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September 18, 2026AI for All? Humanities and Social Science Perspectives on Trust and Artificial Intelligence
Session 1: AI through the lens of Science and Technology Studies (STS)9:00–10:00 amWhat lessons does STS provide us for understanding and intervening in the current public discourse around AI and the changes it is bringing about? What can STS scholars do to help improve the public discourse…
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September 17, 2026Telling Stories of Nature in Times of Darkness
Drawing from his extensive experience as a science writer and his newfound passion for birding, Ed Yong talks about the necessity, potential, and limits of storytelling at a time when the living world is under enormous threat. In this lecture, Yong shows how he crafts compelling narratives,…
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June 2, 2026What Could a University Be? A Panel Discussion
Robert Gibbs’ recent book, What Could a University Be? Revolutionary Ideas for the Future, based on his 2019 JV Clyne lecture series at Green College, raises fundamental questions about the education our research universities offer students. By focusing on the possibilities for all of our…
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May 20, 2026Who is Heard? Age, Gender, Belonging, and ‘Genius’ Music
This lecture-recital, as part of Dr Judith Valerie Engel’s doctoral degree requirement, explores how ideas of ‘genius,’ meritocracy, and success shape—and often constrain—the careers of contemporary women composers. Drawing on her thesis research with members of the Association of Canadian Women…
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May 11, 2026Am I Unethical?
Journalism ethics have been, historically, a murky and inconsistent field where reporters often find themselves just doing what feels right. But are there specific considerations needed in investigative journalism, or in the coverage of sensitive topics? And should there be specific considerations…
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May 5, 2026Occultism, History, and Literature: Why the Margins Matter
On this panel, three scholars will share insights on the roots, significance, and impact of modern occultism gained from their recently-completed major research projects— for Dixon, the monograph Sexual Heresies: Religion, Science, and Sexuality in Modern Britain, soon to appear from Stanford…
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May 4, 2026Not all Habit is Harm: Social Goals and the Development of Habitual and Problematic Smartphone Use in Adolescence
Why do we reach for our phones without thinking? When does a phone use habit become a problem—and when might it not? As adolescents navigate a world where peer relationships matter, their phones become tools for connection, status, and belonging.In this talk, I explore the difference between…
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April 27, 2026Colours, Cells, and Stories to Tell
In this talk, I will share how my journey with art, shaped by studying abroad and by my love for painting and photography, has transformed the way I see the world. Art has been a constant source of reflection, inspiration, and connection throughout my life in Canada. During my time at UBC, I have…
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April 20, 2026Monkey See, Monkey Imagine, Monkey Do: Mechanisms of Motor Learning
Can we get better at physical skills by simply imagining practicing, or even just by watching someone else practice? According to the research, it turns out that we can! Actual physical movement and an imagined simulation of that movement activate the brain in quite similar ways, and both…
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April 13, 2026Inventing “Arctic Hysteria”
What does it take to invent a disease?This talk outlines the rise and fall of “arctic hysteria,” a DSM-identified condition diagnosable exclusively among Arctic Indigenous peoples. “Arctic hysteria” emerged in the diaries of settler explorers as a term for an imagined Indigenous-specific form…
Past Events