International Policy Ideas Challenge 2020

The objective of the International Policy Ideas Challenge program is to draw on the network of talented Canadian graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-career civil society researchers to identify concrete, innovative solutions to emerging international policy challenges faced by Canada.  The program offers applicants a chance to test their skills at translating academic expertise into policy language and insights.  Ten winners will be given several months to consult with Global Affairs Canada “client” divisions and further develop their proposals into longer policy briefs, which will then be presented to Government of Canada officials in a day-long Ideas Symposium, hosted by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa in late Fall 2020.

Each proposal should outline a trend or dynamic affecting Canadian foreign policy that applicants believe needs additional study. Proposals should sketch out preliminary policy recommendations bridging at least two of the three policy areas under Global Affairs Canada’s mandate – foreign policy, trade, and international assistance.

Ten winning proposals will receive $3,000 each (regardless of whether the proposal is submitted by an individual or a team). In addition to the award, a modest travel supplement will be provided for winners from outside the National Capital Region to facilitate the in-person participation of the lead researcher in the Ideas Symposium. Only the lead researcher is eligible for the monetary award and travel supplement.

Application deadline: April 17, 2020

For more information, including eligibility requirements and application procedures, please see the webpage: https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/study_work_travel-etude_travail_voyage/proposals-2020-propositions.aspx?lang=eng

Note: This award is externally administered by SSHRC and Global Affairs Canada, so questions should be directed to: IPIC-CIPI.POR@international.gc.ca.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies – Faculty & Staff website (https://faculty-staff.grad.ubc.ca)

UBC –  Faculty of Land and Food System Announces The Oral Examination for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy (SOIL Science)

Siddhartho Shekhar Paul

“Digital Soil Mapping to Enhance Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in the Lower Fraser Valley Using Remote Sensing”

4:00 PM on Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Room 203, Graduate Student Centre (6371 Crescent Road) 

EXAMINING COMMITTEE  

Chair: Dr. Loretta Li 

Supervisory Committee:
Dr. S. Smukler – Supervisor
Dr. M. Krzic – Committee member
Dr. N. Coops  – Committee member
Dr. M. Johnson – Committee member

Defense Committee Composition
Dr. S. Smukler – Supervisor
Dr. M. Krzic – Committee member
Dr. N. Coops  – Committee member
Dr. L. Lavkulich – University examiner
Dr. C. Prescott – University examiner

Everyone is welcome

This week’s guest for the MFRE Speaker Series is Dale Bracewell, the Manager of Transportation Planning of Vancouver.

Topic: Transportation in Vancouver Towards 2040

Date & Time: Friday, March 13^th, 3:30pm

Venue: MCML 160

Dale and his team lead the citywide and community planning implementation of Transportation 2040, the city’s long-range transportation plan for all modes, including funding strategies and coordination with regional and provincial transportation plans and policies. Dale previously led the City’s Active Transportation team responsible for the city’s pedestrian, bicycle, and greenways networks, as well as Vancouver’s transportation planning and operations for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, one of the largest stage events in the world.

 

Sustainability Work Learn Opportunities 

UBC Sustainability Work Learn positions are now open for the Summer 2020 term. Positions are available to current undergraduate and graduate students. The work terms are May 1, 2020 – August 31, 2020 and 20 hrs/week unless otherwise noted.

UBC’s sustainability student positions are an excellent opportunity to gain experience working within the sustainability field and contribute to the development and implementation of UBC sustainability plans and programs. Positions currently available with UBC Campus and Community Planning’s Sustainability and Engineering team include:

• Zero Waste Coordinator
• Green Labs Coordinator (graduate students only)
• Reuse Program Assistant
• Sustainability Engagement Assistant (graduate students only)

More information and full job descriptions are available to students on UBC CareersOnline. Please note Work Learn eligibility is required to apply for the positions. Submit applications via CareersOnline by Monday, March 23th.

Thanks,

Tawnee 

Tawnee Milko  M.E.M.
Sustainability Engagement Lead
Sustainability & Engineering | Campus + Community Planning
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory
3331- 2260 West Mall | Vancouver BC | V6T 1Z4 Canada
Phone 604 827 5131
tawnee.milko@ubc.ca | @sustainUBC
http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/

 

If you are a Mandarin-speaking student in 4^th year (or in the 1^st year of your master’s program) & you might be interested in this research opportunity for 2020-21, please let me know and send me a copy of your CV & unofficial transcripts. We will prioritize Canadian citizens/permanent residents.

This is for a newly funded project that I am part of.

Job Description for RA

In an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government has taken drastic quarantine measures to block roads and confine its citizens within residential compounds. These polices have major consequences on food security, a pressing public health problem that has received much less attention compared to the epidemic itself. The CIHR-IDRC funded project “Assessing and Mitigating the Food Security Consequences of COVID-19 in China” will evaluate “Immediate Consequences and Urgent Policy Responses” and to develop “Comprehensive Food Security Assessment & Social and Policy Countermeasures”.

The students as Research Assistants for this project are expected to collaborate with the research team in Waterloo and Nanjing to

1. Conduct telephone interviews with residents in Wuhan and Nanjing in China to understand their food security and related health challenges amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, their coping strategies and perceptions of the effectiveness of urgent policy countermeasures;
2. Conduct face-to-face interviews in Wuhan and Nanjing after the epidemic is over and when it is safe to travel to China;
3. Transcribe and analyze the interview data;
4. Analyze the implications of urgent policies related to food security;
5. Draft research reports and papers;

The work needs to start from April 2020. In addition to the research assistantship, the project will also likely fund participation in academic conferences to present research findings. The student is strongly encouraged to base his or her theses on this research.

The required skills/background of the students:

The students should have strong skills in conducting in-depth interviews and analyzing qualitative data. The students should also be proficient in reading and writing in English, including conducting literature reviews of social science materials. Chinese language proficiency is strongly encouraged. Familiarity with food security and/or urban planning and policy is an asset.

Kind regards,

Steffanie

Steffanie Scott | Professor
Department of Geography & Environmental Management
Faculty of Environment
University of Waterloo
200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
Email: sdscott@uwaterloo.ca | Tel: 519-888-4567 x37012

See our new book, Organic Food and Farming in China: Top-down and Bottom-up Ecological Initiatives
– See our websites about China’s ecological agriculture sector & China’s Changing Food System
– Join our LinkedIn group, China’s Changing Food System

– Twitter: @Steffanie_Scott