Events at: Room 120, C.K. Choi Building

Theology After the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement: Notes from Hong Kong and Vancouver

One of the hallmarks of the 2014 prodemocracy occupy protests in Hong Kong known as the Umbrella Movement was the presence of Christians doing theology on the streets, sometimes fused with Cantonese hero traditions. But in the aftermath of the movement, how has the relationship between theology and politics developed, especially in a time of […]

A Tryst with Destiny? The Politics of Buddhist Heritage and the Making of Modern India by Douglas Ober

An information session hosted by Douglas Ober, Research Associate, UBC IAR One of the more curious incidents in the making of modern India occurred on the eve of Independence when a group of seventy-two women entered New Delhi’s Constituent Assembly and unfurled the newly chosen national flag. In a last minute change decided only three weeks prior, the Gandhian charkha or spinning wheel, was replaced by […]

The First Master Text: The Classic of Odes

For over a century, the Warring States Masters (Kongzi, Laozi, Mozi, Mengzi, etc.) and their texts have dominated the modern imagination of early Chinese thought. But how reliable is the “Masters Narrative,” and is there a better way of telling the story? Join Professor Michael Hunter as he explores what the story of Warring States thought might look like with the Odes (as opposed to the Analects) as its foundational text.

Information Session: Student Opportunities in India and Beyond with the Globalink Research Award

In this presentation, Andrea Globa will provide information about the programs Mitacs offers to support international collaborations, with a focus on an award that supports student travel to the India Institutes of Technology. Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply: in addition to STEM subjects, many of the IITs maintain strong programs in the social sciences and humanities.

A Roundtable: Understanding the Rohingya Crisis

Join us for a discussion on the Rohingya Crisis with a panel of speakers at this event. The speakers for the event are: Mohammad Zaman (Independent Consultant), Kai Ostwald (Political Science & SPPGA, UBC), Douglas Ober (CISAR, UBC), Sara Shneiderman (Anthropology & SPPGA, UBC), Theressa Etmanski (Law, UVic) Dr. Douglas Ober is a Research Associate in the Centre for India […]

Health Policy in Nepal

Join the UBC Himalaya Program for a roundtable discussion about health policy and practice in Nepal. Medical and public health professionals from UBC, University of Victoria, and the University of Washington explore the challenges and opportunities of working in Nepal, across fields including emergency care, family practice, health education, midwifery, and mental health.

New Era New Approach? China’s policy towards East Asia after the 19th Party Congress

Abstract:  At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party, Xi Jinping made it clear that he would lead China into a new era and, by implication, put an end to the Dengist period of ‘opening up and reform’ as well as ‘hiding capabilities and bidding for time’.  This talk starts with the premise that […]

Hong Kong Nationalism and the Chinese Dream in the Age of Global Capitalism

A City Inscribed event. Registration is strongly encouraged. Scholars and pundits continue to discuss the issue of Hong Kong’s right to self-determination under Chinese rule even after the Umbrella Movement has ended. The one perspective that frames the conflicts between Hong Kong and China in nationalist terms has attracted much attention in particular. The city’s inability to implement direct […]

Behind the Scenes: Transnational Ties Between the Hollywood and Hong Kong Entertainment Industries

A City Inscribed and IAR Lunar New Year event. Registration is strongly encouraged. Over the decades there have been many encounters between members of the Hollywood and Hong Kong entertainment industries such as film collaborations and co-productions. In comparing the two industries, stark differences including their size, scope, and relationship to the state are evident. Yet, production ethnography reveals that the […]

South Asia Conference of the Pacific Northwest (SACPAN) at UBC

Organized by CISAR, Institute of Asian Research/School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, with the support of the UBC Departments of Asian Studies and History, Dean of Arts, IC-IMPACTS, and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. The Harjit Kaur Sidhu Memorial Program is made possible by the generous support of the Sidhu family, in loving memory of […]

Catastrophe in Context: Household Recoveries from the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes

The 2015 Nepal earthquakes had catastrophic impacts on the lives and property of Himalayan peoples. Join the UBC Himalaya Program as Dr. Spoon discusses his study which focuses on four settlements in two of the hardest hit districts with differing access, aid, and populations. We randomly selected 400 households in these locations and conducted two […]

The Past and Present of Chinese-Language Book Publishing in Hong Kong

A City Inscribed event. This talk by Angela Ko, Acquisitions Librarian of the University of Hong Kong Libraries, will discuss some of the characteristics of Chinese-language book publishing in Hong Kong and identify some of the changes over the past decade. Registration for this event is strongly encouraged.

