THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA [UBC] VOLUME 49 NUMBER 1 JANUARY 2,2003 UBC REPORTS 2 UBC in the News 3 Open Murder Trial 4 3D Ultrasound 5 Super Students > The Loved and the Lost Keeping Canadian Blood Lines Safe A group of UBC researchers is working to ensure that Canada will never again face the tragedy of a national tainted blood scandal. Ross MacGillivray, director of the new Centre for Blood Research (CBR), is creating an interdisciplinary team of researchers who will improve methods of storing and using donated blood, identify new therapeutic agents in blood and create artificial blood components. The new centre - supported by a $15.1 million Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grant - is unique in the world because it brings together not only clinical and basic scientists but also ethicists, engineers and sociologists to form a nucleus of discovery, says MacGillivray, a professor of biochemistry. The CBR was created in response to research funding opportunities and recommendations contained in the report of the Krever commission that investigated Canada's tainted blood scandal ofthe '70s and '80s where patients received donated blood contaminated with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. According to the Canadian Blood Service (CBS), the number of regular blood donors must increase by about 40 per cent by December 2005 to meet needs created by accidents, surgery, cancer treatments, hemophilia and other blood-related diseases. "One CBR short-term goal is to improve storage time and quality of donated blood. Our long-term goal is to create artificial products that decrease our reliance on donations," says MacGillivray. "With a researcher-driven agenda, we should make significant progress." UBC's Blood Research Centre is the first of its kind. Hilary Thomson Ross MacGillivray leads an interdisciplinary team of researchers dedicated to building a better blood supply. The centre's 27 principal investigators are now scattered across campus and the UBC teaching hospitals. When UBC's new Life Sciences Centre opens its research wings in spring 2005, about 120 CBR researchers, grad students, post-docs and staff will be housed there. Investigations include analyzing the complex protein mixture in blood to find new therapeutic proteins. Researchers will also look at ways to increase the shelf life of platelets that are used to prevent bleeding. Currently, platelets can be stored for up to five days only. By extending the 'best before' date by even a day or two, the supply of platelets worldwide would be significantly increased. MacGillivray estimates that CBR scientists will be able to extend the lifespan of stored platelets within five years and find new therapeutic proteins in blood within 10 years. Another research area focuses on creating artificial blood components such as platelets or albumin - a protein that is widely used to treat surgical and burn patients. Although CBS's goal is to have a donor-free society by 2025, MacGillivray says the synthetic products will likely serve as supplements to donated blood. Recruiting CBR members will be a key activity for the next two years. In addition to Canadian scientists, experts may be drawn from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands - countries that are leaders in blood research. Also, providing training opportunities at the centre is critical to improve Canada's capacity for blood research, says MacGillivray. "We need to catalyze the training of the next generation of blood scientists, " he says. Another strategy to strengthen Canada's ability to respond to blood crises is the establishment of other centres across Canada, modeled on the CBR and focusing on different aspects of blood research, says Dana Devine, a CBR member and Director, Research and Development for CBS. " If another issue arose like tainted blood, we would be able to respond immediately and effectively in a co-ordinated way," says Devine, who is a professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Support for the CBR comes from CFI, the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, CBS, Bayer Inc. and UBC. □ For more information on centre, visit www.cbr.ubc.ca. the Media Coverage Misses Key Issues of Kyoto Accord Says UBC Professor While Alberta remains locked in battle with Ottawa over ratification of the Kyoto Accord and its costs, John Robinson sees an opportunity for British Columbia to lead the way in tackling the climate change issue by championing sustainability. It's the best strategy for saving Mother Earth and one that can generate economic benefits too, Robinson believes. The current flurry of media atten tion on the Kyoto Accord has focussed almost entirely on the question of the expected costs of meeting the Kyoto target for Canada. In doing so it has miscast the issue and ignored the key message of recent research and activity in the climate change arena. This message has to do with the degree to which investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy will itself stimulate both technological and institutional innovation that will take us down new pathways that might be much more desirable than what would happen if we don't do this. This crucial point emerges directly from the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in 2001, where several hundred expert authors and reviewers examined the academic literature on climate change emission reduction. What we discovered in that work was that achieving sustainable development is the single most important thing we can do to reach our long-term climate change targets (which go well beyond the Kyoto targets). The reason is simple. If we can manage, as a world, to