UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 02 | Jan. 25, 2001

Author, historian in popular series

Vancouver Institute season provides food for thought

The new president of Simon Fraser University, Michael Stevenson, writer Guy Vanderhaeghe, and leading early modern European historian Prof. Natalie Zemon Davis are among the speakers in the Vancouver Institute's free public lecture series at UBC which runs every Saturday except public holidays to March 24.

All lectures take place at 8:15 p.m. in the Woodward Instructional Resources Centre, lecture hall 2.

Upcoming lectures include:

Jan. 27: Guy Vanderhaeghe, "An Evening with Guy Vanderhaeghe"

A Saskatchewan native, Vanderhaeghe won the Governor General's Award for his first book, Man Descending and was nominated for the Booker Prize. His most recent work, The Englishman's Boy, has won wide acclaim.

Feb. 3: Prof. Natalie Zemon Davis, "Braided Histories: Jews, Africans and Slavery"

A leading historian on early modern Europe, Davis has written on French medieval and Renaissance history and her work has influenced fields ranging from women's studies to art history.

Feb. 10: Prof. Merle Sande, "The Crisis in Infectious Diseases"

Dr. Sande has specialized in the study of superbugs or infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

Feb. 17: Prof. Gregor Kiczales, "Programming: Poetry, Gears or Magic?"

A leading researcher in computer software design and engineering, Kiczales joined UBC last May. His research focuses on techniques for designing and implementing software systems that are flexible, maintainable and reusable.

Feb. 24: Elaine Humphrey, "Discovering Microscopic Worlds"

Director of UBC's Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Humphrey helps faculty get a closer look at subjects as diverse as the heart, sharks and pollen grains. She also hosted the Discovery Channel program "Small Wonders."

March 3: Prof. Emeritus Tim Parsons, "Oceanography in the Service of Fisheries"

The first Canadian to win the Japan Prize -- regarded as the Japanese equivalent of the Nobel Prize -- Parsons has spent 40 years as a Canadian oceanographer and researcher.

March 10: Jim Delgado, "Diving to the Titanic"

Executive director of the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Delgado was the first maritime archaeologist to dive to the wreck of the Titanic. He is currently the co-host of the Discovery Channel new series, "The Sea Hunters."

March 17: Prof. Emeritus Fred Dretske, "Animal Minds"

A leading cognitive science researcher, Dretske studies how the mind perceives the natural world.

March 24: Michael Stevenson, "Politics and Education: Reflection on Current Dilemmas"

Simon Fraser University's new president, Stevenson served as vice-president, Academic Affairs and Provost at York University in Ontario beginning in 1971. He has also written about Canadian political culture and public opinion.

Recent books published by series speakers will be available at the door and the UBC Bookstore.

For more information, check the Web site at www.psg.com/~ted/vaninst or call UBC-INFO 604-822-4636.