Meet all our Ambassadors

The 6th International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE 2018) was held at the University of British Columbia in 2018. It was the first time this event has been hosted in North America. QRSE 2018 showcased research from diverse disciplines including sport and exercise psychology, the sociology of sport, coaching, pedagogy, history, anthropology, sport management and health promotion.

The Reaction Mechanism Conference is a biennial conference which serves as a forum to discuss the broad aspect of structures and reaction mechanisms, across the fields of organic, inorganic, biological and physical chemistry. This past year, RMC was held at the University of British Columbia in 2018, with Dr. Hein as the local organizer.

Dr. Mona Gleason, served as the organizing chair for the Society for the History of Children and Youth’s 8th Biennial Conference (SHCY 2015). The University of British Columbia hosted over 200 delegates from around the world in 2015.

Prof. Alirezah Nojeh was the Conference Chair of the 29th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC 2016), an annual conference which was held at the University of British Columbia in 2016. The conference had over 120 researchers in attendance with talks and posters on nanoscience and the technology of vacuum electron sources and their applications.

The IEEE Power Electronics Society hosted the Sixteenth IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2015, at the University of British Columbia on July 12th to 15th, 2015. This annual workshop brought together researchers, engineers and students from academia, industry, and government for interactive discussions on the latest advances in modeling, simulation, analysis, and control of power electronic devices, circuits and systems of small and large scales.

The International Conference on Engineering Design 2017 was held at the University of British Columbia in 2017. This conference was the first ICED hosted in Canada, with over 550 delegates in attendance. ICED17’s theme was “Resource-Sensitive Design”, which encompasses design practice for and in resource-limited societies, as well as recognizes that all design is, fundamentally, resource-limited.

The edX Global Forum is an interactive, energetic conference that brings together the entire edX community. Partners from across the world gather each year to share knowledge, discuss progress in online learning, and better understand how our collective course offerings meet the needs of today’s learner. In 2017, the University of British Columbia hosted the edX Global Forum, in Whistler and at UBC. The edX Global Forum event celebrated edX’s fifth year of working with partners to expand access to education worldwide.

Dr. Yusuf Altintas, Conference Chair of VMPT 2015 brought together researchers from around the world to the University of British Columbia, June 2^nd to 5^th, 2015.  Conference discussion focused on model product development and manufacturing in a digital environment using a science-based approach. The complete design and production chain of activities can be simulated and optimized before resorting to costly and time-consuming physical trials on the shop floor.

In 2017, the Canadian Geophysical Union(CGU), together with the Canadian Society of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology (CSAFM), met at the University of British Columbia. This successful conference attracted 550 researchers,  geophysicists and industry leaders from around the world.

The 2017 North American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) Annual Meeting was held at the University of British Columbia in 2017.  Co-hosts, Prof Coll Thrush and Prof Dory Nason, welcomed over 1000 delegates to campus. NAISA is the largest scholarly organization devoted to Indigenous issues and research.

In 2018, the University of British Columbia hosted the 5^th International Microneedle Conference, it attracted over 300 worldwide scientists and professionals engaged in research on the use of microneedle technology.

Prof. Dirk van Zyl, served as the conference chair of the 3^rd Annual Mine Water Solutions 2018 Conference which was held at the University of British Columbia in 2018 with over 300 delegates from 25 countries in attendance.  It was the third in an innovative conference series that aims to examine a wide range of issues associated with mine water management.

The World Sanskrit Conference took place in 2018 at The University of British Columbia. It is the premier international forum for professional researchers and educators of the Sanskrit language, its literatures and of the history, religion, and cultures of premodern South Asia. Prof. Adheesh Sathaye of UBC served as the Head of the Local Organizers for WSC 2018.

The 2018 Canadian Engineering Education Association Annual Conference was held at the University of British Columbia in 2018, with the theme of “Building a Foundation for Student Success”.

The SuperCDMS collaboration, which aims to detect dark matter particles interacting in cryogenic germanium and silicon detectors held their Conference in 2018 at the University of British Columbia.

The 2017 North American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) Annual Meeting was held at the University of British Columbia in 2017.  Co-hosts, Prof Coll Thrush and Prof Dory Nason, welcomed over 1000 delegates to campus. NAISA is the largest scholarly organization devoted to Indigenous issues and research.

The 2019 InSEA World Congress, held at the University of British Columbia in 2019. Through a diverse array of sessions, workshops and field experiences, InSEA 2019 showcased multicultural and indigenous perspectives on art education and art based research. Co-hosts Prof. Rita Irwin and Prof. Kit Grauer welcomed over 600 delegates to campus to create, network, and theorize about art education.

As the Academic Convener, Dr. Moss played a crucial role in the successful academic planning, multidisciplinary programming and hosting of Congress 2019. The 88th annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences took place at the University of British Columbia in 2019. Jointly organized by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences and the host institution, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is the largest interdisciplinary conference in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. The annual event brings together over 70 academic associations that represent a rich spectrum of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences.

The 2019 InSEA World Congress, held at the University of British Columbia in 2019. Through a diverse array of sessions, workshops and field experiences, InSEA 2019 showcased multicultural and indigenous perspectives on art education and art based research. Co-hosts Prof. Rita Irwin and Prof. Kit Grauer welcomed over 600 delegates to campus to create, network, and theorize about art education.

