Prof. Julian Dierkes: Mongolia is Keen to Distance Itself from Moscow and Beijing
SPPGA Prof. Julian Dierkes writes an article about Mongolia’s desire to be independent of its neighbouring countries, China and Russia.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Arms Control at Near-Standstill as Nuclear Threats Escalate
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana comments on how easily the progress in nuclear disarmament can be overwhelmed by the actions of nuclear weapon states.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Federal Infrastructure Bank Commits $970M Toward Canada’s First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana comments on Canada’s first small modular nuclear reactor in Ontario.
Prof. Maxwell Cameron: Anjali Appadurai’s Disqualification Stirs The Political Pot
Prof. Maxwell Cameron (SPPGA; Political Science) comments on the contributing factors that led to the division of members and leaders in the NDP party.
Prof. David Boyd: UN Says Trillions Needed To Close Financial Gap on Sustainable Development Goals
Prof. David (SPPGA; IRES) reports the two main reasons why states are not reaching UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prof. Gerald Baier: North Vancouver District CAO Takes On Dual Role As Port Moody Councillor
Gerald Baier (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) comments on David Stuart’s dual roles as the newly elected councillor of Port Moody and CAO of the District of North Vancouver.
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: Experts are Calling to Halt Fishing in Antarctica
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) discusses how fisheries contribute to the overexploitation of Atlantic fish.
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: Protect Global Values of the Southern Ocean Ecosystem
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) co-publishes a research article on how climate change and overfishing threaten the value of the Southern Ocean ecosystem.
Prof. Kristen Hopewell: The BRICS Countries: Where Next and What Impact on the Global Economy?
SPPGA Prof. Kristen Hopewell is cited in an article on the BRICS countries: Where next and what impact on the global economy?
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: Murder at Sea
A study by Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) on illegal fishing and trade is mentioned in an article by Hakai Magazine.
Profs. Maxwell Cameron and Gerald Baier: Partisanship and Political Learning
A study involving Profs. Maxwell Cameron and Gerald Baier (SPPGA; Political Science) examines hyper-partisanship among aspiring politicians and policymakers. This project was part of the 2019 Institute for Future Legislators program at the CSDI.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: North Korean Missile Testing Could Be Prelude to High-Stakes Bargaining
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana comments on North Korea’s recent missile tests and what this means for the peace process on the Korean peninsula.
Prof. Gerald Baier: Does the B.C. NDP Fear a Hostile Takeover of the Party During Leadership Race?
Gerald Baier (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) is quoted in an article about the B.C. NDP’s leadership race.
News Compilation: Nuclear Disaster Risk at Ukraine Power Plant, Zaporizhzhia
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana discusses nuclear disaster risk at the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine, as a result of the ongoing war with Russia.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Analysts Say China on Track to Meet Carbon Targets Despite Challenges
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) speaks in a video interview on China’s progress towards meeting carbon targets.
Prof. David Boyd: Slovenia: More Ambitious Environmental Action Key to Protect Human Rights says UN expert
Prof. David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) speaks on Slovenia playing a key role to championing the human right to clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
KPP Organized a High-level Discussion on the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korean Peninsula
The Knowledge Partnership Program (KPP) organized, on September 15, 2022, a panel discussion on Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) and the Korean Peninsula at the Annual Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity.
Prof. Maxwell Cameron: Mélanie Joly Pushing for Haiti Plan at Americas Summit
Prof. Maxwell Cameron (SPPGA; Political Science) comments on Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s plan to address Haiti’s gas shortage that sparked violence among citizens.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: 2022 World Nuclear Industry Status Report
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana co-writes this year’s World Nuclear Industry Status Report.
Prof. Vina Nadjibulla: China, SCO, and Central Asia
SPPGA Prof. Nadjibulla comments on the recent participation of China in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and its role in Central Asia.
Prof. Maxwell Cameron: Another Jan. 6? Bolsonaro Attacks Brazil’s Election, Raising Fears of Violence
Prof. Maxwell Cameron (SPPGA; Political Science) comments on the federal elections in Brazil.
