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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA VOLUME 50 | NUMBER 4 | APRIL 1, 2004 UBC REPORTS
2 UBC in the News 4 Sockeye Mystery 9 Super Rover 11 Student Refugees 12 Hand Burns WELCOME UBC OKANAGAN!
Dr. Martha Piper’s speech on March 17 in Kelowna marking the merger of Okanagan University College with UBC
It is an honour and a privilege for UBC to have been asked by the gov- ernment to work with the people in this region to develop a distinctive research-intensive university right here in the Okanagan – a university that will build on the achievements of Okanagan University College and the history of the University of British Columbia. There is no issue facing the B.C. post-secondary community that is more critical than access. Many dedicated individuals in this community have been working to address this concern, and today’s announcement signals that their voices have been heard. The estab- lishment of UBC Okanagan will open up 7,500 new UBC seats by 2009, right here in the fastest grow- ing region of the province – with continued on page 3
Students at the Okanagan campus.
How different would the world look today if Holiness reflect a commitment by the university and Dalai Lama Brings compassion and a consideration for all cultures the institute to build programs that are meaningful for had informed the immediate response to 9/11? everyone,” Potter explains. That kind of question is at the heart of events “The themes of ideas, community, spirituality and Message of Peace to UBC planned for the visit to Vancouver of His music that inform the visit of His Holiness are values Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama later this month, held dear throughout the community. The activities of His visit supports the launch of contemporary Tibetan including the launch of the new Contemporary the CTS program are aimed to build upon and study program. BY ERICA SMISHEK Tibetan Studies (CTS) program at UBC. strengthen these themes, for the benefit of everyone.” “We need new paradigms for policy analysis The CTS program will be unique in North America to deal with the pressing challenges of our for its focus on contemporary Tibet and its application time,” says Pitman Potter, director of the of Buddhist principles to contemporary policy issues. Institute of Asian Research (IAR), which houses “I was impressed by the importance of studying con- the new CTS program, and a key organizer of temporary Tibet, not as an ancient culture but as a the Dalai Lama’s Vancouver visit. contemporary society,” says Potter. “We hope that drawing on the principles “After considerable thought and discussion with of compassion and cross-cultural under- experts in the field, we began working on a standing associated with His Holiness program design that would include research the Dalai Lama can facilitate build- and teaching on socio-economic, political, ing new policy approaches to some cultural and religious aspects of Tibetan of the problems that plague our societies today, and also on the ways that troubled world.” principles of compassion and cross-cul- Potter says the Dalai Lama’s tural understanding associated with His message of the universal need for Holiness the Dalai Lama can be applied kindness at every level, from per- to contemporary policy issues such as sus- son-to-person relations to global tainable development, community building, action, transcends cultural and religious and peace and security.” boundaries and provides an unique perspec- Much of the academic work on Tibet in Canada tive on world peace, preservation of culture, and and elsewhere has focused on classical dimensions of protection for our increasingly imperiled planet. religion, language and culture. But current policies on His suggestions on how to apply his teachings economic development, internal migration and reli- to daily life and to more pressing global issues gious practices are dramatically altering the way of life are capturing the imagination of people around for Tibetan people in China and abroad. the world and present a relevant and significant While many details of the CTS program will depend subject for study and dialogue. on resources and financial support (IAR through the “During my audience with His Holiness the Faculty of Graduate Studies is currently seeking $5 Dalai Lama in June 2002, he indicated his will- million to help fund the program), Potter anticipates ingness to come to Vancouver to support the a graduate-level research program structured around launch of the CTS program. This was a wonder- a chair in contemporary Tibetan studies. Teaching will ful expression of support,” says Potter, also a likely be offered in collaboration with the Master of professor and director of Chinese Legal Studies Asia Pacific Policy Studies (MAPPS) program and at UBC’s Faculty of Law, who has worked tire- participation in the individual interdisciplinary lessly with IAR research associate Victor Chan doctoral program in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. to develop the program and guide a diverse “Research activities will follow along the lines of the organizing committee established to plan the Institute’s research programs on globalization, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws visit. degree from UBC on April 19. “The CTS program and the visit of His continued on page 3 ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:56 AM Page 3
2 | ubc reports | april 1, 2004 IN THE NEWS
Highlights of UBC Media Coverage in March 2004. COMPILED BY BRIAN LIN
A Whirring Adult Brain Millions of people have mild ver- sions of autism, depression and attention deficit disorder. Without a diagnosis, these “shadow syn- dromes” can ruin lives. Attention deficit disorder, for example, is too often ignored in impulsive, distracted adults. “This isn’t a problem that goes away after puberty,” Margaret Weiss, director of research for the division of child psychiatry at UBC, told the National Post. “And one of the great problems we face is that once children with ADD turn 18, they are no longer eli- gible for [provincial] funding for treatment and counselling. This is a time when they are going to univer- sity; when they have tremendous stresses to deal with, like scheduling, organizing themselves to study and so on. This is a vulnerable time.” Experts say the solution lies in focusing on people’s strengths and developing their coping strategies.
Business Fills the Gaps in University Funding Business leaders and corporations are coming forward with record donations to meet the funding demands of Canada’s post-secondary institutions. Ike Barber and Bill Sauder, who both made fortunes in forest PHOTO: SHARMINI THIAGARAJAH products, each gave $20 million to Some petal patterns allow a better chance of pollination than others. UBC, where private donors have always represented more than half of all gifts. The size and number of private petals are evenly spaced around the a terrorist attack. gifts is rising, Clark Warren, associ- flower centre. So, a honeybee, moth Other sensors, modified some- ate vice-president of development, or bumblebee can fly in from any what, could test water samples for told the National Post. direction to pick up or drop off deadly bacteria like E. coli. Last year UBC raised $82.6 pollen.” million, a significant gain from the Such specialist pollination increas- Long-Awaited Bill On Assisted $67.8 million raised the year before. es the prospects of survival because Human Reproduction Clears “Fundraising is now a continuing these flowers are less likely to receive Senate Hurdle business and not a series of pollen from an incompatible plant or A Senate committee recently unani- campaigns spaced a few years to have their own pollen transferred mously approved legislation banning apart,” he says. “It also relies heavily to incompatible stigma, Sargent told human cloning, rent-a-womb con- on establishing relationships with the Toronto Star. tracts and the sale of human sperm potential major donors. Major gifts and eggs. are rarely first-time things.” Wristwatch Sensors to Detect The Assisted Human Pollutants Reproduction Act would also set Some Flowers are the Bee’s Groundbreaking research being con- standards for embryonic stem cell Knees ducted at UBC on “microsensors” research, and create a federal agency UBC Zoology doctorate candidate means that in a few years you may to oversee fertility clinics. Risa Sargent is the first to have be able to buy a watch that can “At long last, eh?” UBC geneticist come up with solid numbers to detect everything from a bad smog Patricia Baird told CP Wire. “I’m demonstrate that flowers with their day to an anthrax attack. just delighted. I think it’s really in the petals arranged in one way appear Winnie Chu, laboratory manager best interests of Canadians that this in more botanically different species at UBC’s new Centre for Health and has gone forward.” than flowers with petals in different Environment Research, has Key elements of the legislation arrangements. developed a chip that does the same were recommended in 1993 by the At the heart of her pioneering thing, reports The Vancouver Sun. Royal Commission on New findings lie two basic evolutionary It’s about only two centimetres long Reproductive Technologies, of which concepts: speciation and reproduc- and one centimetre wide. Baird was the chair. tive isolation. While Chu stressed that her “[The legislation] is going to help “Many different insects can polli- research has not focused on terror- protect the health and safety of liter- nate flowers like buttercups or roses ism, it could be used to identify ally thousands of Canadians who use because they’re radially symmetri- biological agents, like anthrax, infertility treatments every year,” said cal,” Sargent says, meaning the that some fear could be used in Baird. ■
UBC REPORTS
