Blog

In these op-ed style posts, PSI scholars share their thoughts on topics related to their research areas.

Addressing Cisgender Bias in Health Care to Improve Services for Transgender Youth

In Canada and most other Western societies, cisgender bias often goes unnoticed, which holds true in health care services for people of all ages. To overcome the problem, we can begin by understanding some of the ways that cisgender bias impacts children and youth in the health care system. ...

Unraveling the History of Asian Canadian Theatre

The important contributions of Asian Canadian playwrights to professional theatre has largely been undocumented. As a Vancouver-born theatre artist and scholar of Chinese heritage, my work seeks to fill that significant gap, and highlight the multicultural heritage of Canadian theatre. ...

Bolivia's Indigenous Communities Stand Their Ground

In Bolivia and elsewhere, societies grapple with this important question: how can we protect forests without jeopardizing the livelihood options of forest-dependent communities? The challenge of insufficient inclusion of indigenous communities (IC) in decision-making confronts attempts to...

Reconciliation in Action

Reconciliation is an ongoing process, and if we are truly committed to it, we must welcome engagement with awkward and difficult situations that must be rectified. This is one such engagement story from our campus. Severn Cullis-Suzuki, PhD Student in Anthropology It was exciting to return to...

Cascades Butterfly Project Team (Photo credit: Karlie Roland)

Connecting the Dots: Citizen Science in Biology

Fostering meaningful collaborations between academia and the public, Citizen Science may be what scholarship looks like in the 21st century. The field of biology holds valuable examples. Jamie Fenneman, PhD Candidate in Botany The term “Citizen Science” has been around for a while now, and...

Making Room for Nature in Our Cities, for Our Minds

Access to nature is vital for our physical and mental health, particularly in an increasingly urbanized world. Integrating specific types of nature into the urban fabric is critical to ensure that everyone receives these benefits, especially those individuals who stand to gain the most. ...

How Education Changes the World

Education isn't simply about achieving a “higher state of knowledge”; it’s about equipping our students with the tools they need to go out into the world and shape it for themselves. Miranda Meents, PhD Candidate in Botany The British biologist and philosopher Herbert Spencer...

Why you may be wrong about seatbelts, and why that matters for your children

Most people think that seatbelts are meant to prevent ejection, when, in reality, they are meant to redirect crash forces to stronger parts of the body: the hips and chest. This makes the use of booster seats all the more important to prevent child injuries. Takuro Ishikawa, PhD...

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

From Boeing 787 to BMW I3, advanced manufacturing enables highly sophisticated end-products. Yet future prosperity is threatened by spiralling manufacturing cost and risk. To sustain a resilient advanced manufacturing industry, we must consider the use and practice of this scientific knowledge as...

The Need for a Social Revolution in Residential Care

Almost half of those living in long-term care homes struggle with loneliness and depression. Peer support is a cost effective solution to address these critical rates, however there are no mental health peer support initiatives specifically for older people. A new movement, Java Group Programs...

The Social Costs of Clean Energy

For many indigenous peoples in Canada, engagement with the landscape is directly tied to creating and maintaining identity. If we want a socially and environmentally just world, the decision-making on renewable energy projects must take into consideration the cultural vibrancy and meaning systems...

Sympathy for the Devil?

The leaders of ISIS want you to hate them. They want you to despise Syria and Iraq. They want you to fear Islam. They want you to shun refugees. Instead of giving them the gift of hatred, we must focus on the roots of the problem. Will Plowright, PhD Candidate in Political Science, UBC As the...

Respect in Science Communication (or, would a Scientist Offer me a Beer?)

The solution to the problem of science communication is not simply to preach more science louder; instead, scientists must develop a sense of respect for the wider public and understand their concerns. Karissa Milbury, PhD Candidate in Genome Science and Technology, UBC We...

Why Community Engagement Matters in Addressing Climate Change

How does the image above make you feel? Your answer may be key to addressing climate change, because in the post-Paris Climate Change Agreement world, creating more sustainable landscapes depends on local perceptions of proposed low carbon energy development projects. Sarah Klain, PhD...

African Stories to Get and Keep Kids Reading during School Holidays

Holidays are a great occasion for reading, whether kids are doing so alone or a family is sitting down together with a book. But what do you do if the bookstore doesn’t have books in your language, or they’re just too expensive? Espen Stranger-Johannessen, PhD Candidate in Education, UBC...

Want to do something good for your health? Try being generous

Every day, we are confronted with choices about how to spend our money. Whether it's thinking about picking up the tab at a group lunch or when a charity calls asking for a donation, we are faced with the decision to behave generously or not. Research suggests that spending money on others can ...

Carbon tariffs are a non-starter for policy-makers – let's figure out why

Academics and environmental advocates keep calling for carbon tariffs, touting their benefits for sustainability. Yet these calls fall on deaf ears with policy-makers. Instead of renewing their calls over and over again, advocates of carbon tariffs need to figure out what really keeps governments...

Is Vancouver Ready for the Big One?

That a megathrust earthquake will hit Vancouver is not a question of if, but when. Is the city prepared for such an incident? In partnership with the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Public Library, UBC’s Earthquake Day (Oct. 15) brings together researchers and professionals to...

Public Scholars Initiative