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 [...]
Length: 1:12:09
UBC-related digital content can be downloaded from Alumni Affairs on UBC’s iTunes U. Using iTunes, you can choose to download a single podcast episode or subscribe to an entire series. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, you can also browse the categories to find out what has been taking place at UBC.
We will provide links below to UBC Alumni Affairs podcasts as as they are added to iTunes U. Be sure to subscribe to any series that interests you and never miss an episode.
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 [...]
Length: 1:12:09
Start developing a debt-management strategy that makes sense.
Length: 1:10:28
On February 7, 2012, we held a provocative dialogue about mental space, at the Rosehill Venue Lounge in Toronto.
Length: 1:16:57
On February 6, 2012, we held a provocative dialogue on political and social change in Calgary, at Endeavor Arts.
Length: 1:24:40
Join us on the North Shore on January 24, 2012, for a provocative dialogue about body image.
Length: 1:21:01
Join us for The Next Step: Getting Down to Business and find out why learning the social norms of your workplace should become one of your first priorities.
Length: 55:30
What are the realities of immigrating to Canada? What reasons motivate some people leave Canada?
Length: 1:21:22
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a bustling metropolis, engage with UBC experts in a dialogue about the psychology of space.
Length: 1:11:37
A provocative dialogue about the value of art.
Length: 1:06:16
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!
Length: 1:27:32
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?
Length: 1:39:10
Please join us in discussion with UBC President Professor Stephen Toope and Alden E. Habacon, Director of Intercultural Understanding Strategy Development at UBC, as we share what is happening at UBC and provide us insight into the current state of cultural diversity in Montreal.
Length: 55:47
Honorary event chair, The Rt. Hon. John N. Turner PC, CC, QC, BA’49, LLD’94, cordially invites you to the fifth annual Great Trekker Luncheon in Toronto.
Length: 00:49:50
When you’re in a university, it may feel as though you’re surrounded by people who know it all. The truth is, there are many things we still don’t know. Let’s start with space, “the final frontier.” The vastness of the heavens is mindboggling. How do we figure out where to go next with research, when we don’t really know what’s out there in the first place?
On this planet, what hidden mysteries are yet to be revealed in plant and animal life, and with things too small to be seen with the naked eye? What’s the best way to investigate, without imperiling new species?
Finally, there’s the universe within our own bodies. What do we really know about the building blocks inside, and the energy that animates them?
Stimulate your intellectual appetites, and join us as Explorers of the Unknown.
Length: 1:22:02
Part of Alumni Weekend 2011. We all set goals at some point. Sometimes we’re able to turn them into great successes, but this isn’t always the case. If it’s so challenging to set goals for ourselves and then achieve them, why should we continue to do it? How can we hold ourselves accountable for the goals we have set? What can we do to move past simply setting goals and instead focus on achieving them?
Length: 1:00:03
Part of Alumni Weekend 2011. In Conversation with Mellissa Fung, a one on one discussion of ‘Under an Afghan Sky’.
Length: 1:09:50
Three professors from the School of Nursing will present the results of two cafés scientifique they conducted in Vancouver and Prince George this March. Aimed at a lay audience, the cafés were held to foster wider public discourse around what happens when health care is treated as a commodity. After listening to brief research-based presentations about current challenges in health care delivery, audience members engaged in semi-structured dialogue about the challenges, how to increase public engagement, and how to influence democratic political processes around health care policy. During Alumni Weekend, Drs. Patricia Rodney, Colleen Varcoe, and Annette Browne will discuss the results of the cafés, inviting audience members to offer their interpretations and suggestions.
Length: 1:03:48
Creating vibrant and sustainable communities involves visionary planning and innovative design. How do we design communities to be more sustainable? How do we make urban environments more integrated and liveable? How do we innovate building design, transit and land use to reduce our impact on the environment?
“Vibrant Sustainable Communities: Towards a Smart Future”, a panel hosted by UBC Campus and Community Planning will focus on how to create sustainable, liveable urban communities. The panel will bring together distinguished UBC alumni: Mike Harcourt, BA’65, LLB’68, LLD’07, the former Mayor of Vancouver and Premier of British Columbia; Lisa Colby, BLA’89, MAP’90, Associate Director, Policy Planning, UBC Campus and Community Planning; and Dr. Freda Pagani, PhD’99, founding director of UBC’s Sustainability Office.
Moderated by Maged Senbel, MScP’99, PhD’05, Assistant Professor, UBC School of Community and Regional Planning, this dialogue will explore the best practices in urban planning and building design. There will also be an opportunity to learn about how UTown@UBC, UBC’s vision for an integrated community, is transforming a commuter campus into a sustainable place where people live, work and learn together.
This compelling and thought provoking conversation is not to be missed. Register today.
