UBC This Week | Jun. 8, 2006

UBC This Week is a weekly summary of UBC people in the news, recent media releases and upcoming event hightlights. UBC This Week past issues are also available on-line.

Sign up for UBC This Week and other UBC Public Affairs e-mail services at www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/eservices.

Recent UBC Media Releases

• Jun. 7: UBC researchers find stroke death channel
• Jun. 6: UBC study gives insights into how first-time mothers may experience enhanced learning and memory
• Jun. 5: UBC's Museum of Anthropology to grow by 50 per cent in $52-million expansion

Upcoming Event Highlights

• Jun. 9: Animal Welfare and the control of stray dogs in Brazil
• Jun. 10: Portugal day celebration
• Jun. 12: The baffling world of contemporary American health care
• Jun. 13: Meeting the challenge of rapid urban growth in India
• Jun. 13: Digital lifestyle rvent - GarageBand & podcasting

Find out what else is happening at UBC this week. For sports events, visit the UBC Athletics site at www.gothunderbirds.ca/schedule.asp.

UBC People

• Outgoing president and dean awarded YWCA Women of Distinction awards
• International internships available for UBC postgraduates
• Fire smoke website provides information on air quality

UBC People

Outgoing president and dean awarded YWCA Women of Distinction awards

Outgoing UBC president Martha Piper and outgoing dean of the UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies Frieda Granot were two of eight women who received YWCA 2006 Women of Distinction awards. For more information: www.ywcavan.org.

Piper won in the category of business and the professions, recognized for her work in cultivating one of the most internationally acclaimed universities in Canada, while fostering strong ties between the university and the business and philanthropic communities. She began her academic career as a physical therapist of children with mental disabilities and is now an Officer of the Order of Canada and recipient of the Order of British Columbia.

Granot won in the category of training and development, recognized for her role in generating capacity for exceptional global citizens, especially in knowledge-based economics, and promoting women in under-represented fields of study. Her interdisciplinary initiatives include the Liu Institute for the Study of Global Issues, the Human Early Learning Partnership and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability.

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International internships available for UBC postgraduates

Nine young Canadians will get to work overseas in fields related to their university studies as part of the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) international internship program. The six-month placement allows postgraduate students to work in a developing country in order to focus on fostering sustainability in human and natural systems. Host countries of South Africa, Rwanda, Urugay, Columbia, India and Senegal currently have nine job opportunities available. The program is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.

For more information: www.ires.ubc.ca/interns.

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Fire smoke website provides information on air quality

In recognition of Clean Air Day, UBC researchers have launched a website to provide comprehensive information on BC forest fires, fire smoke-related air quality and their effects on human health. Visitors can view near real-time fire and air quality status through interactive maps of BC and the Pacific Northwest that use satellite and weather data to create a comprehensive picture of current smoke conditions.

Professor Michael Brauer of the UBC Centre for Health and Environment Research says the website is a “one stop shop” for information on fire risk, fire locations, fire smoke and its health impacts. The fire smoke website is funded in part by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the BC Lung Association.

For more information: www.firesmoke.ubc.ca.

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