@prefix edm: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix dc: . @prefix skos: . edm:dataProvider "CONTENTdm"@en ; dcterms:isReferencedBy "http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1210082"@en ; dcterms:isPartOf "University Publications"@en ; dcterms:issued "2015-07-17"@en, "2005-03-03"@en ; edm:aggregatedCHO "https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/ubcreports/items/1.0118079/source.json"@en ; dc:format "application/pdf"@en ; skos:note """ THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA [UBC VOLUME 51 I NUMBER 3 I MARCH 3,2005 UBC REPORTS 2 UBC in the News 3 College Days 4 New Life Sciences Institute 9 Celebrate Research 12 Defence in Depth Implantable Medical Devices Promise Better Life Tiny gadgets could spare diabetes patients the pain of pricking fingers, by brian lin A UBC mechanical engineer is embarking on a multi-disciplinary project that could spare diabetes patients from ever pricking their fingers again. For decades, diabetes patients have been drawing small amounts of blood regularly in order to monitor their glucose level, a procedure that is often painful and can be particularly tough on children or the elderly. Now Mu Chiao, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Applied Science and Canada Research Chair in MicroElectro- Mechanical Systems (MEMS), has set his sights on creating a tiny, implantable device that could be used to monitor chemical levels such as glucose in diabetes patients or deliver regular doses of medication such as hormones from inside the body. At no larger than 2 millimetres, these tiny chips would come fully equipped with highly sensitive screening and distribution mechanisms, and their own Prof. Mu Chiao is working with a wide range of scientists to develop biosensors and monitoring devices. power source, all wrapped in material that prevents rejection by the body. In fact, some of them would be so inconspicuous that they could be left in the body once they've accomplished their missions. Originally from the southern Taiwanese port city of Tainan, Chiao was trained in the Sensor and Actuator Center at University of California, Berkeley, a hotbed for MEMS and nano-technology research. One of the hottest areas of mechanical engineering, MEMS technology has been used to make sensing devices that control airbag deployment in cars and switching devices in optical telecommunications cables. For Mu, however, bio-medical applications of MEMS have a stronger attraction. " I want to make a positive impact on people's daily lives," says Chiao, whose research could mean fewer physician visits and a better quality of life for patients with chronic diseases. Chiao has already pioneered a tech- con tin ued on page 8 Saving the Serengeti Anthony Sinclair's 40-year study of animal populations in African parks has helped define biodiversity science, by Hilary Thomson As past director of UBC's Biodiversity Research Centre, Anthony Sinclair helped shape the vision for the new interdisciplinary Beaty Biodiversity Research Centre announced on January 31 under current director Prof. Dolph Schluter, Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Biology. It all started with dung beetles. As a child in Africa, UBC zoologist Anthony Sinclair admired and collected the humble insect, marking the start of a career that has spanned four decades, three continents and earned Sinclair membership in the Royal Society of London, an academy of the world's most eminent researchers. A world expert in ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity and conservation biology, Sinclair has conducted experiments in areas ranging from Australia and New Zealand to the Yukon, but most of his work has focused on the Serengeti region of Tanzania, in eastern Africa. His latest work, recently published in Science, concerns population dynamics of Serengeti lions. Born and raised in Zambia, Sinclair's earliest memories revolve around time spent as an intrepid investigator of bugs, birds and mammals. He soon learned to mix caution with curiosity, however, after meeting a leopard during a night-time foray at age eight. Educated in Tanzania and fluent in Swahili, Sinclair was sent to secondary school in England - at that time a three-day plane journey away. He originally studied to be an engineer but by his own admission was an indifferent student. All that changed when he decided to follow his heart and become a biologist. " It was just like pushing a button," says the 61-year-old. "I roared £ ahead." e An apt descrip- < tion, indeed. After 0 earning a PhD at ° Oxford University, Sinclair has conducted 40 years of landmark research that has helped define biodiversity science and made him one of the world's most-cited investigators in the field of environment and ecology. But to hear Sinclair tell it, his career has mostly turned on luck. •*£ A History handed him his first lucky break in 1890 when Italians brought a cattle disease called rinderpest to Africa during the colonization of Ethiopia. African cattle had no immunity to the disease and ultimately 95 per cent of the continent's population was wiped out. Authorities tried to combat the spread of the disease by killing infected animals. They couldn't kill animals in the protected 30,000 sq. kms. of Serengeti Park, however, and thus born Sinclair's living lab. He started research in Serengeti in 1965, while still an undergraduate. The rinderpest outbreak and its effect on Africa's ecosystem created a large-scale natural experiment for him to