get on technological and socio-economic development pathways that are sustainable, we will have very low emissions, even without any explicit climate policies (since many poli cies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be done for other reasons). The extra climate policies required to stabilize atmospheric concentrations at a reasonable level will be relatively minor. But if we are on a high-emissions path, then the additional climate policy required to stabilize atmospheric concentrations at a reasonable level will be massive and prohibitively expensive. In other words, getting on the right development path is more important than implementing any There are tremendous economic opportunities in sustainable development says John Robinson. particular climate policy. And early introduction of carbon-saving technologies would have the positive effect of lowering their costs in the long run due to economies of scale and learning by doing. This renders static costs assessments irrelevant. The costs of mitigation are a function of the development path taken! The importance of this point is that there are many other reasons to get on a sustainable development path. And many of them offer remarkable business opportunities. To give just one example, the urban population of the world is going to increase by about 50 per cent over the next 30 years. And all these cities need to address the same ten challenges: clean air, clean water, water supply, energy, transportation, land use, jobs, housing, health care and waste disposal. Most of them are doing an inadequate job of many of these ten challenges already and the job is going to get about twice as hard over the next few decades as populations and economies grow. continued on page 8 2 | UBC REPORTS | JANUARY 2, 2003 Andrew Hasman Vancouver's #1 Westside Realtor" Over 110 Homes Sold in! Your UBC and Hampton Place Realtor 263-2 www.and rewhasmari RE/MAX Real Estate Services * Based on # of homes sold through MLS (excluding IN THE NEWS Reading for Romanow FIRST DON" MAKING SENSE OF CANADIAN HEALTH REFORM I5BN'}774B-I0s6r5 SLtU6.pt] First Do No Harm Making Sense of Canadian Health Reform Terrenes Sullivan and Patricia M. Baranek An nttr^nrtftwiy rrjtljihlc nntf retail gvtfc \n for USW-F 31 ?f**F in (hr debate about reformats Canada's health car svstem. SUhan ana Baranek ... iiinjj reader! u{> Ii-1 Jal* an fjn:( anrf fiction aijuur wading Inri, 'paxlive pnwrSntran,' pfanracttAcdf crnnra^ie, amf prvmary c-are ratals - ted Marnier, '•'ate University, autror of rtie Faltcs a1 Medcare www. ubcpreu.ca Onfikjf from 1t» U9C BwstQfB. Of >Him unt«f S8ES W, IflTT.BM 5+77 ' fji |.BT7 86C427? • ordfr'SflBlVK.jnid.i^m GIGANTIC — BOOK SALE Thousands of works of January 9-10, fiction, criticism, drama, 10 am-4 pm history, writing and more ubc Writing Centre at 50PQ ■ OJ5 West Gco/gia Srnrrt ■ Vancouver, BC ■ V6C3La Tel: S04.fi59.SaoE Emaii: bilr.caine-g>Taymondjames.ca M'^"" www.r1yfnDndj1me5.ca ssD 4 I UBC REPORTS | JANUARY 2, 2003 3D Ultrasound, I Coming Soon to a Doctor Near You? Improved technology gives doctors a better look inside BY MICHELLE COOK Moms-and dads-to-be may soon be able to see their growing babies more clearly thanks to new ultrasound technology. The advanced imaging method could also help medical professionals to improve their diagnostic capabilities in detecting cancer and removing tumours. That is, if they're willing to make the switch to 3D, says Robert Rohling, a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UBC. "Three-dimensional ultrasound is slowly making its way into the marketplace, but doctors have to be convinced that it's useful to them, otherwise they won't spend the money to buy expensive machinery or spend the time training to use it. They're tough customers for good reasons, so you have to prove to them it will make a difference in making better diagnoses or interventions," Rohling says. 3D ultrasound has been used in research labs for almost 15 years, but it is just now beginning to make its way into practice. Rohling's research focuses on developing better quality 3D-ultrasound technology for clinical use. His efforts were boosted recently by the purchase of a GE 730 Expert. The first equipment of its kind in Western Canada, Rohling calls it the "Porsche" of ultrasound machines. So, just what difference does 3D make when it comes to taking a peek inside ourselves? Judging from the image that pops up on the GE 730 of twin fetuses wiggling around in the womb, it's a lot like the difference between black and white and colour TV. Rohling prefers to use the analogy of a loaf of bread. "2D-ultrasound images are flat, grainy-looking and unless you're a skilled technician, can be hard to THE VANCOUVER INSTITUTE FRtE SATURDAY MIGHT LEOVBES AT THE UWVEHSrrVQf ftC January til Mr. James Dc-lgado Di renter Vancouver Maritime Mute-urn DISCOVERING KUflLA KHAN'S LOST FLEET January 2 5 Ms. Nrttsi IfVild Oi ratter, FIX: The Story of an Addicted Crty and Mr. Philip CJvlr-n Former Mayor, City of Varuouvor THE POLITICS AND AKT OF A SOCIAL REVOLUTION February 1 SPECIAI LFCTURF AND RECITAL LOCATION UBC MUSIC BUILDING Professor Nancy Hafmiston School of Musk UBC MY FAVOURITF LADIES OFTHE STAGE: A CELERflATION OF GREAT FEMALF PERSONALITIES 'Ails lis* \Ur fii Fpnm il cu- f FEFispf 1 lulsrr. .if Siu hiifi IfsIiIiIp iFilim sir- r**rl ni \4iir1d^ .41 l-ltpn in I rriuw huij Ud J a\ (if 'Arftdsurr iFiliirrimil rjFiziFxn »srn" il Ihp Unwnils -si hrhit I nkinkis nun. ii:n hi f. iitf^ is hwm rfssl th* sslni is invest! Is iltp-ii Imt \ii I AtA 111 s prnjron l-n (ill ir-uiniliEn init m wfIfiiIf il I-tUI1!