Kiviaq, Canada’s first Inuit lawyer, won right to use his name
“That was a hugely important issue,” said Tester. “For Inuit, naming is not just a matter of a name — it’s a matter of identity. It has spiritual and cultural significance that is easily overlooked by people who do not understand Inuit culture and naming practices.”
Toronto Star Sun May 15 2016 By: Wayne Larsen
UBC Arctic social historian Frank Tester was interviewed for a Toronto Star article on Canada’s first Inuit lawyer. Kiviaq won the legal right to use his birth name after it was changed by his white stepfather.“That was a hugely important issue,” said Tester. “For Inuit, naming is not just a matter of a name — it’s a matter of identity. It has spiritual and cultural significance that is easily overlooked by people who do not understand Inuit culture and naming practices.”
Guarded confidence in Mongolian democracy
Mongolians will be voting for a new parliament next month and has recently moved up from 41st to 30th place in the rankings of 129 developing and transition countries.
The Diplomat Fri May 13 2016 By: Julian Dierkes
UBC associate professor at the Institute of Asian Research Julian Dierkes wrote an op-ed for The Diplomat on the transformation of the Mongolian political system.Mongolians will be voting for a new parliament next month and has recently moved up from 41st to 30th place in the rankings of 129 developing and transition countries.
Why do people buy Ponzi schemes? They often build on trust
“There is a competitive aspect to it. You might believe that other people are getting unduly rich and you are left behind,” said Gallipoli. The topic is under public scrutiny as a West Vancouver couple undergoes bankruptcy proceedings for an alleged $40-million Ponzi scheme.
Similar articles also appeared in The Province, Ottawa Citizen andSaskatoon Star Phoenix.
Vancouver Sun Thu May 12 2016 By: Derrick Penner and Gordon Hoekstra
UBC economist Giovanni Gallipoli was quoted in a Vancouver Sun story exploring why people fall for Ponzi schemes.“There is a competitive aspect to it. You might believe that other people are getting unduly rich and you are left behind,” said Gallipoli. The topic is under public scrutiny as a West Vancouver couple undergoes bankruptcy proceedings for an alleged $40-million Ponzi scheme.
Similar articles also appeared in The Province, Ottawa Citizen andSaskatoon Star Phoenix.
Finding a future for the immersive potential of virtual reality
“With other forms of journalism, the act of representation is transparent,” Owen noted. “In VR, it’s a little different. You are trying to trick the user into thinking they’re there. You are trying to immerse them in a place they otherwise wouldn’t be able to experience. That presents a whole bunch of ethical considerations because these scenes are highly constructed.”
A similar story appeared on CTV News.
Globe and Mail Thu May 12 2016 By: Brent Holmes
A story in the Globe and Mail about the future of virtual reality, including its use in news consumption, quoted UBC journalism professor Taylor Owen.“With other forms of journalism, the act of representation is transparent,” Owen noted. “In VR, it’s a little different. You are trying to trick the user into thinking they’re there. You are trying to immerse them in a place they otherwise wouldn’t be able to experience. That presents a whole bunch of ethical considerations because these scenes are highly constructed.”
A similar story appeared on CTV News.
Are foreign buyers driving up housing prices?
“Local incomes absolutely cannot support this kind of housing market,” Ley told CBC News. “People actually come on shopping holidays during the Chinese New Year for example,” Ley added. “They come to Vancouver and buy a house.”
The story goes on to examine the lack of Vancouver city data on this issue.
CBC News Sun May 15 2016
UBC urban geographer David Ley was on CBC National Sunday night in a segment about foreign ownership in Metro Vancouver’s housing market.“Local incomes absolutely cannot support this kind of housing market,” Ley told CBC News. “People actually come on shopping holidays during the Chinese New Year for example,” Ley added. “They come to Vancouver and buy a house.”
The story goes on to examine the lack of Vancouver city data on this issue.
