Irving K. Barber School of Arts & Sciences

Irving K. Barber School of

ARTS & SCIENCES

Vancouver

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. UBC’s entrepreneurial perspective encourages students, staff, and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery, and explore new ways of learning.

At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

Kelowna

BOLD THINKING

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

TRANSFORMATIVE DIVERSECONNECTED

UBC’s Okanagan campus is a young and distinctive learning community earning international recognition for excellence in research and teaching. Our campus is a model for new ways of thinking about interdisciplinary and innovative programs.

We provide students with a university experience that is transformative, challenging, and competitive, and we are committed to scholarship that drives economic, social, and cultural change.

213 public events hosted

328 students worked on 37 community service learning projects

1,200+ students met with employers at UBC career events

2014 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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OUR STUDENTS

UNDERGRADUATE

7,530 GRADUATE

682

OK ANAGAN CAMPUS 5

A PORTAL FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENTUBC’s Okanagan campus delivers enriched educational experiences abroad through research, study exchange, and learning connections around the globe.

International experience opportunities abound: 20 per cent of UBC Okanagan graduating students reported participating in an international learning experience in 2014-15.

UBC students have access to exchange placements with more than 200 partner institutions. With a vast network of partners and collaborators worldwide, the impact of our research and learning is transformative and far-reaching.

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10,000+ STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF FROM 80 COUNTRIES

OUR STUDENTS COME FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND ACROSS THE REGION

FROM BC

60% OTHER CANADIAN

23%INTERNATIONAL

17%

OK ANAGAN CAMPUS 7

A CENTRE OF RESEARCH INNOVATION

TRI COUNCIL & CFI COMBINED AMOUNTS

UBC OKANAGAN RESEARCH FUNDING

$4M

$5M

$6M

$7M

$8M

‘09–10 ‘10–11 ‘11-12 ‘12–13 ‘13–14

FUNDING

$18.5M PROJECTS FUNDED

633

A collaborative, entrepreneurial spirit underpins UBC Okanagan research and is advancing discoveries in fields of critical importance globally and locally.

The Survive and Thrive Applied Research (STAR) initiative exemplifies this spirit of innovation with development projects including control software for unmanned aerial vehicles. STAR brings to market technologies for human protection and performance in extreme, remote, or rural conditions.

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Faculty of Applied Science, School of Engineering

Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies

Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Health and Social Development

Faculty of Management

Faculty of Medicine, Southern Medical Program

College of Graduate Studies

8 FACULTIES AND SCHOOLS

PROGRAM OPTIONS

UNDERGRADUATE

63 GRADUATE

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14 RESEARCH CENTRES AND INSTITUTES

OK ANAGAN CAMPUS 9

The Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences is the largest faculty at UBC’s Okanagan campus, offering more than 50 undergraduate programs (BA, BSc) and seven graduate programs (MA, MSc, PhD).

The Barber School’s diverse offerings provide students with many paths to an enriched learning experience. Cross-discipline learning opportunities allow students to make connections with other areas of study. Intercultural experiences encourage broad perspectives. Programs supporting innovative teaching methods and experiential learning equip students with creativity and critical-thinking skills necessary to confront societal challenges.

Students emerge better prepared to be global citizens, enabled with the experience and resourcefulness that give them a competitive advantage in the workplace and graduate school.

ENRICHED LEARNING

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Knowledge potential extends far beyond the classroom. Cutting-edge, world-class research is resulting in discoveries that point the way forward. Compelling speakers with unique perspectives are contributing ideas that support a civil and sustainable society. The Barber School’s commitment to learning is shaping our communities and our world.

IRVING K . BARBER SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 11

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMSThe Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences offers more than 50 undergraduate programs. Students may tailor their degree to their own interests by pursuing honours, majors, area concentrations, or a general degree.

As part of our close-knit learning environment, undergraduates have access to experiential learning opportunities that are designed to enrich their learning experience.

Undergraduates can perform self-directed research through the Undergraduate Research Award program, participate in the NSERC Undergraduate Research Award program, work as Teaching Assistants, or explore the world through the International Education Travel Subsidy program or study abroad opportunities. Undergraduate students engaged in research are also invited to participate in the Annual Undergraduate Research Conference.

