Updates, news and stories

UBC Library digitizes William Shakespeare’s First Folio

UBC Library has made its first edition of William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies openly accessible to the public by publishing a digitized version of the volume online through Open Collections. The process to digitize the First Folio took more than a year to facilitate due to the Folio’s age and fragility. The First Folio arrived at UBC in September 2021 and almost immediately, work with UBC Library’s conservator Anne Lama began in order to plan for its 2D digitization.

Spread the seasonal cheer by sharing your favourite holiday-inspired photo

Holidays inspire all of us in different ways. Last fall, we asked our faculty and staff community to tell us what this time of year means to them by sharing a fun and festive holiday-inspired photo. Thanks to last year's success, we've decided to do it again this year. Spread the seasonal cheer by sharing your favourite holiday-themed photo, and we'll publish it on UBC Today.What do you need to do?

Apply for a Move UBC grant

Move UBC is an annual university-wide initiative in February to encourage faculty, staff, students, and the wider university community to move more.  Building on the success of the February initiative, Move UBC grants are now available in two funding streams:

Greenspaces should support mental health among young adults

Even though many global cities incorporate greenspaces such as pocket parks and community gardens into their urban planning efforts, new UBC research shows those plans often fail to include the needs of youth and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. As a result, this age demographic can miss out on the known social, physical and mental health benefits of these nature-based solutions.

Paid leave for staff between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day

With the holiday season approaching, please note that certain UBC staff are eligible for paid leave during the university’s seasonal closure — the three normal working days between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. This year’s seasonal closure falls on December 28, 29, and 30, 2022.

Diet and lifestyle education in a family practice clinic can benefit wellbeing

A staggering 70 per cent of Canadians report an unhealthy diet—a risk factor which is often closely associated with the development of chronic disease. Low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diets have shown to improve weight loss and cardiovascular health.  But for many people, it’s not often clear when or how to implement such a change. A new UBC Okanagan study explores how primary care physicians and allied health professionals can help patients adopt dietary and lifestyle interventions to improve their overall health.

Frank Laezza appointed Vice-President, Finance and Operations

A message from Professor Deborah Buszard, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor

Inform the future of federal research support in Canada

The Government of Canada has convened an advisory panel on the structure and governance of the federal research support system, with particular focus on the relationships among the federal research granting agencies (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.  You are invited to share your thoughts and provide input to the advisory panel via a questionnaire or written submission by Dec. 1.

30-second bio: Hilary Reid (née Clark)

Hilary is an English Language instructor with the Faculty of Education. Now, in her 40th year of teaching, find out what education means to her and learn about her family’s legacy of 106 years of continuous pedagogy at the university.

Presidential Search Committee announced

A message from The Honourable Steven Point, Chancellor and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee In August 2022, UBC launched its search for a new President and Vice-Chancellor. The UBC Board of Governors is responsible for appointing the next President, one of the most important decisions the Board will make in the coming year.

Preparing for extreme weather at UBC

As the weather patterns shift towards snow, we would like to remind you of information available, to help you prepare for extreme weather.

Bivalent vaccines are here: What it means for people who are pregnant