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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260521
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260819
DTSTAMP:20260618T154848Z
CREATED:20260519T161323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T154848Z
UID:10025584-1779321600-1787097599@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:The Structure of Smoke exhibition
DESCRIPTION:UBC Okanagan Gallery\, in collaboration with the Morris and Helen Belkin Gallery\, is excited to announce that a version of The Structure of Smoke exhibition is coming to Syilx territory in the Okanagan this summer. Co-curated by Melanie O’Brian and Tania Willard\, The Structure of Smoke explores artworks that problematize the poetic\, structural and political aspects of fire. \nIn a region where wildfires regularly impact our lives and the landscape\, The Structure of Smoke gathers together artists to conceptualize our relationship to this challenging force of nature. \nThroughout the exhibition\, contemporary artists explore both the metaphorical and literal processes of fire and the spaces it creates and displaces. In a range of mediums—including sculpture\, video\, screen prints\, photography and painting—the works challenge the viewer to examine the ways in which we live with fire both now and in the future. \nThe Structure of Smoke brings together works from select artists in the original exhibition run\, including Amber Frid-Jimenez\, Samuel Roy-Bois\, Heraa Khan\, Jeneen Frei Njootli\, Other Sights\, Pratchaya Phinthong\, Art Hunter and Susan Point. The Okanagan version of the exhibit includes artists Taylor Baptiste\, Andreas Rutkauskas and Woojae Kim. \nThe exhibition is open to the public and free to attend on weekdays from Thursday\, May 21\, to Tuesday\, August 18\, from 9 am to 4 pm in the FINA Gallery\, located in the Creative and Critical Studies building. 
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/the-structure-of-smoke-exhibition/
LOCATION:Creative and Critical Studies Building (CCS) – FINA Gallery\, 1148 Research Road\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Art Gallery,Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/05/SOS_View41_RTP-e1779207086118.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260720T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260720T130000
DTSTAMP:20260623T155901Z
CREATED:20260623T155247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T155901Z
UID:10025657-1784538000-1784552400@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Dissertation Defence: X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
DESCRIPTION:Mahdi Abbasian\, supervised by Dr. Phil Barker\, will defend their dissertation titled “X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein: Regulation and Function” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology. \nAn abstract for Mahdi Abbasian’s dissertation is included below. \nExaminations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person exams. \nAbstract\nX-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a direct endogenous inhibitor of caspases-3\, -7\, and -9 and also functions as a ubiquitin-signalling protein through its ubiquitin-associated and RING E3 ligase domains. Although XIAP has been extensively characterized biochemically\, its physiological importance remains highly controversial. This dissertation examined XIAP regulation and function across three biological settings: trophic-factor-deprived embryonic sensory neurons\, basal caspase regulation in developing and adult mouse tissues\, and collective migration of metastatic breast cancer cells. First\, I investigated XIAP regulation in embryonic dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons undergoing nerve growth factor deprivation-induced degeneration. XIAP protein declined early and reproducibly during deprivation\, in parallel with caspase-3 activation and axonal degeneration. Although MRT67307 preserved XIAP and protected axons\, IKKε deletion did not alter the deprivation response\, and the more selective TBK1 inhibitor GSK8612 failed to preserve XIAP or prevent degeneration. TBK1 and IKKε could phosphorylate XIAP in HEK293T cells\, but DRG data did not support these kinases as dominant physiological regulators of XIAP loss. Proteasome inhibition also failed to preserve XIAP despite ubiquitinated-protein accumulation\, and caspase-3 deletion did not prevent XIAP depletion. Thus\, XIAP loss during NGF deprivation occurs upstream of\, or in parallel with\, executioner caspase activation and was not explained by the tested kinase-\, proteasome-\, or caspase-dependent mechanisms. Second\, I examined XIAP function in basal caspase-3 restraint across embryonic\, postnatal\, and adult tissues. XIAP deletion increased cleaved caspase-3 accumulation in cultured E13.5 DRG explants and selected immature tissues\, whereas adult neuronal and non-neuronal tissues showed little detectable XIAP-dependent caspase-3 restraint under basal conditions. Third\, in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells\, XIAP loss did not consistently alter collective wound closure\, indicating that XIAP is not uniformly pro-migratory in this model. Together\, these findings support XIAP as a context-dependent regulator of caspase restraint and cell migration rather than as a uniformly anti-apoptotic or pro/anti-migratory factor.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/dissertation-defence-x-linked-inhibitor-of-apoptosis-protein/
LOCATION:Arts and Sciences Centre (ASC)\, 3187 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Mahdi-Abbasian.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T110000
DTSTAMP:20260618T155112Z
CREATED:20260421T155603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T155112Z
UID:10025530-1784624400-1784631600@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Tuesday Weekly Writing Community
DESCRIPTION:Tired of solo writing sessions? Craving a supportive environment to fuel your creativity? Look no further than our weekly writing community\, tailored for the UBC Okanagan community. \nYour projects\, your progress\nBring your own research and writing projects to the table! The writing community provides dedicated time for you to focus on your individual writing goals. Get ready to boost your productivity and make progress on your writing projects\, all within a supportive community environment. \nWhat you’ll experience:\nEach session is dedicated to your independent writing time. You can look forward to writing alongside others who\, like you\, are independently working on their own writing projects and goals. \nHighlights of the community:\n\nYour time to write: Join our weekly sessions with your writing and research materials ready\, and take full advantage of this opportunity to write without distractions.\nWrite together: Achieve your individual writing goals alongside other members of the UBCO community.\nGuided structure: Participate in the Pomodoro technique\, expertly facilitated by the Centre for Scholarly Communication.\nInclusivity: From undergraduates to faculty\, everyone in the UBCO community is welcome.\n\nYou’re invited to be part of this enriching community that builds community and fosters productivity. Register now and come prepared to amplify your writing endeavours. Let’s turn solitary writing into a group effort and make getting things done a community experience. \nRegister now \nQuestions? Please contact the CSC at csc.ok@ubc.ca.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/tuesday-weekly-writing-community-3/2026-07-21/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:Centre for Scholarly Communication,College of Graduate Studies,Library
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T130000
DTSTAMP:20260626T163526Z
CREATED:20260626T163526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T163526Z
UID:10025680-1784624400-1784638800@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Revisiting Canada’s oldest invasive plant biological control system
DESCRIPTION:Andres Mancera Barreto\, supervised by Dr. Jason Pither\, will defend their thesis titled “Revisiting Canada’s oldest invasive plant biological control system – Exploring ecological relationships influencing physical and metabolic characteristics of the invasive Hypericum perforatum” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology. \nAn abstract for Andres Mancera Barreto’s is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences. \nAbstract\nHypericum perforatum is an invasive plant introduced to North America in the 1700s. H. perforatum thrives in open\, sunny areas\, and produces toxic metabolites\, hypericins and hyperforin\, that cause health problems in herbivores. The plant’s toxicity has resulted in considerable expenses to ranchers. In response\, Canada developed its first biological control program in the 1950s\, introducing seven specialized insect herbivores from H. perforatum’s native range\, of which five established successfully. Several decades after the successful control of H. perforatum across Canada’s grasslands\, there are rising questions regarding the effectiveness of the insects in British Columbia as new reports claim observing persistent plant populations\, especially at higher elevations. To identify factors causing possible variation in biocontrol effectiveness we quantified the phenology\, abundance and morphology of 30 plants and the secondary metabolic profiles at the flowering stage of 5 individuals per site\, across 17 populations exposed to different geo-climatic conditions weekly from April to December 2024. We also measured the abundance\, phenology\, identity and herbivory of the released insects on the plants and across all sites to identify variations in plant responses to biological pressures. H. perforatum presents phenological differences associated with growing season length\, aspect and latitude. Increased insect presence and herbivory are associated with earlier plant sexual reproduction and senescence. Plants in populations facing east and west present greater metabolite concentrations than other populations and biological control abundance is associated with lower hyperforin concentration. We observed a trade-off between hyperforin and hypericin in H. perforatum\, with plants showing higher concentrations of one over the other. Our results flag candidate variables that may contribute to variation in biocontrol effectiveness\, particularly abundance and herbivory\, highlighting the need to investigate insects’ preferences to ensure future effective control. Although our results explore associations and are observational\, biocontrol appears to remain effective as plant coverage was low across all of our sites\, with no site averaging more than 25% coverage\, and plant absence was positively associated with increasing herbivory.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-revisiting-canadas-oldest-invasive-plant-biological-control-system/
LOCATION:University Centre (UNC)\, 3272 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Andres-Mancera-Barreto.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T130000
DTSTAMP:20260717T205904Z
CREATED:20260717T205904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260717T205904Z
UID:10025717-1784624400-1784638800@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Dissertation Defence: The Influence of Maturation and Sex on Sedentary Time\, Physical Activity and Lower Limb Vascular Function in Children and Adolescents