^ nnl-lpilVwinlL1 The Cecil H. and Ida Green Visiting Professorships of Green College Nominations are invited for the position of Cecil H. and Ida Green Visiting Professor. The main criteria for selection are the proposed visitor's distinction, public speaking ability and appeal to a broad spectrum of student, faculty and off-campus audiences. Performing artists may also be nominated. The visits are usually for one concentrated week during February, March, October or November and require a substantial commitment of time from a faculty coordinator. Green Visiting Professor in Residence Nominations are invited for the position of Green Visiting Professor in Residence. Nominees must be exceptional researchers from outside UBC whose work has the potential for significant impact in more than one discipline. The appointee will live at Green College for three months, conduct a term-long seminar under the auspices of the Individual Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, give a general lecture, and make a research-in-progress presentation. Permanent deadlines: February 15 and October 31 Nominations are accepted at any time for the next competition. For detailed terms and procedures, contact Rosaline Rumley at Green College, 6201 Cecil Green Park Road, V6T IZI; vsp©interchange.ubc.ca Prof. Robert Rohling shows off the "Porshe" of 3D ultrasound machines the GE 730 Expert. decipher," Rohling says. "2D generates a cross-sectional image which is like looking at a single slice of bread, instead ofthe whole loaf." These images can be difficult to interpret because we live in a three-dimensional world, Rohling explains, and our mind has a difficult time trying to fit these two-dimensional pieces together into a three-dimensional object. 3D ultrasound also produces cross-sectional slices, but stacks them together into a volume - like a whole loaf - that has width and depth and height and can be viewed from multiple angles. By using computer graphics principles that are "a lot like the ones you'd see in the latest blockbuster movies," Rohling says 3D ultrasound can also be used to single out individual features, like skin, for examination. The technique is called volume rendering. Rohling is quick to point out that 3D technology is not meant to replace 2D ultrasound, which is currently used in 99 per cent of ultrasounds worldwide, but to complement it. From the patient's point of view, 3D can give them a better understanding and a more concrete connection between what they see on the screen and reality. While experienced sonographers already do a tremendous amount with 2D images, Rohling, who has a background in biomedical engineering, hopes his research will help doctors to improve on a number of procedures. In the area of diagnoses, he hopes to enhance the clarity and resolution of images so that clinicians can see minor details and detect cancers at earlier stages. In the area of intervention, which includes biopsies and surgery, he is working on providing special ultrasound tools and software to physicians to allow them to perform these faster, easier and more accurately. He has also been working with a team of researchers nationwide on neurosurgery innovations. Currently, physicians must rely on day-old MRI scans when operating on the brain. The problem is the brain can shift and expand during surgery. Rohling hopes to use a small brain probe to provide surgeons with "real-time" ultrasound updates of the MRI scan during the procedure. Rohling says it's difficult to guess when 3D-ultrasound technology will become commonplace, but estimates clinical results will start to appear in a few years. In the meantime, Rohling is using the latest in ultrasound technology on himself. "I've used the GE 730 to look at my abdomen and kidneys and they scanned very well. Everything seems fine," Rohling laughs. □ The differences between 2D ultrasound (right) and 3D ultrasound (top) include colour and higher definition. Jtil NsUVU 1UI14 m min na sm *M~^ *~i"n tastes "■ IS l> id 1 1 mm LVi ■ Him :« n III 11 Ml . ID M)« %- IHIItrEENWEJlK FETUS Lloyd Axworthy, director and CEO of the Liu Institute for Global Issues, recently became the first UBC expert to participate in a live interview broadcast from the Public Affairs studio in the Cecil Green Coach House. The studio is equipped with fibre optic cables that allow any broadcaster in the world to take a live feed from UBC. Here, Lloyd Axworthy chats live with CBC Newsworld host Don Newman in Ottawa and former Foreign Affairs Minister Barbara McDougall in Toronto. UBC REPORTS | JANUARY 2, 2003 | 5 Super Students With Diverse Resumes Win Top Scholarships Grades alone won't make the mark, by erica smishek Their resumes list more accomplishments and activities than many adults can claim in a lifetime. Yet they're only recent high school graduates, all starting their second terms at UBC. Heather Buckley, Lik Hang Lee, Edward Man-Tsun Cheung and David Wei Si are the 2002 recipients of the Bank of Montreal National Scholarships. The undergraduate scholarships are each valued at $40,000 over four years and rank among the premier university awards in Canada. They are awarded to students entering UBC from high school or transferring from other institutions who demonstrate academic excellence in combination with significant contributions to the community through volun- teerism, athletics or artistic excellence. "My biggest challenge was time management, trying to handle academics and activities," Si says of a high school career at Fraser Heights Secondary in Surrey that included student council, leadership and global issues teams, the student newsletter, the theatre club, rugby, volleyball, basketball and swimming, the Youth Leadership Millennium, Centennial Toast-masters Club and Canadian Cancer Society, among others. He was