Stories

• Rural teacher education
• Cancer prevention
• Parkinson’s disease
• Computer science and multimedia
• Biomedical engineering
• Sales and sales management
• Forest entomology

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Rural Teacher Education

The Faculty of Education received its largest-ever gift when Don Rix and his daughter Laurie established the Eleanor Rix Professorship in Rural Teacher Education, in memory of Don’s wife. Dr. Linda Farr Darling, former Associate Professor in Curriculum and Pedagogy at UBC, was appointed to this position in September 2009. Dr. Farr Darling has dedicated her career to enhancing educational opportunities for rural students; broadening their horizons while sustaining their small town roots.

(In the photo: Dr. Linda Farr Darling, recipient of the Eleanor Rix Professorship in Rural Teacher Education)

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Cancer Prevention

Gifts from the Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon Division, are supporting the Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention, as well as fostering research in cancer prevention. Dr. Carolyn Cook Gotay is the Chair, and her work is developing an infrastructure for primary cancer prevention in BC. Kristin Campbell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy who is investigating the role of physical activity in preventing breast and colon cancer.

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Parkinson’s Disease

UBC took another step toward solving the mystery of Parkinson’s disease with the creation of the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute Professorship in Parkinson’s Research. This professorship will build on the achievements of the internationally-recognized Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre. Using a combination of clinical work and academic study, this professorship will ultimately enhance the quality of patient care while moving closer to a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

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Computer Science and Multimedia

Students in the Faculties of Science and Applied Science will be able to work on emerging technology with real-world applications, thanks to a gift from Dolby Laboratories Inc. High- Dynamic Range (HDR) display technology replaces the single backlight in a typical LCD screen with hundreds of small light-emitting diodes, delivering picture quality that is closer than ever to what the human eye sees. The Dolby Computer Science Research Chair and the Dolby Professorship in Digital Multimedia in the faculties of Science and Applied Science respectively will research new HDR applications and devices that can capture, compress and deliver HDR images.

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Biomedical Engineering

Continuing a relationship with UBC which began in 1974, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Emeritus Charles Laszlo’s most recent gift has transformed an eponymous Professorship into a Chair and created new opportunities for biomedical engineering research and teaching. For 13 years Professor Laszlo led the UBC Biomedical Engineering program, which brings together engineering principles, the life sciences and clinical applications to improve human health and well-being.

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Sales and Sales Management

The Sauder School of Business and the BC Innovation Council have combined efforts to remedy the shortage of sales and marketing executives in the technology industry. A gift from the BCIC has helped to fill this curriculum vacuum by establishing the BC Innovation Council Chair in Sales and Sales Management. The Chair-holder will focus on the creation, dissemination and application of knowledge in sales and sales management, particularly in the high-tech sector. Dr. Pradeep Bhardwaj, a distinguished business professor from the University of North Carolina, is the first to hold the Chair.

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Forest Entomology

The BC Industrial Chair in Forest and Forest Products Entomology has been established with the support of FP Innovations. This chair will research the impacts of exotic and native pest species activity, and develop mitigating strategies, as well as teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Support the Faculty of Forestry

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