To be truly happy, you need something more
“If you’re an artist there are always new modes of expression, new things to create and communicate. The world isn’t fixed, it’s always changing, so that means you have to create anew in light of the changes,” Thompson said. “I don’t think any good scientist thinks one day science will come to an end. Science is about questioning, new ways of looking at things, new devices. That’s entirely open-ended.”
Quartz Sun May 15 2016 By: Olivia Goldhill
Evan Thompson, a UBC philosophy professor was quoted in an article in Quartz about how the act of seeking, not attaining is crucial to happiness.“If you’re an artist there are always new modes of expression, new things to create and communicate. The world isn’t fixed, it’s always changing, so that means you have to create anew in light of the changes,” Thompson said. “I don’t think any good scientist thinks one day science will come to an end. Science is about questioning, new ways of looking at things, new devices. That’s entirely open-ended.”
1 in 10 of us check our smartphones during sex
“Less than 10 years ago, Steve Jobs promised that smartphones ‘will change everything,” said study author Kostadin Kushlev, a psychology research scientist at the University of Virginia, who led the study with UBC colleagues.
“And with the internet in their pockets, people today are bombarded with notifications – whether from email, text messaging, social media or news apps – anywhere they go. We are seeking to better understand how this constant inflow of notifications influences our minds.”
A similar article appeared in International Business Times (UK).
The Telegraph Fri May 13 2016
An article in The Telegraph reported on research about smartphone use that involved 221 UBC students and shed light on how much our phones invade our lives.“Less than 10 years ago, Steve Jobs promised that smartphones ‘will change everything,” said study author Kostadin Kushlev, a psychology research scientist at the University of Virginia, who led the study with UBC colleagues.
“And with the internet in their pockets, people today are bombarded with notifications – whether from email, text messaging, social media or news apps – anywhere they go. We are seeking to better understand how this constant inflow of notifications influences our minds.”
A similar article appeared in International Business Times (UK).
This used to be Chinatown
Yu offers practical suggestions on what Vancouver’s Chinatown should do to avoid being lost as re-development crops up in the area.
A similar article appeared in the Ottawa Citizen.
Vancouver Sun Thu May 12 2016 By: Henry Yu
The Vancouver Sun published an opinion piece by UBC history professor Henry Yu on what should happen to ensure Chinatown remains a vital part of the city rather than merely defined by architecture.Yu offers practical suggestions on what Vancouver’s Chinatown should do to avoid being lost as re-development crops up in the area.
A similar article appeared in the Ottawa Citizen.
B.C. Liberal candidate Randy Rinaldo apologizes for ‘insensitive’ tweets
Rinaldo said child poverty was a “cultural problem” and added “many people out there shouldn’t be having kids.” He also said the Roma are “destroying” Italy as well as, “Gypseys=rape pillage steal.”
“We can’t be so demanding of one another that nobody ever gets a second chance,” Cameron said. “On the other hand, it also, to me, reinforces the concern that I have of the intolerance and nastiness in the social-media universe.”
Globe and Mail Thu May 12 2016 By: Sunny Dhillon
An article in the Globe and Mail about a B.C. Liberal candidate apologizing for his “insensitive” tweets, quotes UBC political scientist Max Cameron.Rinaldo said child poverty was a “cultural problem” and added “many people out there shouldn’t be having kids.” He also said the Roma are “destroying” Italy as well as, “Gypseys=rape pillage steal.”
“We can’t be so demanding of one another that nobody ever gets a second chance,” Cameron said. “On the other hand, it also, to me, reinforces the concern that I have of the intolerance and nastiness in the social-media universe.”
Saudi arms sale: Still time to reverse a terrible mistake
“Mr. Trudeau must re-evaluate his position in light of several game-changing developments that have occurred since he became Prime Minister,” Byers wrote.
