More than 1,270 master's and doctoral students have earned the right to cross the virtual stage this year, and we wish all of them the very best in their future endeavours. Everyone being honoured this fall has their own story of hard work, challenges, setbacks, and achievements.
Some of this year’s November graduates include:
Dr. Gilbert, from Zoology, showed that rising Arctic water temperatures can limit Arctic char heart function and exercise performance in a manner that may impair their ability to migrate. Arctic char, a type of salmon, are culturally and economically invaluable in the Canadian North and such information will aid in evidence-based management efforts.
Dr. Peiris, from Ethnomusicology, explored a drumming tradition in Sri Lanka, looking at how people have thought of it before, during, and after the encounter with European colonial rule. He used musical change as a lens to examine changing social contexts in South Asia, contributing to broader discussions about the reach and impact of ideas that cross national borders.
Dr. Talebian, from Mechanical Engineering, developed a comprehensive cost optimization model to design a hydrogen fueling supply chain for British Columbia. Her work is the first contribution in assessing the incentive effectiveness and emissions mitigation policies for the accelerated adoption of low-carbon hydrogen in the transportation sector.
Dr. Arsenault, from Chemistry, researched the design and examination of new shape-shifting molecules. The absorption or emission colours are dependent on the molecule's shape, and can be tuned by changing the surrounding solvent. Her research will impact applications using stimuli-responsive molecules, such as water-sensing dyes for biomedical imaging.
Dr. Canning, from Nursing, studied how people living with advanced dementia in long-term care continued to experience meaningful engagement. Despite significant losses they demonstrated a range of enduring abilities and skills. Her findings support ways for caregivers to connect with residents during both structured activities and informal interactions.
Dr. Knowles, from English, wrote about Philip Roth, placing the irrepressible and controversial novelist more completely in his literary historical contexts. Combining archival research with close textual analysis, Dr. Knowles explored the significance of Roth's entanglement in the discursive dynamics of the Cold War to his ongoing struggle with fictional form.
Dr. Thompson, Microbiology and Immunology, examined modern bacteria from an iron-rich lake to address questions about the growth and interactions of microbial communities in the global oceans three billion years ago. Ancestors of these modern bacteria likely supported life for over a billion years by fueling the production of a warming climate under the faint early Sun.
To view doctoral citations for our graduands visit the November 2020 graduation page.
Tune in today at 14:30 PST to watch the virtual ceremony.
We wish all of our graduate the very best in their future endeavours, and hope that they continue to share their successes with us as they launch their career!