DESCRIPTION:Kate Sansum\, supervised by Dr. Ali McManus\, will defend their dissertation titled “The Influence of Maturation and Sex on Sedentary Time\, Physical Activity and Lower Limb Vascular Function in Children and Adolescents” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology. \nAn abstract for Kate Sansum’s dissertation is included below. \nExaminations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Please email ali.mcmanus@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this exam. \nAbstract\nResearch on the effects of maturation and sex on sedentary time\, physical activity (PA)\, and lower limb vascular health is limited\, but crucial for shaping guidelines for children and adolescents. This dissertation investigated how maturation and sex influence sedentary time\, PA\, and vascular function. Differences in sex and maturity for weekday and weekend sedentary time accumulation\, and associations with cardiometabolic risk factors were explored. While children and adolescents exhibit different sedentary time patterns\, no sex or maturity differences were identified. Sedentary bouts lasting over an hour were uncommon\, particularly on weekdays. Sit-to-stand transitions were associated with lower systolic blood pressure and body fat percentage\, indicating that frequent breaks in sitting may benefit cardiometabolic health. This dissertation also explored sex and maturity differences in superficial femoral artery function. Participants who had not reached peak height velocity (PHV) had higher vascular function than those who had passed PHV\, with no sex differences observed. This difference diminished after allometric scaling\, underscoring its significance in paediatric research. The relationships between stationary time\, PA\, stationary bout durations\, and cardiorespiratory fitness with vascular function were also investigated. Light-intensity PA and total PA were inversely related to vascular function\, whereas stationary time showed a positive association. These findings may reflect the problems with physical inactivity\, with only 23% of participants meeting the PA guidelines. Given the sedentary bout patterns identified in study one\, the final study assessed the impact of one hour of uninterrupted sitting on lower limb vascular function in pre-pubertal children\, adolescents\, and adults. Sitting significantly reduced vascular function\, with no differences in the response between sex or maturity groups.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/dissertation-defence-the-influence-of-maturation-and-sex-on-sedentary-time-physical-activity-and-lower-limb-vascular-function-in-children-and-adolescents/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Faculty of Health and Social Development
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T160000
DTSTAMP:20260626T163740Z
CREATED:20260626T163740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T163740Z
UID:10025682-1784635200-1784649600@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Integrating psychological services into a Canadian university student health clinic
DESCRIPTION:Alex Fountaine\, supervised by Dr. Lesley Lutes\, will defend their thesis titled “Integrating psychological services into a Canadian university student health clinic: a mixed-methods program evaluation” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology. \nAn abstract for Alex Fountaine’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences. \nAbstract\nThe prevalence of mental and behavioural health (MBH) concerns amongst post-secondary students is steadily increasing\, as is the demand for access to evidence-based MBH services on campus. For many students\, the campus student health clinic is a critical first point of contact for seeking and initiating MBH care. Evidence suggests that integrating psychologists (also known as primary care psychologists [PCPsychs]) into primary care clinics yields several key advantages including improved wait times\, patient and provider satisfaction\, and MBH outcomes. Despite this evidence\, widespread integration of psychological service in primary care clinic has been minimal in Canada\, especially within campus healthcare. Considered altogether\, integrating psychological services within university student health clinics presents a propitious opportunity to afford students with the evidence-based MBH care they increasingly require while filling a critical gap in the literature. The UBCO PCPsych Service consisted of the integration of a single PCPsych into the UBCO Student Health Clinic for one day per week over the course of two academic calendar years. A mixed-methods program evaluation was conducted to assess service reach and penetration\, feasibility\, acceptability\, and preliminary efficacy as well as\, explore patient and clinic team perspectives of the service. Descriptive analyses of service operations data\, pre-post clinical outcomes\, and reflexive thematic analysis of patient and clinic team qualitative survey responses demonstrated feasibility\, acceptability\, and preliminary efficacy of the UBCO PCPsych Service. Qualitative themes generated offered additional insight into the largely positive patient and clinic team perspectives and experiences with the service while also offering thoughtful recommendations to improve the service. Taken together\, the findings offer preliminary support for the integration of psychological services within student health clinic settings and demonstrates the overwhelming demand from students and campus stakeholders for more comprehensive and sustainable system of integrated student MBH care.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-integrating-psychological-services-into-a-canadian-university-student-health-clinic/
LOCATION:Arts and Sciences Centre (ASC)\, 3187 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Alex-Fountaine.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260721T180000
DTSTAMP:20260706T213934Z
CREATED:20260706T213934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T213934Z
UID:10025699-1784642400-1784656800@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Reading Wildfire: Mainstream Media\, Social Media\, and Community Sense-Making in Western Canada 2016-2023
DESCRIPTION:Blair Visscher\, supervised by Dr. Greg Garrard\, will defend their thesis titled “Reading Wildfire: Mainstream Media\, Social Media\, and Community Sense-Making in Western Canada 2016-2023″ in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies – Sustainability theme. \nAn abstract for Blair Visscher’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences. \nAbstract\nCanada’s escalating wildfire seasons have been accompanied by a parallel crisis in disaster communication: the progressive displacement of community voice from mainstream media coverage and a corresponding rise in institutional distrust and conspiracy framing on social media. This thesis investigates why rural community trust in emergency management institutions declined between 2016 and 2023\, and whether mainstream and social media systems reflected\, or produced\, that collapse. The investigation compares three Western Canadian wildland interface fires\, the 2016 Fort McMurray (Horse River) fire\, the 2021 White Rock Lake fire\, and the 2023 Bush Creek East fire\, using an interdisciplinary mixed-methods design that combines critical discourse and frame analysis of 109 mainstream news articles with a multi-method analysis of Facebook discourse comprising sentiment analysis (the NRC Valence-Arousal-Dominance lexicon and Understanding Emotion Dynamics framework)\, narrative network analysis\, and ecocritical close reading of viral posts. Findings show that emergency-official sourcing in mainstream coverage rose from 27 to 82 per cent of articles across the three fires while resident and evacuee voices fell from 30 to 18 per cent\, and that the community solidarity frame present in early coverage disappeared entirely by 2023. On Facebook\, the affective register of community storytelling shifted correspondingly\, from solidarity and institutional trust in 2016 to anger and a consolidated conspiratorial narrative network in 2023\, a transformation driven not by fire severity but by the interaction of platform algorithm changes privileging emotionally charged content\, pandemic-era erosion of institutional trust\, and Meta’s 2023 removal of Canadian news content from Facebook and Instagram in response to the Online News Act. The thesis develops vernacular environmental storytelling on Facebook as an original theoretical concept describing the community-generated\, affective sense-making practices through which people narrate lived experiences of ecological crisis\, and argues that the erosion of community voice in mainstream media and the escalation of distrust on social media are mutually reinforcing rather than independent processes. It concludes with a federal policy brief recommending repeal of the Online News Act in favour of direct public funding mechanisms for local journalism\, arguing that platform governance decisions during declared emergencies constitute a public safety\, not merely commercial\, concern.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-reading-wildfire-mainstream-media-social-media-and-community-sense-making-in-western-canada-2016-2023/
LOCATION:Creative and Critical Studies Building (CCS)\, 1148 Research Road\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/Blair-Visscher.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260722T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260722T130000
DTSTAMP:20260618T162949Z
CREATED:20260618T162949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T162949Z
UID:10025655-1784710800-1784725200@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Dissertation Defence: Modernizing Pavement Condition Assessment
DESCRIPTION:Ali Faisal\, supervised by Dr. Suliman Gargoum\, will defend their dissertation titled “Modernizing Pavement Condition Assessment: A Unified Framework Integrating Light Detection and Ranging and Computer Vision to Overcome Index Fragmentation” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering. \nAn abstract for Ali Faisal’s dissertation is included below. \nExaminations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. This examination will be offered in hybrid format.  Registration is not required to attend in person\, but please email suliman.gargoum@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this exam. \nAbstract\nPavement condition assessment remains fragmented across transportation agencies\, with inconsistent definitions\, thresholds\, and rating scales that limit comparability and decision consistency. This dissertation develops and validates a unified framework that combines LiDAR-based deformation measurement and vision-based crack into a single standardized pavement condition index. The work progresses in four stages. First\, a survey of 14 Canadian transportation agencies documents the current state of practice and confirms substantial index heterogeneity. Second\, LiDAR methods are developed and validated for rutting\, roughness (IRI)\, and pothole detection and quantification. These methods achieve practical agreement with references\, including rut-depth deviation near 2.5mm at operating thresholds\, IRI RMSE below 0.05 m/km\, and pothole geometric error below 5.6%\, while identifying practical minimum densities of approximately 230 ppsm for stable rutting/IRI and 205 ppsm for pothole reliability. Third\, a top-down crack segmentation and metrology workflow is developed for near-nadir roadway imagery\, achieving F1=0.871 and IoU=0.783 at the selected operating point and producing physically interpretable crack metrics (density\, width\, and coverage). Fourth\, these deformation and cracking outputs are integrated through severity-transfer functions\, calibrated weighting\, and section-level fusion to produce a Unified Pavement Condition Index. The full implementation is demonstrated on a 1.5km segment of Highway 97 through downtown Kelowna (15 sections). The computed corridor condition is PCI(100) =83.4 (PCI(5) =1.66). Validation against independent windshield ratings shows meaningful agreement with expert judgment (Pearson r = 0.74\, Spearman ρ = 0.81\, MAE=0.30 on the 1–5 scale\, ICC(2\,1)=0.85)\, with all sections within ±1 condition class. The resulting framework provides a repeatable\, implementable basis for standardized pavement condition assessment using complementary sensing technologies.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/dissertation-defence-modernizing-pavement-condition-assessment/