Southeast Asia Ascendant? So What, and What’s Next for Canada?

The Centre for Southeast Asia Research invites you to the panel discussion on Southeast Asia’s Ascendance onto the global stage. With a selection of expert panellists on the region like Prof Paul Evans, join the discussion exploring the economic, political and developmental landscape of Southeast Asia. Closely examining the interlinkages and prospective relations between Canada […]

Film Screening and Discussion with Director – Connecting Threads: Made In India Fabrics for Africa

Documentary Film (Director, Dr. Renu Modi) – 21 minutes A Centre for African Studies and Observer Research Foundation production   About the film The documentary portrays the transoceanic journey of cloth – primarily Kangas and Vitenge – unique textile genres that are exported from India to various entrepôts in Africa. It showcases the power of […]

Indo-China: Strategic Cooperation in Afghanistan

What does India and China’s convergence in Afghanistan look like? The Greater Central Asia Initiative is hosting the “Indo-China: Strategic Cooperation in Afghanistan” event, featuring H.E. Gul Hussain Ahmadi, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Poland. Ambassador Ahmadi will discuss the recent joint economic project between India and China, Asia’s two rising powers, in Afghanistan. He will share his insights […]

Fires in Shandong, Fires in BC: Flora and Firefighting in Mediterranean & Boreal Forests

Opening talk for UBC China Study Forum, China& and CESS by Dr. Jack Hayes (Associate Professor of Chinese History and Environmental History in Asian Studies and History Faculty at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, CCR Associate.) This presentation analyzes aspects of fire fighting and fire management in Chinese and Canadian forest ecosystems.  In examining both natural systems […]

The Literary Anthology and Readership in Colonial India by Kedar A. Kulkarni

This lecture will discuss the most reprinted book in the Marathi language, Selections of the Marathi Poets, first published in 1854 under the auspices of the Bombay Education Society. Selections has continuously been in print since then, most recently reprinted in 2014. Within its colonial milieu, Selections of the Marathi Poets underwent significant transformations in its first three decades as […]

Unevenly Distributed: China and the Future of Work in Southeast Asia

2018 UBC CHINA STUDIES FORUM SERIES  Speaker: Dr. Stephen J. McGurk Special Advisor to the President Former Vice-President, International Development Research Centre   Abstract This presentation reviews the findings of a series of International Development Research Centre papers on the Future of Work. Digitization of ever-more connected and networked value chains permits faster, simpler, and cheaper trade […]

Big Food ‘Feeding’ the Hungry Poor? Economic Democracy, Food Justice and Human Rights

Join us at this triple book launch to explore civil society, the right to food and public policy with Annette Desmarais (Public Policies for Food Sovereignty), Graham Riches (Food Bank Nations), and Andy Fisher (Big Hunger). This event is part of the UBC Future of Food dialogue series. 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM October 2, […]

The Search for the Origins of Chinese Civilization

With Dr. Wang Wei 王巍 Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences About the Speaker: Professor Wang Wei is academician and director of History Division at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He served as director of the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences from 2006 through 2016. He is […]

Air Pressure: Time and Aviation in Nepal

How are aviation workers dealing with the growth of air travel in and out of Nepal? Over the past two decades, the number of aircraft, routes, and mobility has increased. However, air traffic controllers, operations staff, and crew find themselves under considerable pressure to deal with the increasing flow of passengers through a limited infrastructure, […]

Nation-Work: How Tea Became Japanese with Dr. Kristin Surak

Join us for an evening of learning about the relationship between tea and Japanese culture. Why did an activity as mundane as tea preparation become one of the potent symbols of Japan? Drawing on her award-winning book Making Tea, Making Japan: Cultural Nationalism in Practice, Kristin Surak will explore the relationship between culture and nation in tea […]

Collaboration in Late Imperial South China: The Lower Pearl River Estuary during the Opium War

Hong Kong / History Seminar Free and open to the public Along with fishery, smuggling, and piracy, collaboration with foreigners had long been integral to the economy and society of the region of Guangdong in South China before the Opium War (1839–42). In this talk, Dr. Gary Chi-hung Luk traces Chinese collaboration in Hong Kong […]