Director, Public Affairs UBC Reports is published monthly by the UBC Public Affairs Office Scott Macrae [email protected] 310 – 6251 Cecil Green Park Road Vancouver BC Canada V6T 1Z1 Editor Paul Patterson [email protected] UBC Reports welcomes submissions. Design Director For upcoming UBC Reports submission guidelines, please see Chris Dahl [email protected] www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/about. Opinions and advertising published in UBC Reports do not necessarily reflect Designer official university policy. Material may be reprinted in whole Sharmini Thiagarajah [email protected] or in part with appropriate credit to UBC Reports. Contributors Cristina Calboreanu [email protected] Michelle Cook [email protected] Letters (300 words or less) must be signed and include PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40775044 Brian Lin [email protected] an address and phone number for verification. Submit letters to: RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO Erica Smishek [email protected] The Editor, UBC Reports CIRCULATION DEPT. Hilary Thomson [email protected] UBC Public Affairs Office 310 - 6251 CECIL GREEN PARK ROAD (address above); by fax to 604.822.2684; or by e-mail to VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA V6T 1Z1 Advertising EMAIL: [email protected] [email protected] or call UBC.NEWS (604.822.6397) Cristina Calboreanu [email protected] ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:56 AM Page 4
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chair the UBC Okanagan Advisory Council and to serve UBC Okanagan as a member of UBC’s Board of Governors. We know continued from page 1 his leadership, insight, and support will be critical in building this great campus and aligning its goals to the 900 new university seats being made available as soon as aspirations of the region. September 2005. And, the first UBC degrees will be On October 28, 1922, almost 1,200 students partici- granted in May 2006, with all students graduating from pated in UBC’s historic Great Trek, the march and that day forward receiving University of British demonstration that persuaded the provincial government Columbia degrees – full stop – one university, one degree. of the day to go forward with its plans to build the first Clearly, this new campus will be the source of talent and great campus of UBC in the Lower Mainland. Today, people power for years to come – providing opportuni- almost 82 years later, we are responding to the call of the ties for both graduate and undergraduate students. people to this government to build the second great Here is the perfect alternative for a stay in Vancouver. Surrounded by the To assist in this endeavour, we are also spectacular beauty of the UBC campus, our fully-equipped, quality suites pleased to announce today the creation of offer convenience and comfort for visiting lecturers, professors, family, 1,000 new student residence spaces to meet the housing and social needs of students friends or anyone who wants to stay on Vancouver’s west side. Close to studying here. In addition, our UBC student restaurants and recreation both on and off campus, and only 20 minutes financial assistance policy, backed by our from downtown Vancouver, the West Coast Suites is a wonderful retreat from $650 million endowment, will ensure that which to visit friends or make your stay on business a pleasure. no qualified domestic student will be denied access to UBC Okanagan on the basis of www.westcoastsuites.com financial need. And, we will work collabora- tively with the new college and its regional Reservations Tel 604 822 1000 Fax 604 822 1001 5961 Student Union Boulevard Vancouver BC V6T 2C9 campuses to offer university credit courses and an integrated college transfer program. Open Year-Round But there is more to today’s announce- Convenient On-Campus Location ment than new opportunities for students. An Affordable, UBC Okanagan will be a research intensive Fully-Equipped Suite university – one that will bring the research Right on Campus strengths of UBC to the Okanagan. UBC President Martha Piper and Brian Sullivan, Vice President, Whether it be our international ranking, our Students meet with OUC students March 17. The Iona Building at Vancouver School of Theology on the UBC campus. Photo: Perry Danforth annual research funding of over $377 mil- lion per year, or our ability to spin off com- Stay, workandplay panies into the economy, UBC Okanagan will be an eco- campus of UBC, right here in the Okanagan. It is in the In our forest by the sea. We offer the best range of affordable nomic driver – helping to diversify the economy and spirit of the Great Trek that we celebrate today’s accommodation, meeting space and conference services in the enhance the quality of life for all British Columbians. announcement, and pledge to honour the efforts of Lower Mainland. Come find out why. What took UBC nearly 100 years to achieve in research those who have gone before us. excellence will be immediately available for the region. The Great Trek of the 21st century: One great univer- www.ubcconferences.com Today’s announcement also brings our commitment to sity, Two great campuses. I know you will all join me in work with the community and OUC students, faculty doing everything we can to make this vision a reality. 5961 Student Union Boulevard Vancouver BC V6T 2C9 and staff to build a distinctive campus with programs Reservations and research that meet the Okanagan’s needs. To that Thank you. Tel 604 822 1000 end, we are grateful that Brad Bennett has agreed to Martha C. Piper Fax 604 822 1001 Group Sales and Conference Services Tel 604 822 1060 Fax 604 822 1069
Message of Peace to UBC officially launched during Tibet for years to come. The IAR is continued from page 1 in the Contemporary World, a planning policy dialogue sessions two-day academic conference that to further examine the topics of unites distinguished international peace and security, community scholars from North America, building, and sustainable develop- cross-cultural dispute resolution, Europe and Asia with junior ment raised at the roundtable and religion and public policy,” scholars and graduate students dialogue and to build on the Potter says. “We look forward April 19 and 20 at UBC. community linkages that have to cooperation with other The Dalai Lama will open the been established. departments at UBC.” conference with a keynote address Potter also foresees the capacity He predicts the program will April 19 following the conferral to develop new programs based prove to be a valuable resource of honorary Doctors of Law on the awareness that UBC and for policy makers as well as degrees by UBC on His Holiness, the community have worked Vancouver’s Affordable and Most Accommodating Alternative non-government organizations, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, successfully to put together an WEST COAST SUITES | THE GAGE TOWERS | THE RESIDENCES | PACIFIC SPIRIT HOSTEL | CONFERENCE SERVICES researchers, educators, students former president of the Czech historic event for the public good. and the media throughout the Republic Vaclav Havel and 2003 For more information on the world. Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Contemporary Tibetan Studies As the leading research Ebadi. The four will also join program, visit www.iar.ubc.ca/ authority for the study of Asia in Rabbi Schacter-Shalomi, Tibet/ or contact Carla Banford Canada, the IAR builds knowl- Dr. Jo-ann Archibald and modera- in the Faculty of Graduate Studies edge for the benefit of Canada tor Bishop Michael Ingham for at 604.822.0631. and the world through intensive Balancing the Mind with For more information on the programs of research and gradu- Educating the Heart, a roundtable Visit to Vancouver by His Holiness ate-level teaching that combine dialogue focused on the Dalai the 14th Dalai Lama, visit policy relevance with local Lama’s teaching and its applica- www.dalailamavancouver.org. ■ knowledge. Potter says the CTS tion in today’s world, at the Chan program will complement exist- Centre of the Performing Arts at Editors Note: At press time, ing activities at UBC focused on UBC on April 20. organizers were advised that Asia and will draw new commu- Potter says the impact of this Vaclav Havel is unable to come nities of interest to the university. profound exchange between world to Canada because of health The new program will be leaders at UBC in April will be felt concerns. ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:57 AM Page 5
4 | ubc reports | april 1, 2004 The Mystery of the Disappearing Sockeye Salmon
Something fishy is going on in the Fraser River and UBC scientists are on the case
BY MICHELLE COOK
Fraser River sockeye salmon have been acting strangely of late. Their odd behavior has experts puzzled – and worried – because millions of the fish are dying before they reach their spawning grounds. It’s a mystery that could spell the end of the river’s salmon fishery, but UBC and SFU sci- entists studying the phenomenon think they are close to solving the case of the disappearing fish. In a project funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada with support from the Pacific Salmon Commission and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, researchers have been examining why some late-run sockeye are migrating up the Fraser more than a month ahead of schedule. Normally, the salmon migrate down the coast of British Columbia and mill about in PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES the Strait of Georgia for several weeks UBC researchers have pieced together the clues to explain why millions of late-run sockeye are dying. before heading up river in late September. than a year ago, have been pushed to ered a key piece of evidence. While the river ahead of schedule. longer they are in higher temperature “In 1995, we started noticing a the point of collapse. surgically inserting small radio trans- The UBC team had several theo- water, the more damage the parasite large group had started to change At first, the researchers were at a mitters into a test group of late-run ries but it was colleagues from the does until, eventually, the sockeyes’ their behaviour in terms of when they loss to explain either the early migra- sockeye, researchers noticed that the Institute of Ocean Sciences on kidneys malfunction. returned,” says Scott Hinch, the tion or the high mortality. They for- early arrivals bled profusely during Vancouver Island who revealed the “Any one of these factors alone forestry sciences professor leading the mulated several hypotheses before the short operation. clues which may crack the case. probably doesn’t kill them outright,” investigation. “This wouldn’t have identifying a prime suspect in the high “We’d not seen anything like it Researchers from the Institute told says Hinch. “It’s the combination of been a big problem except that they mortality rates: Parvicapsula, a natu- before when we’ve inserted transmit- them that recent CTD (conductivity all these things that we think causes Since 1996, close to four million late-run sockeye in total have died during their upstream migration.
