If you are a member of the UBC community, “Killam” may mean a great deal more to your teaching, learning or research experience than you realize.

The University of British Columbia is one of six Canadian institutions to benefit from the support of the Killam Trusts. Since the establishment of the trusts in 1965 from the fortune of Izaak Walton Killam and Dorothy J. Killam, nearly 2,000 UBC faculty, postdocs and graduate students have directly benefited from Killam prizes, fellowships and scholarships.

The original endowment to the University of British Columbia of just over $15 million dollars was made through the will of Mrs. Killam in fulfillment of her late husband’s wish. Today the endowment has grown to a market value of over $55 million as of December 2010. The trusts’ primary purpose, then and now, is to support and encourage advanced education and research. The University of British Columbia is proud to be among those entrusted to carry out Mrs. Killam’s vision for developing and expanding the work of Canadian scholars and researchers for the benefit of all Canadians and through Canadians, for the benefit of global society.

While it is true that Killam winners must be likely to contribute to the advancement of learning or to win distinction in a profession, one of the principal reasons receiving a Killam award is such a valued honour is that the parameters of selection go beyond test scores, or numbers of publications, or research dollars or patents awarded, and include consideration of the whole person. Quoting from Mrs. Killam’s will, “A Killam scholar should not be a one-sided person. . . special distinction of intellect should be founded upon sound character.”

Throughout the years since the establishment of the Killam Trusts the Trustees and the members of the Killam family have worked diligently alongside each Killam institution to establish a sense of community amongst Killam award recipients. That community gathers in Vancouver next week: Tuesday will see UBC Killam scholars past and present come together, by invitation, for the 44th annual awards celebration in honour of the university's newest Killam recipients and on Thursday, November 3, the Annual Killam Lecture will be presented at 5:15 p.m. at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. This lecture is a national event and is free and open to the public, delivered as part of the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Graduate Schools (CAGS). Canadian Medical Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Cal Stiller will present "Can we "Own the Podium" in Science and Technology? Do we have the Vision, Courage and Leadership to take Advantage of the Global Chaos?”
So while “Killam” is a clearly visible component of the UBC landscape next week, it is an opportunity for us to enumerate and acknowledge the many critical ways that the Killam Trusts support research and teaching at UBC:

• through faculty research fellowships and prizes,
• doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships,
•  mentoring and teaching awards for faculty,
• recognizing stellar emeriti,
• Graduate T.A. teaching awards,
• faculty salary supplements,
• and start-up funds for new initiatives.

The Izaak Walton Killam Advanced Studies Fellowships, the most prestigious awards available to graduate students at UBC, are especially important because they support graduate education and research. Graduate students represent the next generation of researchers and leaders in industry, government, and most importantly for the university community, within academia itself.

By supporting doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows, the Killam awards help create vibrant communities of scholars and researchers who increase our capacity for real and enduring contributions to society; ensuring that we are equipped to respond to foreseeable social, technological, and educational trends and challenges, and generate economic opportunities at home and abroad.

The University of British Columbia offers the following Killam honours:

For Graduate Students:

Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Doctoral Fellowships:
These awards are granted in support of programs of study leading to a doctoral degree. They are renewable for two years, the second year being subject to satisfactory progress. The awards are valued at $27,500 per annum and include a travel allowance of $2,000 for the tenure of the award. Awards are made each year to the top doctoral candidates in the Tri-Council and Affiliated Fellowships competitions. All nominations for doctoral studies received by the Faculty of Graduate Studies in these university-wide competitions are automatically considered for Killam Doctoral Fellowships. No special application is required. Students wishing to be considered should contact their respective UBC department to find out the graduate student deadline for the Tri-Council and Affiliated Fellowships Competition (normally in mid to late September).

Killam - Donald N. Byers Prize:
In 2002, UBC created an endowed prize in memory of former Killam Trustee, Donald N. Byers, OC. The prize is awarded annually to the highest-ranking Killam Doctoral Fellow in the Tri-Council and Affiliated Fellowships competition. The award is made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Tri-Council and Affiliated Fellowships adjudication committee.
 