The 13th International Bordetella Symposium 2022 was co-hosted by Prof. Rachel Fernandez to promote the development of young scientists in Bordetella-related work, by encouraging their active participation in society meetings and activities. The13th International Bordetella Symposium’s mission is to encourage research in the biology and genetics of Bordetellae and the pathophysiology, immunology, clinical and epidemiological aspects of the infections that they cause, and the development and testing of new vaccines for its prevention. It provided a global forum for the exchange of information among scientists, physicians, veterinarians, public health officials, regulators, manufacturers, and others engaged in research on, care of individuals with and preparation and oversight of products involving the Bordetellae.

University of British Columbia hosted the 24th ISPPCC in 2022 with Dr. Michael Wolf being the Organizing Committee Chair.  The 24th International Symposium on Photochemistry and Photophysics of Coordination Compounds provided an opportunity for the latest advances in the field to be disclosed, and for the community working in this exciting area to engage and interact. Sessions were focused on fundamental photochemistry and photophysics, applications of coordination compounds in photocatalysis, solar fuels and solar cells, photobiology and other areas.

The University of British Columbia hosted its 14th International Marine Design Conference in 2022.  Organized by Professor Jon Mikkelsen, IMDC 2022 was the latest in the series of triennial conferences, which commenced in 1982 in London. The aim of these longstanding triennial conferences is to promote all aspects of marine design as an engineering discipline. The focus for 2022 was on the design challenges and opportunities in current maritime technologies and markets.

The University of British Columbia hosted its 14th International Marine Design Conference in 2022 Chaired by Dr. Chris McKesson.  IMDC 2022 was the latest in the series of triennial conferences, which commenced in 1982 in London. The aim of these longstanding triennial conferences is to promote all aspects of marine design as an engineering discipline. The focus for 2022 was on the design challenges and opportunities in current maritime technologies and markets.

The University of British Columbia hosted its 36th International Specialised Symposium on Yeasts in 2022, chaired by Dr. Vivien Measday.  ISSY36 explored how yeast genomics has impacted all aspects of yeast research including industrial stain development, biodiversity, metabolic engineering and gene function discovery.  The symposium is jointly organized by the International Commission on Yeasts (ICY) and the Wine Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC.

32nd International Mechanical Pulping Conference is a bi-annual conference that has a long history of facilitating impactful discussions and networking expert professionals from both academia and industry in the mechanical pulping sector. The University of British Columbia hosted its 32nd IMPC in 2022 with the help of Dr. James A. Olson as the Organizing Chair Committee. The conference included a full comprehensive technical program covering key topics in the latest mechanical pulping technologies and their applications.

The 6th International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Education provided an opportunity for educators and researchers from schools, universities, colleges, businesses, industries and other private and public agencies to share and discuss their innovative practices and research initiatives that may advance STEM education. This conference was Co-hosted by Prof. David Anderson and Prof. Marina Milner-Bolotin who brought over 300 delegates together virtually to host STEM 2021.

The 6th International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Education provided an opportunity for educators and researchers from schools, universities, colleges, businesses, industries and other private and public agencies to share and discuss their innovative practices and research initiatives that may advance STEM education. This conference was Co-hosted by Prof. Marina Milner-Bolotin and Prof David Anderson who brought over 300 delegates together virtually to host STEM 2021.

The Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE) and the Adult Learning and Education group at UBC, led by Conference Chair, Dr. Tom Sork hosted a virtual conference, AEGT 2021. This conference reflected on the work of adult educators around the world, and gave educators the opportunity to discuss some of the main issues and challenges they see facing adult educators today.

The University of British Columbia, Kelowna campus, was proud to host the 60th Annual Meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America, virtually in 2021 and chaired by Dr. Soheil Mahmoud.  This long-standing conference brings together researchers with interest in the chemistry and biochemistry of plant natural products, their effects on plant and animal physiology and pathology, and their agricultural, pharmacological, and industrial utilization.

The University of British Columbia hosted the Islet Study Group meeting in June 2023 at the Life Sciences Institute. Professor James Johnson played a crucial role in co-hosting along with the organizing committee of Islet Study Group members. Dr. Johnson and the committee welcomed over 250 delegates to campus. This meeting brought together international scientists studying islet biology to share their discoveries, enhance interactions, and encourage collaboration. The international islet research community discussed the exciting scientific developments within their field.

The University of British Columbia hosted the ATLAS Conference in June 2023 with Dr. Alison Lister being the Organizing Committee Chair. This was the first Atlas Experiment meeting held in North America. Dr. Lister is passionate about her research on the ATLAS experiment which spans areas of interest related to Particle and Nuclear Physics. The Atlas Experiment is the largest particle destector in the world, and is operated by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The UBC ATLAS group’s mission is to encourage research in the wide range of physics beyond the standard model (Long-Lived Particles, Vector-Like Quarks, Leptoquarks), precision measurements in the top sector (including EFT interpretation), and has a strong involvement in the development of tracking systems and the use of machine learning techniques in particle physics.

In 2019 the Nano Life Science Institute of Kanazawa University in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, held its 3^rd NanoLSI Symposium in Vancouver. Through research in nanometrology, life sciences, supramolecular chemistry and computational science the symposium aimed to enhance the understanding of life phenomena through thoughtful discussions and panels with researchers from across the globe.