seemed to be dying in really high ral kidney parasite that latches onto ters, nor had we anticipated it,” says temperature depth) surveys of the them to die. Early migrants probably numbers. We didn’t realize how high fish at the mouth of the Fraser. Hinch. “Blood samples from these Strait along with some historical data get two thirds of the way to their until the phenomenon continued for Since Parvicapsula hitches a ride on fish also showed that the early they dug up, shows low salinity spawning grounds, but many just the next few years.” all salmon heading up river – early or migrants had poor clotting ability pockets in some coastal areas that don’t make it. The early fish that do “What we saw was fish entering otherwise – the researchers weren’t and abnormally high levels of ions. weren’t there before. reach the spawning grounds seem to the river four to six weeks earlier than sure why it only seemed to be having There was clear physiological evi- Piecing the evidence together, the die before spawning.” usual and those early migrants died an adverse affect on the fish migrating dence that the kidneys were malfunc- UBC team determined that some Hinch says the team is still a long before spawning – up to 95 per cent ahead of schedule. What they did tioning and this may be the cause of late-run sockeye might be hitting way from closing the investigation. of the total run in some years. The know was that the water temperature the high mortality. What it also these low salinity pockets of water in They still have several hypotheses to mortality rate for sockeye arriving on in the river is several degrees higher in means is that fish could be bleeding the Strait. Thinking that they are in examine over the next few summers schedule is about 10 per cent.” mid-August than in late September to death during their migration if fresh water, the salmon prematurely but the theory, if proven correct, This has had catastrophic effects on when late-run sockeye normally come they get any small nick or cut, which activate their kidneys and ozmoregu- leaves Hinch cautiously hopeful for the fishery and fish conservation, in from the ocean. Hinch’s team sus- can be common.” latory systems – the function they the future of the Fraser River sockeye. Hinch adds. Since 1996, close to four pected that the higher river tempera- This still didn’t explain why use to adjust to fresh water – and “Over the last couple of years, million late-run sockeye in total have tures were affecting the speed of the sockeye were starting their long head straight into the Fraser River there seems to be a segment of the died during their upstream migration. parasite’s infection and the early journey up the Fraser so early. instead of milling. late-run sockeye that are acting nor- In 2002, the fishery lost more than migrants’ kidney functions, which Although Parvicapsula was doing a Once in the river, they pick up the mal and now that we understand a $70 million. Some small stocks, like play a vital role in helping fish to lot of damage to the early migrants parasite earlier than normal. The bit more of the problem, I’m some- the Cultus Lake sockeye which were adjust from salt to fresh water. in the river, it didn’t appear to be higher water temperatures limit their what relieved and optimistic for these emergency listed endangered more Then, by accident, the team discov- responsible for driving them into ability to fight off the infection. The fish,” Hinch says. ■
Coyotes Prey on Children Undergraduate Students Conduct Research Too Public unaware of the risk. BY HILARY THOMSON BY MICHELLE COOK Cat-killer, cartoon character or funny- away. Another incident involved an 18- looking dog – perceptions of the coyote month-old boy who was playing near If you thought graduate students were the only ones on campus may vary but one thing is certain – a a soccer field when a coyote bit him doing all the hard-hitting research, think again. This year’s hungry coyote sees a small child as just above the eye, requiring seven stitches. Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference showcased another menu item. A coyote stalked and charged a three- 90 projects conducted by undergraduates. Fourth-year medical student Dennis year-old boy near an elementary Topics ranged from a study of anorexia nervosa in Victorian Boparai was part of a team of under- school. Adults were nearby in both England to a look at pediatric injuries in modern-day Pakistan. graduate researchers that recently attacks. Awards were given for the best research presentations, and a full explored coyote attacks on kids in the Boparai and the research team list of winners can be found at http://www.research.ubc.ca/stu- Lower Mainland. found that public awareness was low dents/conf-upcoming.htm . “Most Vancouverites like the area’s concerning coyote behaviour and risks Here’s a quick peek at some of the other subjects undergraduates mix of nature and urban living but of attack. In particular, warnings are tackled this year. there is a trade-off,” he says. “Coyotes necessary to ensure people don’t feed have learned to co-habit with us in the coyotes or attract them by leaving pet city as their natural territory is reduced food or garbage in the open. >> Magic Mushrooms and their presence represents a risk to Boparai presented the team’s find- children.” ings to an international wilderness If you go out in the woods today, you may be in for a big surprise. About 2,000 coyotes live in the medicine conference in Whistler, B.C. Urban coyotes live up to their bad Integrated Sciences student Jana Sebelova drew on her interest in Lower Mainland In addition to plenti- and to an international urban health reputation. ethnobotany and a love of mushroom hunting cultivated while ful sources of food, city environments conference in New York City. In addi- growing up in the Czech Republic for her exploration of the antibi- provide coyotes safety from natural tion, the study is due to be published in otic potential of some of B.C.’s estimated 10,000 mushroom and predators such as bears, cougars or the Journal of Wilderness Medicine. medical issues – that’s an area that fungi species. Sebelova collected samples of almost 200 Pacific wolves. Boparai is interested in coyote bites interests me and where I would like to Northwest mushrooms to get a better understanding of the preva- Most coyote attacks involve children not only because he hopes to specialize make some impact,” says the 25-year- lence of antibiotic compounds in local fungi, and their distribution up to seven years old. Some cases are in plastic surgery but also because he old. across fungal genera. The results astounded her. Almost 20 per cent shocking – bold, daylight grabs such as feels doctors need to examine public The project was supervised by of the 195 species sampled showed some antimicrobial activities. an incident where a coyote bit and health issues surrounding trauma and Nicholas Carr, head, UBC division of continued on page 10 tried to drag off a baby while the alert people to risks. plastic surgery and Wendy Cannon, mother was gardening only a few feet “There’s always a social backdrop to research co-ordinator. ■ ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:57 AM Page 6
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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
CALL FOR COMMENTS
A proposal is being considered to revise Policy #83 “Travel and Related Expenses” and its accompanying Procedures. The draft revisions were presented to the Board of Governors for information and review on March 18, 2004. They were prepared by the Ad Hoc Standing Committee on Travel Policy Review of 18 members, drawing from a broad cross-section of the University community, and are now being presented to the campus community for public comments. The members of the committee that formulated the proposed policy and procedures were:
Stan Hamilton, Commerce & Business Administration Jon Shapiro, Education Sian Echard, English Bernard Ter Stege, Financial Services Natasha Malloff, Human Resources Suzanne Dunn, Internal Audit Johann Boulter, Internal Audit Marcia Lang, Office of the Vice-President Research Sue Cutts, Orthopaedics David Balzarini, Physics and Astronomy Reny Kahlon, President’s Office Connie Fabro, Supply Management David Rankin, Supply Management John Welch, Treasury Gayle Smith, Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost Debbie Harvie, Bookstore Sharon Wu, Finance Accounts Payable Mark Crosbie, Office of the University Counsel
Policy #83 and its accompanying procedures were last revised in November 2000. The proposed revisions remove operational details from the Policy document to simplify and reduce potential contradiction, and include changes to keep the Procedures document current with the electronic expense and reimbursement processes now available for travel.
Feedback may be submitted by email to the Office of the University Counsel at [email protected]. All feedback should be submitted by 3:00 pm on Friday, April 16, 2004.
Subject to feedback from this public consultation process, it is expected that these proposed documents will be submitted to the Board of Governors with a request for final approval at its regularly scheduled meeting in May of 2004.
