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.

Jul. 30, 2004

• Festival Vancouver Plays at UBC
• Finlay Recognized by Infectious Diseases Society of America
• Neuroscientist Honoured for Alzheimer’s Research
• Human-powered Helicopter Team Set to Make History
• Grad Student Receives DC Memorial Graduate Award

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Festival Vancouver Plays at UBC

Nearly one third of Festival Vancouver performances will play at either UBC’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts or the First Nations Longhouse. The festival showcases classical, world and jazz music and this year spotlights the music and musicians of France.

Chan Centre concerts

1. National Youth Orchestra of Canada
   Tuesday, August 3 at 8pm
2. Great Works of Haydn
   Sunday, August 8 at 8pm
3. Baroque Masterworks -- Charpentier Anniversary Concert
   Wednesday, August 11 at 8pm

First Nations Longhouse concerts

• Accordion Day
  Saturday, August 7 - 11am, 1pm and 3pm
• French Chamber Music Day
  Sunday, August 8 - 11am, 1pm and 3pm
• Debussy Piano Day with Philippe Cassard
  Saturday, August 14 - 11am, 1pm and 3pm
• French Connections Day
  Sunday, August 15 - 11am, 1pm and 3pm

Tickets at Ticketmaster: 604.280.3311 or www.ticketmaster.ca
For more information, go to: www.festivalvancouver.bc.ca

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Finlay Recognized by Infectious Diseases Society of America

UBC’s Peter Wall Distinguished Professor Brett Finlay has been awarded the prestigious 2004 Squibb Award by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

The Squibb Award recognizes outstanding overall achievement in an area of infectious diseases by an individual member or fellow of IDSA who is 45 or younger. Finlay will be presented with the award at the beginning of the Special Plenary Session of the 2004 IDSA Annual Meeting in Boston, on Thursday, September 30.

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Neuroscientist Honoured for Alzheimer’s Research

Neuroscientist Dr. Patrick L. McGeer has been given the Henry Wisniewski Award by the Alzheimer’s Association for extraordinary contributions to Alzheimer’s research.

McGeer is a professor emeritus in UBC’s Faculty of Medicine. He began to focus on Alzheimer disease in the early 1980s, and was a pioneer in using the newly developed techniques of PET and MRI to show brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease. McGeer later tested the hypothesis that inflammation might be contributing to disease progression and that anti-inflammatory agents would have a preventative effect.

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Human-powered Helicopter Team Set to Make History

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10th, the UBC human-powered helicopter student team will be making a first test flight of their human-powered helicopter, christened "Thunderbird," in the Thunderbird Stadium after four patient years of building and design work.

Since the (hover-for-one-minute-peaking-at-three-metres) challenge and US$20,000 prize was first offered in 1980 by the American Helicopter Society, no one has claimed the prize. UBC has the only team from Canada attempting to win this competition.

All are welcome to witness the event and support the team.For more information, visit the team's website at: http://batman.mech.ubc.ca/~hph/ or contact Team Leader Mike Georgallis (galli@mech.ubc.ca).

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Grad Student Receives DC Memorial Graduate Award

Gerry Kasten, RDN has been selected as the 2004 recipient of the $2,500.00 DC Graduate Award sponsored by the Dietitians of Canada Memorial Fund. A UBC Master of Science student researching human nutrition, Gerry has worked as a public health nutritionist since 1990 and works for the Fraser Health Authority.

Kasten is conducting qualitative research on the food choice processes of gay men. His research utilizes grounded theory methods to develop hypotheses on this topic. The results will be of use to dietitians working with gay men, particularly those working in the fields of diabetes, obesity, eating disorders and immune-deficiency disease. They will support the delivery of culturally competent care, sensitive to the particular issues faced by gay men when making food choices.

The Memorial Fund Graduate Scholarship was established by Dietitians of Canada in 1966. The annual award of $2,500 assists a current DC member engaged in graduate study in any aspect of dietetics. Selection is based on scholarship, experience and professional potential.

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