ARRAY OF OPTIONS

UNDERGRADUATE

4,000+

FULL-TIME FACULTY

149

GRADUATE

300

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• Anthropology• Biochemistry• Biology• Chemistry• Computer Science• Earth and Environmental

Sciences• Ecology and Evolutionary

Biology• Economics• Environmental Chemistry• Freshwater Science• Gender and Women’s Studies• General Science –

Bachelor of Science• General Studies –

Bachelor of Arts• Geography

• History• Indigenous Studies• International Relations• Latin American Studies• Mathematical Sciences• Mathematics• Microbiology• Molecular, Cell and

Developmental Biology• Philosophy• Philosophy, Politics and

Economics• Physics• Political Science• Psychology• Sociology• Statistics• Zoology

Undergraduate programs are offered in the following areas of study:


GRADUATE PROGRAMSGraduate students in the Barber School can choose from seven different programs, including Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, which allows students to complete a themed or individualized program. Faculty members are accessible, and graduate students are integral parts of collaborative research teams. The Barber School is a place where students can build lasting relationships with accomplished faculty while working on research with local, national, and global impact.

Graduate programs are offered in the following areas of study:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology• Biology• Chemistry• Environmental Sciences• Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies: - Indigenous Studies - Latin American and Iberian Studies - Optimization - Urban Studies• Mathematics• Psychology: - Clinical Psychology - Psychological Science

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Research is a learning activity that enlarges our understanding of the world and addresses the many challenges facing society.

Barber School faculty are committed to conducting outstanding research that serves the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world. Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduate students, and the community can choose to get involved with a variety of research projects and collaborations.

Research opportunities are available across the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Centres and institutes offer multidisciplinary environments for research collaboration.

ADDRESSING COMPLEX ISSUES

CENTRES AND INSTITUTESMultidisciplinary research is essential to understanding interconnected and complex issues. Our researchers, including students, form interdisciplinary teams to pursue answers.

• Centre for the Advancement of Psychological Science and the Law

• Centre for the Study of Services to Children and Families • Institute for Community Engaged Research • Okanagan Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience,

and Ecosystem Services • The UBC Centre for Environmental Assessment Research

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DISCOVERING KNOWLEDGECanada Research Chairs (CRCs) and Endowed Chairs help to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished minds focused on research excellence. These chair holders aim to discover and develop knowledge as they train the next generation of skilled researchers.

CANADA RESEARCH CHAIRSOKANAGAN INDIGENOUS PHILOSOPHYJeannette Armstrong, CRC

CONVEX ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION Heinz Bauschke, CRC

NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY Susan Murch, CRC (pictured)

ENDOWED CHAIRSWATERSHED MANAGEMENT Xiaohua (Adam) Wei, FORREX Research ChairDavid F. Scott, FORREX Research Chair

WATER RESOURCES AND ECOSYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY John Janmaat, LEEF BC Regional Innovation Chair


THE REMORSE CODEPsychology student Alysha Baker asks tough questions about truthfulness and deception

Natural curiosity. Getting comfortable asking why. These traits, combined with opportunities in applied research and supervising undergraduate students, transformed Alysha Baker from an admittedly timid psychology student into the 2015 Graduate Researcher of the Year.

Under the guidance of professor Steve Porter, Baker discovered applied forensic research as her passion after taking only one course. “I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside UBC’s top forensic experts on research areas in psychopathy, criminal behaviour, and deception,” says Baker. What came from these research collaborations was a question the second-year PhD student wanted to decode: How can you detect whether someone is feeling genuine remorse, versus fake remorse, especially as it applies to the criminal justice system?

Baker hopes to find the answers by deciphering “behavioural coding” in communication channels such as body language, facial expressions, verbal content, and physiological changes. Her findings could be instrumental in the education of judges, parole officers, and legal decision makers: properly assessing the truthfulness of remorseful displays means more valid conclusions and rightful outcomes.

The ultimate outcome Baker wants from her UBC experience is a diverse career in consulting, teaching, and research—all the while still fielding questions and stoking her curiosity.

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Alysha Baker PhD student, Psychology

STUDENTS 21

James Nastos PhD student, Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies

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MAGIC NUMBERS Computer Science and Mathematics expert uses algorithms to solve real-world questions

James Nastos uses his passion for problem solving and natural aptitude for numbers to create algorithms that help biologists, winery owners, and marketers come up with faster, simpler ways of answering business and research questions.

“My work is in graph theory and optimization. I take sets of objects and find relationships between them. By creating algorithms to analyze and perform classifications, I can help businesses spread ideas quickly through their social networks, or make predictions on where an object belongs on an evolutionary tree.”