LOCATION:Engineering\, Management\, and Education Building (EME)\, 1137 Alumni Ave\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,School of Engineering
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260722T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260722T130000
DTSTAMP:20260623T160235Z
CREATED:20260623T160235Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T160235Z
UID:10025664-1784710800-1784725200@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Dissertation Defence: Why are narratives persuasive? An experimental test of a fundamental claim of narrative transportation theory
DESCRIPTION:Zakary Draper\, supervised by Dr. Elena Nicoladis\, will defend their dissertation titled “Why are narratives persuasive? An experimental test of a fundamental claim of narrative transportation theory” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychological Science. \nAn abstract for Zakary Draper’s dissertation is included below. \nExaminations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person exams. \nAbstract\nCanada’s Indian Residential School (IRS) program took Indigenous children away from their families and communities for the explicit purpose of eliminating Indigenous culture. Because of the IRS program and other past and present policies of the Canadian government and other institutions\, Indigenous Peoples in Canada suffer disproportionate harm. There is a need for Canadians to engage in reconciliation to repair the harm the IRS system and other policies have caused. \nReconciliation begins with learning about the past. History can be conveyed through narrative and expository messages. Narrative messages share history by representing stories. Expository messages primarily use arguments and rhetoric to convey their ideas. These two message types may both change beliefs and inspire action\, but according to narrative transportation theory\, they do so for different reasons. Narrative transportation theory posits that narratives engage readers’ imaginations\, attention\, and emotions in a convergent cognitive process referred to as transportation\, and that transportation is what makes narratives persuasive. \nPrior research has concluded support for the basic claim of narrative transportation theory that narratives are persuasive because they are transporting. These studies\, however\, have methodological flaws that preclude strong conclusions. The claim that narratives are persuasive because they are transporting is a claim of causal mediation (narratives cause transportation and then transportation causes persuasion). Testing causal mediation requires controlling for confounding between independent variable and mediator and between mediator and dependent variable. Existing studies do not control for confounding between mediator (transportation) and outcome (persuasion)\, meaning that estimates of mediation are likely inflated. \nThis dissertation conducted a direct test of mediation that controlled for this confounding by experimentally manipulating both narrative and transportation. Results indicated that narrative causes transportation; however\, findings did not suggest that narratives were persuasive because of transportation. These findings challenge the basic claim of narrative transportation theory. This dissertation conducted a direct test of mediation that controlled for this confounding by experimentally manipulating both narrative and transportation. Results indicated that narrative causes transportation; however\, findings did not suggest that narratives were persuasive because of transportation. These findings challenge the basic claim of narrative transportation theory.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/dissertation-defence-why-are-narratives-persuasive-an-experimental-test-of-a-fundamental-claim-of-narrative-transportation-theory/
LOCATION:Arts and Sciences Centre (ASC)\, 3187 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Zakary-Draper.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260722T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260722T130000
DTSTAMP:20260626T163826Z
CREATED:20260626T163826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T163826Z
UID:10025683-1784710800-1784725200@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: The impact of a 12-week exercise snack intervention on inflammatory markers and immune function in people living with obesity
DESCRIPTION:Ella Harness\, supervised by Dr. Jonathan Little\, will defend their thesis titled “The impact of a 12-week exercise snack intervention on inflammatory markers and immune function in people living with obesity” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Health and Exercise Sciences. \nAn abstract for Ella Harness’ thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences. \nAbstract\nPrevalence of obesity (excess adiposity which poses a risk to health) has more than doubled in the past 30 years\, with physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles being significant contributors to this increase. Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation\, and although exercise provides anti-inflammatory effects through changes in immune cell phenotype and function\, many people living with obesity do not meet physical activity guidelines. Exercise snacks involve short (≤1 minute) bouts of vigorous physical activity performed throughout the day and may represent an accessible way to increase physical activity and interrupt sedentary time. In lab-based studies\, exercise snacks appear to improve cardiorespiratory fitness while early real-world interventions support feasibility and tolerability. However\, the impact of exercise snacks on inflammatory markers and immune function remains unknown. In this thesis\, 51 inactive adults living with obesity (47F\, 4M; Age 50±7 yrs; BMI 35.3±4.3 kg/m2) were randomized to exercise snacks (n=26\, 4 x 1-min vigorous bouts per day on ≥5 days per week) or a stretching/mobility exercise comparator group (n=25\, on the same prescription)\, supported by a smartphone application. Pre- and post-intervention fasting blood samples were analysed for plasma cytokines\, immune cell counts\, monocyte phenotype\, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion from whole blood. There were no significant changes observed for plasma cytokines (p>0.21) or total white blood cell count (p=0.74). There was\, however\, a significant decrease in monocytes in both groups post-intervention (main effect of time\, p<0.05). Although there were no differences in monocyte subset distribution (p>0.099)\, a significant decrease in surface expression of the key LPS sensing protein\, TLR4\, was observed on all monocyte subsets in both groups post-intervention (main effect of time\, p<0.001). Despite these changes in TLR4\, immune function assessed by LPS-induced TNF-α secretion was unaltered (p>0.214). Overall\, these data suggest an effect of interrupting sedentary time with both vigorous exercise snacks and light-intensity mobility/stretching breaks on reducing monocyte counts and TLR4 expression in people living with obesity.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-the-impact-of-a-12-week-exercise-snack-intervention-on-inflammatory-markers-and-immune-function-in-people-living-with-obesity/
LOCATION:Reichwald Health Sciences Centre (RHS)\, 1088 Discovery Avenue\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Faculty of Health and Social Development
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260722T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260722T214500
DTSTAMP:20260714T161630Z
CREATED:20260625T155648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260714T161630Z
UID:10025674-1784750400-1784756700@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Earth Hour Concert
DESCRIPTION:Contemporary Canadian composer Frank Horvat is the 2026 Woodhaven Artist in Residence. He will spend four weeks at the centre\, where he will work on a new composition in his Earth Hour series\, his decades-spanning series of solo piano compositions. Frank Horvat is “one of the most inventive songwriters to come out of the contemporary scene in Canada” (WholeNote Magazine) and a multi-genre composer who has “carved a niche for himself among today’s composers\, wearing his fragile heart on his sleeve” (CBC Classical). His work moves between themes of love\, the environment\, and social justice\, drawing on deeply personal stories while giving listeners space to ponder their own. \nDuring the residency in Kelowna\, Horvat is offering a free public performance at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre\, Earth Hour 1\, performed for the first time outside\, in darkness\, with the forest as the concert hall. \nJoin us on Wednesday\, July 22\, from 8 to 9:45 pm at the Woodhaven Eco Centre. \nSite open: 8:00 pm\nComposer chat: 8:30 pm\nPerformance: 8:45–9:45 \nThis outdoor performance is free and open to all. Please RSVP to fccs.ubco@ubc.ca to give us an idea of the numbers for the event. \nPlease note: As parking space is limited at the house\, we ask that you plan to park on Raymer Rd\, alongside the houses (not along the fence) and walk up the driveway\, or if spaces are taken\, you can park in the lot at the Woodhaven Park\, and then walk to the property (about 10 minutes). The park address is 4711 Raymer Rd\, and the house address is 969 Raymer Road. We encourage carpooling! \nWoodhaven Artist in Residence Program
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/earth-hour-concert/
LOCATION:Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre\, 969 Raymer Road\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1W 1K1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Frank_Horvat_EarthHour.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260723T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260723T130000
DTSTAMP:20260623T155856Z
CREATED:20260623T155342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T155856Z
UID:10025658-1784797200-1784811600@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Dissertation Defence: Differential Equation-Constrained Local Polynomial Regression Models