Prof. Sheryl Lightfoot: Genuine Truth and Reconciliation Requires Legislative Reform
Prof. Sheryl Lightfoot (SPPGA; Political Science; First Nations & Indigenous Studies) advocates for legislative reform to bring about meaningful reconciliation.
Adjunct Prof. Andrea Reimer – What’s Missing in the Municipality: Why Does Burnaby’s Council Lack Diversity?
SPPGA Adjunct Prof. and former Vancouver city councilor, Andrea Reimer, comments on the underrepresentation of renters in the Burnaby city council.
Prof. David Boyd – Revealed: Huge Gas Flaring Emissions Never Reported
Prof. David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) discusses how major oil companies fail to disclose significant gas emissions, emphasizing the prioritization of private interests over human health.
Prof. David Boyd: Drought Prompts Portugal to Restrict Water Usage at Hydropower Dams
Prof. David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) dives into the drought issue affecting Portugal’s water source and the significance of hydropower dams being closed.
Prof. David Boyd: Slovenia: UN Expert to Assess Effects of Environmental Risks on Human Rights
Through a visit to Slovenia, UN Special Rapporteur and Prof. David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) will assess how environmental risks affect human rights.
Prof. David Boyd: Portugal: Accelerate Rights-Based Climate and Environmental Action
UN Special Rapporteur and Prof. David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) calls for accelerating rights-based climate action in Portugal.
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: Globe Climate: Why Getting Women and Girls in the Fishing Boat is Good for the Environment
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; UBC Oceans) comments on The Globe and Mail’s article on Globe Climate
Prof. Heidi Tworek: Biden’s Covid-19 Declaration, Twilight of the SPAC & Genome Editing 2.0
Prof. Heidi Tworek (SPPGA; CSDI) speaks on her thoughts of President Biden’s declaration that the “pandemic is over” and how leaders discussing the evolution of Covid-19 in its third year.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Imagination and Pragmatism Needed to Navigate a World in Shock
SPPGA Faculty Associate Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA; Poltical Science) highlights the global crises around the world
Asst. Prof. Matias Margulis: Food Prices Soars As Inflation Cools And Solutions To Burnout In Healthcare.
SPPGA Asst. Prof. Matias Margulis is interviewed by CBCListen.
SPPGA Releases 2021-2022 Annual Report
Learn more about the major research, achievements, and programming of the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs in our 2021-22 annual report.
Senior Fellow Gisèle Yasmeen: The Historical Role of Cities in Recursively Shaping Global Food Systems – Southeast Asia
Read her book chapter about urban agglomerations in Southeast Asia and their role in shaping, and being shaped by, global food systems.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Small Modular Reactors: What Is Taking So Long?
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana outlines the global innovation of nuclear energy technology and why there is a delay in production of SMRs in the international economy.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Three Ways to Help the World
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) highlights the global systematic challenges within the G20 countries and suggests solutions to build resilience and develop anti-fragile systems.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Navigating A World In Shock
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) speaks about the eight global systemic challenges that are causing more political uncertainty in the world.
Prof. Paul Evans: Canadian Universities & China: Research Collaborations in Question
SPPGA Prof. Paul Evans outlines the major dimensions between Canadian institutions and connections with China at the research level.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: India Playing its Own Taiwan Card on China
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) highlights the current economic position of India in South China Sea disputes and explains the urgency for India to pursue trade and people-to-people ties with Taiwan.
Liu Scholar Temitope Onifade: Low Carbon Justice in Canada’s Net-Zero Transition
SPPGA Liu Scholar Temitope Onifade advocates for applying a “low carbon justice” approach to Canada’s net-zero transition.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Taiwan is An Opportunity For Indian Foreign Policy
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) co-writes an article on the lack of action made by India to further socio-economic relations with Taiwan.
Call for Applications: 2022 Simons Awards for Student Research in Nuclear Disarmament and Global Security
Undergraduate and graduate students will receive $1,000 and $1,500 respectively for their successful research paper or product on topics related to nuclear disarmament and/or global security.
Prof. Maxwell A. Cameron: We can steer politicians away from hyper-partisanship
Professor Maxwell A. Cameron (Ph.D., California, Berkeley, 1989) is jointly appointed with the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA) and Political Science.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Small Nuke Reactors Emerge as Energy Option, But Risks Loom
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana outlines potential safety risks from storing and transporting nuclear waste from small modular reactors.
