Featured News & Events (Secondary)

It’s been a week of high-profile appearances by senior BC politicians at the Cullen Commission that’s looking into money laundering in the province. We hear from Professor Gerald Baier (CSDI Acting Director; Political Science) on the proceedings.

“A year ago, Justin Giovannetti left Canada to join his fiancée (and The Spinoff) in New Zealand. Today, his home country is confronting another debilitating wave of Covid-19.” He speaks to Professor Heidi Tworek (SPPGA; UBC Department of History) about the lack of a national response from Canada.

“Political shenanigans ahead of a June presidential election in Mongolia have taken a new turn,” say SPPGA Professor Julian Dierkes, Bulgan Batdorj and Marissa Smith. Read more on how said political maneuvers could threaten Mongolian democracy.

New research from Professor Nadja Kunz (SPPGA; NBK Institute of Mining Engineering) and others identifies how EIAs, tools meant to assess and mitigate negative socio-environmental outcomes, can be utilized in ways that enable them, such as in the case with desalinization in Chile.

Three independent UN human rights experts, including Professor David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) expressed deep regret over Japan’s decision to discharge potentially radioactive Fukushima nuclear plant water into the ocean, impacting millions across the Pacific.

“From a biological standpoint, the ventilation in open outdoor spaces is incredibly potent, and leads to rapid dispersion of respiratory particles associated with COVID transmission,” says Professor Heidi Tworek (SPPGA; History) in a co-written story about outdoor activity during the pandemic.

“Without further aid from Congress and the White House, the prospects for the U.S. nuclear industry will dwindle in the face of cheaper resources that are getting built faster than new nuclear generators,” says SPPGA Director Allison Macfarlane.

China is the world’s largest exporter of seafood – and its largest consumer. After decades of overfishing, the nation is now looking for seafood in open and contested waters. Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA & UBC Oceans) has more.

Professor Heidi Tworek (SPPGA; UBC Department of History) cautions that placing the blame for the rise in COVID cases on young people could discourage them from getting tested and affect the ability to fight the pandemic in the long-term.

Professor Kristen Hopewell’s research on global trade politics suggests that the dichotomy between American “free-market capitalism” and “state capitalism” is not so clear cut – and tied to a strategic narrative deployed for legitimizing US economic interest.

Researchers are making use of new gene-editing techniques in medicine, bioenergy, industrial biotechnology, and beyond, and the field of crop breeding is no exception. Milind Kandlikar co-authors a study examining this phenomenon.

Professor David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES) recently presented a UN report on the global water crisis, particularly on its disproportionate effects and state/business obligations to ensure safe and sufficient water for all.

Professor Sheryl Lightfoot (SPPGA, Political Science) analyzes Canada’s adoption of the UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights, and argues that reconciliation efforts should not be left in the hands of the courts.

In a briefing on the two proposed nuclear reactors for New Brunswick, SPPGA Prof Ramana and other experts discuss the cost-analysis of SMRs.

For two decades, the story of India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is one of rising costs, delays and never-ending promises of commissioning. “Shouldn’t India then stop pursuing the breeder programme?” say Prof Ramana & MPPGA Student Nidhi Sharma.

Professor Timothy Cheek (SPPGA; UBC Department of History) was interviewed on a motion by Conservatives calling on Canada to formally declare crimes against Uyghur Muslims in China a genocide.

SPPGA Professor Paul Evans states that given the country’s history, Canada would be on firmer ground “to attract others to this cause if we labelled Chinese actions as ‘cultural genocide'”.

Complete transition to cooking gas reduces gender inequality by improving women’s respiratory health. Professor Milind Kandlikar’s (SPPGA; IRES) co-written paper says that improving the affordability, supply and reliability of clean fuels should be a key focus.

“Outgoing Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil had some provocative advice recently.” Professor Paul Evans comments on what he calls Mcneil’s “textbook” China strategy.

In July, a $60 million bribery and corruption case came to light in Ohio. The guilty party—one of Ohio’s largest utility corporations. For years, the firm lobbied to continue operating its unprofitable nuclear plants, write Professor Ramana and MPPGA Alumna Cassandra Jeffery.

For Black History Month, Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA & UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries) emphasizes how important it is for us to work together to address systemic racism. Find out more about UBC’s commitment to anti-racism and acknowledgement of the many achievements and struggles of Black people.