Globe and Mail Wed May 11 2016 By: Michael Byers
Michael Byers, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at UBC, focuses on Prime Minister Trudeau’s decision to honour Canada’s $15-billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia in an opinion piece for the Globe and Mail.“Mr. Trudeau must re-evaluate his position in light of several game-changing developments that have occurred since he became Prime Minister,” Byers wrote.
Yes, we can work longer
The article focuses on a study co-authored by Kevin Milligan of UBC’s School of Economics, which found that the majority of people today are healthy enough to work longer than they do. This finding supports a shift of the current Social Security eligibility age for full benefits from 66 to between 68 and 70. However, the researchers admitted that a rise in the eligibility age would hit the poor hardest, because of their shorter life expectancies.
Washington Post Wed May 11 2016 By: Robert J. Samuelson
An opinion piece in the Washington Post discusses the ongoing debate in America over Social Security and Medicare.The article focuses on a study co-authored by Kevin Milligan of UBC’s School of Economics, which found that the majority of people today are healthy enough to work longer than they do. This finding supports a shift of the current Social Security eligibility age for full benefits from 66 to between 68 and 70. However, the researchers admitted that a rise in the eligibility age would hit the poor hardest, because of their shorter life expectancies.
B.C. political parties begin one-year countdown to provincial election
Global News Mon May 9 2016
One year before the next provincial election, Global News reported on the countdown to the next vote in B.C. “In the province of B.C. generally speaking, the NDP generally wins when the governing party stumbles. And right now there is every reason to believe that Christy Clark and the Liberals are in a very secure position in the province of B.C.,” UBC political science expert Max Cameron said.
‘Unceded Territories’ evokes a spectrum of emotions
“We’re not talking about some other foreign country,” Paul told The Early Edition’s Margaret Gallagher. “We’re talking about Canada, that had to change the law for a native to leave the reservation. What kind of democracy are we really talking about?”
CBC News Tue May 10 2016 By: Matt Meuse
CBC News reported on local artist Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun who discovered the works of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Michelangelo after the law changed and he was allowed to leave a residential school. Paul’s art is currently on display at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology in a new show called “Unceded Territories.”“We’re not talking about some other foreign country,” Paul told The Early Edition’s Margaret Gallagher. “We’re talking about Canada, that had to change the law for a native to leave the reservation. What kind of democracy are we really talking about?”
Canada adopts UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples
Sheryl Lightfoot, Canada Research Chair in Global Indigenous Rights and Politics at UBC worries about the continuing lack of laws to support the announcement.
“I’m waiting to hear, what are you actually going to do? How long can they keep asking for more time without actually changing anything? How long are people supposed to wait with no real change?” said Lightfoot.
Vice Tue May 10 2016 By: Tamara Khandaker
Vice reported on Canada’s adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, reversing the previous government’s position.Sheryl Lightfoot, Canada Research Chair in Global Indigenous Rights and Politics at UBC worries about the continuing lack of laws to support the announcement.
“I’m waiting to hear, what are you actually going to do? How long can they keep asking for more time without actually changing anything? How long are people supposed to wait with no real change?” said Lightfoot.
Psychopathic politicians can be exposed
UBC professor emeritus Robert Hare, one of the leading researchers in the area, emphasized in his work that psychopaths aren’t always violent and that in fact there are many to be found in the top ranks of corporations, where they can cause chaos.
Research led by UBC associate psychology professor Michael Woodworth also found that the language of psychopathic murderers makes fewer references to social needs relating to family and friends.
Georgia Straight Sat May 7 2016 By: Charlie Smith
UBC experts were quoted in a Georgia Straight article on advances in neuroscience that shed light on the nature of psychopathy.UBC professor emeritus Robert Hare, one of the leading researchers in the area, emphasized in his work that psychopaths aren’t always violent and that in fact there are many to be found in the top ranks of corporations, where they can cause chaos.
Research led by UBC associate psychology professor Michael Woodworth also found that the language of psychopathic murderers makes fewer references to social needs relating to family and friends.