Applications to the 2023 Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Now Open
The UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs welcomes applicants interested in applying for nomination to the prestigious Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.
Prof. Hugh Gusterson: The US Hasn’t Been a Responsible Nuke Power. But It Can Help North Korea Be One
Prof. Hugh Gusterson (SPPGA; Anthropology) explains the concept of “nuclear orientalism” in an article about North Korea’s ownership of nuclear weapons.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Nuclear Lifetime Extensions: Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana advocates for expanding renewable energy in Germany, as a solution to the country’s aging nuclear power plants.
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: EU Needs to Act on the Science to Preserve Oceans
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) is mentioned in an article regarding his research about the impact of overfishing on ocean health and climate change.
Prof. Hugh Gusterson: Shooting Survivors Shouldn’t Pay Their Own Medical Bills
Prof. Hugh Gusterson (SPPGA; Anthropology) writes an article discussing an insurance model to protect survivors of gun violence in America.
Prof. David Boyd: How Biodiversity Coverage Shapes Lives and Policies
Prof. David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) is mentioned in an impact report regarding his book, The Rights of Nature (2017).
MPPGA Alumni Remy Hellstern and Daniel Park: Leveraging Blockchain-Based Archival Solutions for Sensitive Documentation
MPPGA Alumni Remy Hellstern and Daniel C. Park publish a paper about how Blockchain-based archival solutions can be used to document human rights violations.
Prof. Heidi Tworek: Prevailing Sense That Toxicity is Continuing to Rise
Prof. Heidi Tworek discusses the increasing trend in toxic exchanges, threats, and harassment online targeting candidates during the Canadian federal elections.
Prof. David Boyd: Historic UN Resolution on the Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment
UN Special Rapporteur and Prof. David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) hailed the adoption of a historic resolution by the UN General Assembly. The resolution recognizes, for the first time, the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for everyone, everywhere.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Ex-Vancouver Newspaper Editor of Sing Tao On Hong Kong’s Wanted List
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) comments about an ex-Vancouver journalist, Victor Ho, being put on Hong Kong’s wanted list.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima: And Now Zaporizhzhia?
Prof. M.V. Ramana discusses reports of rocket attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after Russia’s occupation.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Beyond First Steps: Phasing Out Nuclear Weapons and Energy
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana discusses how the increased use of nuclear energy will lead to more dangers, specifically near the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Calls Grow for Ottawa to Support B.C. Journalist on Hong Kong’s ‘Wanted’ List
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) discusses the growing demand for Ottawa to support a B.C. journalist who was recently put on a “wanted” list by the Hong Kong government.
Call for Papers for “Re-Imagining Sustainable Development” Conference
Submissions are open until August 30th for the “Re-Imagining Sustainable Development” conference, hosted by Liu Institute Network for Africa, Liu Institute for Global Issues, the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Peter A. Allard School of Law.
The Institute of Asian Research Fellows Program 2022/23 – Call for Applications
UBC graduate students, apply now to the IAR Fellows Program. The program brings together UBC grad students with an interest in advancing research that addresses a broad range of issues — particularly those with relevance to policy or global affairs.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: What Happens If Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Explodes?
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana warns about the risk of explosion and radiation leak from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, as a result of the war with Russia.
Prof. Julian Dierkes: Why Was the UN Secretary General Planting Trees in Mongolia?
SPPGA Prof. Julian Dierkes discusses the UN Secretary General’s recent visit in Mongolia.
Senior Fellow Gisèle Yasmeen: Why Food is so Pricey
Senior Fellow Gisèle Yasmeen discusses why food prices are rising in Canada and how access to food should be treated as a right, not a purchasing decision.
Prof. Sheryl Lightfoot: UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan Funding Sees Student Projects Get off the Ground
Prof. Sheryl Lightfoot (SPPGA; Political Science; FNIS) advocates for funding Indigenous student-led projects through the UBC Indigenous Strategic Initiatives (ISI) Fund.
Prof. Philippe Le Billon: Local Marine Stewardship and Ocean Defenders
Prof. Philippe Le Billon (SPPGA; Geography) recommends ways to support local marine stewardship and ocean defenders through research, policy, practice, and funding.