DRAFT POLICY POLICY #83 | Travel and Related Expenses
Approved: November 2000 Revised: May 2004 (Anticipated)
Responsible: Vice-President, Administration and Finance Vice-President, Academic and Provost
PURPOSE
Travel is a necessary component in the gathering and dissemination of information As employees of a public institution which aims to use its resources as effectively and knowledge. The purpose of this policy is to facilitate travel in support of the as possible, members of faculty and staff must exercise care in incurring travel University’s mission while maintaining controls for accountability. expenses. It is the responsibility of the traveller to make the most economical travel arrangements possible, consistent with the purposes of the trip.
Travellers must ensure that they have adequate insurance for the travel POLICY contemplated.
This policy applies to travel expenses paid from all University administered funds, Travellers may retain for personal use any loyalty program points including those from grants and contracts. (for example – frequent flyer points) accumulated from University travel.
The University will reimburse the cost of authorized travel expenses incurred by The restrictions in this policy and its procedures have university-wide members of faculty and staff and, in special cases, students or other persons, application; however, individual faculties and departments may implement provided that: procedures which are more restrictive.
• the traveller was travelling on University business, or in support of the A standing Travel Policy Review Committee sponsored by the Vice-President University’s mission; and Administrative and Finance will review and recommend changes to the • the traveller had advance authority to incur travel expenses Procedures as necessary. (for example, through recognition of travel in a grant budget); and • the expenses are reasonable, appropriately documented, and comply with University policies and procedures, or the policies and procedures of a granting agency or funding contract; and PROCEDURES • the expenses are approved for reimbursement by at least one administrative level higher than the person claiming reimbursement. Approved: November 2000 Revised: May 2004 (Anticipated) Travel supported by research grants or contracts must comply with University policies and procedures unless specifically indicated otherwise by the funding Pursuant to Policy #1, “Procedures may be amended by the President, provided organization in which case the policies and procedures of the funding organization the new procedures conform to the approved policy. Such amendments are must be followed. reported at the next meeting of the Board of Governors and are incorporated in the next publication of the UBC Policy and Procedure Handbook.” ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:57 AM Page 7
6 | ubc reports | april 1, 2004
APPROVAL & SIGNING AUTHORITY Faculties and departments may require travellers to use these agencies when booking travel arrangements on university business. Claim Approval Written approval from one administrative level higher than the traveller is required Third parties who are authorized to travel at the university’s expense for such for any payments under this policy including: purposes as employment interviews, external reviews, and distinguished lectures, are encouraged to book arrangements for transportation and accommodation • reimbursements to travellers; through one of the university’s contracted travel agencies, in order to obtain • travel advances; maximum benefit for the traveller at minimum cost to the University. • travel settlement claims; and • payments to a third party. The contact information for these agencies is noted below:
The traveller and the individual who approves payment must ensure that claims for BTI Canada expenses are in accordance with this policy and these procedures. #310, 1090 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3V7 Expense Claim Forms Tel: 604-331-1576 or 1-800-575-1576 Claims for reimbursement of travel expenses must be submitted on a Financial Fax: 604-681-1590 Services Travel Requisition Form. Claims must have: Web site: www.bticanada.ca E-mail: [email protected] • a clear statement of the purpose and the duration of the trip; • clearly detailed expenses supported by the dated receipts required by this policy; North South Travel & Tours • the original signature of the traveller certifying that all information is correct; 3702 W. 10th Ave. • written approval from one administrative level higher than the traveller. Vancouver, BC V6R 2G4 Tel: 604-736-7662 or 1-800-665-1882 Travel Claims should be submitted within thirty (30) working days of the traveller’s Fax: 604-736-6513 return. Web site: www.nstravel.bc.ca E-mail: [email protected] Receipts Original Itemized Dated Receipts are required to support a claim. Travel agency invoices, cancelled cheques, credit card statements or “paid” notices, photocopies and carbon copies are not acceptable. The following are the only exceptions to this TRANSPORTATION requirement: Air travel at a fare class higher than economy • Meals & Incidentals Travellers claiming for the cost of air travel in a class of travel higher than economy Credit card vouchers for gasoline and meals may also be submitted except when must obtain the approval of their respective Dean or Vice President. This must be the claim is charged to a research fund. provided on a one-time basis on the expense claim form itself or on a continuing basis for a particular individual by memo to Financial Services. • Airline Tickets Paper airline tickets must be accompanied by the travel agency invoice. Where a grant or contract explicitly provides for a class of travel higher than In the case of electronic tickets, submission of a copy of the itinerary/receipt is economy, written approval from Research and Trust Accounting or a copy of the acceptable. (Invoice or itinerary/receipt must show ticket number, breakdown contract showing approval must be submitted with the expense claim form. of cost and form of payment). Tickets purchased using loyalty program points • Conference Registrations Travellers are not expected to use points from loyalty programs for University Submission of a copy of a receipt showing the cost and payment or a copy of the travel. Should they choose to do so, they shall not claim reimbursement for the registration showing the cost accompanied by a credit card statement showing ‘equivalent’ cost of the airline ticket. The University will reimburse the cost of payment is acceptable. taxes and surcharges actually paid by the traveller. Receipts are required.
• Minor Unreceiptable Items Private Automobile Minor expenses that are impossible or difficult to receipt may be approved at the Travel by private vehicle may be necessary to save time and/or costs. discretion of the individual approving the traveller’s claim. Examples of such Reimbursement for costs are made to the driver only and are calculated by items would include subway fares or gratuities. applying the mileage (kilometer) rate to the actual driving distance while on university business, by the most direct route (the amount claimed not to exceed • Missing Receipts full economy airfare). The applicable mileage rate is set by the Vice President When a travel expense receipt is missing and a duplicate cannot be obtained, the Finance and Administration based on the recommendation of the University’s traveller must submit the following memorandum on their department’s letterhead Treasury Department and is currently $0.36 per kilometer. to the Department of Financial Services. The memorandum must be accompanied with the appropriate Travel Requisition Form and must be signed by the traveller Car Rental and one administrative level higher. Travellers may wish to rent an automobile to save time or reduce costs. Reimbursable expenses include the rental fee for non-luxury model cars, the To: Financial Services, Travel Claims km/mileage charge by the car rental agency, gasoline charges and insurance Re: Lost/Missing Receipt coverage when applicable. The University has Canada-wide and international discounts with certain car rental companies as follows: I, [full name of traveller] certify that the following receipts in the amount of [indicate amount and currency] [describe the missing ticket, hotel bill, etc. in Within B.C. detail] are missing and cannot be replaced. These authorized travel expenses were Travellers on university business have access to the Government of BC provincial incurred by me on [date] and are reimbursable through the university’s account rates. This rate should be requested when booking the vehicle. number [quote appropriate SpeedChart and account code]. The associated TR # is —— I certify that I have not and will not claim reimbursement for these expenses Outside B.C. (Canada & the U.S.) from any other source. University rates have been negotiated with the following companies. Quote the ID# to obtain the rate: Signature of Traveller: Signature of Supervisor: Budget Auto Canada 800-268-8900 Site – Stamping of Receipts ID# A136100 In circumstances where travel expenses are made well in advance of the trip and payment is required before the trip is completed, or when expenses are partially Enterprise Rent A Car covered by another organization and the traveller requires the original receipt for 800-593-0505 submission to that organization, the receipt, upon request, will be “site-stamped” ID# 5CA1000 indicating the amount to be reimbursed by the University. The receipt will be returned to the traveller so a claim for the balance may be made. The university’s contracted travel agencies can provide more information on the car rental companies, their rates and any special packages that are available. Site-stamps are applied to original receipts which travellers need to retain. Please refer to the Travel Web site at www.travel.ubc.ca for details. A photocopy of the site-stamped receipt is submitted with the expense claim to Travellers who rent vehicles are responsible to ensure that they have obtained obtain reimbursement. Site-stamping can be done by the Department of Financial adequate insurance. Please refer to the Insurance section of these procedures Services. In addition, faculties, departments and schools may obtain site-stamps for more information. from the Requisition Processing Section of Financial Services. Other Transportation Reasonable expenditures for taxis and public transportation to and from airports, railway stations, between appointments, hotel locations and meeting places are reimbursable, including reasonable gratuities for service. BOOKING TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
The University contracts with two travel agencies that provide full service to university travellers. These agencies are familiar with all of the University’s specially negotiated rates (air, hotel and car) which result in savings to the traveller and the University. ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:57 AM Page 8