Nastos completed his MSc thesis in graph theory, and when he came to UBC Okanagan to start his PhD, one of his supervisors, Yong Gao, suggested Nastos apply this to social networks and bioinformatics.

“It was genius,” says Nastos. “The combination is immediately applicable. Researchers in Europe and South America are already using the ideas we developed here. It’s really changing the course of the field.”

Now in the final stages of his PhD, Nastos hopes to combine his expertise with another of his interests—teaching. He holds a Bachelor of Education from UBC, has been a Teaching Assistant and lecturer during the course of his PhD, instructs math camps, and helps school-aged kids train for math contests.

STUDENTS 23

CONSERVING DIVERSITYBiology student Evelyn Jensen uses genetics to inform conservation practices

Pinzón Island in the Galápagos is rugged, hot, and uninhabited. It’s a formidable place without even a footpath for navigation. If not for a population genetics class in undergraduate studies, Evelyn Jensen might not have found herself camped there with Galápagos national park rangers and her professor, Michael Russello, collecting blood samples from endangered giant tortoises.

“That class opened my eyes to the wealth of information stored in DNA,” says Jensen, who completed her MSc researching regional patterns of genetic diversity in western painted turtles; her PhD project also links genetics and conservation. “Almost every conservation project can be improved by incorporating the results from a population genetics analysis, often just requiring a few drops of blood from several individuals. This research can be used in the real-world to determine population history and design conservation strategies that maintain genetic diversity within a species.”

Jensen was attracted to UBC by Russello’s research. “What I found when I arrived was the size of the campus and program created a very supportive environment where researchers are encouraged to step outside their area of speciality, allowing for a more well-rounded experience.”

Upon completion of her studies, Jensen hopes to work with governmental or conservation organizations to continue her research to help better understand and conserve genetic diversity of species.

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Evelyn Jenson PhD student, Biology

STUDENTS 25

Stuart ReidBSc student, Earth & Environmental Sciences

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FAMILY OF MENTORSEarth & Environmental scientist Stuart Reid is in good company

Earth sciences is a family affair for Stuart Reid, whose mom is a professional agrologist, applying science to agriculture. Just as he’s set to graduate, his wife Merissa will convocate alongside him with a BSc in Freshwater Science.

“UBC really fostered my interest in earth sciences,” says Reid. “Participating in field trips like those to the Channel Scablands in the northwestern United States, tracing the path of a glacial lake mega-flood, provide hands-on learning in geoscience. Opportunities—plus the comradery and mentorship that come from a smaller faculty—really make it easy for students to build skills and knowledge.”

Reid came to UBC 10 years after he left high school. With a decade in the workforce, he decided it was time to do something he could be passionate about. “It was tough to leave a well-paying job and acquire all of the necessary prerequisites for university entrance. But I knew it was all worth it after third year when I had a conversation with my mom, and realized for the first time we were actually equal contributors to an intellectual conversation about geoscience—that had never happened before!”

Faculty mentorship extends beyond Reid’s time at UBC, he says, “which is a huge bonus during and after completion of your studies.”

STUDENTS 27

FOOD FOR ALLActivist Ailsa Beischer grows community food programs and policies

The Okanagan valley is a hotbed of agriculture—apples, grapes, pears, peaches. But MA student Ailsa Beischer says there is an inequality when it comes to who can access and enjoy the bounty of the valley, where she grew up.

Beischer coordinates the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project, a non-profit that picks and donates backyard fruit. She’s also a board member with the Central Okanagan Food Policy Council, whose goal is to cultivate a more food-secure community. Beischer says that many people, because of factors like income, marginalization or ability, can’t access food that others take for granted.

Beischer works with the Canadian Mental Health Association, local charities, and volunteers to find models of inclusion that make access to food more equitable.

Her MA thesis and community work focuses on issues of food justice and security. Beischer chose to complete her MA at UBC Okanagan because she knew the food security needs of the Okanagan and wanted her research to have a local impact.

“Food security was an issue for my single-parent family, and my mom started the first community garden in West Kelowna. I grew up working in the garden, seeing how much it meant to people to be able to grow and access food in a more dignified way.”

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Ailsa Beischer MA student, Food Security & Community Development

STUDENTS 29

Carey DobersteinAssistant Professor, Political Science

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CLASSROOM COMMUNITYPolitical scientist shows students the human side of politics

Carey Doberstein knows that political concepts such as the Principle of Responsible Government can seem abstract for students. That’s why he brings real politicians into his classes, to tell personal stories that connect theory to action.