News Compilation: Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe’s Assassination
UBC Centre for Japanese Research Director, Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.); comments on Shinzo Abe’s assassination.
Prof. Maxwell Cameron: The Americas After American Hegemony
Prof. Maxwell Cameron (SPPGA; Political Science) speaks about democracy challenges in the Americas.
Prof. Julian Dierkes: Mongolia’s Prime Minister Wants to Transform the Country. That Means Looking Beyond Russia and China
SPPGA Prof. Julian Dierkes is quoted in an article about Mongolia’s foreign relations outside of Russia and China.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Pelosi’s Visit Could Derail US-China Compromise Over Taiwan
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) discusses how Pelosi’s visit in Taipei could derail US-China’s agreement over Taiwan.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: The Impact of Shinzo Abe on Japan and on the Emergence of Japan in the Indo-Pacific
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) discusses Shinzo Abe’s impact on Japanese foreign policy.
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: How Much is the Ocean Worth?
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) speaks with CBC Kelowna about the economic value of BC’s oceans.
Liu Scholar Karen Wong: Why Do Some Older Adults Have Less Access to Information and Community Technology?
Liu Scholar Karen Wong writes a policy brief explaining the barriers older adults face when trying to access Information and Community Technology.
Prof. Kristen Hopewell: Canadian Pulse Producers Eye Improving Trade with India as Hefty Tariff Suspension Extended
SPPGA Prof. Kristen Hopewell discusses opportunities for strengthening agricultural trade between Canada and India.
Prof. Heidi Tworek: Using Animal History to Inform Current Debates in Gene Editing Farm Animals: A Systematic Review
Dr. Heidi Tworek (SPPGA) collaborates with researchers on published paper and bring animal history to contemporary research
Dr. Priti Narayan Appointed as the Asa and Kashmir Johal Chair of Indian Research
SPPGA is delighted to congratulate Dr. Priti Narayan on her appointment as the Holder of the Asa and Kashmir (A&K) Johal Chair of Indian research
MPPGA Alumna Esther Ocheni: Unpacking Infrastructure-For-Resources Deals in Africa’s Mining Sector and Best Practices for Future Investments
MPPGA Alumna Esther Ocheni publishes a paper with Africa Policy Journal
Prof. David Boyd Comments on Why the UK Has a ‘moral Duty’ to Improve Air Pollution
The UN’s Special Representative on Human Rights and the Environment Prof. David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) issues an urgent call for Britain to tighten its policies on air quality
Senior Fellow Gisèle Yasmeen: Grain shipment leaves Ukraine, a 1st since war started
Senior Fellow Gisèle Yasmeen (SPPGA) is interviewed by CBC and comments on global food insecurities as a shipment of grain has left Ukraine’s port, the first since the Russian invasion began
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: Threat of ‘Heatflation’ Looms Large as Climate Change Shrinks Farm and Seafood Output
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) discusses how rising temperatures are decreasing seafood supply from the South China Sea.
Prof. Philippe Le Billon and Liu Scholar Raphaël Deberdt: A Green Transition Should Prioritize the Ocean’s Carbon Sinks Over Deep-Sea Mining
Prof. Philippe Le Billon (SPPGA; Geography) and Liu Scholar Raphaël Deberdt advocate for a green transition in the deep-sea mining industry.
Liu Scholar Oludolapo Makinde and Prof. Philippe Le Billon: AI and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Liu Scholar Oludolapo Makinde and Prof. Philippe Le Billon (SPPGA; Geography) co-author a research paper examining the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in improving natural resource governance.
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: US Needs a National Action Plan to Stem the Tide of Plastic Pollution
Prof. Rashid Sumaila co-authors an article highlighting the urgent need for a national plan to curb the high amount of plastic pollution in the U.S.
IAR Fellow Orkhon Gantogtokh: Mongolia’s Paradoxical Education Problem
IAR Fellow Orkhon Gantogtokh provides insight on Mongolia’s paradoxical education problem.