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ACCOMMODATION /MEALS/PER DIEMS from the university and are responsible for payment to the travel card company. Financial responsibility for charges, including delinquency charges, interest charges, Meals/Per Diems is that of the individual cardholder. Travellers may be reimbursed for the cost of meals either by submitting receipts for actual meal costs or by claiming meal per diems. In the event a per diem is claimed, Departmental Travel Card no receipts are required. Travellers may claim a meal per diem for an entire day Administrative heads of units may apply for a “Departmental” corporate travel or partial day. Where a per diem is claimed no additional amount may be claimed card, designed for travel expenses of travellers in the unit not eligible for their own for the same meals. Per diems may only be claimed where meals have actually “Individual” corporate charge card and/or for institutional expenses on behalf of been consumed. Per Diems cannot be claimed where meals are already included the department as a whole. The Departmental card is usually established in the in conference fees. name of the administrative head of unit. Expenses incurred on the “Departmental” card can be paid directly by Financial Services to the travel card company, through Per Diems are set by the Vice President, Administration and Finance based on the a Requisition for Payment, supported by original documentation and approvals recommendation from UBC Supply Management. required by the policy. For example if the expenses are incurred in the name of the cardholder, approval must be one administrative level higher. Travel within Canada per day Breakfast $10.70 Personal Credit Cards Lunch $10.45 A traveller’s personal credit card may be used to pay for travel expenses. However Dinner $29.35 the University does not reimburse personal credit card service charges, delinquency Total = $50.50 / day (Cdn.) assessments, interest, annual fees, or any other charges associated with personal [amounts include GST & gratuities] credit cards. These are the sole responsibility of the cardholder. Travel within United States and other countries per day Travel Advance Breakfast $10.70 (US) While travellers are encouraged to use personal or corporate charge cards whenever Lunch $10.45 (US) possible, a travel advance for persons holding signing authority on an account may Dinner $29.35 (US) be obtained by submitting a Travel Advance form, signed by the traveller and Total = $50.50 / day (US) approved by one administrative level higher, to the Department of Financial Services. Under normal circumstances travel advances will not be made more than Where a research funding agency has a per diem limit that is lower than the ten (10) business days prior to the start of the trip. When the trip is finished, the university’s, the traveller may claim the higher amount from the University but traveller must complete a Travel Settlement Claim form. The Travel Settlement will only charge the research PG account with the lower rate. Claim form requires written approval from one administrative level higher. It must be completed within thirty (30) days of the end of the trip, and forwarded to the Department of Financial Services. In the event a Travel Settlement Gestures of Appreciation is not received by the Department of Financial Services within 60 days Travellers may be reimbursed for modest gestures of appreciation for at the end of a trip the Department of Financial Services may charge the outstand- individuals who have provided accommodations or other reimbursable items ing travel advance to the Department which approved it. Subsequent travel to the traveller. Original receipts must be submitted to claim this expense. advances will not be made to a traveller if a previous advance has not been settled. Reimbursement of this item may not be approved if the person approving the traveller’s claim determines the gesture of appreciation was inappropriate. A travel advance approved by a department head or equivalent may be provided to a university student for a field trip or conference. Under these circumstances, the department head is responsible for settling the advance.
OTHER REIMBURSABLE & NON-REIMBURSABLE TRAVEL EXPENSES INSURANCE Other Reimbursable Travel Expenses Examples of reimbursable expenses include: Summary of Relevant Considerations • Voice and data communications charges to stay in touch with university Travellers should ensure that they have adequate insurance before leaving responsibilities and to allow the traveller to stay in reasonable contact with on a trip. Without adequate insurance a traveller or their family could be their immediate family; exposed to significant personal liability or loss. • Expenses for baggage handling and storage; • The cost of necessary clerical services; The information in this section is meant to serve as a general guideline only as • Necessary business laundry and valet expenses; there are exceptions which may apply to an individual traveller. Descriptions of • Reasonable gratuities; insurance policies are for information only and are subject to the terms of the • Overnight dependent care expenses when unpaid alternatives are not available policies themselves. Any specific questions regarding insurance should be directed (supported by receipts and social insurance numbers); to the Risk and Insurance Section of the University’s Treasury Department. • Expenses for obtaining visas and travel papers; Questions regarding medical or accident benefits should be directed to the Benefits • Accommodation for extra night(s) and meals if by staying over a Saturday night Administration section of the University’s Department of Human Resources. there is a net savings in total expenses; • Exchange rate expenses, claimed by submission of a photocopy of the charge card The following is a list of the types of insurance and issues a traveller should statement listing rates charged by reimbursable item or of a receipt for foreign consider prior to a trip: currency purchased in a bank or equivalent institution. Medical Insurance The Province of British Columbia has a Medical Services Plan and the University Expenses That Are Not Reimbursable offers additional extended medical insurance to eligible faculty and staff. • Interest charges on outstanding charge card balances; Membership in these plans is not automatic and it is the responsibility of the • Loss or damage to personal possessions; traveller to ensure they have adequate medical coverage for themselves and their • Parking and traffic fines; families. This is particularly important when traveling outside of Canada. • Personal expenses including kennel fees, travel, accident and life insurance costs, movies, mini-bar charges; Accident Insurance • Expenses of family members unless pre-authorized as University business; A traveller’s loss of income or disability resulting from injuries sustained while • Expenses for failure to cancel transportation or hotel reservations; traveling on University business is generally eligible for Workers’ Compensation • Passport expenses; Board benefits. The University also offers life, disability and accidental death or • Excess personal baggage. dismemberment insurance plans. Membership in these plans (other than Workers’ Compensation) may not be automatic and may be subject to a waiting period for Combining University Travel With Personal Travel new employees.
Travellers may combine university travel and personal travel with the approval Vehicle Insurance of their administrative head of unit. Prior to travellers scheduling indirect routes Private Vehicles: The University does not insure private vehicles. If using a private (interrupting business portions of a trip for personal travel or visa versa), the vehicle for business purposes (for example driving to a meeting off campus) the administrative head and the traveller must agree on a fair allocation of expenses traveller should confirm that he or she has the appropriate class of business for the trip. In no event will the university’s portion of expenses exceed what insurance from their insurance company. would have been charged had the personal travel interruption not occurred. Rental Vehicles: The University does not maintain automotive vehicle rental insurance. Travellers must ensure that adequate insurance is in place for all drivers either by purchasing a policy from the University’s Treasury Department, by renting the vehicle using a credit card with an insurance option, or by purchasing a policy METHODS OF PAYMENT from the rental agency.
Corporate Travel Card Property Insurance Faculty or staff may apply, upon approval of their administrative head The University insures the University’s property, including property located off of unit, to the Department of Supply Management for a UBC/American Express campus. The University does not insure the personal property of the traveller. corporate travel card. These “individual” corporate travel cards are for the card- holder’s own business related expenses and are accepted as a method of payment Liability Insurance by most airlines, car rental companies and hotel chains. They reduce the need to The University will generally insure travellers against third party liability use personal funds pending reimbursement. Cardholders claim reimbursement (other than that resulting from automobile accidents) while the travellers are ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:57 AM Page 9
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conducting University business. An example of this coverage would be to provide The cost of the Rental Vehicle Policy is on a per vehicle per day basis and there are insurance covering allegations that a traveller negligently injured another person collision and comprehensive deductibles. Coverage must be arranged in advance of or their property. the trip through the Risk and Insurance Management section of the Treasury Department. Personal Activities Coverage cost is $5/vehicle/day, and the deductibles are $300 (collision) and $100 Members should be aware that insurance coverage provided by the University (comprehensive). The minimum premium transaction is $20. (for example – Liability Insurance) only applies when the traveller is conducting University business. Vacation periods before, during and Insurance on UBC and Personal Property-Insurance on University and after University business are not covered. In addition, family members and travel- Personal Property ing companions are not covered under University insurance The University maintains insurance on any property owned by the university, policies unless expressly stated otherwise. whether it is in transit or on campus.
