Learn, discover, contribute…
UBC alumni regularly gather to engage in dialogue about complex social issues. Join us in your community and hear how UBC’s interdisciplinary research and teaching are addressing these issues.
Upcoming Events in this Series
Check back soon for new events in this series.
Past Events in this Series
Energy vs. Environment: Do we have to choose?
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver
April 22, 2013
Join us on April 22nd for a dialogue about Energy and the Environment. This event is sold out but you can view a livestream of it on YouTube.
In the social media age, can justice be served?
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver
March 13, 2013
Join us for UBC Dialogues in Vancouver where we’ll discuss whether justice can prevail in the online court of public opinion.
Is sport worth the risks?
UBC Dialogues: Calgary
February 19, 2013
Join us for UBC Dialogues: Calgary where we’ll discuss the inherent risks of sport and the reasons why we continue to value it.
Forget carbon-neutral. Can we be carbon-negative?
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver
February 5, 2013
Join us in February for a UBC Dialogues event where we’ll discuss what needs to be done to reverse the effects of climate change.
Should the Arts stand on its own two feet?
UBC Dialogues: Toronto
January 23, 2013
Please join us for a UBC Dialogue in Toronto about public funding of the arts.
Understanding Violence: How do we stop the bleeding?
UBC Dialogues: North Shore
December 3, 2012
How can our society better understand the root causes of violence and take steps towards eradicating it?
Does BC’s forest industry have an image problem?
UBC Dialogues: Victoria
November 13, 2012
Join us in Victoria as we discuss the forest industry and the unexpected ways that well-managed forests can impact our health, our communities and our future.
Home Sweat Home: Can home ownership be achieved?
UBC Dialogues: Richmond
October 10, 2012
On October 10, 2012 at The John M.S. Lecky UBC Boathouse in Richmond, we discussed the real estate realities of the Lower Mainland.
What’s the real cost of cheap food?
UBC Dialogues: Kelowna
September 29, 2012
Join us in Kelowna on Saturday, September 29, 2012, for a thought-provoking discussion about the hidden challenges associated with our food supply and what we can do to overcome them.
Who is responsible for our children?
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver
September 18, 2012
At UBC Dialogues: Vancouver, we examined the question: “Who is responsible for our children?”
Should fighting be banned in hockey?
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver (at Alumni Weekend 2012)
May 26, 2012
Join us at Alumni Weekend for a dialogue about fighting in hockey. New speaker added! Ryan Walter, former Stanley Cup champion & current president of the Abbotsford Heat, joins the panel.
How can we overcome our generational divide?
UBC Dialogues: Victoria
May 7, 2012
Can policy-makers meet the needs of the ageing Boomers without alienating future generations? Join us in Victoria for a provocative dialogue about social priorities and the generational divide.
Should marijuana prohibition go up in smoke?
UBC Dialogues: Burnaby
What does it mean to go green?
UBC Dialogues: Tri-Cities
March 1, 2012
Sustainable living. The media tells us it’s the only way to guarantee the planet’s future. Governments offer us incentives to make “green” choices. Businesses are marketing “Earth-friendly” products and services [...]
Mental space: How do I turn off the world?
UBC Dialogues: Toronto
February 7, 2012
On February 7, 2012, we held a provocative dialogue about mental space, at the Rosehill Venue Lounge in Toronto.
Fountain of youth: How do we live longer, and better?
UBC Dialogues: Surrey
February 7, 2012
We all want to live long lives, but maintaining a high quality of life is equally important. Will we have enough savings to live comfortably or will we slip into [...]
Is Calgary at the forefront of a political and social change?
UBC Dialogues: Calgary
February 6, 2012
On February 6, 2012, we held a provocative dialogue on political and social change in Calgary, at Endeavor Arts.
Body image: Is fat all in our heads?
UBC Dialogues: North Shore
January 24, 2012
Join us on the North Shore on January 24, 2012, for a provocative dialogue about body image.