During the last Kelowna election, Doberstein invited eight City Council members to interact with students in one of his poli-sci undergraduate classes. “It was illuminating for students to see the human side of politicians. It’s a really powerful experience and brings more texture to the material we talk about in class.”

When Doberstein was a public policy student, a number of high-profile guests visited his class, including former Liberal Party of Canada leaders Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae. “The visits really brought politics to life for me,” he says. “I try and recreate this for my students.”

Politics was always a passion for Doberstein, though it wasn’t until the end of his undergraduate degree that he realized it would be something he would follow into a career—in chemistry lectures, he always seemed to have a copy of the New York Times on his desk.

“I started to see a disconnect between what I was studying and what most interested me—politics and public policy.”

FACULTY 31

INTO THE WILD Miranda Hart searches for microbes in places untouched by humans

Some of Miranda Hart’s best childhood memories are of playing outside with her sisters and exploring the wilderness. Hart fell in love with nature and developed a deep desire to protect the natural world.

The biology researcher has dedicated her career to studying microbes in soil and the impact that human change brings to soil ecosystems. “Everything comes from soil,” says Hart. “Soil organisms keep everything going. Changes in the soil impacts everything that comes from it, including us.” With so little earth left undisturbed, Hart says there is no telling how much biodiversity has been lost.

To find “wild soils” Hart examines ancient, undisturbed cedar forests in British Columbia. She also works with grape growers in the Okanagan to preserve the integrity of agricultural soils. Many farmers add exotic microbes or chemicals to soil to restore functions previously performed by soil microbes, but Hart thinks growers can cultivate their own productive soil without such additives.

“I contribute to ecological conservation indirectly through my research, but I have grown to recognize that real impact happens only when people are brave and tough enough to put themselves out there and bring attention to conservation issues,” says Hart. “It’s people like Jane Goodall whom I draw inspiration from.”

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Miranda Hart Assistant Professor, Biology

FACULTY 33

Fred MenardAssistant Professor, Chemistry

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DESIGNER MOLECULESFred Menard takes a new approach to solving neurodegenerative disease

“What we are designing will profoundly change the way we approach health care and pharmaceutical research and practices,” says Fred Menard, a synthetic chemist. “Anyone who researches proteins will be able to use the tools we are creating.”

The former Stanford Research Fellow and his team are creating new molecules that can be used to study and treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. “Most researchers in the field today try and find a cause for neurodegenerative diseases. We take a reverse approach. We look at how neurons and their synapses get eliminated by these diseases. If we can stop that, the cause doesn’t matter as much.”

By creating molecular probes, Menard can study the proteins that mediate communication signals in the brain. Hypothetically, a neurosurgeon could dye regions in the brain, and only the bad cells would be illuminated and removed. Also, the probes could accelerate the drug discovery process by streamlining routine biological activity tests.

The challenge of chemistry is to create useful molecules. “What we are designing will never end up in the back of a fridge. The molecules we create have a higher purpose in advancing our understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases that affect so many people in our society.”

FACULTY 35

SMOKESCREENPsychology professor clears the air on the medicinal benefits of cannabis

Growing evidence suggests that cannabis-based medicines may provide safe, effective alternatives to medicines currently prescribed for sleep, pain, anxiety, or other ailments. But a stigma about plant-based medicines lingers.

Dr. Zach Walsh, psychology professor and co-director of the Centre for the Advancement of Psychological Science and Law at UBC Okanagan, is running a clinical trial of cannabis use for post-traumatic stress disorder. Humans have had a relationship with cannabis for thousands of years, he says. Ongoing research is needed, but bad raps, outdated laws, and political dogma create a heavy smokescreen.

“There is still a lot of stigma surrounding these substances, but there is no question that it is changing,” says Walsh. “Existing treatments aren’t optimal for many patients, so developing options is a health-care priority.”

Before people can make informed choices about their health, Walsh says cannabis-based medicines need to be compared with widely used pharmaceutical treatments to provide reliable estimates of relative harms and benefits. Lumping all “drugs” together creates a blind spot for some potentially helpful medicines that have long histories of safe, therapeutic use.

“Research in this area is emerging after decades of marginalization,” he says. “Changing people’s minds is a challenge but it’s easier when things seem to be moving in the right direction.”

