Our Arts faculty are sharing their expertise across various media channels on a wide range of topics, from multigenerational living and the roots of the climate crisis to the spending habits of homeless individuals in Vancouver. Check back in as we continue to update this list throughout the month!
Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies
What did childbirth look like when Jesus was born? | Dr. Tara Mulder commented on childbirth practices in ancient Rome, during the birth of Jesus Christ. (National Geographic; subscription required)
Department of Anthropology
Future-proofing your town sounds great, until you try it| Dr. Sara Shneiderman commented on how the scope of climate change-related disaster recovery is different from other natural disaster recovery. (The Atlantic; subscription required)
Department of Asian Studies
Taiwan goes to the polls under China’s long shadow | Dr. Josephine Chiu-Duke commented on Taiwan’s 2024 elections. (Business in Vancouver)
Department of Central, Eastern, and Northern European Studies
Opinion: What’s unsettling about Catan: How board games uphold colonial narratives | Dr. Biz Nijdam wrote that the board game Catan engages in colonial and imperialist ideas. (The Conversation)
Department of Geography
The climate treadmill speeds up at COP28, but critics say it’s still not going anywhere | Naomi Klein’s book This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate is referenced for the political and historical roots of the climate crisis. (Inside Climate News)
I spent the holidays in inheritance capitalism | The Tyee mentioned a 2017 study by Dr. Dan Hiebert which found that certain immigrants pay more for housing than their white counterparts. (The Tyee)
Opinion: Canada has a moral obligation to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel | Avi Lewis wrote about the Israel-Palestine conflict. (The Globe and Mail; subscription required)
Department of Philosophy
Why do we tip our Uber driver and hairstylist, but not the substitute teacher or family doctor? | Dr. Kimberley Brownlee provides expert comment on tipping culture. (CBC Vancouver)
Department of Political Science
Opinion: The International Court of Justice is the right place for a ceasefire decision | Dr. Michael Byers wrote about South Africa initiating proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice. (The Globe and Mail; subscription required)
Anti-satellite weapons tests could create chaos in space, warns B.C. study | Dr. Michael Byers and other scholars called for an international treaty banning all destructive anti-satellite weapons testing to limit debris in space. (CBC Early Edition)
Ecuador declares ‘war’ on gangs amid rising violence. How did it get here? | Dr. Max Cameron commented on politics in Ecuador. (Global News)
Trudeau’s uphill battle to save — and sell — carbon pricing | Dr. Kathryn Harrison commented on the Trudeau government giving some households exemptions from carbon tax. (National Observer)
Unpacking the genocide case against Israel at the ICJ | Dr. Michael Byers explained how the International Court of Justice operates and what the implications of the hearings against Israel could be. (CBC The Sunday Magazine)
Brace yourself for housing reforms | Dr. Stewart Prest commented on the federal and provincial governments rolling out housing programs and policies, which is usually done at the municipal level. (The Tyee)
Palestinian-Canadians face daunting process as they try to save relatives | Dr. Antje Ellermann commented on the application process for temporary residency visas for family members of Palestinian-Canadians. (Vancouver Sun)
Canada starts inquiry into election interference by China, others | Dr. Stewart Prest commented on the federal government’s inquiry into China and other countries’ interference in Canada’s last two elections. (Voice of America)
US pause on LNG exports raises pressure on Canada, BC to do same | Dr. Kathryn Harrison commented on exports of liquefied natural gas from B.C. and Canada. (Daily Mail)
Department of Psychology
Homeless people in Vancouver were given $5,500 cash, no strings attached. They used it to secure housing and even start saving | Dr. Jiaying Zhao’s study found that homeless people are more likely to use a lump sum of money on rent, food, housing, transit, and clothing. (Business Insider)
Scientists scrutinize happiness research | 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. (The Big Think)
How to feng shui your fridge — and why it might help to curb climate change | Dr. Jiaying Zhao discussed how to organize your fridge to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. (CBC The Current)
Department of Sociology
Multigenerational living often makes sense. That doesn’t make it easy | Dr. Nathanael Lauster’s book, The Death and Life of the Single-Family, interviewed Vancouverites who reconceptualized the idea of “home” is referenced in the media. (The Walrus)
How working multiple jobs out of necessity affects mental health, family life | Dr. Sylvia Fuller discussed how the how constant juggling of multiple jobs can lead to negative consequences. (CBC BC Today)
AI girlfriend chatbots won’t last | Dr. Laura Nelson comments that the future of AI chatbots will be more about work and elder care than relationships. (Quartz)
Opinions: We don’t all have to love the environment the same way | Dr. Emily Huddart Kennedy summarized her new book Eco-Types which shows five ways people relate to nature. (National Observer)