Immigration: Does the path of opportunity lead toward or away from Canada?
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver
November 15, 2011
What are the realities of immigrating to Canada? What reasons motivate some people leave Canada?
Mental space: How do I turn off the world?
UBC Dialogues: New York City
November 9, 2011
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a bustling metropolis, engage with UBC experts in a dialogue about the psychology of space.
Complementary medicine: Can we have faith in health alternatives?
UBC Dialogues: Richmond
October 26, 2011
Is it time to stop extolling positive thinking as merely a placebo effect and delve into the world of alternative therapies? Join us for a provocative dialogue about complementary medicine. New speakers added!
Where is the value in art?
UBC Dialogues: San Francisco
Can the Okanagan Achieve Social Sustainability?
UBC Dialogues: Kelowna
September 24, 2011
The Okanagan has one of the oldest populations in North America. How will the region retain its youth and attract ongoing investment and newcomers? What social, cultural, and economic mixes are desirable?
Is there diversity at UBC?
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver
May 9, 2011
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver. A stimulating discussion about the nature of higher education in a culturally diverse society.
Do Fish Have a Future?
UBC Dialogues: Victoria
April 14, 2011
Many believe the oceans now contain just a tiny fraction of the large fish they once held. How do we satisfy the worldwide appetite for fish, while at the same [...]
Is Our Oil Dependency Crude?
UBC Dialogues: Calgary
March 31, 2011
Engage with leading experts from UBC and the community and get some refined insight into the issue of oil dependency.
Are Our Children Paying the Price for Our Work-Life Imbalance?
UBC Dialogues: Burnaby
March 28, 2011
No one ever said being a parent would be easy, but many didn’t know it would be this difficult. Find out how we, as a society, can put our children first.
Who’s Controlling the Police?
UBC Dialogues: Surrey
March 17, 2011
Policing in 2011 is complex, political and sensitive. How do we go about reforming the police establishment for modern times?
Do Fish Have a Future?
UBC Dialogues: Richmond
March 3rd, 2011
Do Fish Have a Future? Many believe the oceans now contain just a tiny fraction of the large fish they once held. How do we satisfy the worldwide appetite for fish, while at the same time maintaining stocks for the future?
Storytelling from the Fringe
UBC Dialogues: Whistler
December 4 2010
How do we bring stories from society’s fringe to the attention of a larger audience? Who is best to tell these stories – subjects or observers? And what about stories [...]
Can we stop human trafficking?
UBC Dialogues: Ottawa
November 18, 2010
Human trafficking has become a world-wide problem. From prostitution and forced labour to the sale of individuals for their organs, the market for human slaves seems inexhaustible. What is the [...]
Is it Shocking how we Treat the Mentally Ill?
UBC Dialogues: Coquitlam
November 16, 2010
Many of the homeless people wandering the streets of the Lower Mainland have mental health issues. Advocates put a large part of the blame for this on the fact that [...]
EcoDensity: Deft or Dense?
UBC Dialogues: Vancouver
October 26, 2010
The City of Vancouver has set itself a goal to be the greenest city in the world, with urban densification as a central element of the process. Is it really [...]
Aboriginal Land Development: Empowered or Too Much Power?
UBC Dialogues: North Shore
October 13, 2010
Urban reserve land has become incredibly valuable and many First Nations’ leaders have realized the potential financial and economic benefit that this land presents. Will real estate become the financial [...]
Advocate or Activist: What is the best way to effect change?
UBC Dialogues: Toronto
October 5, 2010
From debates and lobbyists to boycotts and protesters, political action takes many forms. Is there a time and place for righteous indignation? Or is it more effective to engage in [...]
Coalition Governments: Power-hungry Politicians or Progressive Partnerships?
UBC Dialogues: London
October 1, 2010
It’s almost six months in to a new coalition government in Britain. What’s working and what have been the biggest challenges? Can a coalition government govern successfully with collegiality and [...]