The University does not insure the personal property of travellers. Vehicle Insurance
Private Vehicle Insurance Coverage Accident/Health/Life Insurance-Accident/Health/Life Insurance Maintaining the appropriate insurance coverage on private vehicles used for University business is the responsibility of the traveller. An insurance agent should It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they have adequate insurance for be consulted if there are any questions. Some travellers may be eligible for partial themselves and family members. Medical and accident plans at the University premium reimbursement regarding the difference between the “to and from work” are not mandatory and the traveller should not assume that they are enrolled. rating and the “business” rating. Administrative heads of unit designate who is eli- Part time employees, contractors, students and recently hired employees are not gible to receive this reimbursement. normally eligible for these plans and should ensure that they have obtained adequate coverage elsewhere. Travellers must ensure that they have the appropriate license to drive a vehicle while on university business. Accident Insurance - Workers’ Compensation Board University members of faculty and staff who are injured while performing university Deductibles business away from their normal place of work may be eligible for WCB benefits. The University will reimburse a traveller for their deductible portion of loss Please contact the University Department of Health Safety & Environment at (604) (up to $300.00) if: 822-2029 regarding any potential claim.
a) the loss resulted from the use of a vehicle on university business, and Accident / Illness Insurance (MSP & EHB) Provided a traveller is enrolled in the Medical Services Plan (MSP) of British b) the loss results from a claim on their comprehensive coverage. Columbia (which is not automatic), the plan will reimburse medically required Comprehensive coverage generally covers claims for all perils other than those services at the amount it would cost had the services been performed in British insured by collision coverage (discussed below) examples of losses insured Columbia. under comprehensive coverage include fire, theft, hail or vandalism. The university’s Extended Health Benefits (EHB) plan will cover 100% of eligible Any costs incurred by a traveller as the result of a claim on their collision coverage emergency medical expenses to a maximum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) are not reimbursable by the University and are the responsibility of the traveller. for member registration on the plan. Note that a collision deductible will only be assessed by an insurer if a traveller is deemed to be at fault for an accident. Collision coverage insures against loss Life Insurance (and Accidental Death or Dismemberment Coverage) caused by collisions with other vehicles, objects or terrain (i.e. car accidents). Costs The University offers basic group life insurance to eligible full-time university not reimbursed by the University include the policy deductible, and costs resulting faculty and staff members as part of their basic employee benefit plan (contact from the loss of a safe-driver’s discount. your Service Representative in the Department of Financial Services for details).
Loss of personal effects from a vehicle is not insured by the University. An additional $100,000 of Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is available to members who are traveling on university business. Decisions on appropriate third party liability and collision/comprehensive This insurance is applicable from the time a member leaves his/her place of deductibles for personal vehicles rests with the traveller. The University does not residence to commence University business away from the normal place of work. assume the employee’s liability for non-insured damages (for example - excess Coverage continues until the cessation of travel performed on behalf of the damages over the traveller’s policy limits), to vehicles or other property, or loss-of- University. use costs while the owner’s automobile is undergoing repairs. Accidental death or dismemberment insurance for the public transportation section Rental Vehicle Insurance of the trip (for example – while traveling on an airline) is available to university Travellers must ensure they have adequate insurance for rental vehicles. travellers in the amount of $500,000.00 when travelling on tickets purchased with If the rental vehicle is to be operated by individuals other than the primary driver, the UBC /American Express Corporate Card. all secondary drivers must be listed with the rental company at the time of the rental.
Third Party Liability Rental companies provide third-party liability insurance (this insures for claims against the driver by another person) as part of the basic rental rate for the vehicle. Additional excess third party liability coverage is carried by the University for rental vehicles to protect both the driver (while on university business) and the University.
Collision Damage Waiver Although car rental companies do not provide full collision and comprehensive insurance as part of the basic rental rate, they do offer the renter the option of purchasing the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) for an additional fee. This insures against physical damage to the rented vehicle. Purchasing from the car rental agency is the most expensive manner of obtaining this insurance, and trav- ellers are encouraged to investigate the alternate options discussed below.
CDW Coverage Options University travellers have two (2) alternate options for rental vehicle collision and comprehensive insurance coverage:
Option #1: UBC American Express Corporate Card Drivers using the UBC American Express corporate card for payment receive CDW coverage on most vehicles for periods not exceeding 31 days. The cardholder must be present at the time of rental and must remain the principal driver of the vehicle throughout the coverage period. Coverage is available for secondary drivers pro- vided they are listed on the rental agreement. Vehicles not covered by American Express include expensive or exotic automobiles, trucks, off-road vehicles, recre- ational vehicles, campers, trailer and certain vans.
The responsibility for knowing if credit card insurance is adequate is the traveller’s. In the event of accident, American Express must be contacted within 48 hours. Please refer to American Express directly for further CDW insurance information and/or exclusions by calling cardholder assistance at 1-800-243-0198.
Option #2: Rental Vehicle Policy The second option for vehicle rentals is the university’s self-insured blanket Rental Vehicle Policy which is offered for a fee by the University Treasury Department. It applies to rentals anywhere in North America. This policy covers any motor vehi- cles used for business purposes, but excludes vehicles rented for delivery purposes or for carrying passengers in a bus with a seating capacity of sixteen or more. ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:57 AM Page 10
ubc reports | april 1, 2004 | 9 Building a Better Mars Rover
UBC Computer scientist works on giving robots the brains to fend for themselves. BY MICHELLE COOK
When NASA bounced a pair of right – if our heart is beating too fast, robots onto Mars earlier this year to for example,” de Freitas explains. explore the red planet and look for “A robot by itself should know, evidence of water, Nando de Freitas without having to communicate with took more than a passing interest in Earth, ‘okay, my wheel isn’t working; how the two rovers, dubbed Spirit I should replace it.’ We’re not at that and Opportunity, would manage point yet but that’s where we want to their missions. be – to really get robots aware for The UBC computer scientist is their internal state.” part of a team of researchers work- Judging from the work de Freitas A robot by itself should know, without having to communicate with Earth, ‘okay, my wheel isn’t working; I should replace it.’