For further information:
Killam Advanced Studies Scholarships Programme
Email: killam.fellowships@ubc.ca Website: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/
 

For Postdoctoral Fellows:
 

Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Postdoctoral Research Fellowships:
These awards are offered to candidates who have shown outstanding ability in any field of academic research and who wish to pursue postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia. Applicants should have obtained a doctoral degree from a university other than UBC within two years of the anticipated commencement date of the Fellowship. The Fellowships are awarded for two years, subject to review at the end of the first year, and include a stipend of $50,000 per annum and a research-related travel allowance of $6,000 for the tenure of the award. The application deadline is early November; prospective applicants must be supported by both a UBC department and a UBC tenure-track faculty member.
 

For further information:
Killam Advanced Studies Scholarships Programme
Email: killam.fellowships@ubc.ca Website: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/
 

For UBC faculty:

Killam Awards for Excellence in Mentoring:
The Killam Awards for Excellence in Mentoring recognize one senior and one mid-career faculty members’ outstanding ability to create effective working relationships and constructive interactions that offer appropriate guidance, feedback and support; and involve encouragement, openness, trust and mutual respect. Preference is given to faculty members who have displayed sustained mentorship activity over many years involving many students. The award is announced at fall convocation and each award has a value of $5,000. All continuing faculty with tenure-track appointments at the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia are eligible to be nominated.
 

For further information:
Killam Advanced Studies Scholarships Programme
Email: killam.fellowships@ubc.ca Website: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/

Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Faculty Research Fellowships:
Faculty Research Fellowships are open to all UBC faculty members, with tenure, who wish to devote full time to research and study in their field during a recognized study leave (sabbatical). Preference is given to applicants who are 14 years or less past the receipt of their doctoral degree. Members of other institutions are not eligible. Faculty members are eligible for only one Faculty Research Fellowship in their lifetime. The awards provide a leave salary supplement of $15,000 and a research grant of $3,000 for a 12-month period. Up to ten awards are made annually.
 

For further information:
Office of the Vice President Research
Email: brenda.carrier@ubc.ca Website: http://www.research.ubc.ca/

Killam Research Prizes:
Ten Killam Research Prizes, valued at $5,000 each, are awarded each year for excellence in research. Five prizes go to professors in the humanities and social sciences, and five to professors in the natural, applied and health sciences. At least three prizes in each category are awarded to senior researchers who have held their PhD for more than 12 years as of the closing date for nominations. Typically one or two awards in each category are given to junior researchers who have fewer than 12 years post-PhD.

For further information:
Office of the Vice President Research
Email: brenda.carrier@ubc.ca Website: http://www.research.ubc.ca/

Killam Teaching Prizes:
The University of British Columbia recognizes excellence in teaching with the UBC Killam Teaching Prize for faculty members with at least three years of teaching at UBC. Established University-wide, the prize is adjudicated within each of the twelve Faculties under procedures defined in the Faculty and approved by the Provost. Candidates may be nominated by colleagues, students, or alumni. The award recognizes distinguished teaching at any level or combination of levels: introductory, advanced or graduate (including supervision). Winners are announced in the Spring and honoured at Spring Congregation in May. Congregation provides an appropriate context in which graduates are able to join in honouring faculty members who are among their best teachers. Each prize is accompanied by an award of $5,000 from the Izaak Walton and Dorothy Killam Endowment. Approximately 23 awards are made annually.

University Killam Professor
The designation "University Killam Professor" is conferred by the Board of Governors on the recommendation of the President to recognize exceptional members of faculty who have distinguished themselves as scholars in research and/or teaching and learning. Any member of the faculty who is the holder of an internationally or nationally recognized award of high esteem (for example, Nobel Laureate, National Killam Award, Order of Canada for scholarly recognition including outstanding and innovative teaching, etc.) may be nominated for the designation "University Killam Professor." The nomination should be directed to the Responsible Executive by six members of the University community (students, staff, faculty, and alumni), indicating the extent of the nominee's scholarly distinction. The nomination shall be accompanied by a letter explaining the nominee's eligibility and c.v., as well as arm's length external referee letters in support of the nominee's suitability for the award.

For further information:
Office of the Vice President Academic and Provost
Email: kate.carr@ubc.ca Website: http://www.vpacademic.ubc.ca/