Dr. Peter Zandstra began his term as UBC’s Vice-President Research and Innovation (VPRI) on June 1, 2026. Last month, he visited the Faculty of Arts as part of his Listening and Learning Tour, meeting with Arts leadership and faculty members to learn about the work taking place across the social sciences, humanities, and creative and performing arts.
The visit provided an opportunity for the Faculty to share its research strengths, priorities, and opportunities with the VPRI Office, while highlighting the breadth of scholarship taking place across Arts. The conversations also built on the Faculty’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030 and its vision for strengthening the impact and visibility of Arts research.
Touring Arts research infrastructure
The tour began at the Museum of Anthropology, where Dean Clare Haru Crowston welcomed Dr. Zandstra and members of UBC’s research and innovation leadership team for an introduction to the Faculty and its research community.
The group then visited the Laboratory of Archaeology/Musqueam Archaeology Research Centre, where Dr. Andrew Martindale (Director, Laboratory of Archaeology) and Leona Sparrow (Director of Treaty, Lands and Resources, Musqueam Indian Band) spoke about the Laboratory’s partnership with Musqueam, including joint research, analysis, and teaching initiatives.
Dr. Andrew Martindale (Laboratory of Archaeology)
Leona Sparrow (Director of Treaty, Lands and Resources, Musqueam Indian Band) and Dean Clare Haru Crowston
The group next visited Dr. Marwan Hassan‘s Flume Research Lab in the Department of Geography, home to Lego Flume, an artificial river channel used to study the effects of climate change and land management on river systems.
Dr. Marwan Hassan (Department of Geography) with Dr. Peter Zandstra and Dr. Lisa Sundstrom (Associate VP Research & Innovation)
A showcase of Arts research
The tour ended with a research showcase featuring ten presentations, each highlighting a different area of Arts research.
Migration, inequality, and climate justice
Drs. Irene Bloemraad and Antje Ellermann, co-directors of the Centre for Migration Studies, presented research on the politics of migration and citizenship, including how migrants gain political voice in the communities where they live.
Dr. Thomas Lemieux, director of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Centre on Wealth and Income Inequality, presented with Research Centre Manager Aara Johnson on the Centre’s research into earnings inequality.
Naomi Klein (Department of Geography) and Dr. Carol Liao (Peter A. Allard School of Law), co-directors of the Centre for Climate Justice, presented research at the intersection of the climate emergency, Indigenous land rights, and justice-based transformation.
Dr. Thomas Lemieux and Aara Johnson (James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Centre on Wealth and Income Inequality)
Dr. Carol Liao (Centre for Climate Justice)
Dr. Irene Bloemraad (Centre for Migration Studies)
Community, identity, and Indigenous knowledge
Dr. Kristen Barnett (Department of Anthropology) presented on the Indigeneity In and Out of Place Research Excellence Cluster, which brings Indigenous and Western science into conversation through research on data sovereignty and Indigenous futurity.
Dr. Dylan Robinson (School of Music) presented on Indigenous languages and public art, drawing on his research into Indigenous public art and inter-arts forms.
Dr. JP Catungal (Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice) and Dr. Henry Yu (Department of History), co-directors of the Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement (ACRE), presented with ACRE Senior Manager Joanna Yang, highlighting ACRE’s work with migrant, racialized, and LGBTQ+ communities, including community organizing and cultural production.
Dr. Kristen Barnett (Department of Anthropology
Dr. Dylan Robinson (School of Music)
Dr. JP Catungal (Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice) and Joanna Yang (ACRE)
Archaeology, technology, and digital methods
Dr. Kevin Fisher (Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies) presented his research investigating ancient urban landscapes in Cyprus.
Dr. Laura Nelson (Department of Sociology) and Dr. Patrick Pennefather (Department of Theatre & Film), co-principal investigators of the Integrated Digital Innovation (IDI) Lab, presented on the lab’s work in computational social science and mixed-reality research.
Dr. Kevin Fisher (Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies)
Dr. Patrick Pennefather (Department of Theatre and Film) and Dr. Laura Nelson (Sociology)
Community health and global investigative journalism
Dr. Lindsey Richardson (Department of Sociology) presented her research addressing the socioeconomic drivers of overdose and drug-related harm in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and beyond.
Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee (School of Journalism, Writing and Media) and Andrea Crossan (Global Reporting Centre) presented on the Global Reporting Centre’s work in bringing together students, scholars, and news organizations for collaborative international investigative journalism.
Dr. Lindsay Richardson (Sociology)
Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee (School of Journalism, Writing and Media)
The visit offered a closer look at the breadth of work underway across the Faculty of Arts and the people and partnerships behind it. It also opened the door to continued conversations about how Arts research can contribute to UBC’s broader research priorities and connect with new audiences.
Photos by Aaron Woods, Hollim Lei, and Joey Wiles Eagle
