Updates, news and stories

Santa Ono addresses COVID-19 community concerns

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UBC Library creates COVID-19 web archives to document pandemic response in BC

“We are trying to capture content that is in danger of disappearing,” says Larissa Ringham, Digital Project Librarian at UBC Library’s Digital Initiatives. Over the past year, a team at UBC Library has been creating web archives to preserve materials relating to the COVID-19 pandemic response in British Columbia for future research.

Forests, floods and freshwater

UBCO: New health measures to contain COVID-19 outbreak

On July 28, Interior Health (IH) declared a COVID-19 outbreak in the central Okanagan due to significant increases in COVID-19 transmission, and has announced measures to contain the outbreak. Interior Health advises that the measures will remain in place for at least 14 days and until the region experiences lower cases and higher vaccination rates.

Search underway for Associate Vice-President, University Relations

A message from Lesley Cormack, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UBC OkanaganDear colleagues,I am pleased to announce the search for UBC Okanagan’s Associate Vice-President, University Relations has commenced. Approved by the Board of Governors in June, the new role of AVP University Relations will increase leadership capacity for communications, partnership building and community engagement and will be key to supporting and enabling Outlook 2040.

COVID-19: Resumption activities and updates

A message from Shelley Kayfish, Director, Campus Operations and Risk Management; Co-chair, UBC Okanagan Resumption Planning and Coordination Committee; and Prof.

Scientists capture most-detailed radio image of Andromeda galaxy to date

Air quality and smoky skies

A message from Shelley Kayfish, Director, Campus Operations and Risk Management, UBC Okanagan Forest fires burning in and around BC have contributed to reduced air quality in the region. Today, the Central Okanagan Air Quality Health Index is at level 5 (Moderate Risk 5, except 10+ High Risk in Smoke).

Remote Work Update

A message from the UBCO Remote Work Working Group: Rob Einarson, Associate Vice-President, Finance and Operations; Dale Mullings, Associate Vice-President, Students; Adrienne Nolan, Executive Director, Development; Kristin Cacchioni, Senior Manager, Faculty and Employee Relations; and Rehan Sadiq, Executive Associate Dean, School of Engineering Dear colleagues,

Virtual contact in pandemic prompts over 60s’ loneliness

Older adults who had more virtual contact than their peers during the pandemic actually experienced increased loneliness, according to new research published today. The study, published in ‘Frontiers in Sociology’, found virtual interaction—including things like phone calls, texting, online audio and video chat— was not helpful on its own as an alternative to face-to-face time for people over 60.