DESCRIPTION:Chunlei Ge\, supervised by Dr. John Braun\, will defend their dissertation titled “Differential Equation-Constrained Local Polynomial Regression Models” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics. \nAn abstract for Chunlei Ge’s dissertation is included below. \nExaminations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. This examination will be offered in hybrid format.  Registration is not required to attend in person\, but please email john.braun@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this exam. \nAbstract\nThis thesis develops a unified framework of differential equation constrained local polynomial regression (DE-constrained LPR) for nonparametric estimation of a smooth mean function g(x) whose derivative structure is governed by an ordinary differential equation (ODE). The central motivation is the prevalence of sparse\, irregularly spaced data in the life and environmental sciences\, where physical or biological knowledge encoded in an ODE can compensate for the scarcity of observations that would otherwise render conventional smoothers unreliable. \nThe framework is developed progressively across five model classes. The DE1-k estimator is first introduced for the exponential growth model g′(x) = λg(x) (Chapter 3)\, then extended to the nonlinear quasi-exponential model g′(x) = λgα(x) (Chapter 4)\, the general first-order linear ODE g′(x) = a(x)g(x) + b(x) with arbitrary coefficient functions (Chapter 5)\, and the fully general nonlinear constraint g′(x) = F(x\,g(x)) (Chapter 6). Chapter 7 removes the first-order restriction\, developing DE2-k and DE3-k estimators for second- and third-order ODE constraints\, respectively. \nFor each model class\, conditional asymptotic bias and variance expressions are derived\, and data-driven bandwidth selection procedures are established. A key finding\, consistent across all chapters\, is that ODE constraints reduce bias without inflating variance relative to unconstrained local polynomial regression\, with the largest gains occurring in sparse-design settings where physical structure is most needed to guide estimation. Corrected bias theorems for the DE2-k and DE3-k estimators\, which account for the Jacobian structure of the higher-dimensional nonlinear least squares problem\, are among the principal theoretical contributions of the thesis. \nThree real-data applications demonstrate the breadth of the framework: mouse tumour growth data (exponential and quasi-exponential model)\, fire brand burning rate data with as few as three observations per group (general linear model)\, and Korean influenza-like illness surveillance data analysed via the SIR epidemiological model (higher-order model). In each setting\, DE-constrained LPR recovers smooth\, scientifically interpretable curves that unconstrained methods cannot produce at the available sample sizes.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/dissertation-defence-differential-equation-constrained-local-polynomial-regression-models/
LOCATION:Arts and Sciences Centre (ASC)\, 3187 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Chunlei-Ge.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260723T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260723T120000
DTSTAMP:20260714T170703Z
CREATED:20260714T170703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260714T170703Z
UID:10025712-1784800800-1784808000@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:ReMedia Symposium
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Barbara Dynda is a postdoctoral researcher at the Polish Academy of Sciences and the University of Warsaw. Her research focuses on feminist and queer grassroots culture\, history and activism in the post-socialist era. She is currently a Visiting Scholar in Residence with the ReMedia Infrastructure for Research and Creation (ReMedia) at UBC Okanagan\, where she will work with Drs. Emily Murphy and Maria Alexopoulos on research and creative initiatives. Drs. Murphy and Alexopoulos are faculty members in the Department of English and Cultural Studies. \nReMedia\, led by Dr. Murphy\, supports research that combines cultural memory\, media and embodied methods. ReMedia projects investigate a range of subjects\, including comics\, literature\, performance\, social media platforms\, memes\, modernist robots—and now zines. \nOn July 23\, the team is hosting a symposium to showcase some of Dynda’s work and will include other zines and collections by Dr. George Grinnell’s Punk Pedagogy Project. Drs. Dynda and Grinnell will present this work in conversation with Drs. Alexopoulos and Murphy. \nThis event is free and open to all and will take place at UBC Okanagan in the Sawchuk Theatre from 10 am until noon. \nAbout Dr. Barbara Dynda\nDr. Barbara Dynda is a postdoctoral researcher at the Polish Academy of Sciences and the University of Warsaw. Her research focuses on feminist and queer grassroots culture\, history and activism in the post-socialist era. She is a recipient of a Duke University scholarship and research grants from the Polish National Science Centre. Dynda is a member of research projects: CCINDLE (coordinated by the University of Amsterdam) and QUEER IT (Humboldt University in Berlin and the University of Warsaw). Her work has been published\, among others\, by Routledge\, University of Toronto Press\, and Atlantis. She is currently working on a book about Polish anarcho-feminist and queer zines\, which will be published by the University of Massachusetts Press in fall 2026.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/remedia-symposium/
LOCATION:The Commons (COM) – Sawchuk Family Theatre (Engagement Theatre)\, 3297 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/ReMedia_symposium.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260723T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260723T170000
DTSTAMP:20260702T224346Z
CREATED:20260702T224346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T224346Z
UID:10025694-1784820600-1784826000@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Book Talk: Becoming Ecological
DESCRIPTION:Can everyday conversation be the catalyst for change? Join authors Derek Gladwin and Kedrick James for a discussion on language and the ecological crisis\, centered on their book\, Becoming Ecological. \nThe book offers a new perspective as it explores how language\, meaning and communication can support us in the process of “becoming ecological” in our daily lives. From food and compost to AI\, climate anxiety\, and even the nature of reality\, the book is a hopeful invitation to see the world a little differently. \nLearn how the words we use can shift how we think\, relate to one another\, and imagine the future. Leave with a fresh way of looking at the world around you. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A. \nEvent is free to attend and welcome to all. As space is limited\, we do ask that you please register. \nREGISTER \nMeet the authors\nDr. Derek Gladwin is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at UBC Vancouver\, where he teaches in the Department of Language and Literacy Education and is a Faculty Associate in the Institute for Resources\, Environment and Sustainability. He co-founded UBC’s Systems Beings Lab and the Collaborative Transdisciplinary PhD Cohort in Energy Transition. \nA former UBC Sustainability Fellow and Catalyst Scholar in the Wall Institute for Advanced Studies\, his research explores how “education” as a widely conceived approach can support societal transformation through systems literacy\, socio-ecological awareness\, regenerative learning models\, practical philosophy\, and arts-based inquiry. He is the author or editor of eight books\, including Ecological Exile (2018)\, Rewriting Our Stories (2021)\, and Becoming Ecological (2026). He also serves as Senior Editor for Environmental & Sustainability Education in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. \nDr. Kedrick James is currently Director of the UBC Okanagan School of Education and a Professor of Teaching in Language and Literacy Education\, Faculty of Education at UBC Vancouver. His diverse background\, including roles in education\, digital literacy and language studies\, the arts and ecology\, informs his interdisciplinary approach to scholarly research\, teaching and service. Formerly director of the Digital Literacy Centre at UBC\, he created public place- and arts-based educational technologies. \nHis leadership and multiple advisory roles within the UBC Faculty of Education underscore his dedication to academic excellence and mentorship. Dr. James was honoured with the Murray Elliott Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education in 2018 and has served as a UBC Sustainability Fellow. He is a co-Chair of the upcoming 2026 International Symposium on Poetic Inquiry and teaches courses both in Canada and in Mexico.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/book-talk-becoming-ecological/
LOCATION:Okanagan Regional Library (Downtown Kelowna)\, 1380 Ellis\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1Y 2A2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Okanagan School of Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/BecomingEcological-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260724T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260724T130000
DTSTAMP:20260623T155909Z
CREATED:20260623T155418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T155909Z
UID:10025659-1784883600-1784898000@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Development and Validation of a Multi-Degree of Freedom Dynamic Platform for Hand Tremor Suppression Device Design
DESCRIPTION:Jintao An\, supervised by Dr. Hadi Mohammadi\, will defend their thesis titled “Development and Validation of a Multi-Degree of Freedom Dynamic Platform for Hand Tremor Suppression Device Design” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering. \nAn abstract for Jintao An’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Please email hadi.mohammadi@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this defence. \nAbstract\nHand tremor is one of the most prevalent motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor\, often interfering with activities of daily living and reducing quality of life. Non-invasive mechanical tremor suppression devices have emerged as a promising engineering-based approach for attenuating pathological tremors. However\, their development and validation require a repeatable\, adjustable\, and quantitative testing platform capable of reproducing tremor-like motions under controlled conditions. Existing evaluation methods are often limited by poor repeatability\, restricted parameter adjustability\, and an inability to assess multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) responses. \nTo address these limitations\, this thesis presents the development of a three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) hand tremor simulation platform. The platform was designed using dynamic hand parameters and tremor characteristics reported in the literature. Rather than replicating the full anatomical and neuromuscular complexity of the human upper limb\, the system models hand tremor as a controllable mechanical vibration problem. The simulator reproduces translational motion representative of wrist flexion–extension and rotational motion associated with forearm pronation–supination. Key operating parameters\, including excitation frequency\, response amplitude\, and rotational coupling\, can be adjusted to emulate a range of tremor conditions. \nA multi-sensor measurement system was implemented to capture both translational and rotational responses. Following calibration\, cross-validation between sensors demonstrated greater than 95% agreement\, confirming the accuracy and reliability of the measurement framework. To further validate the platform\, a previously investigated T-beam vibration absorber was employed as a benchmark tremor suppression device. Across the 4–7 Hz test range\, the measured attenuation trends closely matched previously reported theoretical and experimental results\, demonstrating the platform’s ability to reproduce expected suppression behaviour. \nThe results confirm that the developed platform provides a reliable and quantitative environment for evaluating mechanical tremor suppression devices through before-and-after response comparisons. As such\, it serves as an effective tool for the design\, optimization\, and preliminary validation of next-generation non-invasive tremor attenuation technologies.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-development-and-validation-of-a-multi-degree-of-freedom-dynamic-platform-for-hand-tremor-suppression-device-design/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,School of Engineering
