Image credit, L-R: Nick Procaylo/00101849A, Dado Ruvic/Reuters, Kyodo News via Associated Press
From insights into Vancouver’s Pride festival and its origins, to the impact of Canada’s Online News Act, Arts faculty are sharing their expertise in the media this August. Check back in as we update this list throughout the month.
Department of Anthropology
UBC Anthropologist reflects on Oppenheimer and the 78th anniversary of nuclear bombing of Nagasaki | Dr. Hugh Gusterson discussed the significance of the bombing, the reception of Oppenheimer in Japan, and the future of nuclear weapons.
Department of Central, Eastern, and Northern European Studies
Born from protest, Vancouver’s Pride festival has become ‘a beacon, a lightning rod’ | Dr. Kyle Frackamn said Vancouver’s Pride festival never lost its connection with its origins as a protest movement.
Department of English Language and Literatures
The fever tree hunt | Dr. Kavita Philip commented on the Andean cinchona tree.
Department of Geography
Gender-affirming surgeries tripled in the U.S. between 2016-2019, study finds | Dr. Avery Everhart commented on gender-affirming healthcare in the U.S.
Pacific coral reefs have naturally increased their heat tolerance | Dr. Simon Donner co-authored a paper which found that coral reefs in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean have adjusted to higher ocean temperatures.
When Naomi Klein Realized People Regularly Confused Her With Naomi Wolf, She Went Down a Rabbit Hole | In this exclusive excerpt from her new book, Doppelganger, the Shock Doctrine author takes on the Beauty Myth author, whose COVID conspiracism has further muddied the Naomi waters.
In B.C., high rates of childhood bowel disease linked to pesticide, air pollution exposure | Researcher Mielle Michaux led a study that linked childhood inflammatory bowel disease to pesticide and air pollution exposures.
Dangerous noises drown out the voices under the sea | Dr. Karen Bakker said many aquatic species may disappear if we don’t control noise pollution.
Department of Political Science
Donald Trump’s ‘angry’ mugshot stays true to his character while fuelling campaign spectacle | Dr. Paul Quirk commented on former U.S. president Trump’s mugshot.
We need to get our space junk under control | An opinion piece mentioned a study by Dr. Michael Byers (Political Science) and Dr. Aaron Boley (Physics and Astronomy) which found that rocket debris re-entering Earth’s atmosphere will have a 10 per cent chance of causing a fatality in the next decade.
Opinion: The Charter challenge of first-past-the-post could lead to a better electoral system | Dr. Maxwell Cameron wrote about Canada’s electoral system.
Feds’ clean electricity approach could ‘raise the temperature’ of an already hot conflict | Dr. Kathryn Harrison commented on the federal government potentially offering investment tax credits to provinces that get on board with its target to decarbonize the electricity grid.
Department of Psychology
A B.C. study gave 50 homeless people $7,500 each. Here’s what they spent it on. | Dr. Jiaying Zhao led a study which found that homeless people are more likely to spend money given to them on housing.
The instinct to share our good fortune | Media mentioned a study co-authored by Dr. Elizabeth Dunn that gave 200 people $10,000 to spend to investigate if they would be selfish or generous with the money.
What do we really know about happiness? Probably less than we think | Dr. Elizabeth Dunn and graduate student Dunigan Folk conducted a study which found that some activities people associate with happiness lack scientific evidence to prove they actually boost your mood.
Here’s what’s actually happening when you have trouble remembering a familiar word | Dr. Todd Handy commented on tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, which is when you have a specific piece of information stored in your memory, but you can’t quite recall it.
Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice
Happily eve after, but hold the prince? Disney—and its actors—walk a tricky line with remakes | Dr. Kim Snowden said updating old fairytales to reflect current values does not take away from the original.
School of Journalism, Writing, and Media
Canadian leaders slam Facebook news ban amid wildfires | Dr. Alfred Hermida said any communications problems the government is facing due to Meta’s ban on news links is one of its own making.
Australia made a deal to keep news on Facebook. Why couldn’t Canada? | Dr. Alfred Hermida said for both Meta and Google, Canada’s Online News Act is not just about money but the principle of being regulated and the precedent it might set.
Union says layoffs coming as Glacier Media cancels print editions of three Lower Mainland newspapers | Dr. Alfred Hermida commented that the end of Glacier Media’s print editions is not surprising as more readers consume their news online.
School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Few Catholics in Mongolia, but Pope’s visit eyes geopolitics | Dr. Julian Dierkes commented on the Pope Francis’ visit to Mongolia.
Questions remain around Fukushima wastewater release | Dr. Allison MacFarlane commented on Japan’s plan to release radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.
Opinion: On the eve of elections, Ecuador’s democracy teeters on the brink | Dr. Grace Jaramillo commented on Ecuador’s current political landscape
School of Social Work
Eight years of hurt: Canada’s growing fury with Justin Trudeau | Dr. Tim Stainton commented on Trudeau’s reforms around assisted death.