test his theories of fluctuations in animal populations. He has used the area to create an ecological baseline by measuring natural changes in biodiversity within the park and comparing this data to human- induced changes seen outside the area. He spent a decade focused on African buffalo and wildebeest, monitoring their resurgence after rinderpest was wiped out. The wildebeest population increased six-fold in about a 15-year period and Sinclair recalls standing on hilltops seeing nothing but the black hides of wildebeest for 30 miles in any direction. "The changes in wildebeest population in Serengeti changed everything - vegetation, food supply for predators and for humans," says Sinclair. "This natural experiment proved that everything is ■ linked and that all living things are connected in an ecosystem, a concept that is well understood now but was just emerging when I started my work." At that time, researchers were busy unraveling many mysteries in the region, but their work was unconnected. Sinclair suggested they consolidate their knowledge and has edited three books - Serengeti, published in 1979, Serengeti II in 1995 and Serengeti III, soon to be continued on page 9 I UBC REPORTS | MARCH 3, 2OO5 Deprez & Associates Notaries Public • Real Estate transfers • Re-financing • Wills & Powers of Attorney • Affidavits & Statutory Declarations 604-221-4343 2515 Alma Street (between W. 10th and W. Broadway) www.notarydeprez.com IN THE NEWS Moving to the Okanagan? Purchasing Recreational Property? Considering an Investment Property? You'll need a personal, one-stop connection to Kelowna and the Central Okanagan. Call me to talk about how you can become part of this amazing community. Get onboard a thriving economy with growing property values. Experience the added benefits of a vibrant cultural life, fine dining, internationally-acclaimed wineries, and the numerous outstanding opportunities for boating, golfing, and skiing. Get ahead with your MATH Two non-credit pre-calculus courses for students considering Math 180 or 184 at UBC Math 098 helps you establish a solid foundation of pre-calculus skills before you continue with Math 099 or further math courses. Mondays and Wednesdays, Apr 18-June 29, 7-9:20 pm. $450. Math 099 provides a review of the math skills needed for calculus. Math 099 can be used as a prerequisite for Math 180 and 184 at UBC. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, July 4-Aug 12, 9:30-11:30 am. $450. See our web site for course details. Continuing Studies Math Centre 604-822-9564 www.cstudies.ubc.ca/math Victoria Bell Your University Area Specialist www.victoriabell.ca Top Volume Producer Dunbar Office 1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004 Member MLS Medallion Club 1999/2000/2001/2002 /2003/2004 Cell 604-209-1382 My real estate goal is to build integrity based relationships backed with an extremely high cornriutment to professionalism and accountability. I offer 26 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. DEXTER ASSOCIATES REALTY-604-228-9339 Highlights of UBC Media Coverage in February 2005. compiled by brian lin First Prescribed-Heroin Project Begins Vancouver has opened North America's first safe heroin- injection site, a pilot project which, it claims, will curb disease and deaths among addicts. The North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI), a two-year $8 Million study funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, will also take place in Montreal and Toronto and enrol a total of 470 "treatment-resistant" addicts, reports The Economist. By keeping hardcore addicts from committing crimes to fund their habits, it is hoped that they will leave drugs behind and lead a more productive life. UBC HIV/AIDS researcher and the project's lead investigator, Martin Schechter says that in similar studies done in Europe, the participants "reduced their use of street drugs, their health improved, the level of employment went up and the levels of criminality fell drastically. " This Little Piggy Hurts In a feature story on animal welfare in The Independent, UBC agricultural sciences professor Dan Weary argues that conventional husbandry methods should be rethought on the basis of the animals' reactions. For example, Weary suggests that pigs should be injected with hormones that neutralise the sex hormones - "immunocastration" - instead of being painfully castrated. National Study Reports Drug Reactions At least seven children's hospitals will participate in an $8.4-million nationwide project to report adverse reactions to drugs in children, ranging from rashes to drug-induced hepatitis. Researchers will also collect DNA and blood samples, searching for genetic markers that could explain why a drug is safe for one child but not another. Associate Prof. Larry Frank has found people who live in sprawling suburbs are less likely to be physically active. "Instead of passively waiting, we're hiring people to go out and find (adverse drug reactions), catalogue them, put them in a central registry and share them among hospitals to see if there are any patterns," co-principal investigator Dr. Bruce Carleton of UBC's Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Improvement told The National Post. Urnbanites Healthier than Suburban Counterparts UBC professor Larry Frank recently spoke to CTV's Canada AM about his research on urban sprawl and public health. "We found that the people who live in the most walkable parts of the Atlanta region, who have shops and services near to where