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Jintao-An.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260724T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260724T143000
DTSTAMP:20260706T213819Z
CREATED:20260706T213819Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T213819Z
UID:10025698-1784889000-1784903400@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Robust Model-based Clustering via Mixtures of Multivariate Pseudo-Voigt Distributions
DESCRIPTION:Babak Fathollahi Dehkordi\, supervised by Dr. Jeffrey Andrews\, will defend their thesis titled “Robust Model-based Clustering via Mixtures of Multivariate Pseudo-Voigt Distributions” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mathematics. \nAn abstract for Babak Fathollahi Dehkordi’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Please email jeff.andrews@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this defence. \nAbstract\nWe propose a multivariate extension of the pseudo-Voigt profile—a weighted convex combination of Gaussian and Cauchy distributions—within a finite mixture modeling framework for robust model-based clustering and outlier detection. To ensure parsimony and coherence within clusters\, shared location and scale parameters are imposed between the Gaussian and Cauchy components. Parameter estimation is carried out via an Expectation–Conditional Maximization algorithm\, with latent variables facilitating efficient likelihood-based inference. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated through simulation studies and applications to real-world data. Comparisons with established robust models\, including mixtures of contaminated normal distributions\, are provided to illustrate the model’s clustering accuracy and outlier detection capabilities. The framework is shown to be particularly effective for data characterized by heavy-tailed behavior. \n 
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-robust-model-based-clustering-via-mixtures-of-multivariate-pseudo-voigt-distributions/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/Babak-Fathollahi-Dehkordi.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260727T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260727T170000
DTSTAMP:20260706T213448Z
CREATED:20260706T213448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T213448Z
UID:10025695-1785157200-1785171600@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Prisoners’ justice day: collective memory and solidarity in captivity
DESCRIPTION:Bethany Sanjenko\, supervised by Dr. Bonar Buffam\, will defend their thesis titled “Prisoners’ justice day: collective memory and solidarity in captivity” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies – Power\, Conflict\, and Ideas theme. \nAn abstract for Bethany Sanjenko’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences. \nAbstract\nPrisoners Justice Day is an annual protest that began in 1975 as a response to the death of Eddie Nalon in solitary confinement at Kingston Penitentiary. During the past 50 years\, there have been no explorations into what has allowed Prisoners’ Justice Day to remain relevant across decades\, varying political climates\, and changes to the Canadian penal system. This research examines this issue through the lens of collective memory and the theoretical framework of critical discourse analysis to discover the key to this movement’s longevity over time. The dataset used for this research is a compilation of prisoner-produced publications from 1975 until 2024 and made accessible through the Penal Press. These materials offer firsthand accounts of carceral life and provide prisoners with opportunities to communicate with one another and unite through common grievances. Writing pertaining to Prisoners’ Justice Day was analyzed and coded based on emergent themes\, leading to the thesis’ focus on memory and solidarity. The thesis argues that the penal press behaves as a medium through which a collective memory can be created by prisoners within various institutions. Collective memory consists of a set of memories that is unique to a particular group and informs group identity. Feelings of group solidarity are simultaneously reinforced in this collective memory by reminding prisoners of their shared goals and the traumas they have experienced as a group. This thesis argues that through the use of collective memory and solidarity practices enabled through the penal press\, Prisoners’ Justice Day has remained a significant and consistent part of the prison justice movement as a whole.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-prisoners-justice-day-collective-memory-and-solidarity-in-captivity/
LOCATION:University Centre (UNC)\, 3272 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/Bethany-Sanjenko.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260728T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260728T110000
DTSTAMP:20260618T155112Z
CREATED:20260421T155603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T155112Z
UID:10025531-1785229200-1785236400@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Tuesday Weekly Writing Community
DESCRIPTION:Tired of solo writing sessions? Craving a supportive environment to fuel your creativity? Look no further than our weekly writing community\, tailored for the UBC Okanagan community. \nYour projects\, your progress\nBring your own research and writing projects to the table! The writing community provides dedicated time for you to focus on your individual writing goals. Get ready to boost your productivity and make progress on your writing projects\, all within a supportive community environment. \nWhat you’ll experience:\nEach session is dedicated to your independent writing time. You can look forward to writing alongside others who\, like you\, are independently working on their own writing projects and goals. \nHighlights of the community:\n\nYour time to write: Join our weekly sessions with your writing and research materials ready\, and take full advantage of this opportunity to write without distractions.\nWrite together: Achieve your individual writing goals alongside other members of the UBCO community.\nGuided structure: Participate in the Pomodoro technique\, expertly facilitated by the Centre for Scholarly Communication.\nInclusivity: From undergraduates to faculty\, everyone in the UBCO community is welcome.\n\nYou’re invited to be part of this enriching community that builds community and fosters productivity. Register now and come prepared to amplify your writing endeavours. Let’s turn solitary writing into a group effort and make getting things done a community experience. \nRegister now \nQuestions? Please contact the CSC at csc.ok@ubc.ca.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/tuesday-weekly-writing-community-3/2026-07-28/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:Centre for Scholarly Communication,College of Graduate Studies,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2024/01/Laptop-6-e1776786934148.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260728T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260728T133000
DTSTAMP:20260708T220903Z
CREATED:20260708T220903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T220903Z
UID:10025707-1785231000-1785245400@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Refugee youth perceptions of mental health and facilitators and barriers to help-seeking
DESCRIPTION:Yassin Mahat\, supervised by Dr. Carla Hilario\, will defend their thesis titled “Refugee youth perceptions of mental health and facilitators and barriers to help-seeking” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nursing. \nAn abstract for Yassin Mahat’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Please email carla.hilario@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this defence. \nAbstract\nBackground: Refugee-background youth are at increased risk for mental health challenges due to exposure to traumatic experiences before migration\, during migration and throughout the resettlement process. Despite this need\, they underutilize mental health services compared to their non-immigrant peers and are more likely to seek help as a last resort and often at the emergency department. While previous research has identified barriers to accessing care\, it has largely focused on adult refugees or on service providers perspectives. As a result\, there is limited research that centres youth perspectives within the Canadian context and especially Metro Vancouver. In this study\, ‘refugee-background youth’ refers to individuals who experienced forced migration as well as those born in Canada to refugee families whose lives are shaped by histories of displacement. \nResearch Question: What are the perspectives of refugee-background youth on mental health\, mental health care\, and the barriers and facilitators that influence their help-seeking? \nMethodology: This qualitative study employed interpretive description to explore the experiences of refugee-background youth with a goal of informing nursing practice. The study adopted interpretivist and constructivist philosophical perspectives which focus on how individuals understand and make meaning of their experiences. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory was used as a theoretical framework to examine how multiple environmental factors namely within the microsystem\, mesosystem\, exosystem\, macrosystem and chronosystem influence help-seeking. Data collection was conducted through individual semi-structured interviews with ten refugee-background youth (aged 17-24) living in Metro Vancouver. Data analysis was done using reflexive thematic analysis. This process involved six phases: data familiarization\, generating initial codes\, developing candidate themes\, reviewing and refining themes\, defining and naming themes\, and producing the final report. \nResults: Five themes were identified: (1) developing new understandings of mental health through migration and resettlement n (2) stigma\, fear of judgment\, and discrimination make it difficult to talk about mental health (3) family relationships influence youth decisions about seeking help (4) relationships and cultural factors shape youth engagement with mental health services (5) help-seeking often occurs in times of crisis. The study found that refugee youth tended to delay seeking formal mental health support until they reached a point of crisis. This progressive delay was influenced by limited early mental health knowledge\, stigma at multiple levels\, family influence\, lack of trust in services\, and difficulties navigating the healthcare system. \nDiscussion: The findings highlight the need for mental health services that prioritize early support\, are culturally appropriate and reflect the conditions that participants identified as preconditions: safety\, trust and confidentiality which are consistent with principles of trauma informed practice The study has implications for nursing practice\, nursing education\, nursing research and health policy. It also contributes new and contextualized qualitative evidence to the literature on refugee youth mental health and help-seeking.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-refugee-youth-perceptions-of-mental-health-and-facilitators-and-barriers-to-help-seeking/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Faculty of Health and Social Development
