LFS Today Apr 21, 2022

 News  

Masks required in UBC public indoor spaces until June 30

As there are now signs of further Omicron variants and increased case numbers, experts have indicated that BC is about to enter into a sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of these factors, UBC has made the decision to maintain the requirement to wear masks until June 30, 2022.

As a reminder, masks are required in all indoor public spaces on both UBC campuses. You can learn more by reading the UBC COVID-19 Campus Rules at https://srs.ubc.ca/covid-19/ubc-campus-rules-guidance-documents/. Students, faculty and staff who take part in academic activities outside of university campuses are still required to wear a mask if mandated by a Public Health Order; for example, in health care settings.

UBC is also now transitioning from COVID-19 Safety Plans to a Communicable Disease Prevention Framework in alignment with the BC Centre for Disease Control and WorksafeBC. This means the university will replace the current seven institutional plans, with a single plan to cover all campus activities, effective May 1, 2022.

Read the full announcement

Teaching Theory Thursday

“The future of the world is in my classroom today, a future with the potential for good or bad… Several future presidents are learning from me today; so are the great writers of the next decades, and so are all the so-called ordinary people who will make the decisions in a democracy.” – Ivan Welton Fitzwater

Brought to you by The Learning Centre.

 Events  

Apr. 22 – Lunch & Learn Series: Learning About Climate Change in the Context of Climate Crisis

Our next session will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022 at noon. Candice Rideout (LFS Associate Professor of Teaching in Food, Nutrition and Health) and Anna Stone (soon-to-be alumna of the Global Resource Systems program at LFS) will be our presenters this week.

The need for effective climate change education has never been more urgent. Instructors and student support staff play critical roles in students’ education, but development of effective learning experiences may be hindered by lack of training in climate change pedagogy and inadequate understanding of students’ perceptions and needs for climate change education. In this session, Candice and Anna will share their experiences and ideas regarding climate change education. As part of her Directed Studies project this term, Anna interviewed and surveyed upper-year undergraduate students to explore their perspectives on learning about climate change at university. We will consider how insights from her project can help inform strategies for climate change education at UBC.

Join Candice, Anna and the Learning Centre team to explore the results of their study and to explore perspectives on climate change education. To register for the Lunch & Learn Series, please visit https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5cscumsqDwrG9OI5NHXco_FeqnmI0pzdWM1.

Follow the Lunch & Learn Series on Twitter and the Lunch and Learn Series Webpage.

Apr. 27 – IRES Special Seminar with Alain Nadaï

The political construction of renewable energy resources
About: Prof. Nadaï’s lecture will build on case studies of renewable energy developments in France, and draw from developments in social sciences (science and technology studies, valuation studies) in order to follow the social and technical process by which parts of our environment are constructed as renewable energy resources. He will discuss on this basis the politics and the democratic dimension of energy transitioning.

Presenter: Alain Nadaï, Senior Interdisciplinary Social Scientist, Centre for International Research on Environment and Development (CIRED)

Time: 12:00pm to 1:30pm (Pacific Standard Time)
Location: AERL Theatre, Room 120 (2202 Main Mall)
OR via Zoom:
REGISTER in advance for this Zoom seminar.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link.

June 21 to 22 – 2022 Center for Produce Safety (CPS) Research Symposium

Join the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) at the 2022 CPS Research Symposium where scientists will present 34 research projects that address critical industry questions.

Learn more here.

June 21-22, 2022
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine
La Jolla, California

 Deadlines  

May 2 – The Transition Accelerator 2022 Transition Pathways – Research Funding Opportunity

The Transition Accelerator is looking to collaborate with researchers across the country interested in developing transformational pathways to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, they will be awarding small grants to support pathways scoping studies.

They seek submissions for projects that can help define credible, compelling, and capable pathways across Canada. These can be local, sub-regional, or regional in scope, and should be anchored in the Accelerator’s pathways methodology.

There is no formal application form, but applicants will need to submit a short project proposal by Monday, May 2, 2022.

Learn more and apply here.

May 10 – Genomic Innovations for Regenerative Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

Genome BC and Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF) have partnered to develop the Genomic Innovation for Regenerative Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (GIRAFF) program to co-invest in projects that will provide genomic solutions to support the BC agriculture, food and fisheries sectors in addressing climate change. Genome BC and IAF will each contribute $1M to provide a $2M funding envelope for this program. The $1M IAF contribution to the Genomic Innovation for Regenerative Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Program is funded by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia.

Statement of interest deadline: May 10, 2022

Interested applicants are encouraged to direct questions to Genome BC at GIRAFF@genomebc.ca.

Learn more and apply here.