they live . . . are 2.4 times more likely to meet the US Surgeon-General's recommendation and the Heart and Stroke's recommendation of 30 minutes of moderate activity per day than people who live in the more sprawling parts of the same region. "Non-leisure-time physical activity is a better way to guarantee that we will add up and collectively become more physically active, or less likely to be sedentary," he said. Let Them Stay Up and Watch TV Television programs designed to be entertaining, intelligent and educational can open a "cognitive window" and have a profound effect on formative young minds. Studies have shown that television has the ability to stimulate both sides of the brain, making it easier to retain and understand information. "There is no question about that any more. The research is in," UBC psychologist Tannis MacBeth told The Globe and Mail. "Programs intended to be educational have positive effects on the children who watch them." □ UBC REPORTS PUBLICATION MAILAGREEMENT NO. 40775044 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. 310 - 6251 CECIL GREEN PARK ROAD VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA V6T 1Z1 EMAIL: public.affairs@ubc.ca Director, Public Affairs Scott Macrae scott.macrae@ubc.ca Editor Randy Schmidt randy.schmidt@ubc.ca Design Director Chris Dahl chris.dahl@ubc.ca Designer Sharmini Thiagarajah sharmini@exchange.ubc.ca Principal Photography Martin Dee martin.dee@ubc.ca Contributors Brenda Austin brenda.austin@ubc.ca Brian Lin brian.lin@ubc.ca Hilary Thomson hilary.thomson@ubc.ca Advertising Sarah Walker public.affairs@ubc.ca NEXT ISSUE: APRIL 7, 2005 UBC Reports is published monthly by the UBC Public Affairs Office 310 - 6251 Cecil Green Park Road Vancouver BC Canada V6T IZI UBC Reports welcomes submissions. For upcoming UBC Reports submission guidelines, please see www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/about. Opinions and advertising published in UBC Reports do not necessarily reflect official university policy. Material may be reprinted in whole or in part with appropriate credit to UBC Reports. Letters (300 words or less) must be signed and include an address and phone number for verification. Submit letters to: The Editor, UBC Reports UBC Public Affairs Office (address above); by fax to 604.822.2684; or by e-mail to randy.schmidt@ubc.ca or call UBC.NEWS (604.822.6397) UBC REPORTS | MARCH 3, 2OO5 | 3 College Days, College Nights UBC students were in front of and behind the cameras for this view into student life BY BRENDA AUSTIN The title of this documentary alone should draw you in. Over the course of the 2003- 04 academic year, eight UBC film department students followed the joys and disappointments of 16 UBC undergraduates. The entire 6-hour film aired in three parts March 1, 2 and 3, on the Documentary Channel. Now, CBC plans a shortened version to air in the fall. The documentary revealed emotional discord between student and immigrant parents; the party scene; the stress of exams; romance; relationships with faculty; student achievements, and the struggle and defeat of those far from home. The lynch pin of the whole project was John Zaritsky, a well-known journalist and film producer whose documentaries have aired on PBS, CBC and BBC. He became film production adjunct professor in the UBC Department of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing for this project. Zaritsky broached the idea for this documentary at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival house. She followed the roller coaster life of Sheila, the captain of the UBC women's basketball team, attending championship games with her and learning how to get a genuine story by working hard at keeping a good on the loss of his girl friend. There were other tense incidents in the film and in the lives of the cast. But, overall, most felt they were doing the right thing at the right time at university, according to Alyson A year in the life of... UBC film students at work on the documentary. relationship. "Crew members were expected to observe closely the lives of their subjects, stay involved and bring ideas to weekly film department sessions," Chan Drysdale, a film department faculty member responsible for organizing the internship documentary production course, which she co-taught with Zaritsky. 'Crew members were expected to observe closely the lives of their subjects, stay involved and bring ideas to weekly film department sessions." with Corus Entertainment, editors for the Documentary Channel, carried in Vancouver on Shaw's digital cable service. He wanted to know what it was like to be a college student in the new millennium. His company, Point Grey Pictures, did the preliminary cast interviews for College Days, College Nights of about 70 volunteers from the UBC undergraduate student body who responded to campus advertisements. "About half were eliminated in the first interview. The other half went on camera with a professional crew so we could gauge their reactions. We wanted a balance of gender, cultural background, university year and study course." The crew members were fourth-year film production students and they interned with Point Grey Pictures for six UBC credits. "They were fairly green to begin with, but knowledgeable in camera technology, easy to train and quick to learn, and were shooting up to professional standards at the end of the semester," Zaritsky said. Mike Rae, one of Zaritsky's interns, lived in a house rented by Point Grey Pictures for four of the volunteer