This month, UBC Arts faculty were featured in major outlets including CBC, The Globe and Mail, The Conversation, and the Financial Post. Their expertise informed stories on climate and energy policy, artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty, and political accountability and Canadian public affairs, as well as research on sleep and scent, language and accent bias, and how games and shared spaces build social connection.
Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies
A researcher spent eight years analyzing 3,800-year-old inscriptions in an Egyptian mine. What he found left archaeologists speechless.
Dr. Thomas Schneider called the claims “completely unproven and misleading,” warning that arbitrary identification of letters can distort ancient history.
Cronista
Department of Central, Eastern, and Northern European Studies
Not just a fun hobby: Board games can help build connections and reduce stress
Dr. Elizabeth Nijdam highlights research showing tabletop games can reduce stress, support learning, and strengthen social connection, while also fostering more inclusive gaming communities.
The Conversation
Department of English Language & Literatures
A rare King Arthur manuscript is going up for auction. Scholars hope it won’t end up in a private collection
Dr. Siân Echard said that while securing the Arthurian manuscript for public access would be a major coup, its high price makes it unlikely that a Canadian institution could realistically acquire it.
CBC Radio
Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies
A rare King Arthur manuscript is going up for auction. Scholars hope it won’t end up in a private collection
Dr. Patrick Moran said the Lancelot-Grail cycle helped shape some of the most influential versions of the King Arthur legends, noting the newly examined manuscript stands out for its age and craftsmanship.
CBC Radio
Department of Geography
B.C. ski town faces shorter seasons as climate causes more variable winters
Dr. Kate Hale said B.C.’s snowpack is generally declining, though regional differences make long-term snow trends difficult to assess, adding that changes in snowpack and melt timing could affect water availability and winter recreation in mountain communities.
Abby News
Once a climate leader, Canada is doubling down on oil
Dr. Simon Donner said Canada is relying too heavily on fossil fuel exports instead of preparing for a global shift away from them, warning the approach could look like a mistake in hindsight.
Grist, Mother Jones
Coral bleaching: How vibrant reefs turn into a white graveyard
Dr. Simon Donner urged immediate action to reduce stressors on coral reefs, warning that continued damage from bleaching and other pressures could lead to their collapse.
Manilla Bulletin
Feds didn’t push carbon price backstop in Alberta in show of co-operation: Dabrusin
Dr. Simon Donner said Alberta’s revised carbon pricing plan is “disappointing,” arguing it weakens the industrial pricing system, undermines Canada’s emissions strategy, and raises questions about the consistency and effectiveness of the policy.
Global News
Department of Linguistics
Accentism for profit? What Telus is getting wrong about accents
Dr. Molly Babel and Amanda Cardoso co-authored an article arguing that “accent masking” AI reflects and reinforces accent-based discrimination, warning it can misrepresent workers’ identities and undermine trust in communication.
The Conversation
Department of Political Science
Kerry-Lynne Findlay voted new leader of the BC Conservative Party
Dr. Stewart Prest said the B.C. Conservative leadership race was shaped not only by opposition to the NDP, but also by competition among candidates seeking to define the party’s future direction.
Global News
UBC professor says federal climate policies have been weakened significantly
Dr. Kathryn Harrison discussed the Canada-Europe LNG agreement, arguing that the federal government is placing greater emphasis on fossil fuel development and affordability than on measures needed to achieve Canada’s climate goals.
CBC
B.C. premier says Alberta separatism the ‘elephant in the room’ during pivotal moment for Canada
Dr. Kathryn Harrison said a newly announced LNG agreement involving B.C.’s Ksi Lisims project may signal federal efforts to build support in the province by demonstrating economic benefits for British Columbia.
CBC
As new oil pipeline effort takes major steps forward, B.C. scrambles to capitalize
Dr. Kathryn Harrison said the likelihood of a new West Coast pipeline has increased slightly following recent federal–Alberta agreements, while noting B.C. has limited formal power over pipeline approval despite ongoing political leverage in negotiations.
AbbyNews
Confused by the Alberta referendum?
Dr. Stewart Prest said Alberta separation is not a simple or legally straightforward process, noting the province cannot unilaterally leave Canada and that any path toward secession would raise major constitutional and Indigenous treaty questions.
Chatelaine
BC Conservative leadership vote begins amid late controversy involving candidate
Dr. Stewart Prest said last-minute allegations in the B.C. Conservative leadership race could affect voter behaviour, making some members more cautious about supporting the candidate and potentially reshaping the outcome.
CBC
Canvassing underway for recall of Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie
Dr. Stewart Prest said recall efforts in B.C. have never succeeded, noting there are no formal criteria to initiate one but that they require signatures from 40% of eligible voters in a riding and must be verified by Elections BC.
CTV News
B.C. Conservative members begin to vote on new leader
Dr. Stewart Prest said political parties’ leadership races and internal reviews should be overseen by an independent third party such as Elections BC or Elections Canada.
Vancouver Sun
B.C. premier pushes back after softwood lumber left off list for tariff relief
Dr. Stewart Prest said British Columbia is often “left out” of federal decision-making discussions, noting the government must ensure it continues to consider the province’s interests.
CBC
Did the Vancouver mayor’s office fast-track a public plaza to benefit a staffer?
Dr. Stewart Prest said the issue raises concerns about a possible conflict of interest and the importance of addressing both the decision and the perception of city officials playing favourites.
CTV News
B.C. Conservative candidates facing challenges verifying members as leadership race nears conclusion
Dr. Stewart Prest said voter verification challenges show why party leadership races should be overseen by an independent body, and warned that without reliable membership lists, parties cannot ensure an efficient voting process.
Vancouver Sun
Department of Psychology
Improve sleep: Struggling to sleep? Grab your partner’s T-shirt
Dr. Frances Chen said research shows that the scent of a romantic partner can improve sleep efficiency, with participants in a study sleeping slightly longer and more soundly when exposed to their partner’s smell.
Times of India
Department of Sociology
The Unretirement: The greyforce isn’t leaving the workforce and it’s not about money
Dr. Nathanael Lauster said Canada’s population will continue aging rapidly through 2030, noting older adults are rethinking traditional retirement and downsizing patterns.
National Post
School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Donald Trump is going nuclear
Dr. Allison Macfarlane said many proposed nuclear projects remain far from reality, noting that small modular reactors are not yet commercially available and will take years to develop.
The New Republic
Intimidation at the polls: The toxic rise of political harassment
Dr. Heidi Tworek said identity-based attacks on Canadian political candidates have been a “significant problem” since at least 2019 and appear to be increasing, with harassment also extending to in-person encounters.
Hamilton Spector
BC’s new data centre cluster sparks new discussion of ‘sovereign’ AI push
Dr. Milind Kandlikar said countries risk losing sovereignty if they become overly dependent on foreign-owned AI systems and critical digital infrastructure.
National Observer
Vancouver School of Economics
Buy Canadian has caused pain in parts of the U.S., but America will be just fine
Dr. Torsten Søchting Jaccard said Canada’s dependence on U.S. trade is largely geographic and structural, making it unlikely that political decisions alone could significantly change it.
The Globe and Mail
Who is incoming U.S. Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh and what will his tenure mean for Canada?
Dr. Paul Beaudry said the Federal Reserve chair’s first post-meeting remarks will be closely watched for signals about future monetary policy direction and how new economic conditions are being interpreted.
Financial Post
