This month, UBC Arts scholars were featured in major outlets including CBC, The Atlantic, Global News, and CTV News.
Their expertise informed conversations on Canadian political uncertainty and public trust, global debates over energy futures, and cultural and social questions ranging from non-monogamy and relationships to creative practice in music and the arts.
Updated on April 30, 2026
Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies
This ancient God’s name was ‘Mud.’ Archaeologists discovered a water-filled temple possibly tied to him in Egypt
Dr. Hector Williams said the blending of Greek and Egyptian culture has been evident since Alexander the Great’s conquest of Egypt, reflecting broader cultural exchange in places like Pelusium.
Smithsonian Magazine
Department of Anthropology
Shandong pottery challenge reveals gap in AI reconstruction capability
Dr. Zhichun Jing said deep learning improves efficiency but is limited to known materials, while greater potential lies in guiding what evidence to collect next in fields with incomplete data like archaeology.
China Daily
Department of Geography
Heavy snowpack in Rockies could reduce drought, wildfire risk in N.W.T. this summer, experts say
Dr. Kate Hale said she’s “cautiously optimistic” about drought and wildfire conditions in Northwest Territories this year, because of the snowpack higher up in the watershed.
CBC
Department of History
Meet the unsung heroes of conservation this Earth Day
Dr. Tina Loo said Thomas Berger expanded the scope of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry in unprecedented ways and was notable for the time he spent in northern communities, listening to residents.
CBC
Department of Philosophy
The most tortured relationship in America
Dr. Carrie Jenkins says her work on nonmonogamy is often met with strong emotional backlash, which she links to monogamy being deeply tied to cultural identity and resistance to alternatives.
The Atlantic
Department of Political Science
What does drawing MPs from different parties say about the Liberal Party?
Dr. Stewart Prest said Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberals are able to build a “very large tent” in the face of the trade war with the United States, but that could raise future challenges for the party.
CBC
How does a majority government work in Canada? What to know
Dr. Stewart Prest said even with a Liberal majority, mechanisms like committees, public opinion and caucus dynamics will continue to hold the prime minister accountable.
Global News
Rhetoric heating up in Vancouver campaign as city-paid mayor’s office staff release election promises
Dr. Stewart Prest said using city letterhead and taxpayer-funded staff to release election promises blurs the lines between a politician’s office and their campaign.
CTV News
As session returns, Eby’s government faces ‘peril’ over DRIPA: political scientis
Dr. Stewart Prest said Premier David Eby faces a “moment of real peril” over suspending parts of B.C.’s Indigenous rights law and questioned why he would risk his office on the issue.
Times Colonist
How the Liberal majority government win affects B.C.
Dr. Stewart Prest said voters are prioritizing stability and predictability, and that the BC NDP still has work to do to rebuild public trust.
City News
Analyst says Conservative leadership race has become ‘more unpredictable and open’
Dr. Stewart Prest said the debate carries high stakes because the race has become more open and unpredictable, with leading candidates now on the defensive.
City News
Department of Psychology
Climate doom and gloom? Try laughing instead. Activists embrace joy in the fight to save Earth
Dr. Jiaying Zhao said joy reinforces behaviour and can spread to others, helping motivate collective action.
Boston Herald
Shopping sustainably feels good, but does it have the impact you think it does?
Dr. Elizabeth Dunn said buying sustainable products can feel rewarding, as helping the environment is a form of prosocial behaviour linked to happiness.
CNN
Department of Sociology
Lots of social science didn’t replicate. Does that mean it’s bunk?
Dr. Laura K. Nelson said strict data-sharing requirements could discourage research on vulnerable groups and create a two-tier system favouring studies using public data.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Climate policy isn’t partisan — research suggests more on the right support it than oppose it
Drs. Tony Silva and Emily Huddart co-authored research suggesting attitudes toward climate policy on the political right are driven more by partisan polarization than by ties to the oil and gas industry.
The Conversation
School of Creative Writing
At his mom’s house, Billy-Ray Belcourt can’t help but write
Billy-Ray Belcourt reflects on writing in everyday spaces, especially his mother’s kitchen table, which he describes as deeply connected to family and inspiration.
CBC
School of Music
Ryan Davis celebrates the complicated beauty of the string family’s black sheep
Professor Ryan Davis shares about his journey from basketball to the viola.
Georgia Straight
What’s in your fridge: Pat Carrabré of The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Pat Carrabré, director of UBC’s Chan Centre, talks about memorable concerts, his favourite records, upcoming projects, and what’s in his fridge.
Georgia Straight
The violist bringing classical music to one of Canada’s most marginalized neighbourhoods
Professor Ryan Davis is featured for his initiative bringing classical music performances to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside community.
CBC
School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Talks to reduce funding for overfishing remain stalled at WTO meeting
Dr. Kristen Hopewell said while negotiations are ongoing, a deal is unlikely as a small number of countries are blocking broad agreement among WTO members.
Mongabay
Can small nuclear reactors solve EU’s energy woes?
Dr. M. V. Ramana said small modular reactors are a “misplaced strategy,” arguing they can cost more per unit of power because materials and labour don’t scale efficiently.
Deutsche Welle
Nuclear Madness: MV Ramana in Conversation with Joshua Frank
Dr. M. V. Ramana speaks about the lies and misconceptions surrounding a nuclear power revival, atomic energy’s ties to weapons proliferation, and much more.
Counter Punch
Vancouver School of Economics
PST expansion set to hurt B.C. businesses
Dr. Kevin Milligan said the government’s move to expand the PST makes sense as a lower rate is more efficient and less likely to distort spending.
Castanet
American youths are miserable — despite happier young people in the rest of the world
Dr. John F. Helliwell said the sharp drop in youth happiness in countries like the U.S. and Canada is driven by concerns over jobs, housing, and rising polarization, with older age groups less affected.
New York Post