News Compilation: WTO Deal on Fisheries Subsidies Media Mentions
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) advocates for the ban of fisheries subsidies for the WTO’s Twelfth Ministerial Conference.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: MidAmerican Shouldn’t Waste Money Studying Small Nuclear Reactors
Prof. M.V. Ramana co-authors an opinion piece on why MidAmerican Energy should not spend more money studying small modular reactors.
IAR Fellow Christina Dasom Song and Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Domestic Realities Constrain Yoon’s Foreign Policy Rebalancing
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate and Political Science prof.) and IAR Fellow Christina Dasom Song (CKR) discuss South Korea’s foreign policy and relations with the US, Japan, and China.
Scholar Spotlight: Dr. Heidi Tworek
Read more about SPPGA and History Prof. Heidi Tworek’s work on global communications topics such as COIVD-19, online harassment of female politicians, and the war in Ukraine in the Scholar Spotlight series by the Public Humanities Hub at UBC.
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: The First Version of Puerto de Ideas Biobío Will Focus on Nature
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) discusses the concept of “infinity fish,” and how protecting marine ecosystems would sustain fishery resources.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien and Fuma Aoki: Is Japan Ready to Reopen its Borders?
Yves Tiberghien (SPPGA Faculty Associate; Political Science prof.) and Konwakai Research Assistant (CJR) Fuma Aoki discuss the ongoing COVID-19 border rules in Japan.
Allison Macfarlane: “Fixing” the Nuclear Waste Problem? The New Political Economy of Spent Fuel Management in the United States
SPPGA Director and Prof. Allison Macfarlane co-authors a publication analysing the economic, geographic and technological aspects behind spent nuclear fuel management in the U.S.
The Right to a Healthy Environment and Biodiversity Law: Embedding an Intersectionality Approach for Transformative Change
Learn about the recent work of Dr. Claudia Ituarte-Lima, visiting scholar at SPPGA and senior researcher at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
Rashid Sumaila: Bottom Trawling in the Med Supported by ‘Generous Handouts’
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (IOF; SPPGA) comments on a new study he co-reviewed on the trawling sector in the Western Mediterrnean.
SPPGA Director and Prof. Allison Macfarlane: Mini Nuclear Reactors Land in Scientific Spat Over Waste Output
SPPGA Director and Prof. Allison Macfarlane is quoted in an article discussing her study on nuclear waste from mini nuclear reactors.
Prof. Yves Tiberghien: Japan’s Former PM Shinzo Abe Assassinated
Yves Tiberghien (Centre for Japanese Research Director; Political Science prof.) is interviewed by CBC News about the assignation of Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former PM.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Emerging Small Nuclear Reactors May Significantly Contribute to Grid Decarbonization by 2050
Prof. M.V. Ramana explains the economic challenges behind building small nuclear reactors and the inevitable rising costs due to safety concerns.
Prof. M.V. Ramana: Let’s Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, Before They Eliminate Us
Following the conclusion of the first UN meeting of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Prof. M.V. Ramana comments on the State Parties promise to eliminate nuclear weapons on an urgent basis.
Prof. Heidi Tworek: The Online Abuse and Harassment of Women in Politics Must Stop
Prof. Heidi Tworek (SPPGA; History) writes an article about the online abuse and harassment of women in politics.
Prof. Rashid Sumaila: Aquaculture Drives Aquatic Food Yields to New High
Prof. Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) is quoted in an article about the role of aquaculture in increasing food yields.
Prof. Heidi Tworek: The Four Domains of Global Platform Governance
‘The Four Domains of Global Platform Governance’ is an essay series co-edited by Prof. Heidi Tworek (SPPGA; History) for CIGI. Each section examines platform governance from four distinct policy angles: content, data, competition and infrastructure.
IAR Fellow Younus Mushtaq Ahmed: Solving India’s Sanitation Scourge
IAR Fellow (CISAR) Younus Mushtaq Ahmed writes an article discussing India’s sanitation policy.
SPPGA Welcomes Assistant Professor Juliet Lu – Q&A
Dr. Juliet Lu, Assistant Professor in Environmental Governance and Business, joins SPPGA and the Department of Forest Resources Management. Learn more about her research and policy engagement in this interview.
Dr. Heidi Tworek Appointed Director of the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions
SPPGA is pleased to welcome Dr. Heidi Tworek as Director of the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI).