11 Public Talks You Can Attend at UBC

Before the winter holidays (and finals) are here, check out some of these public talks that are open for everyone at UBC. From the relevance of magic to the importance of respect, grab a friend or colleague, and learn something new before the year ends. 


1. November 18: 30,000 Years of Magic: Why Magic is Still Relevant Today

Where: Woodward Instructional Resource Centre Lecture Hall 2

When: 8:15pm

A fellow at the British Academy, trustee of the Art Fund, and corresponding fellow at the Australian Academy of Humanities, Dr. Chris Gosden focuses on the connection and history of magic and science. His talk revolves around the divergence of scientifically-based societies over the past 5,000 years, the magic-orientated peoples of the steppe and forest, as well as the intersection between modern physics and our relationship with the universe through a magical perspective.

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2. November 18: 2017 Saturday Morning Lectures at TRIUMF

Where: TRIUMF Auditorium

When: 10:00am

In partnership with TRIUMF and SFU, UBC has brought back their Saturday Morning Lectures which is a free public educational lecture series. This lecture features two speakers, Michel Laberge from General Fusion on producing sustainable, clean, fusion energy with new technologies, and Gerald Gwinner from the University of Manitoba on testing Einstein’s special relativity theory. Please make sure you register for a ticket for each lecture that you are coming to see.

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3. November 20: Why Climate Change is Like a Christmas Tree: A Critical Look at Public Policy to Curb Global Warming

Where: Coach House at Green College

When: 8:00pm

It is without a shadow of a doubt that climate change has been a prevalent global issue in our society. However, there is a lack of impactful results despite international efforts in public policies to help alleviate the problem. UBC PhD candidate Henrik Jacobsen explains the failure and counterproductivity of the ‘Big Treaty’ approach and dissects current climate change policies and their flaws.

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4. November 20: Guest Lecture by Tanya Talaga: Seven Fallen Feathers

Where: Sty-Wet-Tan Great Hall at UBC First Nations Longhouse

When: 1:00pm

Brought to you by the UBC School of Journalism, UBC First Nations House of Learning, and UBC First Nations and Indigenous Studies and Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies, a lecture by award-winning investigative journalist Tanya Talaga on human rights violations against Indigenous communities. From the story of frozen twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack running away from residential school, to the death of seven Indigenous high school students in Thunder Bay, Talaga explores the long struggle of Indigenous peoples within Canada.

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5. November 23: The Eloquence of Things: Indigenous Materiality at the 1925 Pontifical Missionary Exposition

Where: Room 213 at the Museum of Anthropology

When: 4:00pm

As part of their Visual and Material Culture Research Seminar Series (interdisciplinary seminar series for anyone with interest in this field across UBC), UBC PhD candidate Gloria Bell proposes an alternative line of reasoning to Pope Pius XI’s belief that Indigenous artifacts in the Pontifical Missionary Exposition have a “silent eloquence” – they are instead, active. Bell underlines the dynamics of Indigenous presence by analyzing the Hall of Americas and the transit of cultural belongings from Turtle Island to the Eternal City.

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6. November 29: Nursing’s Role in Supporting Transgender People’s Health Through Practice, Research, and Education

Where: Room T206 (3/F) at UBC Hospital

When: 8:00am

Kickstarting UBC Nursing Rounds, Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc touches upon the significance of a nurse’s responsibility when it comes to providing gender affirming care in a world with increasingly visible transgender and gender diverse people. Saewyc’s work with the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, as well as her research as a Professor and Director of the School of Nursing and other notable commitments, has given her over 20 years of experience on protective factors for LGBTQ2S young people. This talk is also available via the UBC Nursing webcast, and instructions can be found on their website.

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7. November 29: Building a Better Canada

Where: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

When: 7:00pm

Presented by UBC Research & Innovation in partnership with the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies and alumni UBC, President Santa J. Ono invites you to a night to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Order of Canada with some of British Columbia’s most esteemed citizens. These include David Suzuki (scientist, broadcaster, author, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation), Shelagh Rogers (CBC broadcaster and University of Victoria Chancellor), Sophie Pierre (former First Nations chief and British Columbia Treaty Commission head), Trevor Linden (National Hockey League all-star and philanthropist), and Wade Davis (explorer, anthropologist, author and UBC professor), along with Duncan McCue (CBC Radio) as well as a performance by world-renowned pianist Robert Silverman. Learn about what it will take to build a better Canada over the next 50 years.

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8. November 30: Trauma, Relationships, and Interdependence – with Dea Parsanishi

Where: Webinar or Video Conference

When: 10:00am

SE Trauma Institute faculty member Dea Parsanishi has been working to heal trauma with First Nations and non-First Nations people for over 20 years. Her work has led her to question what truly helps people, families, and communities to survive. Consequently, her webinar will examine ideas of attachment, interdependence and culture, and their relationship to healing trauma – with sprinkles of Parsanishi’s own exploration of her lost Japanese cultural background.

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9. December 2: Crossing Borders in a Globalized World: A New Treaty for Migrants and Refugees

Where: Woodward Instructional Resource Centre Lecture Hall 2

When: 8:15pm

Come listen to Dr. Michael Doyle, currently a Professor of International Affairs, Law, and Political Science at Columbia University, talk about his thoughts and ideas surrounding treaties and public policies on immigration for migrants and refugees. Receiving several awards such as the Charles Merriam Award of the American Political Science Association and the ASPA Hubert H. Humphrey Award, Dr. Doyle is a prolific scholar in International Relations which has led him to serve as Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and several other titles within the United Nations.

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10. December 3: Way Cool Lecture Series

Where: Beaty Biodiversity Museum

When: 1:00pm

The Beaty Biodiversity Museum hosts Way Cool Lecture Series throughout the term. It’s a talk led by a biodiversity researcher on way cool topics from ecosystems to microbes. This month’s lecture features microscopic sand creatures by former UBC research student Sam Huang. Many sand creatures are invisible to the naked eye, but put it under a microscope and discover the fascinating diversity and evolutionary adaptations of these tiny sand-dwelling creatures.

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11. December 6: Yahguudangang: The Act of Paying Respect

Where: Coach House at Green College

When: 5:00 pm

What is Yahguudangang? It is one of the main laws in the indigenous Haida Nation meaning respect – respect for all things. This law comes with carrying the responsibility of reconciliation between Canada and its dark history with Indigenous peoples. Learn about this facet of the Haida Nation through exploring how Canada found itself in this position, the importance of Yahguudangang, and where it could take us in the future.

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Not interested in these talks? No worries, there’s an abundance of events to check out at UBC. Head to www.events.ubc.ca to find an event near you. To stay updated with all the campus events, follow @UBCevents.

 

Written by Karina Kwok