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/Yassin-Mahat.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260728T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260728T110000
DTSTAMP:20260623T165107Z
CREATED:20260611T154755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T165107Z
UID:10025640-1785232800-1785236400@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Q & A Session: Writing the CGRS-D Scholarship Application
DESCRIPTION:Are you preparing your CGRS-D (NSERC\, CIHR\, SSHRC) application? \nThis online Q&A session\, facilitated by the College of Graduate Studies and the Centre for Scholarly Communication\, provides an opportunity to ask questions about writing and submitting the application. There will be no presentation\, so please come prepared with questions. \nThis Q&A is supplemented with asynchronous Canvas learning modules\, where you can find detailed information and resources on applying for the CGRS-D. \nJuly 28 Registration \nAugust 12 Registration \nCanvas CGRS-D Course
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/q-a-session-writing-the-cgrs-d-scholarship-application/2026-07-28/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:Centre for Scholarly Communication,College of Graduate Studies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/CGRS-D.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260730T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260730T090000
DTSTAMP:20260624T230205Z
CREATED:20260615T220116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T230205Z
UID:10025646-1785398400-1785402000@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Design Your Future: Master of Design Program Information Session
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a one-hour virtual information session to learn more about the Master of Design (MDes) program at UBC Okanagan\, a unique 12-month graduate program for emerging design leaders. \nThis session will cover: \n\nAn overview of the MDes program structure and curriculum\nHow the program fosters skills in human-centred design\, innovation\, creativity\, entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration.\nApplication requirements\, deadlines and funding information\n\nYou’ll also have the chance to ask questions and connect directly with program staff. \nWhether you’re a recent graduate or a professional looking to deepen your skills in order to bridge the gap between technical and creative worlds\, this session will help you determine if the MDes program is the right fit for your goals. \nIdeal for recent graduates or professionals from engineering\, technical\, business\, creative or arts backgrounds. \nRegister Here
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/design-your-future-master-of-design-program-information-session/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies,Master of Design,School of Engineering
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/SOE-MDes-Horizontal1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260730T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260730T130000
DTSTAMP:20260618T162631Z
CREATED:20260618T162631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T162631Z
UID:10025651-1785402000-1785416400@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Dissertation Defence: Ditch and Deflection Berm Design to Mitigate Sediment-Laden Flows from Small Watersheds Affected by Wildfires
DESCRIPTION:Kaushal Gnyawali\, supervised by Dr. Dwayne Tannant\, will defend their dissertation titled “Ditch and Deflection Berm Design to Mitigate Sediment-Laden Flows from Small Watersheds Affected by Wildfires” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering. \nAn abstract for Kaushal Gnyawali’s dissertation is included below. \nExaminations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. This examination will be offered in hybrid format.  Registration is not required to attend in person\, but please email dwayne.tannant@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this exam. \nAbstract\nPost-wildfire debris flows in small watersheds (less than 5 km²) pose persistent hazards to rural communities\, First Nations\, and road and highway infrastructure across south-central British Columbia. Existing design approaches\, developed for larger watersheds under different geological and climatic conditions\, do not reliably apply to small\, burned watersheds in the BC Interior. This thesis develops a methodology to assess post-wildfire debris-flow hazard\, design terrain-based mitigation structures\, and evaluate structural performance under design flow conditions. The empirical foundation is a systematic dataset of post-wildfire flow events compiled through fieldwork across south-central BC. \nBased on this evidence base\, regionally calibrated debris-flow volume-estimation models were developed alongside design hydrographs derived from the SCS Curve Number method with sediment bulking. Post-wildfire flows were simulated in 2D using HEC-RAS with Newtonian and Bingham (non-Newtonian) rheology on high-resolution terrain. An analytical framework was developed to evaluate existing terrain-based mitigation structures — including riprap-lined channels and deflection berms — against post-wildfire design flows. The framework was further applied to guide the design of new storage basins\, deflection berms\, and diversion ditches. Volume and discharge estimates carry substantial uncertainty\, reflecting limited regional data\, the perishable nature of post-wildfire field evidence\, and rapid landscape recovery that obscures deposits between successive events. The tools are calibrated for screening-level assessment and are applicable during the first post-fire recovery period using remotely sensed inputs. \nWilson Creek\, West Kelowna\, BC—affected by the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire—serves as a comprehensive application of the integrated methodology. A two-zone mitigation system was designed\, comprising an upper storage basin with an earth berm and a lower diversion system. Structural performance was assessed through numerical simulation. The methodology can be implemented using standard earthworks equipment and freely available software\, including the Python tools developed as part of this work\, making this approach practical for the rural and First Nations communities most exposed to post-wildfire debris-flow risk in BC.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/dissertation-defence-ditch-and-deflection-berm-design-to-mitigate-sediment-laden-flows-from-small-watersheds-affected-by-wildfires/
LOCATION:Engineering\, Management\, and Education Building (EME)\, 1137 Alumni Ave\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,School of Engineering
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Kaushal-Gnyawali.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260730T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260730T133000
DTSTAMP:20260708T220718Z
CREATED:20260708T220718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T220718Z
UID:10025706-1785403800-1785418200@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Radio Recombination Line Forecasts with the Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD)
DESCRIPTION:Duncan Cameron-Steinke\, supervised by Dr. Alex Hill\, will defend their thesis titled “Radio Recombination Line Forecasts with the Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD)” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mathematics. \nAn abstract for Duncan Cameron-Steinke’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences. \nAbstract\nThe Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD) is a 512-dish radio interferometer telescope under construction at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) near Penticton\, British Columbia. This work estimates the capabilities of CHORD for detecting Radio Recombination Lines (RRLs) in the frequency range of 300-1500 MHz. This work analyzes the Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) present at DRAO and finds that 79 Hydrogen Alpha RRL transitions are likely to be detectable. This work derives the theoretical sensitivity of CHORD to diffuse sources and explores the expected signal-to-noise gains by stacking multiple RRLs. We propose site locations to add additional dishes as part of Extension CHORD\, and find that adding 32 dishes across two locations can improve angular resolution by 44\% while decreasing sensitivity by 25\%. Finally\, we take published results of the Survey of Ionized Gas in the Galaxy Made with the Arecibo Telescope (SIGGMA)\, and estimate CHORD’s detection capabilities given those results. We find that CHORD should have the sensitivity to match each of SIGGMA’s detections using four observing days and can improve upon each SIGGMA detection in both sensitivity and angular resolution after 9 observing days.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-radio-recombination-line-forecasts-with-the-canadian-hydrogen-observatory-and-radio-transient-detector-chord/
LOCATION:Arts and Sciences Centre (ASC)\, 3187 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/Duncan-Cameron-Steinke.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260731T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260731T130000
DTSTAMP:20260618T161709Z
CREATED:20260609T161934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T161709Z
UID:10025620-1785488400-1785502800@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Data-Driven Robust Optimization for the Operational Design of Electric Vehicle Battery Swapping Stations Under Multi-Source Uncertainty
