From insights into federal carbon tax and workplace cultures, to Taylor Swift’s diverse musicality, Arts faculty are sharing their expertise in the media this November. Check back in as we update this list throughout the month.
Department of Geography
The Wild West in B.C. housing is mostly over, but the devastation goes on | Dr. David Ley was quoted in an op-ed about B.C.’s housing crisis. (Vancouver is Awesome)
Issues to watch out for at COP 28 | UBC experts held a panel discussion on COP 28 on Nov. 21. Organizer professor Dr. Simon Donner was quoted. (Québec Science – French)
Department of History
How vampire lore emerged from shadowy medical mysteries | Dr. Jessica Wang said that werewolf mythology may have been created to explain the symptoms of rabies in the early modern period. (PBS)
Department of Linguistics
What is cursive singing? The divisive vocal trend, explained | Dr. Bryan Gick said that cursive singing is a type of singing dialect which does not belong to any specific social category. (CBC Music)
Department of Sociology
It pays to be a man working in the B.C. Government | Dr. Sylvia Fuller commented on the B.C. government’s report which found that men, on average, earned eight per cent more than women in government jobs in 2022. (The Tyee)
Opinion: How organizations can address toxic workplace cultures to tackle sexual harassment | Dr. Jennifer Berdahl and co-authors wrote about strategies to better handle sexual harassment in the workplace. (Vancouver Sun)
Climate change campaigners switched gears to lobby MPs for a ceasefire in Gaza | Sociology professor Dr. David Tindall commented on protesters lobbying Canadian MPs for a ceasefire in Gaza. (Vancouver is Awesome)
Housing options are increasingly out of reach for young families in B.C., sociologist says | Dr. Nathanael Lauster said that while young families are adapting to the rising cost of housing, more options are becoming unaffordable. (CBC Vancouver)
Department of Political Science
Would BC benefit from the federal carbon tax exemption? | Dr. Kathryn Harrison commented on Canada’s carbon tax which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (CKNW)
Climate council slams B.C. emissions plan, urges ban on new gas hookups | Dr. Kathryn Harrison commented on the BC Climate Solutions Council’s call to ban gas hookups in new buildings. (Vancouver is Aweswome)
UBC political scientist calls Squamish councillor’s consequences significant | Dr. Stewart Prest commented on the District of Squamish reducing the pay of a councillor amidst allegations of a code of conduct breach. (Vancouver is Awesome)
Canada’s top banker dragged into carbon tax carveout debate| Dr. Kathryn Harrison commented on the Trudeau government giving some households exemptions from carbon tax. (National Observer)
New bill would halt ethics investigations of politicians during Alberta election campaigns | Dr. Max Cameron disagreed with a proposed bill to suspend ethics investigations during Alberta elections. (CBC News)
Asia-Pacific leaders gather in San Francisco as tensions with China run high| Dr. Yves Tiberghien said APEC countries are seeing internal struggles between their security establishments and economic and environmental organizations. (CBC News)
Brenda Locke critical of Surrey Police Board suspension | Dr. Stewart Prest commented on the suspension of members of the Surrey Police Board, including city mayor Brenda Locke. (Global News)
India under pressure to engage with Myanmar junta, rebels amid refugee influx from border fighting| Dr. Swaran Singh commented on India’s relationship with Myanmar. (South China Morning Post)
Liberals face inside pressure to announce oil and gas cap | Dr. Kathryn Harrison said a cap on oil and gas emissions is important for Canada to meet its Paris Agreement 2023 target. (National Observer)
Opinion: Humans are destroying the only home they have. Canada can help save it by shutting down the tar sands| Dr. Michael Byers wrote about the environmental impacts of Alberta’s tar sands. (The Globe and Mail)
Climate, conflict, and Canada’s commitments in a world of crisis | Dr. Kathryn Harrison discussed Canada’s climate progress heading into COP28. (CBC The Sunday Magazine)
Opinion: Teleworking: Quebec must negotiate with its civil servants, but without data or studies on its impact | Dr. Carey Doberstein co-wrote about remote work policy for Quebec’s civil servants. (The Conversation – French)
Department of Psychology
The fridge hack that can slash your food waste | Dr. Jiaying Zhao discussed how to organize your fridge to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. (Washington Post)
The pay raise people say they need to be happy |Dr. Elizabeth Dunn commented on the link between money and happiness. (The Wall Street Journal)
School of Music
Taylor Swift mania hits Vancouver as Swifties scramble to sign up for presale tickets | Dr. David Metzer said Taylor Swift’s cross-generational success can be attributed to her ability to delve into different musical sounds. (Vancouver Sun)
School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Can China achieve its nuclear energy ambitions? | Media mentioned a study co-authored by Dr. Allison Macfarlane,which found that small modular reactors can produce more radioactive waste than conventional ones. (VOA News)
Opinion: Big costs sink flagship nuclear project and will sink future small modular reactor projects too | Dr. M.V. Ramana and co-wrote that small modular reactors may delay a transition to net-zero energy and make it more expensive. (The Hill Times – subscription)
School of Social Work
Indigenous veterans ‘served with distinction,’ and came home to no support | Dr. Richard Vedan discussed the contributions of Indigenous veterans in the Canadian Armed Forces. (Global News)
Vancouver School of Economics
The false promise of green jobs | Dr. Reka Juhasz co-authored a paper which analyzed modern industrial policy. (The Economist – subscription)
