This June, Arts faculty shared their insights with the media on a wide range of timely topics—from Middle East geopolitics, greenwashing in climate policy, to the ways AI is reshaping education and everyday life. Their expertise was featured in top-tier publications including The Globe and Mail, Newsweek, Financial Times, CBC, Columbia Journalism Review, and The Walrus.
Department of Anthropology
Renowned Author and Anthropologist Wade Davis Named Distinguished Fellow of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
Wade Davis, a Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at UBC and celebrated voice for environmental and cultural preservation, was named a distinguished fellow of the Foundation.
GlobeNewswire
Department of Asian Studies
Islam is the World’s Fastest-Growing Religion
Professor Rumee Ahmed spoke about Pew Research Center data showing Islam as the world’s fastest-growing religion during the 2010s.
Newsweek
Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions
Women business leaders face surge in online abuse
Professor Heidi Tworek commented on the impact that online harassment has on the mental health of women and, in turn, their careers.
Financial Times
Conservative fundraiser casts doubt on whether all votes were ‘accurate and counted’ in leaked call
Chris Tenove, assistant director of UBC’s Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions spoke about a leaked Conservative fundraiser call questioning vote accuracy.
CBC
Vancouver School of Economics
Alarm over metals tariff hike
Professor Michael Devereux commented on concerns over U.S. metals tariff hikes.
China Daily
Department of English Language & Literatures
The Handmaid’s Tale reflects Margaret Atwood’s eerie talent for reading the palm of power
Sharon Engbrecht, PhD Candidate in the Department of English Language and Literatures, wrote about how Atwood’s prescience is part imaginative projection and part attention to history and political trends.
The Conversation
Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice
My Mother was my Critic
Professor Minelle Mahtani published a personal essay titled My Mother Was My Critic.
The Walrus
Department of Geography
UBC researcher turns Downton Lake wildfire experience into community-centred art project
Gillian Der, a Geography master’s student, was featured for transforming her wildfire experience into a community-centred art project.
Hamilton Spectator
Guatemalan Indigenous leaders demand Canada pull support for B.C.-owned mine
Associate Professor Juanita Sundberg commented on tensions between a Guatemalan Indigenous group and a BC-based mining company.
Times Colonist
Government advisor slams Mark Carney for promoting decarbonized oil pipelines
Professor Simon Donner criticized the idea of ‘decarbonized oil’.
Toronto Star
There is no such thing as “decarbonized oil”
Professor Simon Donner critiqued the federal government’s misleading climate language.
National Observer
Earth to Mark Carney: ‘Decarbonized Oil’ Is as Real as Vitamin Cigarettes
Professor Simon Donner was quoted in DeSmog criticizing the government for using the term ‘decarbonized oil’.
DeSmog
Department of History
Nawaf Salam is failing to rebuild Lebanon – while bending to US-Israeli interests
Associate Professor Hicham Safieddine wrote about the lack of political progress in Lebanon under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Middle East Eye
School of Journalism, Writing, and Media
How Should Journalists Call Out Lies in the Age of Trump and AI?
Professor Stephen J. A. Ward was quoted in an article about how journalists can better report on false information in the AI era.
Columbia Journalism Review
Department of Linguistics
Will we still need to learn foreign languages if AI can do the translating?
Muhammad Abdul-Mageed, Canada Research Chair in Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning, spoke to CBC Radio about how AI tools are changing language learning and translation – and what might get lost in the process.
CBC Radio
School of Music
79-year-old piano teacher accepted to Oxford and Cambridge music programs
A UBC Music student and a 79-year-old piano teacher was profiled after achieving a “lifelong dream” of being accepted to Oxford and Cambridge music programs.
Times Colonist
Department of Philosophy
Canadian universities grapple with evaluating students amid AI cheating fears
Professor Christina Hendriks, academic director at UBC’s Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, spoke to CBC about how AI is transforming assessments in higher education.
CBC News
Department of Political Science
Israel has the right of self-defence. That’s not the end of the matter
Professor Michael Byers, Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law, wrote an opinion piece questioning the legality and justification of Israel’s recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and personnel.
The Globe and Mail
Most Canadians don’t support taxpayer subsidies for LNG
Professor Kathryn Harrison co-authored an op-ed arguing that LNG isn’t a good use of tax dollars, nor one supported by Canadian taxpayers
Vancouver Sun
U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum double to 50 percent
Professor Yves Tiberghien analyzed the U.S. tariff hike on Canadian steel and aluminum.
CBC’s The Early Edition
Promouvoir la Colombie-Britannique en Asie
Professor Yves Tiberghien commented on Premier David Eby’s trade mission to Asia (interview in French).
Radio-Canada
What if Alberta really did vote to separate?
Lecturer Stewart Prest wrote about the implications of Alberta seceding from Canada.
The Conversation
Department of Psychology
East Asians more open to chatbot companionship than Westerners
PhD student Dunigan Folk was featured in a study about East Asian openness to chatbot companionship.
PsyPost
Does Where You Live Affect How Much Sleep You Need?
Professor Steven Heine commented on the relationship between geography and sleep needs.
The Tyee
Sleep recommendations should be based on countries’ norms
UBC Psychology research was featured in an article comparing sleep norms across countries.
Female First
Hearts Melt at What Dog Does Every Afternoon When He Sees the School Bus
Professor Emeritus Stanley Coren was quoted in an article on dog intelligence.
Newsweek
School of Social Work
Second-class dads: Why are family courts still siding against fathers?
Associate Professor Emeritus Edward Kruk was interviewed about the importance of shared parenting for divorced fathers.
National Post
Department of Sociology
Want vibrant cities? Save Gay Bars
Professor Amin Ghaziani authored an article arguing that to protect queer nightlife spaces, we should treat them more like museums and heritage buildings.
Maclean’s
ChatGPT is making us weird
Associate Professor Laura Nelson was quoted in an article about the social effects of ChatGPT.
Business Insider
