May 2023

Faculty of Applied Science:Engineering professor Dr. Madjid Mohseni leads a team that have developed a new water treatment that removes “forever chemicals” from drinking water. • Dr. Hirra Zafar is working to convert rotten fruit waste into electrical energy • Texting intervention for lesbian and bisexual girls prevents teen pregnancy • Third Quadrant Design, a 60-member student engineering design team, have unveiled one of Canada’s first institutional spaces designed by students, and with near-zero embodied carbon • Indigenous Community Planning students partner with Indigenous Nations for 11th year 

Faculty of Arts: Dr. Richard Menkis, Associate Professor of History, is the recipient of the 2023 Dean of Arts Award, for his exceptional leadership and impact in his field, centering on Jewish studies and Holocaust education. • Dr. Shannon Walsh, Associate Professor in Theatre & Film, has won a 2023 Governor General’s Award for Artistic Achievement in Visual and Media Arts. • The UBC Centre for Migration Studies and its research partners were awarded $12.4 million from the Canada Research First Excellence Fund to study migrant integration in the mid-21st century.

Integrated Renewal Program: This year, IRP Student is focused on testing the system and preparing the UBC community for the upcoming transition. Click here to learn more about the activities, engagements, and milestones ahead as UBC prepares for the Launch 1 of Workday Student in October 2023.

Faculty of Land and Food Systems: This year marks the fourth growing season at Musqueam Garden. Through UBC’s Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund, Patricia Isaak, Health Services Coordinator, Musqueam Indian Band, and Dr. Eduardo Jovel, LFS Applied Biology program and xʷcicəsəm Garden, will increase food production and distribution during the growing season as they endeavour to grow healthy, local, and culturally appropriate foods to unite the community and enhance food security. • The LFS development and alumni engagement team initiated a Young Alumni Council that officially launches this month. The council will engage up to 3,000 potential alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years through professional development, entrepreneurship support and community engagement opportunities. The new council will be led by 16 alumni who will take the initiative to establish programs.

The Faculty of Medicine is expanding the occupational therapy program in northern B.C. which will improve culturally safe care, accessibility and community inclusion. • Prescription contraception is now free for people in B.C. and Faculty of Medicine researchers, including Dr. Wendy Norman, were influential in bringing about this policy change. • Dr. Manish Sadarangani is among five Canadian scientists receiving funding for pandemic preparedness projects as part of a new partnership between CIHR and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. • Safer and more effective blood thinners could be on the way following a groundbreaking discovery by Faculty of Medicine researchers, including Dr. Jay Kizhakkedathu.

Peter A. Allard School of Law: Though Allard Law’s new Afghan Women Judges Program, three judges from Afghanistan have recently joined the law school. Judge Bibi Wahida Rahimi accepted a two-year position as a Research Associate. Judges Freshta Masomi and Zamila Sangar accepted two-year appointments as visiting scholars with the Centre for Asian Legal Studies.

UBC Okanagan launched its new Doctor of Education Program • Heather Berringer was appointed Associate Provost, Academic Operations and Services • Robert Janke was appointed Interim Chief Librarian • UBCO hosted Giving Day, raising more than $200,000 for student causes • UBCO launched its inaugural debate to present the opposing sides of artificial intelligence.

Faculty of Science: A new training program housed at the University of British Columbia will help prepare graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in B.C. and Western Canada for a future driven by next generation AI and machine learning solutions.

UBC Sauder Faculty Advisory Board Chair Warren Spitz along with his wife Maureen and their family, have donated an additional $500,000 to the Spitz Fellows Program which is aimed at enabling and supporting Indigenous women to pursue business education. Launched by the Spitz family in 2015 with a $1 million initial gift, the program was developed in consultation with UBC Sauder and Ch’nook Indigenous Business Education, and with input from Indigenous and academic communities. • Dean Darren Dahl has been awarded the top honour by the Society of Consumer Psychology for his research on creativity and social influence. He has been named a 2023 Fellow for his outstanding contributions to consumer psychology through research and service. • The Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics and the UBC Sauder Dean’s Office congratulate the eight thought leaders who have been awarded Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Catalyst Grants for 2023. These grants provide seed funding to support research in the field of EDI.