DESCRIPTION:Quanyu Long\, supervised by  Dr. Babak Tosarkani\, will defend their thesis titled “Data-Driven Robust Optimization for the Operational Design of Electric Vehicle Battery Swapping Stations Under Multi-Source Uncertainty” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering. \nAn abstract for Quanyu Long’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Please email babak.tosarkani@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this defence. \nAbstract\nThe rapid growth of electric vehicles has increased interest in battery swapping stations (BSSs) as a practical alternative to conventional charging\, particularly for reducing charging time and improving service convenience. However\, effective BSS operation requires coordinated decisions on battery swapping\, charging\, inventory management\, energy sourcing\, and battery recovery under uncertain operating conditions. This thesis develops a decision-support framework for the operation of an electric vehicle BSS that integrates seller-supported battery supply\, refurbishment-center returns\, and hybrid energy sourcing from the grid\, solar power\, and wind energy. The research is conducted in two stages. First\, a deterministic MILP model is developed to maximize station profit while satisfying operational\, technical\, and inventory constraints. Second\, the deterministic model is extended into a data-driven robust optimization framework that captures multi-source uncertainty using principal component analysis (PCA) and robust kernel density estimation (RKDE) to construct a budgeted polyhedral uncertainty set from historical data. \nThe proposed framework is applied to a case study of a battery swapping station in Tongliao\, China. Results from the deterministic model show that greater seller participation reduces unmet demand by improving battery inflow stability\, while higher residual energy in returned batteries improves profitability and lowers emissions-related charging costs by reducing dependence on additional grid-based charging. The data-driven robust optimization results further show that the proposed PCA and RKDE framework provides a practical way to represent uncertainty while preserving computational tractability. The robust model supports more reliable charging\, inventory\, and energy-allocation decisions under adverse conditions\, and the sensitivity analysis of the uncertainty-set parameters highlights the trade-off between conservatism and operational flexibility. This thesis provides an integrated and data-driven optimization framework for battery swapping station operation and provides managerial insights as well as practical implications for improving the reliability\, economic performance\, and sustainability of future electric vehicle energy service systems.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-data-driven-robust-optimization-for-the-operational-design-of-electric-vehicle-battery-swapping-stations-under-multi-source-uncertainty/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,School of Engineering
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/06/Quanyu-Long.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260731T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260731T130000
DTSTAMP:20260626T163626Z
CREATED:20260626T163626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T163626Z
UID:10025681-1785488400-1785502800@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Dissertation Defence: Graphitization of Lignocellulosic Bio-mass via Hydrothermal Carbonization and Spark Plasma Sintering
DESCRIPTION:Mitchell Ross Barrett\, supervised by Dr. Lukas Bichler\, will defend their dissertation titled “Graphitization of Lignocellulosic Bio-mass via Hydrothermal Carbonization and Spark Plasma Sintering: Applications in Li-ion Batteries” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering. \nAn abstract for Mitchell Ross Barrett’s dissertation is included below. \nExaminations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. This examination will be offered in hybrid format.  Registration is not required to attend in person\, but please email lukas.bichler@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this exam. \nAbstract\nGraphite is the dominant anode material used in lithium-ion batteries; however\, conventional graphite production relies on mining or energy-intensive graphitization processes that exceed 2500 ºC. This dissertation investigates a sustainable alternative through the production of bio-graphite from lignocellulosic biomass using a combination of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). \nMultiple biomass feedstocks\, including arbutus bark\, coffee grounds\, seaweed\, milfoil\, and sawdust\, were converted into hydrochar through HTC. The effects of feedstock type and HTC processing conditions on yield\, composition\, and structural development were evaluated. Increasing HTC temperature and time promoted carbon enrichment and aromatization while reducing oxygen content and solid yield. Among the feedstocks investigated\, arbutus bark produced hydrochar with favourable characteristics for subsequent graphitization. \nThe hydrochars were converted into graphitic carbon using SPS at temperatures between 1200 ºC and 1900 ºC\, pressures between 5 MPa and 60 MPa\, and hold times of 10 and 30 minutes. Raman spectroscopy\, X-ray diffraction\, elemental analysis\, pycnometry\, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that SPS temperature was the dominant parameter controlling graphitic ordering and crystallite development. The optimized condition of 1900 ºC\, 40 MPa\, and 10 minutes produced the highest degree of graphitic ordering while requiring substantially lower temperatures and shorter processing times than conventional graphitization methods. \nThe optimized SPS-derived bio-graphite was evaluated as a lithium-ion battery anode material. Following particle size reduction\, the material exhibited stable reversible lithium storage with discharge capacities of approximately 140-150 mAh/g and capacity retention of 84-92% after 500 cycles. Extended cycling to 1000 cycles demonstrated continued reversible lithium-storage behaviour\, while rate capability testing showed measurable capacity retention at rates up to 9 C. \nOverall\, this work demonstrated that HTC followed by SPS is a viable route for producing graphitic carbon from renewable biomass feedstocks. Although the electrochemical performance remained below that of highly optimized commercial graphite\, the resulting bio-graphite exhibited promising cycling stability\, extended cycle life\, and reasonable rate capability while being produced using significantly reduced graphitization temperatures and processing times.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/dissertation-defence-graphitization-of-lignocellulosic-bio-mass-via-hydrothermal-carbonization-and-spark-plasma-sintering/
LOCATION:Engineering\, Management\, and Education Building (EME)\, 1137 Alumni Ave\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,School of Engineering
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260731T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260731T140000
DTSTAMP:20260706T215105Z
CREATED:20260706T215105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T215105Z
UID:10025702-1785492000-1785506400@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Indigenous Cultural Safety in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
DESCRIPTION:Lakoda Thomas\, supervised by Dr. Zach Walsh\, will defend their thesis titled “Indigenous Cultural Safety in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: A Qualitative Analysis” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology. \nAn abstract for Lakoda Thomas’ thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Please email zachary.walsh@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this defence. \nAbstract\nIndigenous Peoples in North America face distinct barriers to access mental health care\, including psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAT). Although PAT has demonstrated efficacy for treatment-resistant mental health disorders\, limited diversity in psychedelic research and the importance of set and setting highlight the need for Indigenous cultural safety (ICS)\, an approach to care that is respectful\, culturally responsive\, and reduces the incidence of racism and discrimination. However\, to date\, factors that promote ICS in PAT have not been systematically examined. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews to explore experts’ perspectives on the key factors that support ICS in PAT. Using a qualitative design informed by postcolonial theory and Two-Eyed Seeing\, 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts in Indigenous mental health and psychedelic therapy. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis within a dual epistemological framework integrating constructivism and critical realism. \nFour interconnected themes described the conditions required to support ICS in PAT across foundational\, conceptual\, applied\, and structural levels. The themes include: 1) Contextualizing Cultural Safety\, 2) Conceptualizing Culturally Aligned Psychedelic Care\, 3) Co-creating Culturally Aligned Psychedelic Care\, and 4) Systemic Factors Impacting Accessibility. Findings suggest that achieving ICS in PAT requires a broader model of culturally aligned psychedelic care that builds upon the foundational principles of ICS\, while remaining sufficiently flexible to address the unique therapeutic context of PAT. The project speaks to the conditions that are required for psychedelic care to become culturally aligned\, ethically governed\, and genuinely accessible for Indigenous communities. Culturally aligned psychedelic care cannot be achieved through isolated cultural adaptations to existing PAT protocols; it requires changes at the interpersonal\, therapeutic\, conceptual\, and systemic levels. Ultimately\, a culturally aligned psychedelic model will be grounded in the foundational safety elements of psychedelic care\, while maintaining sufficient flexibility to be adaptable to the needs of diverse Indigenous individuals and communities. These findings provide a foundation for developing culturally aligned psychedelic care and may inform future clinical practice\, training\, policy\, and research conducted in partnership with Indigenous communities.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-indigenous-cultural-safety-in-psychedelic-assisted-therapy/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/Lakoda-Thomas.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260804T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260804T110000
DTSTAMP:20260618T155112Z
CREATED:20260421T155603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T155112Z
UID:10025532-1785834000-1785841200@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Tuesday Weekly Writing Community
DESCRIPTION:Tired of solo writing sessions? Craving a supportive environment to fuel your creativity? Look no further than our weekly writing community\, tailored for the UBC Okanagan community. \nYour projects\, your progress\nBring your own research and writing projects to the table! The writing community provides dedicated time for you to focus on your individual writing goals. Get ready to boost your productivity and make progress on your writing projects\, all within a supportive community environment. \nWhat you’ll experience:\nEach session is dedicated to your independent writing time. You can look forward to writing alongside others who\, like you\, are independently working on their own writing projects and goals. \nHighlights of the community:\n\nYour time to write: Join our weekly sessions with your writing and research materials ready\, and take full advantage of this opportunity to write without distractions.\nWrite together: Achieve your individual writing goals alongside other members of the UBCO community.\nGuided structure: Participate in the Pomodoro technique\, expertly facilitated by the Centre for Scholarly Communication.\nInclusivity: From undergraduates to faculty\, everyone in the UBCO community is welcome.\n\nYou’re invited to be part of this enriching community that builds community and fosters productivity. Register now and come prepared to amplify your writing endeavours. Let’s turn solitary writing into a group effort and make getting things done a community experience. \nRegister now \nQuestions? Please contact the CSC at csc.ok@ubc.ca.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/tuesday-weekly-writing-community-3/2026-08-04/
