at Robson Square
• American Association for Artificial Intelligence Chooses UBC Professor as President-Elect
• UBC Microbiologist Earns Society's Premier Award
• Researcher to Study Ergonomics in B.C. Dental Offices
• Student Receives American Archivists Award
  

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Frank McKenna to speak at UBC at Robson Square

Former premier Frank McKenna will speak at UBC at Robson Square on Oct. 8 on the subject, How do government and business relate in a rapidly changing world?

McKenna, widely recognized for his leadership in restoring fiscal responsibility and reforming social programs during three terms as premiere in New Brunswick, comes to UBC as part of John V. Clyne Lecture Program, and in conjunction with the Centre for the Study of Government and Business at the Sauder School of Business.

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8
Time: 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: UBC at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street

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American Association for Artificial Intelligence Chooses UBC Professor as President-Elect

UBC computer science professor Alan Mackworth, holder of a Canada Research Chair in artificial intelligence, has become the first non-American to be elected to the position of president-elect of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).

As one of Canada's top experts in artificial intelligence, Mackworth's work is based on understanding principles that make intelligent behaviour possible. His research has illuminated the areas of pattern recognition, vision systems for navigation, knowledge representation, and problem solving.

AAAI's president-elect role covers the period 2003-05 after which Mackworth will assume the president's position from 2005-07. AAAI is the world's most active AI society with over 6,000 members.

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UBC Microbiologist Earns Society's Premier Award

Bob Hancock, professor of microbiology and immunology, has been given the American Society of Microbiology's top honour in antimicrobial research, the Laureate of the 2003 Aventis Pharmaceuticals Award. The award honours accomplishments in research toward the development of new antimicrobial agents, the investigation of action or resistance, and the clinical use of those agents.

Hancock's research examines the way antibiotics work and how micro-organisms are able to resist drugs. He also co-leads Canada's largest genomics project ever, the Genome Prairie/Genome B.C.'s Pathogenomics project, that looks at how genes influence immunity to infectious disease in humans.

Co-founder of Inimex Pharmaceuticals, a UBC spin-off company, Hancock is an Officer of the Order of Canada and Canada Research Chair in microbiology/genomics and health.

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Researcher to Study Ergonomics in B.C. Dental Offices

Assoc. Prof. Lance Rucker, of the UBC Faculty of Dentistry, has earned a grant from the Workers' Compensation Board to assess the best methods for encouraging B.C. dental professionals to improve their musculoskeletal health, quality of life and productivity.

Along with Susanne Sunell of Vancouver Community College and Carl Cramer Jr., a clinician dentistry instructor, Rucker will develop ergonomics health promotion guidelines for dentists, dental hygienists and assistants and determine if they help reduce or eliminate high-risk practices.

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Student Receives American Archivists Award

The Society of American Archivists' 2003 Theodore Calvin Pease Award was presented to UBC student Glen Dingwall for his paper, Trusting Archivists: The Role of Archival Ethics Codes in Establishing Public Faith.

Established in 1987, the award recognizes superior writing achievement by a student enrolled in archival administration classes or engaged in formal archival internship programs. A cash prize and forthcoming publication of Dingwall's paper in the American Archivist are part of the award, which was presented in Los Angeles on August 22. Dingwall is the fourth UBC student to win the award.

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