Weekly Update, February 26, 2021
Dear members of the UBC community. Next week, March 1 to March 5 is SDG Week at UBC. SDG stands for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by world leaders in 2015 at a historic UN summit and came into effect on 1 January 2016. The goals call […]
Weekly Update: February 19, 2021
Dear members of the UBC community. I hope that everyone had a good Family Day break. And, if you are a student, I hope that you had a relaxing Reading Week. Reading Week is not only a chance to recharge your batteries; it’s also a time to start thinking ahead to the end of term […]
COVID-19 innovations hold lessons for national policy
By Dr. Santa J. Ono and Dr. Gail Murphy As published in The Hill Times on February 17, 2021. As the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in early 2020, we witnessed an unprecedented mobilization of the world’s scientific community to develop solutions. Canadian researchers and companies are making vital contributions to these efforts, especially in the area […]
February 2021
Welcome Welcome to the February 2021 issue of Letter from Santa, a regular communication to members of the UBC community. Highlights Climate Emergency Task Force Report and Recommendations Micro-credential Program Support Terms of Engagement with Musqueam Signed New UBC professorship to advance addiction medicine in B.C. Support for innovation in clean technology and sustainable […]
February 2021
Welcome Welcome to the February 2021 issue of Letter to the Board, a regular communication to members of the UBC Board of Governors. Highlights Climate Emergency Task Force Report and Recommendations Micro-credential Program Support Terms of Engagement with Musqueam Signed New UBC professorship to advance addiction medicine in B.C. Support for innovation in clean […]
Weekly Update, February 12
Dear members of the UBC community. As you know, a little over a year ago, on December 5, 2019, UBC declared a climate emergency. As part of the declaration, I established a Climate Emergency Task Force with a mandate to consolidate input from both in-person and online consultations into a public report. Despite the exceptional […]
Statement on Release of Loujain Al-Hathloul
We are heartened to learn that UBC alumna Loujain Al-Hathloul was released from prison today in Saudi Arabia. Ms. Al-Hathloul, who graduated from UBC in 2014, has dedicated her life to campaigning to advance women’s rights in her home country. She was arrested and detained in May 2018 along with several other women’s rights activists, and was […]
Episode 16: EDI in Applied Science
https://soundcloud.com/ubc_blue_and_goldcast/episode-16-sheryl-staub-french I’m joined by Sheryl Staub-French, the Associate Dean of UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science to discuss the Faculty’s equity, diversity, and inclusion strategies. Here at UBC, we’re committed to doing better by all of our students, faculty, and staff. That means advancing and prioritizing our understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion, or EDI, not […]
Weekly Update, February 5, 2021
Dear members of the UBC community. As you know, a little over a year ago, on December 5, 2019, UBC declared a climate emergency. As part of the declaration, I established a Climate Emergency Task Force with a mandate to consolidate input from both in-person and online consultations into a public report. I am pleased […]
Weekly Update, February 1, 2021: Black History Month
Dear members of the UBC community. I’d like to start off by congratulating Dr. Susan Porter, Dean and Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, on receiving the Debra W. Stewart Award for Outstanding Leadership in Graduate Education from the Council of Graduate Schools, for her passionate advocacy and invaluable contributions to UBC and the international graduate […]
Let’s Talk About Mental Health
Mental illness affects every one of us, either directly or through those we love. And it affects people of all ages and walks of life, including members of the UBC community. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Canada for those between the ages of 15 and 24, and the second leading cause […]
Episode 15: Let’s Talk About Mental Health
https://soundcloud.com/ubc_blue_and_goldcast/episode-15-mental-health-covid-and-students/s-13DquMxoWeD In this episode of the Blue and Goldcast, I talk to Kathryn Gretsinger about students and mental health. Kathryn and her team of 80 students, journalists, and academics have been working on a cross-border investigation into mental health issues with 10 journalism schools in Canada and the US. Download the transcript here.
Weekly Update, January 22, 2021
Dear members of the UBC community. We begin the new year with hope, and anticipation of a better year ahead. Already, many vulnerable seniors and frontline workers have been vaccinated in British Columbia, and we can look forward to more widescale vaccination against COVID in the coming months. But just because vaccination has begun, it […]
Congratulations to UBC’s Killam Professors
The Killam Professorship is the highest honour that UBC can confer on a faculty member. University Killam Professors are exceptional teachers and researchers who are leaders in their fields, and have received international recognition for their talents and achievements. I would like to congratulate UBC’s new Killam Professors, who have just been announced. Janice Eng, […]
Episode 14: Fostering Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UBC
https://soundcloud.com/ubc_blue_and_goldcast/episode-14-fostering-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-at-ubc/s-nlB7BzgjnPy In this episode of the Blue and Goldcast, I talk to Karen Ragoonaden about the complexities – and the necessity – of fostering equity, diversity and inclusion at a modern university. Download the transcript here.
Statement from the President
Late last year my elderly mother was taken to hospital by ambulance in her home city of Baltimore. Since my mother and father, who is 93, live alone, I was concerned about their welfare. There is no one in my extended family who lives in Baltimore and was able to provide support for them. On […]