This August and September, UBC Arts faculty made headlines across major outlets including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, National Geographic, and CBC. Their expertise shaped stories on the trauma of reverse migration, the ethics of museum collections, dilemmas raised by new medical technologies, the politicization of science, and the global popularity of Korean media.
Other features explored climate politics, Indigenous language revitalization through AI, the risks of sports-betting ads, and the power of literature and the arts to spark dialogue.
Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies
Do these ancient Egyptian inscriptions mention Moses by name?
Dr. Thomas Schneider called a new interpretation of a 3,800-year-old Egyptian inscription “completely unproven and misleading.”
National Geographic
Department of Anthropology
Why do we travel? To transform ourselves
Dr. Wade Davis wrote a personal essay reflecting on a lifetime of travel, describing his journeys from the Colombian Amazon to the Darién Gap as a search for authentic experience and renewal.
The Walrus
The Great Reverse Migration
Dr. Caitlyn Yates told Rolling Stone that reverse migration is especially traumatic, noting that “the most difficult part is grappling with the end of hope.”
Rolling Stone
From Herring to Huckleberries: A storybook journey to reclaim the Tla’amin language
CBC referenced a UBC study on the link between Indigenous language revitalization and health that was co-authored by Dr. Mark Turin.
CBC
Department of Asian Studies
Pig Organ Transplants May Pose a Dilemma for Some Jews and Muslims
Dr. Rumee Ahmed commented on how the aversion to pork became embedded in Jewish and Islamic traditions.
New York Times
KPop Demon Hunters capitalizing on wave of Korean media popularity, prof says
Dr. Ji-yoon An discussed how Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters capitalizes on Korean media popularity.
CBC and The Globe & Mail
Centre for Migration Studies
Expert ‘taken aback’ by Eby foreign worker claims, says axing program won’t fix woes
Dr. Irene Bloemraad said ending a foreign worker program won’t fix systemic issues.
Castanet
Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions
AI chatbots are changing online threat landscape as Ottawa reviews legislation
Dr. Chris Tenove said that while there has been momentum in the United Kingdom and European Union on regulating online harms, “the Trump administration is a major counterforce.”
CTV News
Department of Geography
A Canadian economist Is helping Trump ‘debunk’ climate science
Dr. Simon Donner commented on how climate denial is shaping U.S. politics.
Truthdig
Department of Linguistics
Language revitalization is improving Indigenous physical and mental health, UBC researchers say
UBC Linguistics PhD student Julia Schillo was interviewed about a study she co-authored that found a positive connection between speaking Indigenous languages and improved health outcomes. Karleen Delaurier-Lyle, the study’s co-author and librarian at UBC’s X̱wi7x̱wa Library was also quoted.
Vancouver is Awesome
Inuit innovators turn to AI to revitalize Inuktitut
Dr. Muhammad Abdul-Mageed emphasized the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty in AI-based language revitalization.
CBC
Museum of Anthropology
The Sim’oogit Laay’ totem pole is returning home after almost 80 years at a UBC museum
Dr. Susan Rowley, MOA director, said the return of the totem pole raises questions about the ethics of museum acquisitions.
CBC
Department of Political Science
Canadian citizens celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death could be impacted by visa revocations, U.S. lawyer says
Dr. Stewart Prest commented on how U.S. visa vetting now includes reviewing applicants’ social media and online activity.
Calgary Sun
Why an oil pipeline is not a priority project for Mark Carney’s government
Dr. Stewart Prest analyzed why pipeline expansion is not a priority for the new government and what that means for B.C.
Global News
Former Vancouver mayor to challenge B.C.’s voting system in court
Dr. Stewart Prest discussed the implications of a court challenge to the province’s municipal voting system.
CBC
Surrey city councillor Linda Annis announces mayoral campaign more than a year ahead of election
Dr. Stewart Prest explained how strict campaign finance limits are lengthening local campaigns, giving candidates more time to fundraise and voters more time to evaluate them.
