You Are Here: Navigating an Uncertain World

UBC Reports | Vol. 55 | No. 3 | Mar. 5, 2009

Celebrate Research: Weeklong Activities Showcase Global and Human Perspectives

By Catherine Loiacono

The entrepreneur, personalized genomics and work and family life balance are some of the topics to be explored in Celebrate Research Week March 7-14 at UBC’s Point Grey and Robson Square campuses, as well as partner hospital sites.

“The impact of university research extends far beyond the campus, affecting the lives of British Columbians in many ways,” says John Hepburn, vice-president research at UBC. “We warmly welcome members of the public at Celebrate Research Week events, which are hosted by UBC researchers working to cure disease, investigate the mysteries of space and matter, promote sustainability through technological and social solutions, and more.”

You are Here, Navigating An Uncertain World – the theme for this year’s series – celebrates the anniversary of several historical events, including the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, the 150th anniversary of The Origin of Species, and the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of a telescope to study the skies.

“The theme of this year’s events reflects our commitment to understanding humanity’s role as stewards of our planet, its life and resources,” says Sid Katz, executive director, Community Affairs and Celebrate Research founder.  “We want to engage the next generation of great researchers right here in British Columbia.”

Emerging research themes in psychiatry will be explored by some of Canada’s most promising young psychiatric researchers, including Jun-Feng Wang, John Ogrodniczuk, Christian G. Schütz and David Bond on March 7 at 800 Robson Square.

Larry Rosen, chairman and CEO of Harry Rosen will look Inside the Entrepreneur on March 9 at Four Season’s Hotel.
The Gairdner Foundation 50th Anniversary Symposium: Science and Future of Medicine is an all-day academic symposium  featuring eight presenters, including Nobel laureates Harold Varmus, Roger Tsien, Carl Wieman and Sydney Brenner on March 11 at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts.

The 2009 Michael Smith Memorial Nobel Forum Personalized Genomics: Hope or Hype? is a free public forum on March 11 at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts. The forum will discuss the science, ethics and issues around personal genetic testing with a panel of award-winning medical geneticists including Nobel laureate Harold Varmus, Cynthia Kenyon and Muin Khoury and moderated by former NBC correspondent, Charles Sabine.

UBC’s Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy presents The Unhurried Family on March 10 at Juliet’s Café, 1905 Cornwall Ave. This cafe offers three short talks on research into stress and coping in infants, couples and families as well as strategies to enhance life balance, health and well-being.

On March 11, UBC Prof. Carlos Ventura will explore and their effects on buildings, bridges and other structures. The talk, Learning from Earthquakes to Prepare for Earthquakes, discusses seismic risk in B.C., and will explain the research at UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility, 2235 East Mall.

A Wealth of Knowledge and Experience: Research Partnerships in the Downtown Eastside is a session that showcases health research being conducted in partnership between university researchers, community members and service providers. This event will be held on Monday March 9 at Ray Cam Co-operative Centre.

On March 14, Robert Evans, UBC Mechanical Engineering Prof., director of the Clean Energy Research Centre and author of Fuelling Our Future: An Introduction to Sustainable Energy, will explore the topic Sustainable Transportation: How B.C. Can be a Showcase for the New “Electricity Economy.” This event is presented by the Vancouver Institute and will be held at the Woodward Instructional Resources Centre.

A highlight of the week is the March 12 Celebrate Research Gala, where UBC honours its outstanding investigators. The accomplishments of more than 200 UBC research award winners will be celebrated with video vignettes and performances by members of the UBC School of Music.

For a complete listing of Celebrate Research Week events, visit www.research.ubc.ca and click on the information box.