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Public Scholars Award

Latest updates from the PSI network, as well as photos, videos, and other material from past events.

Picture of Innovation, University, and the Public Good

Innovation, University, and the Public Good

Joining as a guest speaker to UBC Public Scholars Initiative's innovation-themed research talk event, UBC's Innovation Catalyst Angus Livingstone discussed how universities (and its graduate students) can promote innovation while purposefully generating positive social impact.

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Picture of Event: Innovation for Public Good

Event: Innovation for Public Good

Promoting innovation is central to the mandate of a research-intensive university; so is advancing the public good. But how do they go together? In the second event of the PhDs Go Public Research Talk Series, seven PhD students from UBC's Public Scholars Initiative share how they've made that connection in their dissertation research.

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Picture of Five Lessons on Rethinking the PhD

Five Lessons on Rethinking the PhD

The Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) brought together faculty, staff, and students to continue the conversation on the future of the PhD, and how we can better prepare ourselves for it. Here are some takeaways.

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Picture of Report: UBC's Public Scholars Initiative as a way to "rethink the PhD"

Report: UBC's Public Scholars Initiative as a way to "rethink the PhD"

In a recently published report featured by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, UBC Dean and Vice-Provost of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Susan Porter and Assistant Dean Jennifer Phelps introduce the Public Scholars Initiative as a pilot program offering an integrated approach to doctoral scholarship and career development.

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Picture of Why Academics Need To Be Storytellers

Why Academics Need To Be Storytellers

VIDEO: Speaking at the inaugural session of the PhDs Go Public Research Talk Series, Emmy Award-winner journalist and UBC faculty Peter Klein makes a call to scholars at all levels to be storytellers to elicit positive social change.

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Picture of Being a Public Scholar: Professor Wade Davis’ Address to Doctoral Students

Being a Public Scholar: Professor Wade Davis’ Address to Doctoral Students

In his inspiring talk delivered at the inauguration of the Public Scholars Initiative, UBC Professor of Anthropology Wade Davis challenges graduate students to act as "entrepreneurs of knowledge".

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Members of UBC's pilot Public Scholars Initiative

UBC Launches a Pilot Public Scholars Initiative for Doctoral Students

The UBC Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) was launched as an innovative pilot program intended to explore how a top-tier university can offer PhD pathways that encourage purposeful social contribution, innovative forms of collaborative scholarship, and broader career readiness for doctoral students.

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Picture of UBC announces Public Scholars Initiative

UBC announces Public Scholars Initiative

In recognition of doctoral students' tremendous capacity for and motivation to make innovative and positive contributions to the public good through their scholarly work, UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) is excited to announce a new support and funding initiative geared to support 'Public Scholars' at the doctoral level.…

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Picture of Summary Report Available: Re-imagining the PhD Symposium

Summary Report Available: Re-imagining the PhD Symposium

The symposium for Re-imagining the PhD, held at the Liu Institute for Global Issues on June 6th, 2014, was conceived as an "experiment in community dialogue," an attempt to begin a critical conversation around the parameters, content, and purposes of doctoral education.  The summary report of the event, including links to…

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