CBC
Department of Psychology
Scientists Are Caught in a Political Trap
Dr. Azim Shariff commented on how the politicization of science influences the public’s trust in it.
The Atlantic
These TikTokers are fighting ‘brain rot’ by creating their own curriculum
Dr. Amori Mikami said that people can improve their mental health and well-being by setting conscious, intentional goals around why they are using social media, and how long they want to use it for.
CBC
Researchers find that moral instincts may be present from birth
A UBC psychology study co-led by Dr. Kiley Hamlin found that newborns can tell the difference between helpful and unhelpful actions, and they prefer the helpful ones.
AOL
Owner can’t cope with what poodle learns to do instead of bark: ‘crying’
Dr. Stanley Coren said that data from more than 200 obedience judges across the U.S. and Canada found poodles to be second only to Border collies in working and obedience intelligence.
Miami Herald
Sports-betting ads put youth at risk of gambling addiction
Dr. Luke Clark discussed the long-term and gradual effects of sports-betting ads and steps parents can take to increase their literacy on this issue.
CBC
Despite 10-year Metro Vancouver ban on organics in the garbage, it’s still the top landfill item
Dr. Jiaying Zhao urged Metro Vancouver to communicate more clearly about the climate impact of landfill organics.
CBC
Regulating Your Emotions May Involve Some Surprising Steps
A study led by UBC’s Ashley Battaglini highlighted how both individual and interpersonal emotion regulation can alleviate stress.
Psychology Today
It’s never too late to find a good relationship. Here’s proof.
Dr. Rosie Shrout discussed why people 50 and up are more likely to break up.
NPR
Department of Sociology
Canadian authors shortlisted for 2SLGBTQ+ writing awards
Dr. Amin Ghaziani was shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award celebrating 2SLGBTQ+ storytelling.
CBC
U.S. billionaire on why he’s helping fund fight against B.C. ostrich cull
Dr. David Tindall explained why wealthy individuals sometimes fund causes in other countries.
National Post
Metro Vancouver ‘unlikely’ to meet 2030 emissions target, district staff say
Dr. Andrew Jorgenson said society must decouple growth from fossil fuel use to meet climate goals.
CBC
How Immigration Cuts Added to the Sunshine Coast’s Child-Care Problem
Dr. Sylvia Fuller argued that better pay and training for early childhood educators is a more sustainable solution than relying on temporary foreign workers.
The Tyee
210 vs 16: Study suggests how Kelowna was able to build so many more multiplexes than Coquitlam
Dr. Nathanael Lauster co-authored a study showing zoning and permitting differences explain why Kelowna has built more multiplexes than Coquitlam.
The Province
A record of vanishings: Neda Maghbouleh on the stress response of seeing Iran bombed
Dr. Neda Maghbouleh wrote about deportations, ICE seizures, and Iran’s conflict.
Literary Hub
School of Creative Writing
Celebrated writer, UBC professor Billy-Ray Belcourt releases new poetry collection
Prof. Billy-Ray Belcourt was interviewed on his teaching, writing process, and his new poetry collection, The Idea of an Entire Life.
CBC
School of Journalism, Writing, and Media
U.S. State Department targets Online News Act in human rights report
Dr. Alfred Hermida described the U.S. government’s criticism of Canada’s Online News Act as a “MAGA lens on press freedom.”
The Canadian Press
Did Jimmy Kimmel ‘mislead’ people with Charlie Kirk comments, and does it matter?
Dr. Saranaz Barforoush discussed whether Jimmy Kimmel’s comments on Charlie Kirk were misleading.
CBC
School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Green industrial policy race in Asia quickens despite US retreat
Dr. Yves Thibergien co-wrote an article about how governments across the Indo-Pacific are expanding green industrial policy.
East Asia Forum
Long-wrought WTO global agreement aimed at reducing overfishing takes effect
Dr. Rashid Sumaila explained the significance of the WTO’s new global agreement to reduce overfishing.
Castanet
