This January, Arts faculty shared commentary on various topics and breaking news, from discussions about the state of Canadian and U.S. politics to the media’s representation of trans characters, and more.
Department of Anthropology
Viewers call out ‘Squid Game’ for casting a cisgender actor as a trans character
Dr. John Cho commented on the casting of an actor in Squid Game.
NBC
Department of History
Finding my village: How I retraced my ancestors’ journey from Ottawa to China and back
Naomi Louie, a history graduate student, and Dr. Henry Yu, a history professor, spoke about their part in researching the history of a family from Guangdong, China.
Ottawa Citizen
Department of Philosophy
When did humans start drinking alcohol?
Dr. Edward Slingerland was quoted in an article about the history of drinking alcohol.
History Channel
‘I live in Vancouver and I have no friends’: TikToker tries 30 activities to meet new people
Dr. Kimberlee Brownlee, the Canada Research Chair in ethics and political and social philosophy, commented on the difficulty of making friends in Vancouver.
CBC via Yahoo Canada, Arab News 24, Yahoo News UK, Yahoo News New Zealand
Department of Political Science
As Trudeau leaves, Canada’s scientists gird for a leadership change
Dr. Kathryn Harrison, a professor of political science, spoke about Justin Trudeau’s instigation of climate policies.
Science
Trump has no fear heading into his second term, and Greenland knows it
Dr. Michael Byers, a professor of political science, spoke about Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland.
CKNW Weekends with Rob Fai
Undocumented in Canada, she’s emerging from the shadows to fight for equal rights
Dr. Irene Bloemraad, professor and co-director of the Centre for Migration Studies, commented on undocumented people in Canada.
CBC
More people may flee to B.C. after Trump’s immigration clamp down
Dr. Irène Bloemraad, co-director of the Centre for Migration Studies, and Dr. Lisa Brunner, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre, were interviewed about President Trump’s anti-immigration offensive and what it could mean for Canada.
Dr. Bloemraad: CBC; ICI Radio-Canada
Dr. Brunner: Global News
Why is Donald Trump threatening to annex Canada?
Dr. Terri Givens, Dr. Max Cameron, and lecturer Dr. Stewart Prest, Dr. Werner Antweiler, a professor at the Sauder School of Business, commented on Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada.
Dr. Givens: CBC
Dr. Givens, Dr. Cameron, Dr. Prest and Dr. Antweiler: Victoria News, Boundary Creek Times, Salmon Arm Observer, Today in BC, Keremeos Review, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News, Parksville Qualicum Beach News, Nanaimo News Bulletin, Hope Standard
B.C.’s new clean-energy minister is a climate ‘wild card’
Dr. Stewart Prest, a lecturer in political science, commented on the appointment of Adrian Dix as B.C.’s new climate and clean energy minister and the integration of the energy and climate portfolios.
Times Colonist
Will Trump presidency usher in an era of Canadian nationalism?
Dr. Max Cameron and Dr. Stewart Prest, both professors of political science, spoke about trade in Canada and President Trump’s tariff threats.
Dr. Cameron: CBC via Yahoo Canada
Dr. Stewart Prest: Global News, Global News (video)
Canada’s Trudeau: Liberal star who dazzled then fizzled
Dr. Maxwell Cameron commented on Justin Trudeau’s tenure as prime minister.
Manila Standard
How the Justin Trudeau era changed Canada
Dr. Stewart Prest commented on how Justin Trudeau would be remembered as Canada’s prime minister.
Al Jazeera
How Justin Trudeau’s resignation could affect B.C.
Dr. Stewart Prest commented on how Justin Trudeau’s resignation may affect B.C.
Times Colonist
Canada’s fight with Donald Trump isn’t just economic, it’s existential
Dr. Stewart Prest wrote about Donald Trump’s threats to make Canada the 51st state.
Vancouver Sun
Parliament is prorogued until late March. What comes next?
Dr. Richard Johnston and Dr. Stewart Prest discussed the prorogue process in parliament. Dr. Prest also commented on the likelihood of former B.C. Premier Christy Clark as a new leader.
Dr. Johnston: CityNews
Dr. Prest: Daily Hive; CTV, Vancouver Sun, Daily Hive
Conservatives frame carbon tax as key election issue after Trudeau resigns
Dr. Stewart Prest commented on the government’s focus on carbon tax.
Glacier Media via Vancouver is Awesome, Times Colonist, Business in Vancouver, Richmond News, Squamish Chief, Tri-City News, Burnaby Now, North Shore News, Pique NewsMagazine, New Westminster Record
Canada’s fight with Trump isn’t just economic, it’s existential
Dr. Stewart Prest wrote about relations between Canada and the U.S. under Donald Trump.
The Conversation via Toronto News, Toronto Telegraph, WInnipeg Free Press
Making sense of Trump’s Canada obsession
Dr. Stewart Prest commented on Canadian politicians’ reactions to Donald Trump’s stance on Canada.
The Tyee
Canada in for a ‘rough ride’ after Trump inauguration: B.C. analyst
Dr. Stewart Prest, a professor of political science, commented on the absence of Canada in President Trump’s inauguration speech and what that might mean for Canadians.
Black Press Media via Castlegar News, Williams Lake Tribune, Victoria News, Vancouver Island Free Daily, Haida Gwaii Observer, Fernie Free Press, Parksville/Qualicum Beach News, 100 Mile House Free Press, Sooke News Mirror
Trudeau’s resignation impact on B.C.
Dr. Richard Johnston explained how Justin Trudeau’s resignation may affect B.C.
Global News
Department of Psychology
What’s the true secret to happiness? Scientists could be about to find out
A global study by Dr. Elizabeth Dunn is looking at what makes people happy.
The Telegraph (subscription) via Yahoo Canada, AOL; Mail Online (UK)
‘Trajectory has accelerated’: B.C.’s online gambling regulation needs attention, say observers
Dr. Luke Clark, director of the centre for gambling research, explained the impact of changes to gambling regulations.
Vancouver Sun
Here’s how a scarcity mindset forms—and how to overcome it
Dr. Jiaying Zhao, a professor of sustainability and psychology, spoke about scarcity mindset.
Women’s Health via Yahoo Life
Think you look like your dog? You actually might, research says. Here’s why
Professor Emeritus Dr. Stanley Coren was mentioned in an article about dogs looking like their owners.
Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator
Are cats and dogs smarter than babies?
Dr. Stanley Coren discusses animal intelligence and how it compares to human infants.
Live Science
Hate tapping fingers? You may have misokinesia
Dr. Todd Handy and Dr. Sumeet Jaswal, a researcher with the department of psychology, are looking at a condition known as misokinesia.
The Telegraph (UK) (subscription)
UBC News coverage
Does money buy happiness? It depends what you buy and where you live, study says
Research by Dr. Säde Stenlund who conducted the study at UBC, and Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, a professor of psychology, found that happiness from spending money varies between high- and lower-income nations.
CTV News
Department of Sociology
Canada halts new parent immigration sponsorships, keeping families apart
Dr. Yue Qian a wrote about the government’s plans to pause permanent residency sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents.
Winnipeg Free Press
School of Information
Rise in violent incidents taking toll on understaffed Victoria libraries
Dr. Julia Bullard commented on staff security in libraries.
CBC via Yahoo Canada, Yahoo New Zealand, Yahoo Australia
School of Music
2024 was the ‘year of pop music.’ These are the 5 songs Vancouverites streamed most
Dr. David Metzer was quoted in an article about the most streamed music in Vancouver.
CBC via Yahoo Canada, Yahoo Australia, Yahoo New Zealand
Vancouver School of Economics
Uncertainty around capital-gains tax clouds fiscal outlook for Ottawa, provinces
Dr. Kevin Milligan spoke about the practices of the Canada Revenue Agency.
Globe and Mail
Canada has what the U.S. needs. How the country can fight back in a trade war
Dr. Kevin Milligan, a professor of economics, commented on the likelihood of a trade war between Canada and the U.S.
Globe and Mail