Global Oceans and International Diplomacy: What is Changing

Don’t miss this seminar with Mr. Serge Segura, Ambassador of France for the Oceans. His talk will be followed by discussant comments by Professor William Cheung, UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and a Q&A with the audience. November 8, 2018 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm C.K. Choi Building, Room 120 Please RSVP Abstract: For decades, global […]

Quality Education and the Role of Digital Technology in Nepal

Technological innovations have revolutionized the ways we communicate, exchange knowledge and ideas, and deliver goods and services. However, this progress has yet to touch the lives many around the world, and the disparity between the privileged and the disadvantaged has been rising. There is an urgent need to leverage technology to level the playing field and provide equitable access to education and opportunities for all. Despite right intentions and large investments, the progress has been slow, and much needs to be done in policies and practices.

Signs of the Times: Kunming’s Streetside Political Posters

With Dr. John Israel (Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Virginia) How to figure out what is going on in China? There is no substitute for reading official documents, following public media, getting to know individual Chinese, and following informed scholarship, analysis and commentary. However, any visitor equipped with some knowledge of the […]

The Making and Unmaking of “Drought-Free” Citizens: A Political-Ecological Analysis of Maharashtra’s Drought Protection Campaign by Sameer Shah

Abstract This talk will critically explore the political-ecology of water and water infrastructures in the making of “drought free” villages in rural areas of Maharashtra (India). Drawing on and learning from interviews with households and experts, I will show how decentralized infrastructure overlays with social, economic, and political difference in the making of “drought-free” citizens. […]

Asia Now Forum: The Karakorum Conundrum

Changing Economic and Security Dynamics in South Asia through Pakistan’s Perspective Panelists: Dr Mohammad Tariq (Consulate General of Pakistan in Vancouver) Dr Haider Nizamani (Visiting Faculty Social Development and Policy, Habib University) Pakistan’s new government led by the cricketer-turned politician, Imran Khan, promises to shake things up for the country. His political party came to […]

Chasing the China Dream: Intellectuals in China Today

A dialogue with Professor CHEN Ming and Professor GAO Quanxi on China’s rise and its intellectual sphere, where is China’s liberalism up to, and what exactly is new Confucianism. Hosted by Prof. Timothy Cheek. Professor CHEN Ming (Department of Philosophy, College of Political Science and Law, Captial Normal University) 陈明教授 （首都师范大学政法学院哲学系） Click here for his bio. Click here for an introduction and translation of […]

Aizu Bushido: Honor Without Guile

Abstract: In 1868-69, domains loyal to the Tokugawa bakufu failed to quash a revolt launched by Satsuma, Choshu, and their allies reputedly to restore sovereign power to the emperor and imperial court. Foremost among bakufu defenders was Aizu. Its samurai men and women accounted for 65 per cent of all battle deaths on the losing […]

Monasteries as Home: Facing Challenges of Modernization in Tibetan Monastic Education and Leadership

For well over 500 years in Tibet, the Buddhist monasteries stood at the center of Tibetan cultural, spiritual, artistic, economic and political life. Now, with many Tibetan monasteries relocated to India and around the world, the monastic leaders face new challenges of how to modernize their traditional forms of education, organization, management, and approach to leadership.

Ambedkar’s Idea of Religion

Abstract Much of the existing scholarship on Ambedkar’s idea of religion has focused on his critique of Hinduism and on his distinct approach and endorsement of Buddhism. While such a critique and endorsement are a significant part of his oeuvre they are premised on a wider recognition of the role and place of religion, or, […]

The Spectrum of Islamism in the New Malaysia

Abstract: The results of the Fourteenth Malaysian General Elections have been hailed as a new era of racial and religious equality. Islam is said to be no longer an important factor in Malaysian politics. However, nine months following the euphoric victory of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, it is a clear that Islam as a […]

Spotlight on Graduate Student Research

Numerology as a Way of Explanation: the Panchatūryanāda Classification of Musical Instruments in Buddhist Sri Lanka by Eshantha Peiris Abstract: The concept of panchatūryanāda refers to a five-fold classification scheme of musical instruments that is found in Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition. Although the term has appeared in Pali and Sinhala texts since the seventh century, its connotations […]

Social Responsibility, Development and the Weaponization of Values in a Chinese Century

With Dr. Robert Hanlon (Assistant Professor, Thompson Rivers University) Social responsibility is becoming increasing political and is shaping how China’s foreign policy architects court an increasingly fractured liberal order.  In an era where the United States’ commitment to multilateralism is wavering, prominent thinkers are now asking whether global power dynamics are shifting to Asia.  Donald Trump’s hostility […]