also the top Grade 11 and 12 science student at his secondary school. "You have to study smart so you save time," he explains. "You can't just cram five hours of studying in because you don't have those five hours." All the scholarship recipients say their level of participation increased as they moved through the school system. All say they took on activities because they enjoyed and were challenged by them, not because they would look good on a resume or scholarship application. "I wasn't unique in terms of the amount of my commitments, " Buckley says of life at Calgary's Western Canada High School. "But nothing came naturally for me. When I succeeded, it was worth more to me, it was a real challenge to keep going. When I was successful, it was because I had to work at it." As part of the scholarship application process, the students had stated their ultimate educa tional and career objectives. Most are already re-thinking their goals in light of the new classes and experiences they're finding at UBC. "My stated goal was medicine but I'm just not sure now," says things out there." With different academic challenges and new homes (three of the four are living in residence), the students had limited their extra-curricular activities in the first term but are slowly first-year students develop the skills, attitudes and knowledge they need to prepare them to take leadership roles at UBC and beyond. "It's very hard to define what leadership means to me," says When I succeeded, it was worth more to me, it was a real challenge to keep going. When I was successful, it was because I had to work at it. Cheung, a Science One student from Handsworth Secondary in North Vancouver. "In these short four months, I've opened my eyes to new options and different programs of study. There are lots of interesting taking on commitments that mean a lot to them. Lee, for example, has joined the First-year Committee, Science Undergraduates Society, and the Emerging Leaders Initiative, a program designed to help Lee, a graduate of David Thompson Secondary in Vancouver. "It's just a way of life and a lifestyle. It's something I try to do - I try to be a leader and help people and serve my community." □ 2002 recipients ofthe Bank of Montreal National Scholarships (clockwise from top left): Lik Hang Lee, Heather Buckley, Edward Man-Tsun Cheung and David Wei Si. The undergraduate scholarships, each valued at $40,000 over four years, are among the top university awards in Canada. UBC English Student Receives Rhodes Scholarship "It's not just about being a bookworm... " by erica smishek has covered a lot of and she's just getting Fourth-year Arts student Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah is bound for Oxford University as the 2003 Rhodes Scholar for B. C. Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah ground in her 21 years - started. Completing her fourth year of an English Honours program with a Political Science minor, she recently received the 2003 Rhodes Scholarship for British Columbia. She will pursue graduate studies in English with a concentration in African studies at Oxford University beginning in October. "It looks like I'll be spending a lot of time in the library," the articulate and personable student jokes about her future at Oxford. "As an international institution, there will be a lot of opportunities. I'll be in a place where I can grow intellectually and socially, I'll have access to a lot of people and I'll have the ability to travel." Obiri-Yeboah came to Canada from Ghana as a refugee at the age of two when her parents fled a military coup. She now mentors children in the African-Canadian community and writes opinion pieces for The Afro News, a paper directed to Vancouver's African-Canadian community. "I see the African Studies programme as an opportunity to become more political and eloquent on the subject of African peoples," Obiri-Yeboah wrote in her essay to the Selection Committee for the Rhodes Scholarship. "I want to shatter stereotypes placed upon African peoples, thereby deconstructing the harmful images that have their roots in the age of colonialism. The voices of African individuals telling their own stories, defining their own identities and speaking the truth as they see and live it must be heard. I want to participate in this process of telling a new story about Africa and its people." The Rhodes Scholarships were established in 1902 by English colonial statesman and businessman Cecil Rhodes. They were designed to bring outstanding students from across the world to study at Oxford University, in the interests of promoting international understanding and public service. The scholarships require a high level of literacy and scholastic achievement, success in sports, strong qualities of leadership and character, and evidence of public service. They provide for all expenses for travel to, and study at, Oxford University for two years, with an option for a third year. The current value of the scholarship is more than $100,000. "They look for 'normal people," Obiri-Yeboah says ofthe Rhodes selection process. "It's not just about being a bookworm but of people doing things in their community and in the world." Apart from her academic career, Obiri-Yeboah plays field hockey, teaches piano and has spent a great deal of time working in student politics and in writing and speaking on issues related to human rights and the plight of marginalized peoples. Eleven Rhodes Scholarships are awarded in Canada each year, one of which is allocated to British Columbia. □ 6 I 1C REPORTS | JANUARY 2, 2003 UBC ALUMNI i'Am^A The Loved and the Lost We reported in the last issue of UBC Reports that a number of alumni have been "lost." While