LOCATION:Online virtual event
CATEGORIES:Centre for Scholarly Communication,College of Graduate Studies,Library
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260804T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260804T130000
DTSTAMP:20260706T213558Z
CREATED:20260706T213558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T213558Z
UID:10025696-1785834000-1785848400@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Perovskite-Cu(In\, Ga)(S\, Se)2 Tandem Solar Cells with Solution-Processed Absorbers
DESCRIPTION:Katherine Latosinsky\, supervised by Dr. Alexander R. Uhl\, will defend their thesis titled “Perovskite-Cu(In\, Ga)(S\, Se)2 Tandem Solar Cells with Solution-Processed Absorbers” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering. \nAn abstract for Katherine Latosinsky’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. This examination will be offered in hybrid format.  Registration is not required to attend in person\, but please email alexander.uhl@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this defence. \nAbstract\nEmergent organic-metal-halide perovskite solar cells have great potential for use in high efficiency tandem solar cell architectures\, which incorporate a wide- and narrow-bandgap semiconductor to absorb a broader spectrum of light than conventional single-junction solar cells. The combination of wide-bandgap (~ 1.6-1.7 eV) perovskite and narrow-bandgap (~1.0 -1.1 eV) copper-indium-gallium-(sulfur)-selenide (CIGS) solar cells can be a foundation for lightweight\, flexible thin-film tandem photovoltaics\, creating new applications for solar electricity generation. The capacity to fabricate both solar cell absorbers with low-cost\, high-throughput solution-based manufacturing could also make perovskite-CIGS tandem technology cost-competitive with market-dominant crystalline-silicon photovoltaics. \nThis thesis experimentally investigates the potential of perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cells with solution-processed absorbers\, with a focus on optimizing the perovskite top-cell. A process is developed to fabricate wide-bandgap p-i-n perovskite solar cells with solution-based absorber and charge transport layers\, which are suited for use in both monolithic and mechanically-stacked tandem architectures. A radio-frequency sputtering process is developed to deposit indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrodes with adequate transparency and conductance\, as quantified with UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and four-point probe sheet resistance measurements. The performance of opaque devices with silver electrodes is compared to transparent devices with ITO electrodes using current-voltage and external quantum efficiency measurements. \nThe performance of the semi-transparent devices is shown to be limited by damage from ITO sputtering\, which could be addressed by implementing suitable buffer-layers and/or a reduced energy sputter process. A comparison of semitransparent device performance when illuminated through the hole- or electron- transport layers reveals that the latter causes significant parasitic absorption losses in the sputtered ITO electrode\, which poses a distinct challenge for developing\nmonolithic two-terminal tandems. Finally\, the performance of mechanically-stacked four-terminal tandems is investigated using solution-based CIGS solar cell illuminated through an optical filter equivalent to the perovskite device-stack. The tandem devices achieve 9.3% power conversion efficiency with the sputter damaged perovskite cells\, but show potential to approach 20% efficiency once sputter damage is mitigated.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-perovskite-cuin-gas-se2-tandem-solar-cells-with-solution-processed-absorbers/
LOCATION:Engineering\, Management\, and Education Building (EME)\, 1137 Alumni Ave\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,School of Engineering
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/121/2026/07/Katherine-Latosinsky.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260804T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260804T160000
DTSTAMP:20260706T233300Z
CREATED:20260706T233300Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T233300Z
UID:10025700-1785844800-1785859200@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Critic-Derived Shaping in Proximal Policy Optimization
DESCRIPTION:Alex Deaconu\, supervised by Dr. Pourang Irani & Dr. Abbas Milani\, will defend their thesis titled “Critic-Derived Shaping in Proximal Policy Optimization” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science. \nAn abstract for Alex Deaconu’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. This defence will be offered in hybrid format.  Registration is not required to attend in person\, but please email pourang.irani@ubc.ca or abbas.milani@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this defence. \nAbstract\nThe simplicity and stability of Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) in reinforcement learning make it popular\, yet its on-policy training loop may be sample-inefficient. This thesis investigates whether PPO can leverage temporal-difference (TD) error\, a signal that it already computes\, in a regulated manner. We introduce critic-derived advantage shaping (CDAS)\, a method which employs normalized positive TD-error as an actor-side shaping signal\, and critic-derived value shaping (CDVS)\, which applies the same detached\, normalized bonus to the critic target. While CDAS-0 and CDVS-0 employ one-step positive TD-error\, we test additional variants called CDAS-λ and CDVS-λ\, which propagate future positive critic surprise backward via a GAE-style bonus trace. We find that PPO can benefit from positive critic surprise in advantage-side shaping\, and especially critic-side shaping\, but only under strict scale control. When the bonus is modest in comparison to the extrinsic advantage\, actor-side CDAS improves performance on several MuJoCo tasks and performs particularly well on the Atari game Gravitar. Conservative CDAS-0 and CDAS-λ settings in MuJoCo increase mean PPO-normalized final return by around 4–5% above PPO. However\, the improvements are environment-dependent; Venture demonstrates how visually prominent but task-misaligned transitions can draw the TD-error signal and impair learning\, while Hopper performance deteriorates when the coefficient is too high. Critic-side shaping is stronger in aggregate—CDVS-0 improves mean PPO-normalized final return by 7.4% across the studied MuJoCo environments\, and the strongest critic-only CDVS-λ configuration improves it by 12.5%. In the Atari critic-side sweep\, the strongest aggregate CDVS-λ configuration improves mean final return by 14.2% and mean AUC by about 16%\, with AUC gains in all five Atari games. Overall\, critic-derived shaping is useful until it overpowers PPO’s extrinsic advantage structure: TD-errorbased bonuses must stay secondary to PPO’s extrinsic advantage signal in order to benefit from the guidance inherent in TD-error.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-critic-derived-shaping-in-proximal-policy-optimization/
LOCATION:Arts and Sciences Centre (ASC)\, 3187 University Way\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260804T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260804T160000
DTSTAMP:20260708T222558Z
CREATED:20260708T222558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T222558Z
UID:10025708-1785844800-1785859200@events.ok.ubc.ca
SUMMARY:Thesis Defence: Immunometabolic Differences Between South Asians and White Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-sectional Study
DESCRIPTION:Sriyashika Nekkanti\, supervised by Dr. Hashim Islam\, will defend their thesis titled “Immunometabolic Differences Between South Asians and White Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-sectional Study” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Health & Exercise Sciences. \nAn abstract for Sriyashika Nekkanti’s thesis is included below. \nDefences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences. \nAbstract\nMitochondria are vital for immune cell function; Persistent immune cell activation\, referred to as chronic inflammation\, is observed in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). South Asians are at disproportionately greater risk for T2D and exhibit elevated inflammatory profiles compared to White individuals\, yet the mechanisms underlying this disparity remain incompletely understood. Evidence from rodent models suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction in immune cells may drive inflammation; however\, differences in mitochondrial function in immune cells between South Asians and White individuals with T2D had not previously been characterized. \nIn this study\, we directly compared mitochondrial profiles in monocytes\, a key innate immune cell population\, isolated from South Asian and White individuals with T2D\, matched forage. Using high-resolution respirometry and flow cytometry\, we measured mitochondrial energy production and major monocyte subsets\, respectively. To link mitochondrial profiles to immune function\, we assessed cytokine production in whole blood stimulated with two mechanistically distinct immune-activating stimuli\, LPS and Poly(I:C)\, which mimic bacterial and viral inflammatory environments\, respectively. \nContrary to our initial hypothesis\, monocytes from South Asians with T2D and metabolic characteristics similar to their White counterparts exhibited higher mitochondrial respiration across multiple states\, along with a significantly reduced spare respiratory capacity\, suggesting that these cells are operating near their bioenergetic ceiling. While LPS-stimulated TNFαproduction in whole blood was similar between groups\, Poly(I:C)-stimulated TNFα production was significantly lower in South Asians with T2D. South Asians with T2D also showed a lower proportion of classical monocytes\, a higher proportion of non-classical monocytes\, and reducedTLR4 expression on intermediate monocytes\, with no differences in conventional blood inflammatory markers. Additionally\, the diabetes distress scale highlighted that South Asians experience more burden and distress related to their T2D than White individuals. These findings demonstrate that South Asians with T2D exhibit a distinct pattern of monocyte immunometabolic dysregulation characterized by elevated bioenergetics and pathway-selective innate immune impairment. This work provides novel insights into ethnic disparities in inflammatory risk and identifies monocyte bioenergetics as an avenue for further investigation.
URL:https://events.ok.ubc.ca/event/thesis-defence-immunometabolic-differences-between-south-asians-and-white-individuals-with-type-2-diabetes-a-cross-sectional-study/
LOCATION:Reichwald Health Sciences Centre (RHS)\, 1088 Discovery Avenue\, Kelowna\, BC\, V1V 1V7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:College of Graduate Studies,Faculty of Health and Social Development
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END:VCALENDAR