Length: 1:03:33
Power ballads have become a staple in popular music over the last forty years. The songs have taken different forms, including numbers by Barry Manilow, 1980s rock and heavy metal groups (Journey and Guns N’ Roses), Céline Dion, Whitney Houston, and Josh Groban. Whatever genre they are in, power ballads are songs that build and build to ecstatic conclusions. This class will present a history of the power ballad and ask what these songs say about us and the types of emotional experiences that we seek in popular music.
Length: 54:21
Join UBC Computer Science Alumnus Peter Smith, principal of Arapiki Solutions, Inc., for a fascinating discussion about Software Development Productivity – why it’s important and why it’s too hard. The talk will be centered around business and business cultural change.
All software companies strive to be productive. They want to produce more features in less time, with fewer bugs. Numerous techniques exist for improving productivity, but many of them are considered too hard to adopt and simply get thrown out before being tried. In this lecture, we’ll examine why many productivity improvements fail, largely due to the financial bottom line, but also due to the organization’s overwhelming focus on their other goals.
Length: 59:05
People around the world are growing food in cities in some surprising and creative ways. Learn what it takes for you to get started as an urban farmer in this talk which aims to address both the theoretical questions (how many people can urban agriculture feed?) to practical suggestions (what are the best food crops to get started with in the city?).
Length: 58:26
Any great community requires a hub — a social heart where individuals feel welcome to work and play. The new UBC Alumni Centre, as part of a revitalised University Boulevard neighbourhood, will meet that need. Join us for our presentation and networking opportunity during which volunteer leaders and staff will be present to inform and discuss this exciting new UBC project. Come inspire the programming of the new alumni home. Session includes a visit to the site at the corner of East Mall and University Boulevard.
Find out more about the UBC Alumni Centre on our website: www.alumnicentre.ubc.ca
Length: 52:27
While research on the social causes and consequences of water scarcity is abundant, the topic of wastewater receives scant attention. Research on the social elements, causes and consequences of water scarcity is abundant, yet wastewater management is relegated. Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega sheds light on this often forgotten side of water governance and offers a conceptual model to study water governance that involves the study of polluted effluents.
Length: 55:45
Professor Emerita, Thelma Sharp Cook has recently hosted a UBC Alumni Trip to Antarctica.
Travellers and those interested in educational and experiential travel will be able to travel vicariously with Thelma and friends to share her experience and wonder on the Expedition to Antarctica.
She will share her observations of the bountiful wildlife, the collaboration of countries, and secrets of the White Continent.
Bring your imagination, curiosity and questions.
There will be a slide/photo presentation (Powerpoint), lively discussion and some demos (ie: gear needed, etc.) to enjoy.
Length: 48:01
Building active, engaged communities online transforms the dialogue from one-way broadcast to responsive and dynamic conversations. How do you create a valuable exchange and reach the people who care?
Length: 1:05:06
Does all that arm waving really mean anything?
Many people view conducting as a great mystery. However, the interaction between conductor and ensemble is guided by a complex communication system that relies upon a shared vocabulary of nonverbal gestures. Professor Taylor will offer a behind-the-scenes look at conducting, including a discussion of score study, interpretive license, and the journey from rehearsal to performance. In order to put these ideas immediately into practice, the session will be highly interactive, so come prepared to break a sweat. You’ll leave the session with a greater understanding of the relationship between conductor and ensemble, as well as a few tricks suitable for the budding maestro within!
Length: 48:10
Have you ever come across Chinese characters and wondered what they represented and how they were created? Used widely in many parts of Asia including Japan, Korea and of course China, Chinese characters appear more and more often in parts of North America. This hands-on workshop helps you understand the origin and basic principles of the creation of Chinese characters. Learn about some of the ancient Chinese cultural and philosophical elements behind the creation of those characters and learn to write a few characters and even your own name in Chinese characters. No prior knowledge is required.
Length: 44:30
Join Richard Mackie, BC historian and author, in a reading of some of his non-fiction works. Hear how he uncovers, salvages and interprets BC’s forest industry and the stories from its past.
Length: 54:21
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 [...]
Length: 1:25:04
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 [...]
Length: 1:11:04
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 [...]
Length: 1:15:30
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.
Length: 1:15:44
Engage with leading experts from UBC and the community and get some refined insight into the issue of oil dependency.
Length: 1:21:46
Coalition Governments: Power-hungry Politicians or Progressive Partnerships? 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 [...]
Length: 1:28:30
Is it Shocking how we Treat the Mentally Ill? Many of the homeless people wandering the streets of the Lower Mainland have mental health issues. Advocates put a large part [...]
Length: 1:11:04
Policing in 2011 is complex, political and sensitive. How do we go about reforming the police establishment for modern times?
Length: 1:24
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?
Length: 53:36
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 [...]
Length: 1:00:20
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 [...]
Length: 1:19:04 Please note that there is a brief missing section in the Q&A around 1:06:19.
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 [...]
Length: 58:44
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 [...]
Length: 1:28:30
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 [...]
Length: 1:18:52