such a statement might evoke images of confused graduates wandering down the soap aisle looking for their mommies, it just means we don't know how to contact them. Sometime since graduation they have moved and not sent in a change of address. Ofthe 208,981 individuals who have graduated from UBC over the years, 45,210 have gone missing. At nearly 23 per cent of the total, this is about average for a database the size and age of ours. just the same, staff in Where are they now? the Records department at Advancement Services work diligently to locate these alumni. Each year, they find about 1,000. Finding our lost alumni is important. Addressable alumni get Trek magazine delivered to their doorsteps, receive notification of reunions and other class events, and have an opportunity to volunteer as mentors, members of faculty committees, class representatives and more. It's also important for the university to know what's become of graduates. UBC's reputation depends in part on how well our grads do in the world, and that demographic data needs to be as thorough as possible. As well, being on the "active" list means grads will have an opportunity to give something back to the university. Some of our lost alumni will have passed away, but most are still out there, using their UBC degree to make a splash in the world. At a recent family wedding gathering in Leavenworth, Washington, one UBC staff person reports doing a rough poll of the guests, most of whom originated in Canada, to find out how many were 1) UBC grads and; 2) still on the mailing list. The staffer found five lost alumni, three still living B.C. and two living in California. Those five alumni are now found, and up-to-date on the university database. If you are a UBC grad working on campus, make sure you're on the "active" list. Call the Alumni Association (23313) and check yourself in. You'll be glad you did. Chris Petty, Communications Manager, Alumni Association Students Want More Consultation Before Tuition is Raised Again New fees could take effect in May 2003 BY MICHELLE COOK A proposal to increase tuition fees by 20 to 30 per cent is scheduled to go before UBC's Board of Governors for approval in late January but student leaders are saying they haven't been adequately consulted on the process. The proposal is for tuition in the 2003/04 academic year to be raised by 30 per cent for most undergraduate students and 20 per cent for research-based graduate programs. Increases for professional graduate programs such as Journalism, Architecture and Human Kinetics range from 20 to 30 per cent. A differentiated undergraduate engineering fee is proposed which would increase tuition by 40 per cent. UBC Vice-president, Students, Brian Sullivan said that while last March's tuition increases have allowed the university to make improvements in course availability, class size, classrooms, technical support and other areas, there are additional measures that must be taken. "The university is still coming out of a prolonged period of frozen tuition fees and we know the quality of programs has suffered. We have evidence that we are beginning to turn things around, and we've looked at the resources required to make additional improvements. In our estimate that requires increases at both the undergraduate and grad uate levels," Sullivan said. He adds that even with the recent tuition increases, UBC remains substantially below the national average. Outside of Quebec, it is still the least expensive university in Canada to attend. Both AMS president Kristen Harvey and GSS president Brian de Alwis, who together represent the 37,000 students at UBC, say that the university has not consulted with students sufficiently on the proposed increases. "We were advised of this proposal a few days before the end of term," de Alwis says. "When you're going to consult with students you have to do it when it's possible for them. That's not during exams or during Christmas break when there's not a huge percentage of students on campus." Harvey adds that students don't have critical pieces of information including an efficiencies report on where revenue from the last year's tuition increases has been spent, and an assessment of the tuition increase. Sullivan admits that the timing for consulting with students has been tight, but says meeting with students will be a top priority leading up to January's Board of Governors meeting. "There is lots of student interest in this matter especially on the size of the tuition increase, access and how the money is being spent," Sullivan said. "We will make ourselves available to meet with students any time and any place. Any student who wants to have a voice in this will." If approved, Sullivan says the tuition hikes are expected to generate $28 million in additional revenue for UBC. The funds will be used to attract and retain top- quality faculty, improve faculty- to-student ratios, and maintain teaching facilities. An additional $5 million will be allocated to support specific improvements to UBC's learning environment identified in consultation with students and deans, and $4 million will be allocated to additional student financial support. The tuition proposal is scheduled to be presented to the Board of Governors on Jan. 27, 2003. The Finance Committee of the Board, which meets on Jan.23, will review the tuition proposal and the student consultation process, and may consider holding a special meeting in February to discuss tuition increases should additional consultations be deemed necessary. If the current proposal is approved, the new fee schedule will take effect in May 2003. A report on how last year's revenue was allocated is available at http://students.ubc.ca/finance/fees/ tuitionpolicy.cfm. □ The Faculty of Graduate Studies provides centralized, coordinated services to almost 7,000 master's and doctoral students at UBC, and is home to a family of units and institutes that pursue an unparalleled breadth of interdisciplinary research and training. UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. Applicants should send a letter describing their interest in the position, a curriculum vitae, and names and addresses of at least four references whom we can contact in confidence, to the attention of the appropriate search committee: Dr. Frieda Granot, Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies University of British Columbia 6371 Crescent Road Vancouver, V6T 1Z2 f: 604-822-9202 e: lillian.koh@ubc.ca THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Faculty of Graduate Studies Institute of Applied Mathematics DIRECTOR UBC invites applications for the position of Director of the Institute of Applied Mathematics (IAM), to take office July 1, 2003. IAM promotes interdisciplinary research and teaching involving computational and applied mathematics. The search for Director is internal within UBC. Applicants should bring expertise or major interest in applied mathematics, and may be from any faculty or department. The successful candidate will be a scholar of exceptional standing with a broad vision for interdisciplinarity, demonstrated commitment to excellence in research, proven leadership and administrative abilities, and outstanding interpersonal skills. Deadline: January 30, 2003 www.iam.ubc.ca www.facultyrelations.ubc.ca/faculty/gradad.htm Individual Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program CHAIR The University of British Columbia invites applications for the position of Chair of the Individual Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program (IISGP), effective as soon as possible. The Program focuses on individual graduate students wishing to pursue advanced interdisciplinary research exceeding the provisions of existing departmental programs. While drawing on expertise within the university community, IISGP also fosters an interest in building bridges to approaches to interdisciplinarity outside UBC. The office for IISGP is located in Green College. The Chair must be a distinguished scholar with a passion for interdisciplinarity and exceptional qualities in leadership, collaboration, and service to graduate students. Administrative experience and community service in an academic setting are definite assets. Deadline: January 30, 2003 www.iisgp.ubc.ca www.facultyrelations.ubc.ca/faculty/gradad.htm Fisheries Centre DIRECTOR UBC invites applications for the position of Director of the Fisheries Centre, to take office July 1, 2003, or as soon thereafter as possible. The Fisheries Centre at UBC is a world-class unit with particular strength in ecosystem-based management approaches and tools, and marine conservation. The successful candidate must be an internationally distinguished scholar of exceptional standing, and bring a broad vision for interdisciplinary fisheries research. The new Director will demonstrate an understanding of the principles of emerging ecosystem-based science, and the capacity to initiate and support collaborative research and graduate programs. Deadline: February 28, 2003 www.fisheries.ubc.ca www.facultyrelations.ubc.ca/faculty/gradad.htm St.John's College PRINCIPAL The University of British Columbia invites applications for the position of Principal of St. John's College, to take office July 1, 2003, or as soon as possible thereafter. St. John's College was established six years ago as an academic graduate college with a focus on internationalism, global issues, and cultural diversity. The Principal must be an internationally distinguished scholar with exceptional qualities in leadership, intercultural sensitivity, and sociability. Administrative experience and community service in an academic setting are definite assets. The Principal will hold a tenured joint appointment at the professorial rank in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and another academic unit in her or his area of specialization. An administrative stipend will be available, as will administrative leaves. Deadline: February 15, 2003 www.stjohns.ubc.ca www.facultyrelations.ubc.ca/faculty/gradad.htn FOSTERING INNOVATION IN RESEARCH AND LEARNING WWW.GRAD.UBC.CA UBC REPORTS | JANUARY 2, 2003 | 7 Vancouver Readyfor Safe Injection Sites, Say UBC Experts Research indicates lives and money will be saved BY HILARY THOMSON There are few issues in Vancouver more controversial than the creation of safe injection sites for the addicts in the city's Downtown Eastside. In a recent municipal election, this issue played a major role in the upset of an entire slate of city councillors. Medical experts at UBC have not hesitated to wade into the debate. Dr. Michael O'Shaughnessy, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, says safe injection sites would improve what many health-care professionals are calling a public health crisis. "These sites are not a perfect solution, nor will all addicts use them," he says. "But it is clear that if there is a group of individuals who regularly use the safe site, the number of overdoses will decline." There are about 125,000 intravenous drug users in Canada according to the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. The network has cited a 1998 study that estimated the direct and indirect costs of HIV and AIDS attributed to intravenous drug use in Canada would mount to $8.7 billion by 2004 if current trends continue. Also, intravenous drug users incur costs for doctor visits, emergency services, hospital admissions