cast. This meant he could be part of their lives for parties, exams, family issues and so on. "The experience changed my life," said Rae as he followed Leila, a first-year nursing student, Spencer, a political science student, who ran for Alma Mater Society Vice-President, and Jamie, a fluently bilingual French and English international relations student. Another cast member, Melody Chan, was assigned to the fourth member of the said. The knowledge, expertise and connections she made led to subsequent contract work on 10 feature films. Zaritsky's not surprised. "Melody, yes, she was a great shooter," he said. "And Mike is now my teaching assistant in a new course this year with a documentary called Couples." " I have respect for all these students. They're more serious and hard working and more competent than I was as a student, although they are less politically committed and motivated than my generation." Cast members each kept a video diary they could use at any time. This was often the truest record of their emotions. Zaritsky remembered a vignette of compelling honesty that touched on the universal experience of rejection. A student recorded his thoughts and feelings at 3 o'clock in the morning "And for the student crew," she added, "this was a unique experience. Until now it was unheard of for students to leave university with six hours of on-screen professional credits to their name. This was a big accomplishment." □ KUDOS UBC Film Studies 1990 UBC film production alumnus Reginald Harkema has been nominated for a 2005 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Editing for the feature film "Childstar," directed by Don McKellar. The Genie Awards will air on City TV Vancouver at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 21. ■ i- ' WU .,; |J| .; 4103 W. 10th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. 604-222-4104 lnfo@pointgreyguesthouse.com www.pointgreyguesthouse.com Guest Accommodation near UBC A Harbourview Retreat Bed & Breakfast Ask about our UBC Discount! 4675 W. 4th (at Blanca) Vancouver, B.C. 604.221.7273 www.aharbourviewretreat.com West Coast Suites at The University of British Columbia Here is the perfect alternative for a stay in Vancouver. Surrounded by the spectacular beauty ofthe UBC campus, our fully-equipped, quality suites offer convenience and comfort for visiting lecturers, professors, family, friends or anyone who wants to stay on Vancouver's west side. 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QE/AAhy Whether buying or selling real estate, 1 can help 1 ^^Wf*m W II ^rm^k • relocation customer service beyond finding Crest Realty (Westside) the perfect home. 1 understand NDEPENDENTLV OWNED & OPERATED the specific needs of university relocation. ekadla@remax.net • selling re/max outspends the competition www.elainekadla.com on advertising more than the top 6 competitors combined • buying re/max Agents average 3X more successful negotiating than the industry average For a complimentar\\ / copy of Common Sellers Mistakes or Home Buying Ste p by Step please call 604.323.6795 4 | UBC REPORTS | MARCH 3, 2OO5 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITION Three Teams: Three Visions April 1-10, 2005 Come see the future of UBC Aerial view of University Boulevard 7I MORRIS AND HELEN BELKIN ART GALLERY University of British Columbia 1825 Main Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z2 Tel: 604.822.2759 Fax: 604.822.6689 www.belkin-gallery.ubc.ca EXHIBITION HOURS: Opening Night (April 1): 5:30-8pm Monday - Friday, 10am-7pm Saturday - Sunday, 12-5pm UBC UNIVERSITY TOWN 71 CAMPUS COMMUNITY POLL Students, faculty, staff, alumni, professor emeriti and university residents can vote at the exhibit or on-line. 7\\ THREE TEAMS m Allies and Morrison Architects (London) Proscenium Architecture & Interiors Inc. (Vancouver) m Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners (Santa Monica) Hughes Condon Marler: Architects (Vancouver) ■ Patkau Architects Inc. (Vancouver) For more information about the competition and the campus community poll, please visit: www.universitytown.ubc.ca IC REPORTS | MARCH 3, 2OO5 | 5 Senior Appointments The University of British Columbia Board of Governors welcomes four new elected members. Andrew Irvine, a professor and deputy head in the Department of Philosophy at UBC, and Belle Dale-Wills, the associate director of UBC Facilities Services, have been appointed for three-year terms beginning February 1, 2005. Tim Louman-Gardiner, a first- year Faculty of Law student, and Quinn Omori, a fourth- year International Relations student, have been appointed for one-year terms beginning April 1, 2005. The Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Prof. David Dolphin, a finalist for this year's Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, as Acting Vice-President, Research, effective February 1, 2005. The Board has also approved the re-appointment of Mr. Terry Sumner as Vice- President, Administration and Finance for a six-year period, effective June 1, 2005. Dolphin, who also serves as Vice-President, Technology and Development, with global bio-pharmaceutical company QLT Inc. and who is known for his role in the development of drugs treating macular degeneration, will fill the Vice-President, Research position held by departing Indira Samarasekera, who will 1950 West Broadway Vancouver, BC 604-731-7868 COPY □ IMAGING CENTRE WWW.COpieSplUS.Ca DISCOVER THE BEST COPY CENTRE Now in our 17th year! 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