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Recent Posts
- Nicole Tomczak-Jaegermann 1945-2022
- UBC Campus Vision 2050, in a word, lacks vision
- Louis Nirenberg (1925-2020)
- UBC: The ill-fated revolt of those who ought to know better
- Shiny, happy, oblivious science
- NSERC has lost its bearings … again
- The Learning & Research of the UBC Board of Governors (II)
- The Learning & Research committee of the UBC Board: What a difference a year makes (I)
- UBC: Failures in governance are slowing down the pace of academic renewal
- A research community at the mercy of a leaderless NSERC
- A busy first four months on the UBC Board of Governors
- Academic publishing in the time of sanctions and boycotts
- Maurice Sion: 1927 – 2018
- Robert M. Miura: 1938 – 2018
- When the Walls of Governance Come Crumbling Down
- Why I am voting against the tuition increases for domestic students
- Resignation of the director of the Wall Institute: The reaction
- Why I am resigning from the directorship of the Wall institute
- Accountability and Governance at UBC: Budget
- NSERC corrects a mistake, but many remain unaddressed
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Louis Nirenberg (1925-2020)
By Professor Ivar Ekeland, le 17 Avril 2020 Nous sommes nombreux, en ce jour de janvier, à avoir reçu le message : « Louis est mort cette nuit ». On ne parlait pas encore du COVID-19, qui était encore confiné … Continue reading
Posted in Honouring friends, Uncategorized
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Shiny, happy, oblivious science
by Dr. Jim R. Woodgett The government of Canada released a budget on April 19th, 2021, the first for two years. It was, as anticipated, a high spending, deficit projecting budget that clears the ground for pandemic recovery with its centre … Continue reading
Why I am voting against the tuition increases for domestic students
During my previous two terms on the UBC Board of Governors from 2008 to 2014, I always voted in support of the administration’s maximum government-allowable 2% increases in tuition fees for domestic students. But things are different this time. The … Continue reading
NSERC corrects a mistake, but many remain unaddressed
No, I am not talking about the sudden and probably more consequential recent change in NSERC’s leadership, but about an accounting mistake. Yes, it looks minor, but it speaks volume. As I mentioned in a previous post, I resigned last … Continue reading
Posted in Banff International Research Station, R&D Policy, Uncategorized
Tagged AARMS, BIRS, CRM, CTRMS, EG, Fields, LRP, Mathematics, MSLC, NSERC Discovery, PIMS, research, science, Statistics
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Calling on #UBC to step up and support our alumni Loujain Al-Hathloul (Arts, 2014)
29 May 2018 Lindsay Gordon, Chancellor, UBC Santa J, Ono, President and vice-Chancellor, UBC Dear Mr Gordon and Dr Ono: “Pursuing excellence in research, learning and engagement to foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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President Arvind Gupta on the essence of the academic mission…and an endorsement
Originally posted on Commentaria:
By Professor Arvind Gupta Dear colleagues, As many of you are aware, there is a by-election for a faculty representative to the Board of Governors. This is an important election for UBC Vancouver faculty, and I feel…
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Salient points of Daniel Heath Justice’s letter of resignation from the UBC Sexual Assault Policy Committee in response to Furlong’s reinstatement
Originally posted on Commentaria:
Dear Professor Ono, I read with dismay the announcement yesterday that John Furlong has been reinstated as a UBC fundraising speaker. … There were many responsible and compassionate ways this matter might have been handled that…
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Research funding of Mathematics and Statistics in Canada
A submission from the NSERC Mathematics and Statistics Liaison group, to the Review of Federal Support to Research and Development, on research funding of mathematics and statistics in Canada. 1. Mathematics and Statistics in our research system; revolution, or a … Continue reading
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Saving the UBC Senate from itself
Originally posted on Commentaria:
Much has been made at UBC on the subject of governance, sparked by such diverse issues as the sudden resignation of Arvind Gupta, the violation of academic freedom that occurred in the aftermath of the resignation,…
Posted in Uncategorized
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An open letter to Faye Wightman, Chair of the UBC Alumni Board of Directors
Originally posted on Commentaria:
From Roger Francois, Professor, Canadian Research Chair, FRSC, UBC Alumni ’87 (PhD) Dear Ms. Wightman, I could not attend the meeting of the Board of Governors on April 14th because of a scheduling conflict but owing…
Posted in Uncategorized
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An open letter to Stuart Belkin, Chair, UBC Board of Governors
Originally posted on Commentaria:
Re: Ms. Wightman’s presentation at the April 14th meeting of the Board of Governors From: Prof. Kalina Christoff, Department of Psychology Dear Mr. Belkin, As a faculty member at UBC, I was delighted to hear today’s discussions…
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Why I Lack Confidence in UBC’s Board of Governors: Its Disrespect for Faculty
Originally posted on Commentaria:
By Jennifer Berdahl, Montalbano Professor of Leadership Studies, Sauder School of Business There are many statements by faculty explaining why they lack confidence in the University of British Columbia’s Board of Governors. Our BoG is dominated by political…
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Open Letter to the Elected Members of the UBC Board of Governors
Originally posted on Commentaria:
“The Board of Governors shall promote a culture of integrity at the University through its own actions, its interaction with senior executives and external parties, and through selection and review of the President.”—UBC Board of Governors Code…
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A statement by Dr Arvind Gupta
Today UBC released a number of documents related to my resignation as President and Vice Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. As a result, I am compelled to comment on the documents, their content, tone and the accuracy of … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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UBC Faculty Association response to the report by Honourable Lynn Smith
Dear Colleagues: The Honourable Lynn Smith, Q. C., completed her fact-finding process last week and presented the parties with her report. We thank Professor Smith for her fair and impartial process and for producing a high quality, nuanced report, a … Continue reading
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11 Comments
Shared governance hits rock bottom at UBC, by Professor Stephen Petrina
The Board of Governors’ rejection this week of the Faculty Association’s request for accountability in President Gupta’s resignation marks the low point of shared or faculty governance at the University of British Columbia. It’s a shame that UBC sunk to rock bottom … Continue reading
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Artificial Intelligence uncovers how Gupta and Montalbano became blood brothers
In view of the sudden resignation of UBC’s president and the limited but informative statements provided by the Chair of the Board, a colleague decided to perform a computer-assisted reconstruction of the events that led to the resignation. She fed … Continue reading
Why the UBC Leadership Crisis Matters Beyond the Ivory Tower, by Professor E. Wayne Ross
The ongoing drama at University of British Columbia may look like a tempest in a teapot, but the dispute among university governors, managers, and faculty has implications that reach beyond the ivory tower. Two principles are at the heart of the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Academic freedom, Arvind Gupta, Board of Governors, John Montalbano, UBC
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Canada loses again
By Nancy Reid, Professor, University of Toronto and Officer of the Order of Canada This was the subject heading in an email I sent to an American colleague, on learning of Arvind Gupta’s sudden and unexpected resignation as President of UBC. … Continue reading
Beyond UBC’s clumsy announcement regarding Gupta’s resignation
There are many puzzled, devastated, concerned and angry friends, colleagues and citizens wanting to learn about what happened at UBC last Friday evening. How can a promising energetic UBC president with far-reaching and refreshing ideas be led to resign after … Continue reading
Piece of Mind 