and medications to treat bacterial infections and other illnesses. In addition, there are policing and legal costs to enforce drug laws. Health Canada is currently accepting proposals from cities interested in establishing safe injection sites and a federally approved site could be established sometime this year. It is not yet known how sites will be funded. The cost of establishing and monitoring a single facility in its first year could cost between $500,000 and $800,000, according to network officials. With more than 2,000 overdose deaths since 1992, Vancouver's Downtown Eastside has the country's most visible drug addiction problem, says O'Shaughnessy. In addition, approximately 30 per cent of addicts are HIV positive and more than 90 per cent have hepatitis C virus. Researchers and health-care practitioners in Vancouver have led the academic debate in Canada on the topic of safe injection sites, he says, and opinions are divided about the value of such sites. Often confused with shooting galleries - areas run by drug dealers where addicts can inject - safe injection sites are health facilities. There, people who have purchased the drug can inject safely, using clean needles and equipment under the supervision of trained staff. Users have access to medical and social support services at the facility and can be referred to detox centres and drug treatment programs. O'Shaughnessy is confident that users would participate in the sites, based on results from the Vancouver Injection Drug User study conducted by local researchers in 2001. Users were specifically asked if they would use such a site and the majority indicated they would. In addition, users stated that they continued to share needles despite the availability of a large needle exchange program. "We have learned what not having a site leads to," says O'Shaughnessy. "It is time for us to approach this epidemic with a view to reducing the incidence of overdoses and disease." In addition to health benefits, approximately 45 sites in a dozen cities in Europe and Australia are credited with limiting violence associated with drug use, reducing the public nuisance of people injecting on the street and the health risk of needles discarded in public places. A key benefit of safe injection sites is the opportunity to establish relationships with addicted individuals to help them stabilize their lives, says Edward Kruk, associate professor of Social Work and an expert in addiction counselling. In Europe, social workers staff the sites along with users or former users who serve as peer counsellors. Users can determine their own goals that may or may not include abstinence but might include finding housing and meaningful employment, seeing a doctor, improving nutrition, and obtaining social supports. Kruk counters the argument that money for sites could be better spent on treatment facilities by pointing out that traditional treatment methods don't work that well. In Frankfurt, Germany, the rate of recovery for those using safe injection sites is more than four times higher than for North Americans using traditional treatment therapies, he reports. "We need to examine the whole issue of addiction treatment from the perspective of drug users and former users," he says. "There's been a huge shift in public and political sentiment here over the last three years and I think Vancouver is ready for safe injection sites." □ Victoria Bell Your University Area Specialist www.victoriabell.ca Top Volume Producer Dunbar Office 1999/2000/2001 Member MLS Medallion Club 1999/2000/2001 Cel 604-209-1382 My real estate goal is to build integrity based relationships backed with an extremely high commitment to professionalism and accountability. I offer 23 years of success and experience. Please call me for any university real estate market information, current evaluation of your property or any real estate assistance that you may require. 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V6N 3S2 Office: (604) 263-1508 Fax: (604) 263-1708 Academic Editing Editing Shaping Revising Academic papers, articles, journals, presentations, proposals Immediate attention and prompt delivery Hourly rate with estimates - Coursework not accepted David Harrison 20 years academic work in Canada, U.S. and Europe E-mail: dharrison@direct.ca Ph: 604-733-3499 Mediav roup^s ■Z* Hearn IMAGING SERVICES ART & GRAPHICS PHOTOGRAPHY ^ TV & MEDIA PRODUCTION MEDIA & EQUIPMENT SALES AV EQUIPMENT RENTALS NEW ON-CAMPUS (LAMINATION for your posters, signs & banners Maximum 36" width 3 mm gloss and 6 mm matte laminates available A www.medlagroup.ubc.ca THE MEDIA GROUP Room 632. Woodward H*C 21M Hearth Sciences Mall Vancauvw, B.C.V&T1Z3 Tel. (604)622-5561 Fax: (604} S22-20O4 o-rnal. medagrpji^nlB'riiangc jbc.cn E-i-jti1 o ,i of Building REPORTS | JANUARY 2, 2003 Dunbar Eyecare — optometry Dr. C. Kriekenbeek Eye Examinations • Contact Lenses Computer Vision • Surgical Co-management • Extraordinary Eyewear For an appointment, please call 604.263.8874 Suite #2 - 3554 W. 41st Ave, Vancouver, B.C. (Just minutes away from campus) inside the box. Every day the news media look for UBC experts to interview - to share their knowledge and get the public thinking about issues. Why does this matter to UBC faculty? It's an opportunity to share your own teaching and research expertise with the rest ofthe world. UBC Public Affairs has opened both a radio and TV studio on campus where you can do live interviews with local, national and international media outlets. To learn more about being a UBC expert, call us at 604.822.2064 and visit our web site at www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/experts/signup NEWS TV I RADIO rac m di Waiting Centre