LFS Today May 5, 2022

 News  

Random Acts of Recognition

A huge thank you to the academic advisors in LFS Student Services: Bre Jakobsen, Sherman Kwai and Ella Wong, for their efforts to review, process, and log the significant volume of academic concession requests our students submitted this term. Despite an over 300% increase in the number of requests for this term, compared to term two of the 2020 Winter Session (that number is not a joke), they have been dedicated in their efforts to communicate decisions to students in a timely manner and get records updated in advance of the sessional evaluation process. They have done this all while implementing a refined documentation and operational process to ensure we can maximize our efficiency and collaboration. This process kicks off a busy administrative ‘season’ for the team, and the care and skill with which they do this work is greatly appreciated and unparalleled.

To nominate a faculty member, staff or graduate student that’s been doing an outstanding job or has gone above and beyond in some way, send an email to lfs.recognition@ubc.ca and tell us why this person should be recognized. We’ll send them a $6 Starbucks gift card and acknowledge their good work in LFS Today.

Teaching Theory Thursday – Introductions

“Sell yourself first, if you want to sell anything.” – Burt Lancaster

At a loss for what to talk about on the first day of class besides the syllabus? When students are introducing themselves, don’t forget to tell the students about who you are and what you have accomplished in your career. This background information humanizes you and lets students know the added value you bring to the classroom.

Brought to you by The Learning Centre.

 Events  

May 14 – Public Symposium: Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Academia

UBC is hosting an inaugural Inter-Institutional Forum of the Scarborough National Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education. The symposium on May 14 is open to everyone.

The event, Community Making and Black Flourishing Through the Scarborough Charter, contributes to the ongoing work and commitments by SFU and UBC to combat anti-Black racism and promote Black flourishing at our institutions and in the wider community. The symposium also serves to illustrate to a national audience how the goals of the Scarborough Charter are being interpreted locally. The symposium includes four discussion panels of administrators, faculty, advisors, students, and community activists and is an opportunity to engage with others on pathways for action.

May 14, 2022
2:00 – 5:45pm PDT
In-person at UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street
or
Virtually via Livestream
For event details: https://events.ubc.ca/towards-black-flourishing/

May 24 – Exploring Complex Classroom Dynamics Using Case Studies

This session is also part of the Indigenous Initiatives Classroom Climate series.

Note: This is an application session where participants will apply their learnings from previous Classroom Climate or Anti-Racist Teaching workshops. Because of this, we recommend that participants have attended at least one other session in either of these series before participating in this workshop, and/or bring equivalent prior knowledge and experience with anti-racist concepts and classroom practices.

In this workshop we will explore complex classroom dynamics, such as microaggressions and tensions when students have conflicting world views. Drawing from select Open Case Studies at UBC that highlight Indigenous student experiences in diverse classrooms, participants will work in breakout groups to unpack the scenarios and discuss how they resonate with our current classroom contexts and climates. Concepts and topics that may be raised include: tokenism, conflicting world views, burden of representation, course topics that impact students personally, and self-determination. Participants who have taken other workshops within the Anti-RacistTeaching and Learning Workshops will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned to their analysis of cases and come up with practical strategies.

May 24, 2022
10:00am – 12:00pm

Learn more and register here.

 Deadlines  

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

May 31 – Partnering Opportunities with PepsiCo – Proposal Applications

PepsiCo is looking for collaborations on four partnering opportunities below:

1. Characterizing plant proteins as they undergo extrusion
   • Funding: The proposal depended on the range of $100,000 or more annually for multi-year projects.
2. Biodegradable Coatings and Adhesives for Next Generation PHA films
   • Funding: $25K-$100K for a 6-month proof of connecting project with potential for follow-on funding for 1-3 years
3. Identifying alternate sources of potable water
   • Funding: $25,000 – $75,000 for a 6 month proof-of-concept.
4. Rapid acrylamide detection in drinking water
   • Funding: $25,000 – $50,000 is available for a 6 month proof-of-concept

The deadline for all four calls is May 31. One-page proposals can be submitted online via the Halo application form which should take less than an hour to complete. If you have any questions, please reach out to James Wang at j.wang@ubc.ca.