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Zach Walsh Associate Professor, Psychology

FACULTY 37

Brigitte Le Normand Assistant Professor, History

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100 YEARS OF CHANGEBrigitte Le Normand says the world changed when Yugoslavia was torn apart

When UBC historian Brigitte Le Normand took a closer look at the history of Yugoslavia, she realized there was a story that needed to be told. The history of the Balkans war of the 1990s and the dramatic and violent breakup of the country is how many people learned about Yugoslavia, once an Olympic host. Are history books a true portrayal of this country, and of its rich and historic past?

Le Normand, who has spent considerable time in Yugoslavia, is passionate about the rich history of the Southeastern European region that once merged under the name Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

“My goal is to help people better understand the dramatic changes that Yugoslav society went through during the socialist period,” she explains. “I want to provide a nuanced and complex portrayal so people can understand the positive and negative aspects of those changes.”

Students in her classes learn about the country’s multifaceted history, its culture, the beautiful landscapes, its spirited citizens, and how it all came crashing to a violent and bitter end.

“The breakdown of Yugoslavia, in particular, is heartbreaking,” she says. “Neighbours turning on neighbours, the willful destruction of communities and heritage, huge numbers of refugees, and, for Serbs, a decade of isolation and exploitation at the hands of a dictator.”

FACULTY 39

CLOSE-KNIT CAMPUSAt UBC’s Okanagan campus, students join a close-knit learning community where open dialogue reaches across disciplines and departments, cultivating bold new ways of thinking.

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CAMPUS CULTURE

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO

20:1 UNDERGRADUATE CLASSES WITH

FEWER THAN 30 STUDENTS

46%

STUDENTS IN ABORIGINAL ACCESS STUDIES PROGRAM SINCE 2007

223

STUDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS

1,676

OK ANAGAN CAMPUS EXPERIENCE 41

A PLACEFOR EVERYONE

From nature trails and coffee spots to comfortable student collegia, UBC’s Okanagan campus continues to add spaces that support well-being.The workout and studio space in the new Hangar Fitness Centre complement athletic courts, fitness stations, and the Nonis artificial turf sports field.Such vibrant environments in our UBC community are places to learn, work, and play.

ATHLETICS AND RECREATION

GYMNASIUM SQ.M.

1,561 VARSITY ATHLETICS

TEAMS

12STEPS TO NATURE TRAILS

100

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LIBRARY

SEATS

674 STUDY ROOMS

14COMPUTER

WORKSTATIONS

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Nishat TasnimMSc student, Biology

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CONNECTING THE WORLDUBC master’s student Nishat Tasnim is an International Leader of Tomorrow

A cross-pollination of disciplines and knowledge is a pattern of Nishat Tasnim’s world experience. “I am passionate about connection,” she says. “I am interested in research projects and academic discourses that connect dots.”

Born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tasnim was a child of many firsts: first child to leave home, first in her family to travel to Canada, and first to attend university. She dreamed of studying in Canada; UBC’s International Leader of Tomorrow award made it a reality. “I was drawn to the idea of this learning community, and eager to find my home there as a member,” she says. “On campus, I met other international students experiencing the same enthusiasm.”

Programs such as Campus Life, Community Service Learning, International Programs & Services, RezLife, and more became Tasnim’s community. “The broad range of opportunities I have had to deepen my experiences as a student have also shaped my interests and helped me develop leadership and research skills.”

Now poised for master’s-level research in biology, Tasnim is grounded in the processes of transformation and self-actualization. “I feel empowered and supported as I continue to ask questions and learn about my place in the world,” she says. “I am proud to represent UBC Okanagan in that quest.”

GLOBAL COMMUNITY

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS FOR

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

$1.1M


UBC’s Okanagan campus is situated between Kelowna’s lively city centre and stunning mountains, lakes, and trails of the Okanagan Valley. Embark on a trail adventure, savour the freshest produce at farm-to-table restaurants, take part in the thriving arts scene, and enjoy year-round access to the great outdoors.

OASIS IN THE VALLEY

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SUMMER WARM AND DRY

25C

WINTER COOL AND CLEAR

-1C

2,000 hours of sunshine annually4 seasons of outdoor recreation: skiing, golfing, hiking, and water sports5 of Canada’s largest ski resorts within 3 hours135 km length of Okanagan Lake30 beaches, 200 freshwater lakes

OK ANAGAN VALLEY 47

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Documents

Irving K. Barber School of Arts & Sciences