Offering a variety of non-credit courses and services to the university community and the general public Report and Business Writing Jan 21-Apr 15 Tutoring Techniques Jan 30-Mar 6 Writing and Publishing a Research Paper Feb 1-Mar 22 Writing for Graduate Students Feb 25-Apr 1 UBC Continuing Studies 604-822-9564 www.writingcentre.ubc.ca FRENCH SPANISH ITALIAN GERMAN Languages Cultures and Travel Non-credit day, evening or Saturday morning conversational classes start MANDARIN PORTUGUESE PUNJABI HUNGARIAN UKRAINIAN POLISH January 25 Courses on the cultures of China, Latin America, France, Italy and more Destination travel programs to immerse you in a new language or culture 604-822-0802 Languages, Cultures and Travel UBC Continuing Studies www.languages.ubc.ca Kyoto Accord continued from page 1 This is a tremendous economic opportunity. The World Bank has estimated that trillions of dollars of new urban infrastructure will have to be built over the next decade. Who is going to get a piece of this action? My belief is that those who can deliver technologies and services in a more sustainable fashion, including the use of low-carbon technologies, will have a major competitive advantage. This is the opportunity represented by the Kyoto targets. The countries, and companies, that move fastest in developing technologies and processes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve environmental quality, and create jobs are likely to do rather well in a more crowded and congested future. It is not that there will not be costs associated with achieving these opportunities. But incurring these costs will give rise to both environmental and economic benefits: they are investments in a more sustainable world. Moreover, achieving sustainable development futures will require massive innovation, and the development of new technologies and services, including especially new telecommunications and information technologies. As a result, moving in this direction is strongly consistent with, and supportive of, the development of the new information economy the pundits tell us is necessary for Canada to achieve prosperity in the future. So the politicians who voice fears about the costs of Kyoto are actually thinking about the issue the wrong way. In fact, it is failing to act on the Kyoto opportunity that will pose the real net costs - environmental, social and economic - on Canadian society. John Robinson is a professor at UBC's Sustainable Development Research Institute. He was Chair of the Canadian Global Change Program's Panel on Canadian Options for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions (1992-3) and was a Coordinating Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for both the Second (1995) and Third (2001) Assessment Reports. □ UBC kudos Strynadka awarded the 2002 Steacie Prize Natalie Strynadka, associate professor of Biochemistry and an expert in the design of new antibiotics, has been awarded the 2002 Steacie Prize, Canada's top award for young scientists and engineers. Strynadka and her research team recently discovered that an enzyme that plays a key role in the function of antibiotic- resistant bacteria is abnormally structured - a difference that allows the bacteria to survive in the presence of antibiotics. The information will help scientists design new classes of drugs to conquer potentially lethal infections caused by the bacteria. An associate member of UBC's Biotechnology Laboratory and a member of the Centre for Blood Research, Strynadka joined UBC in 1997. She is an Investigator of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, a Burroughs Wellcome New Investigator and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Scholar. Previous Steacie Prize recipients include Biotechnology Laboratory faculty members Brett Finlay and Terry Snutch. The Steacie Prize is a Canadian award of $15,000 presented to a scientist or engineer of 40 years of age or less for outstanding scientific work. The prize is given by the E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fund, a private foundation dedicated to the advancement of science and engineering in Canada. □ Martha Piper Appointed to Second UBC Term The University of British Columbia Board of Governors has re-appointed Martha Piper as UBC President and Vice- Chancellor. Piper's second term will run to Nov. 15, 2007. "The board is pleased to have retained Canada's finest university president in a highly competitive international market where people of Dr. Piper's calibre are in great demand," Board of Govenors Chair Larry Bell said. "Since arriving at UBC in 1997, Martha Piper has provided unprecedented leadership that extends throughout our campuses, our community, our province and our country. Martha Piper has been very good for UBC, and she has been very good for B.C." Piper is UBC's 11th president since 1913, when Frank Wesbrook first held the chief executive officer position in an institution that has since grown to more than 35,000 students, 10,000 faculty and staff, and annual expenditures approaching $1 billion. Piper's contract, in line with compensation at similar Canadian universities, stipulates an annual salary of $350,000 with incentive payments of up to $50,000 per year if performance goals set by the Board of Governors are met. □ TIME PIECE 1915 In 1915, UBC opened its doors to 379 students and 34 faculty on an operating budget of $175,000. This basement science lab shows that back then, classroom space was an issue. Now, UBC has more than 37,000 students and about 2,000 faculty while operating on a budget of about $1 billion. While we've come a long way from this basement lab, classroom space continues to be one of the university's top priorities.