ing with NASA to design the has been conducting in UBC’s Lab “brains” of the next generation of for Computational Intelligence, it rovers that will follow Spirit and may not be too long before the kind Opportunity into space. The team’s of touchy-feely rover he envisions is goal is to develop a more brought to life. His research team has autonomous robot able to fend for already created a robot that can dif- itself 170 million kilometres from its ferentiate between various surfaces – PHOTO: MARTIN DEE creators on Earth. carpet, grass, tile – that it travels over Nando de Freitas says next generation of rovers will be more robust and independent. The two rovers currently explor- and diagnose whether its wheel is ing Mars have some autonomy but, stuck. The results of the team’s scientists are developing a robot that the spectacular panoramic pictures world around them. This enables for the most part, their activities are research will be published this month can recognize and then fix any they’ve been sending back to Earth, them to learn how to recognize controlled via basic instructions sent by the Institute of Electrical and number of potential problems on but the rovers can’t yet process the objects, find patterns in what they’re daily from mission control. Electronic Engineers (IEEE). a space mission. By loading the images they’re seeing and decide seeing, match images to words, and “We want rovers to handle the While it may all sound a bit robot with data and then simulating where to go by themselves. label things. more mundane tasks of monitoring Frankenstein-ish, the process doesn’t as many scenarios as they can The main challenge to overcome is De Freitas says the algorithms allow their own “health” and navigating require knowledge of anatomy so beforehand, they “teach” it to understanding how human vision robots to simulate possible scenarios the rough Mars terrain so that scien- much as a mastery of algorithms – become familiar with when it’s works, de Freitas says, and to be able before they make a decision on what tists back on Earth can focus on the Monte Carlo algorithms to be exact. functioning properly and when to model mathematically everything action to take. This mental decision smaller amount of information [the Developed by an employee of the it’s not. that goes into visual recognition – process is constructed so that the robot is sending back] related to sci- Guinness beer company in the 1700s “We have to explain to it, this is colour, texture, shape – so a robot can number of mistakes is reduced or entific questions about the planet,” and, more infamously, used to build what it feels like to have a broken understand what they’re seeing. completely eliminated. says de Freitas. the atom bomb, de Freitas says wheel so that it learns all the possi- “Think of all the things that are the So how smart will the next crew “We’re really only interested in a Monte Carlo algorithms are particu- ble internal states and when you let colour blue,” he explains. “How do of rovers be? certain amount of information from larly suited to the task of program- it go, if anything happens, it knows you distinguish between the blue of “They will be more robust robots the rovers such as ‘did you see an ming an autonomous robot to what’s happening and what to do,” the sky and of the ocean? Humans able to fix themselves and able to alien?’” he adds with a laugh. learn. Algorithms are a set of he says. bring context to what they see; robots operate for much longer times,” To do this, de Freitas has been mathematical rules. De Freitas De Freitas is also trying to don’t. There’s a lot of uncertainty de Freitas says. “That’s important exploring how to give a rover the compares them to cookbook recipes. improve a rover’s ability to see. and you have to bring in context when you consider the cost of these ability to learn to do things such as They give a robot a formula with Better vision would enable it to bet- for them.” missions. They’re extremely expensive recognize when something is wrong parameters that is also flexible ter self-navigate and carry out other Again, the Monte Carlo algorithms and it would be nice if you could with it and then fix itself. enough to allow for variations and small tasks on its own. The Spirit are particularly suited for teaching a just drop rovers off and you knew “As humans, we know our bod- substitutions in information and a and Opportunity rovers are robot how to sift through massive they would be able to move and do ies. We know how we feel. We also margin of error. equipped with sensors and a set of amounts of data in order to build a all sorts of things without having to know when something doesn’t feel With this, de Freitas and other nine cameras each. These capture probalistic model to represent the contact us all the time.” ■
Plant-based Hormone Offers New Hope for Hot Flushes
UBC study tests safer replacement for estrogen. BY HILARY THOMSON
Imagine that your heart starts pound- tens of thousands of women troubled been on hormone replacement thera- progestin (a synthetic form of proges- In addition to learning about the ing, your skin temperature suddenly by these symptoms. py (HRT) for hot flushes that were terone) increased risk of pulmonary drug’s effect on hot flushes, spikes and you break out in a sweat Christine Hitchcock, a researcher leaving her sleep-deprived. She embolism, heart attack, stroke and Hitchcock and Prior will examine its that wakes you up at night and forces at the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and stopped using HRT because of a fam- breast cancer. effects on cholesterol, blood pressure, you to fling off clothing during the Ovulation Research (CeMCOR), is ily history of heart disease and had “The importance of safe and effec- blood sugar and weight gain. They day. testing the effectiveness of tried herbal remedies without success. tive therapy becomes even more clear are particularly interested in blood Now imagine these embarrassing Prometrium®, the commercial name “I got involved with the study as the dust settles from the trials of vessel function and will use a forearm and sometimes debilitating personal for a plant-based manufactured hor- because I want some relief but I also menopausal hormone therapy. Early blood flow test that can predict risk heat waves persisting for years. mone that is chemically identical to want to make sure I’m well,” she studies suggested that progestins were of cardiovascular disease. Participants This is the world of night sweats the progesterone produced by the says. “Participating in the study gives effective in hot flush control but this is will also keep a daily menopause and hot flushes – the characteristic body. Approximately 60 women will me more insight into my own the first study to test natural oral prog- diary to record the incidence and mid-life change experienced by about use a placebo or Prometrium® for health.” esterone for these symptoms,” says severity of flushes and sweats as well 75 per cent of women in peri- four months to determine if the drug Until recently, hot flushes were principal investigator Jerilyn C. Prior, a as other experiences such as insom- menopause and the early years after can control hot flushes as well as treated with estrogen. Many women professor of endocrinology who is sci- nia, depression and fluid retention. menopause. In the first study of its improve blood vessel function and stopped estrogen therapy, however, entific director of CeMCOR, a part of “We want to be able to give kind, UBC researchers are testing a help prevent heart attack. after the results of the Women’s UBC’s Dept. of Medicine and the women a choice and a more targeted manufactured hormone that might Betty-anne Dempsey is a partici- Health Initiative Study announced in Vancouver Coastal Health Research therapy for hot flushes. Also, this provide safe and effective relief for pant in the trial. The 51-year-old had July 2002 that estrogen with low dose Institute (VCHRI). study will provide important infor- mation about the effects of proges- terone alone on cardiovascular health,” says Hitchcock. Scientists do not know the exact mechanism of hot flushes. They believe that flushes originate in the hypothalamus – the area of the brain that integrates stressors. Somehow, the body registers that its core tem- perature is too hot. It produces the flushes to get hot blood away from the core and move it to the skin’s sur- face to cool down.
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TIMEPIECE 1951 Undergraduate third-year Law student, docu- mented Rogers case from her Students sentence to her inquest and ana- New Hope for lyzed it for specific human Conduct rights violations. Hot Flushes Research Too She found that, despite strong continued from page 9 evidence that banning people continued from page 4 convicted of welfare fraud from receiving future benefits regard- The average age of onset for “It blows my mind to even think less of the need was a harmful hot flushes is 48. They can be of all the amazing fungi out policy, the policy remained in triggered by warm environ- there that just might produce the effect in Ontario until there was ments, hot or spicy food, alco- next great antibiotic,” Sebelova a change of government. In hol, caffeine or stress. An indi- says. B.C., similar regulations were vidual flush usually lasts from a put in place even after Kimberly few seconds to 30 minutes or Rogers died, with no considera- an hour and may happen a few >>Hippy Hippy Shake tion of Charter rights to life, times a day or once a week. Metal and materials engineering security of the person and The phenomenon can continue students Trevor Pearce, Leon equality. for four to nine years surround- Chow, Frankie Wong and Shawn ing the time of the last menstru- Wu constructed an analytical al cycle. model of a prosthetic hip joint >> I say, could you please Men who have been castrat- ed because of testicular cancer to try and to predict the life pass the salt? span of an implant based on the or those receiving hormone materials used to make it and It’s well known that the therapy for prostate cancer may the patient’s level of activity, Victorian era was a period of also experience flushes and weight and other factors. The extravagant entertaining for the sweats. team’s foray into the field of bio- upper-middle and high classes of For more information on hot In 1951, UBC frosh week was chock full of fun times. medical engineering found that England but few have analysed flushes, visit the CeMCOR The highlight of frosh week was the Frosh Ball held in the an implant’s life span is affected the social role that elaborate website at www.cemcor.ubc.ca. armouries. Here President Norman MacKenize crowns one by these factors and they’re rec- Victorian food rituals played. To learn more about the trial, lucky co-ed, Alex Gorden, frosh queen. Other freshmen, ommending that an interdiscipli- Through an examination of the click on ‘get involved’. The who missed out on the crown, were able to line up to shake nary database of material and work of Isabella Beeton, the study has been initiated by hands with the president and receive his wishes for a patient data be constructed for era’s brightest culinary star, his- researchers and is not spon- ■ successful stay at UBC. use in future studies on retrieved tory student Ginnie Mathers sored by a drug company. implants. explored the complex social CeMCOR distributes infor- purpose of the Victorian dinner mation directly to women party. about changes through the life The Case of Kimberly She found that the highly cycle, from adolescence to >> refined food rituals of the late menopause. Rogers 1800s created a civilized and VCHRI is a joint venture Kat Kinch was just learning sophisticated identity for upper between UBC and Vancouver about the Canadian Charter of class Victorians designed to Coastal Health that promotes Rights and Freedoms when counterbalance the primal and development of new researchers Kimberly Rogers died in physical characteristics of food and research activity. ■ Sudbury in 2001. Rogers was consumption. The complicated eight months pregnant and system of dining manners, rules under the terms of her sentence and menus masked basic human for welfare fraud, confined to instincts and passions, and her apartment in a heat wave. differentiated them from the Her death sparked nationwide savage act of “eating” carried media coverage. Kinch, now a out by the lower classes. ■
