Holiday Reminders

Dear LFS students,

As the winter break draws closer, we would like to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year 2021! We hope you can enjoy a much-needed break from work and all the zoom meetings while observing the provincial health orders.

For those that decide to continue working in LFS buildings during the winter break, please note that weekend and statuary holiday access requires special approval by lfs-restart@lists.ubc.ca. LFS offices will be closed during the winter break so we recommend you to review the UBC work alone policy and ensure that a proper procedure is set up in case of emergency.

The faculty will recommend that you refrain from non essential travel during the winter break. If you must travel, we strongly recommend you to work from home for 2 weeks prior to accessing any LFS buildings as a safety precaution.

If you would like updates on UBC’s covid response, please find them here. If you are looking for specific information in our faculty, you can find them here.

Happy Holiday!

Cheers,

LFS Research Resumption Planning Committee

CGS Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements – 3rd intake for 2020-2021

The Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) Program supports high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients will contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian and foreign institutions.

This program is available to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who hold a Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) at the Master’s or doctoral level or a Vanier CGS. Note that international students who hold a Vanier CGS are not eligible for this competition.

CIHR and NSERC have launched a third intake for the 2020-2021 MSFSS competition with the intention of awarding the remaining supplements from the two previous intakes. CIHR has sufficient funds for approximately 27 awards (nationally) and NSERC has sufficent funds for 24 awards (nationally). Eligible applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Complete and eligible applications will be forwarded to CIHR and NSERC as they are received by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.  Note that SSHRC is not participating in this special “3rd call” MSFSS competition this year, so SSHRC award holders are not eligible to apply for this competition.

Award value: Up to CAD $6,000 for two to six months

Applicant deadline: First come, first served – Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the application deadline: 4:00 pm PST on Friday, 22 January 2021.

For details about this competition, please see: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/canada-graduate-scholarship-michael-smith-foreign-study-supplement-3rd-call

Just a quick note that the online application to apply for May 2021 graduation is open.  You can access it via your SSC account.

The application will be open online until Feb 26, 2021.  After that, Grad Studies will have a downloadable form on their website the students can use to apply.  Online is much easier to use so I suggest to do that if you can.

Please remember that you MUST apply to be considered for May 2021 graduation.  If you don’t apply you don’t graduate.  If you have a chance of finishing for May then please apply.

There is NO cost to apply.  If you don’t make the deadlines that is ok (it does not show up on your permanent record anywhere).

Happy holidays and good health to you all!

Rock.

Rockne Hewko
Academic Support Manager
Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies | Office of the Dean
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus
Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies 170-6371 Crescent Road | Vancouver BC | V6T1Z2 Canada
Phone 604 822 2935
rockne.hewko@ubc.ca
https://www.grad.ubc.ca/

The UBC Sustainability Initiative (USI) is again offering UBC graduate students the opportunity to work in funded sustainability internship projects. Projects begin May 3, 2021. Current UBC graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Further information on the available internship projects can be found on the Sustainability Scholars Program web page. Applications close at midnight Sunday January 31, 2021. I am also holding information sessions on January 14 and 19 for those who would like to know more about the Program.

I would greatly appreciate if you would please circulate the details provided below to your grad students.

If you have any questions about the program or projects, please don’t hesitate to contact me. And, thank you in advance for your help spreading the word about these opportunities!

Best wishes for a relaxing holiday break,

Karen

**********

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – UBC SUSTAINABILITY SCHOLARS (PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS) 

The UBC Sustainability Initiative (USI) is pleased to offer UBC graduate students the opportunity to work in funded sustainability internship projects.

We are currently accepting applications for over 50 UBC Sustainability Scholars (including Greenest City Scholars) internships that will commence May 3, 2021. Current UBC graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to confirm the eligibility requirements and apply.

Successful candidates will work under the mentorship of a partner organization, and are immersed in real world learning where they can apply their research skills and contribute to advancing organizational sustainability goals. Each Scholar receives $25 per hour to complete 250 hours of work.

For more information on the available projects and to apply, visit the Sustainability Scholars Program website.

Applications will be accepted until midnight Sunday January 31.

We also appreciate your help in circulating this notice to anyone in your grad student network that may be interested!

* * * * *

SUSTAINABILITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION

Are you interested in . . .

• applying your research skills to solving real-world sustainability questions and challenges?
• getting paid while gaining valuable professional work experience?
• developing applied sustainability skills and knowledge under the guidance of a mentor?
• building a professional network of sustainability practitioners?

If this describes you, please attend the Sustainability Scholars Program information session on January 14 at 12:00 pm or January 19 at 5:00 pm. At the January 19 session representatives from several of our partner organizations will speak about the kinds of opportunities Scholars can have while working in the program. We will also have former scholars and mentors there to answer your questions about what you can expect as a Scholar and what kinds of opportunities the program offers in terms of skills and job prospects.

Thursday January 14, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm or

Tuesday January 19, 2021 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Register Here

– – – – – – – – – –

Karen Taylor  MA (she, her)
Manager, Sustainability Scholars Program | UBC Sustainability Initiative
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory
2343 – 2260 West Mall | Vancouver BC | V6T 1Z4 Canada
Phone 604 822 9362 | karen.taylor@ubc.ca | https://sustain.ubc.ca/scholars

Just a friendly reminder for the graduate students who are starting their programs or relocating to Vancouver for January,  we have:

• Living in Vancouver Pre-Arrival webinars this week (Dec 15 or 17)
• Jan 7^th Official Welcome and International Student Development Info sessions
• A suite of GSS community building events Jan 5-8
• Welcome workshops (school life balance, flourishing in grad school with career planning from the start,  Equity and Inclusion’s working in a diverse environment, and supervisory relationships).

All event info as well as information for enrolling in GradStart Online may also be found at  http://orientation.grad.ubc.ca

 

Please forward this week’s GradUpdate to your graduate students.  The online version is available here.

 

GradUpdate will return in early January.

All the best for holidays,

Jacqui.