Department of Theatre & Film
Opinion: Making emotional films: The enticing contradictions of Norman Jewison’s movies | Dr. Lisa Coulthard wrote about Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison. (The Conversation)
Why weren’t Barbie’s director and lead actress Kenough for Oscar nominations? | Dr. Lisa Coulthard said that a film’s commercial successdoesn’t necessarily translate into Oscar nominations. (CBC News)
School of Creative Writing
30 Canadian books to read in winter 2024| Dr. Emily Pohl-Weary’s novel How to be Found was named one of 30 Canadian books to read right now. (CBC)
School of Economics
2024 in charts: Experts predict what’s to come for housing, jobs, wages, interest rates and more | Drs. Paul Beaudry and David Green said employment in the construction industry has been growing strongly for more than a decade. (The Globe and Mail; subscription required)
‘No government could afford it’: Why a newly proposed guaranteed basic income is likely doomed |Dr. Kevin Milligan commented on the idea of a universal basic income in Canada. (National Post)
Opinion: Does negative advertising pay off for consumer brands? | Dr. Gorkem Bostanci co-wrote about how negative advertising campaigns may influence a consumer’s choice to buy a product. (Wall Street Journal; subscription required)
School of Journalism, Writing, and Media
Wilkie Collins: A true detective of the human mind | Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee discussed the works of Wilkie Collins, an English novelist and playwright who lived in the late 1800s. (CBC Ideas)
Opinion: Spending too much time online? Try these helpful tips to improve your digital wellness | Dr. Mary Lynn Young and co-author gave tips to reduce the use of digital technologies to improve physical and mental wellbeing. (The Conversation)
Attacks on press freedoms have chilling effects far beyond Gaza | An op-ed mentioned a book by UBC journalism professors Drs. Mary Lynn Young and Candis Callison, Reckoning: Journalism’s Limits and Possibilities, which looked at journalists’ understanding of bias. (The Walrus)
School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
The 100 most influential Africans of 2023 | Dr. Rashid Sumaila is named one of the top 100 most influential Africans of 2023. (NewAfrican Magazine)
The ‘Nobel Prize of the Environment’ recognizes ocean and fisheries science | Dr. Rashid Sumaila was awarded the John and Alice Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 2023. (Mongabay)
Climate change could critically harm $253 billion US fishing industry, experts tell senators | Dr. Rashid Sumaila was among experts who presented the potential risks that climate change poses to the fishing industry to the U.S. senate. (The Hill)
Political rivals blast ABC’s handling of Vancouver park board decision. Will voters care? | Dr. Andrew Reimer is quoted about Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s proposal to eliminate the city’s elected park board. (Vancouver Sun)
Opinion: Canada must show leadership in backing Taiwan’s Pacific trade bid | Dr. Kristen Hopewell wrote about how Canada should handle Taiwan and China’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership as chair this year. (The Globe and Mail)
Why Canadian politics is still unsafe for female politicians | Dr. Heidi Tworek talks about online abuse of women and comments on why it is a systemic problem and must be tackled accordingly. (Chatelaine)
The nuclear energy dilemma: climate savior or existential threat? – Analysis | Dr. M.V. Ramana was quoted in an article on the benefits and risks of nuclear power. (Eurasia Review)
Tories urged to end ‘idiotic’ £1.8bn tax break for UK fishing fleet | Dr. Rashid Sumaila said that public funds should not be used to empty the ocean of the fish that communities depend on for their livelihoods, food and nutritional security. (The Guardian)
Nuclear energy is on the outlook for Alberta’s future: Is it a real possibility? | Dr. Allison Macfarlane said that nuclear power is very expensive to set up and maintain. (Daily Hive)
Opinion: Ontario Power Generation wasting time exploring French reactors | Dr. M.V. Ramana and co-author argued that exploring the possibility of importing nuclear reactors from France is a waste of time and money for Ontario Power Generation. (National Observer)
Nuclear waste safety top of mind for politicians after Ontario disposal site approval | Dr. M.V. Ramana (school of public policy and global affairs) commented on the structure of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. (National Observer)
Opinion: COP28 pledge to expand nuclear capacity is out of touch with reality | Dr. M.V. Ramana wrote that countries who unofficially pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 may find it difficult and costly to do so. (PV Magazine)
Malaria vaccines roll out in Africa to help protect the youth | Dr. Veena Sriram commented on the world’s first malaria vaccine, known as RTS,S, which has started to roll out for routine immunizations in Africa. (CBC On the Coast)
School of Social Work
Ottawa and the provinces need to address a growing child care gap | Dr. Lea Caragata’s co-authored report is referenced in an editorial board which found that very few low-income single mothers are accessing B.C.’s $10-a-day child care spaces. (The Globe and Mail; subscription required)
The lobby group that owns the conversation around assisted deaths | Dr. Tim Stainton commented on medical assistance deaths. (The Walrus)