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ubc reports | april 1, 2004 | 11 Retiring Within 5 Years? Ethiopian Student Finds Refuge at UBC
One of the lucky few with a new lease on life. BY CRISTINA CALBOREANU
Masresha Arefaine is a 23-year-old whose education has been interrupted arrange admission, housing and arts student from Ethiopia planning by civil war or persecution to contin- course registration for the student Don Proteau to study International Relations with ue their post-secondary studies in refugees before their arrival, and B.Comm, CFP a focus on African studies. There Canada. provides personal support through- Senior Financial Planning Advisor would be nothing unusual about his Created in 1978, the program out the year. Complimentary consultations available for Assante Financial UBC Faculty and Staff story if it weren’t for the fact that operates under a special agreement “You need time to adjust, you Management Ltd. only months ago he was living in a with the Government of Canada and need mentors, and WUSC-UBC pro- Retirement and Estate planning refugee camp in northwestern Kenya. allows approximately 40 student vides that,” says Arefaine. “The [email protected] UBC pension expertise One of the oldest and largest refugees to enter Canada every year local committee is like a family.” References available refugee camps in the world, Kakuma to study under permanent resident “One person cannot help a stu- is currently home to about 90,000 status, which makes WUSC Canada’s dent by themselves,” explains “I am completely satisfied with the service I am receiving from Don.” M. Dale Kinkade, refugees, and 800 more arrive every largest non-faith based private spon- Pascaline Nsekera, who arrived in Professor Emeritus of Linguistics, UBC month. Approximately 70 per cent of Canada in 1997 as a WUSC-spon- “Frank and Don made me feel very comfortable with their advice and them are southern Sudanese, and the sored student refugee from Burundi. long range planning. Their knowledge of the faculty pension plan is balance come from Somalia, She is continuing her involvement Frank Danielson also a plus for UBC professors.” Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Burundi, with WUSC as a volunteer. “Even Dr. J. H. McNeill, B.Ed., CFP Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC Liberia, Democratic Republic of before the student comes, we have a Senior Financial Congo and Uganda. co-ordinator and we have a support Planning Advisor Call or e-mail today for a complimentary retirement analysis Kakuma lies in desert land that system around the person. From our Assante Financial can barely support the local popula- experience, we have a good under- Management Ltd. 604-638-0335 tion, much less a high concentration standing of what a student refugee [email protected] of refugees. Violence and malnutri- needs, and we assign these various tion are endemic, remembers task to different volunteers, so the The Assante symbol is a registered trademark of Assante Corporation, used under license. Arefaine. Food, water and firewood students know who to talk to if they are in short supply and conflicts over have certain kinds of problems.” scarce resources erupt periodically Having this support network between the refugees and the local helps the student refugees cope with Turkana population. Moreover, linguistic and cultural obstacles that Kenyan law restricts refugees from can make integration into Canadian employment in the formal sector, society extremely challenging. which makes them fully dependent “Everything is different,” explains on the assistance provided by the Mohammad Elyas, a WUSC-spon- international community. sored UBC mathematics student “I was a second-year university Arts student Masresha Arefaine and who came to Canada from student in Ethiopia, but I couldn’t WUSC volunteer Pascaline Nsekera. Afghanistan in 1998. “Language, study while I was in the refugee the whole culture, the outlook, the camp in Kenya,” explains Arefaine. sor. The student refugees have to perspective people have on life. You “I couldn’t afford an education. meet the permanent residency need time to adjust.” There are some income generation requirements of the Government of This adjustment process can be and vocational training programs in Canada and the admission criteria set long and painful, and most students Kakuma, but they are very limited. by Canadian universities. Priority is need some time to find their place in Hundreds of refugees attempt to reg- given to refugees who are discrimi- Canadian society. ister for courses that can accommo- nated against or whose physical secu- Nsekera had been enrolled in an date only 50 people. Few will find rity is at risk. There are more than undergraduate environmental chem- jobs after completing the course.” 500 applicants every year, but fewer istry program in her home country Arefaine was one of the lucky than 50 make it to Canada. and continued her studies in earth ones. The former University of Addis Founded in 1947, the UBC local and ocean sciences at UBC. Having Ababa student came to Canada last committee is one of the longest estab- found herself increasingly concerned September thanks to a sponsorship lished and most active branches of with social issues, she now works in from the Student Refugee Program of WUSC and the recipient of the 2003 the UBC School of Social Work & the World University Service of Local Committee Award for its Family Studies. Canada (WUSC). He is one of eight involvement in development activi- “When you have to leave your student refugees currently enrolled at ties, both at home and overseas. country because there’s been a war, UBC. The student refugee sponsorship and you manage to escape and come “Being involved with WUSC program was established at UBC in to Canada, it’s very difficult and changed my life,” says Arefaine. “I 1981. It is funded through an Alma confusing,” she says. “Eventually got a chance to continue my educa- Mater Society annual levy of $1 per you find your priorities changing, tion and live a new life.” student and an annual contribution and it may take a while to find your WUSC is a network of individuals from the UBC Faculty Association. way.” and post-secondary institutions The UBC administration provides For Arefaine, that process is still Digital Printing & working on more than 50 campuses tuition waivers covering the entire ongoing. “It is really difficult at the Computer Imaging across Canada to foster human amount of the sponsored students’ beginning, adjusting to the culture development and global understand- tuition fees for the duration of their and the living conditions in Graphic Design & Illustration ing through education and training. studies at UBC. The local committee, Canada,” he says. “It’s like a com- Their Student Refugee Program pro- made up of student volunteers assist- puter – you must erase everything Photography vides a chance for student refugees ed by a faculty advisor, works to and download a new program.” ■ Lamination Video & Media Production AV Equipment & Media Sales Refugee Program Creates Global Citizens AV Services & Maintenance BY CRISTINA CALBOREANU Large Format Colour From its inception, the WUSC Student Refugee program between 1978 and 2000 found that Program has changed the lives of more than 700 both sponsored students and volunteers with the Printing student refugees by providing opportunities for local committees have significantly higher rates them to resume their studies and live a secure and of civic participation and leadership, including prosperous life, but its influence goes even further. volunteering, membership in civic organizations, “We talk about the sponsored students and how and political participation, than the average their lives have changed, but our lives change as Canadian citizen. For Levine, that means that the well,” says Syma Khan, chair of WUSC-UBC. “You program is achieving its goals. learn about these issues in class or you see them on “We do not see the student refugee program as the news, but to actually meet someone who has an end in itself,” she explains. “It has always been lived through political instability and who has lived about creating opportunities for people to under- in the refugee camps and to be able to interact with stand their responsibilities as global citizens. It’s them on a personal level and to become friends is about creating active citizens who understand that really amazing and really enlightening.” their obligations go beyond their immediate family “The partnership with university campuses is and local community.” what makes the student refugee program unique. With UBC placing a high emphasis on promoting Students and university leadership across Canada global awareness and citizenship, Levine sees inspir- are leveraging more than $1 million every year to ing opportunities for WUSC to work with the UBC make the program possible,” says Barbara Levine, administration. director of Canadian Programs and Partnerships at “We’re very excited about the initiatives that the WUSC office in Ottawa. “This program helps UBC has taken around global citizenship, and we activate the human and intellectual resources of the look forward to working together,” says Levine. university, especially the capacity and commitment “There are real challenges for universities in terms of Canadian students, and it also goes towards of what internationalization means, because it’s helping Canada meet its international obligations in about transforming our institutions and transform- terms of refugee resettlement.” ing ourselves to be better, more engaged citizens of A recent impact study of participants in the the world.” ■ ubcr5004_30march04 3/30/04 11:56 AM Page 1
12 | ubc reports | april 1, 2004 New Treatment for Hand Burns
Vacuum replaces cream. BY HILARY THOMSON
A third-year medical student “The patient had less redness, has conducted the first numbness and scarring than Vancouver study of the effec- his other hand that was tiveness of vacuum therapy for treated with medicinal acute hand burns. cream.” The therapy, called vacuum Kai says the hardest part of assisted closure method the project was explaining the (V.A.C.®), replaces traditional trial concept and procedures anti-infective creams by using to the patient and reassuring a device that applies negative him that the treatment was pressure – or suction – to the safe even though it had never wound to remove pus, other been attempted on hand fluids and dead cells while burns. promoting healing. Kai presented his research Student researcher Brain Kai to residents in UBC’s division compared the method with the of plastic surgery and hopes traditional treatment as part to enroll more patients in the of a multicentre North study. American trial. The project was supervised “The results seen in our first by Dr. Peter Lennox and patient were very promising,” research co-ordinator Wendy says the 25-year-old. Cannon. ■
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