Sufism in China: Menhuan, Han kitāb, and Belonging

With Dr. Jonathan Lipman (Professor Emeritus of History, Mount Holyoke College) Over the past millennium, Sufism—usually glossed as “Islamic mysticism”—has evolved to pervade the Islamic world.  Even scholars who became anti-Sufis, such as 18th century Arab religious reformer Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab, studied Sufism deeply. Some manifestations of Sufism have been primarily theological and intellectual, while others […]

Niches Constructed for Conflict: Human-Locust Competition for Agricultural Space in Imperial China

With Dr. David Bello Professor of History, Director of East Asian Studies, Washington and Lee University This lecture considers some implications of Niche Construction Theory—the notion that life forms can adaptively modify their surroundings—for an environmental analysis of attempts to control locusts in cereal fields in north China during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries during […]

Intercultural Dialogue, Good Governance and Nation-Building in Afghanistan

The Greater Central Asia Initiative at the Institute of Asian Research, UBC and the Centre for Dialogue at SFU are dedicated to bringing together a significant number of diverse scholarly events inviting VIPs, diplomats and practitioners to explore global geo-strategies, geopolitics, geo-economies, cross-cultural negotiation, intercultural communications, women’s empowerment, and other topics. This conference on Cross-Cultural […]

China: The Nexus of Economy, Climate Change and Renewable Energy

Join us for a dialogue with Dr. Hu Angang (胡鞍钢), Professor of Tsinghua University and Director of the Center for China Study at Tsinghua-CAS. As an economist forecasting China’s future, Hu is noted for his consistent optimism about the country’s socio-economic transformation and historic reemergence as a world power. The event will be moderated by Dr. […]

“Is it safe to rebuild the gumba?” The politics and practice of landslide risk management in post-earthquake Nepal

This event is co-sponsored by the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, the Institute of Asian Research, and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Abstract Landslides are a pervasive hazard in rural Nepal, where the impacts are manifest in very tangible ways: as a chronic threat to both lives and livelihoods; and via […]

Belt and Road Initiative: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects

Since the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by President Xi Jinping in 2013, BRI has attracted great attentions from all over the world. Join us for an informative session with Dr. Bo Chen, Chutian Professor of Economics at Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Awakened Villages: Liberation and Exclusion at the place of Buddha’s Enlightenment in North India

Drawing on ethnographic research, this talk will touch on how some of the Dalit villages located a short distance from the Mahabodhi Temple encapsulate the diverse expressions, meanings and contradictions of Indian Buddhism in the early twenty-first century.

China’s International Cooperation Strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative

This talk is with Jiantuo Yu, the Assistant Secretary General & Director of Research Department I, China Development Research Foundation (CDRF). He works in the areas of urbanization and regional development, the Belt & Road Initiative, rural finance system, poverty and inequality, international development cooperation, public finance, social welfare system, and theory and practice of human development approach.

Shastra Aur Prayoga: Intersections between Text and Practice in Indian Classical Performing Arts

The Shastra Aur Prayoga Conference aims to explore the intersections between text and practice in Indian performing art traditions by bringing together academics, musicians, dancers, and connoisseurs in dialogue. The conference, the brainchild of the Indian Classical Music Society of Vancouver and Asta Alliance, is a unique event approaching analyzing topics in Indian classical performing arts through a multidisciplinary lens.

A Chinese Melting Pot: Original People and Immigrants in Hong Kong’s First ‘New Town’

Book Launch Wednesday, 13 November 2019, 2:00 pm A Chinese Melting Pot: Original People and Immigrants in Hong Kong’s First ‘New Town’ Dr. Elizabeth Lominska Johnson and Dr. Graham E. Johnson 120, C. K. Choi Building, UBC 1855 West Mall, Vancouver Reception and book sale to follow presentations Drawing on research in anthropology and sociology […]

The “History Wars” and the “Comfort Woman” Issue: Revisionism and the Right-wing in Contemporary Japan, U.S., and Canada

Based on Dr. Yamaguchi’s anthropological fieldwork on the Japanese right-wing activities in the U.S. and Japan, as well as the experiences of people involved in the making of the “comfort women” memorials in the U.S., Dr. Yamaguchi will demonstrate how this issue functions as an important rallying point to tie together disparate right-wing forces in and outside Japan.