Want to get out of the lab?

We’re looking for volunteers!

What: The Marine Connections project is one of the most fun events we have! We work with Dr. Sigal Balshine from McMaster University (https://abel.mcmaster.ca/) to teach Surrey high schoolers how to do real biological assessments on the Midshipman Fish right here in Delta! Together with her team, you’ll get to spend the day out on the beach with these amazing fish, getting to know Sigal and change the life of some super keen kids. 

Marine Connections 2018

Project Details: The high school students (60 in total) will be taken to an active scientific research site (Crescent Beach, White Rock), to do marine ecology activities.This beach is a spawning ground of the fish, plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus). At low tide nesting males are easily accessible for study and observation.

These fun, interesting and engaging activities that will not only excite the students, but also teach them about evolution, ecology, conservation in BC and how real science research is conducted.

This event is completely free for the participating schools and their students.

Why: to show these kids how fantastic science is. We want to demonstrate that science is much more than just sitting in a lab with a white coat and a pipette and that scientists are awesome people like you!!  We want them to learn how valuable the natural environment around them is and why science is so important and relevant to understanding and conserving it – and maybe even encourage them to pursue science themselves after high school!

Most high school kids have no idea what being a biologist is like, we want to show them!

Who: We’re looking for volunteers with an interest in biology and science outreach! Zoology experience is great, but not necessary.

Where: We will start from the two Secondary Schools in Surrey, and bus out to Crescent Beach in Delta, then head back to the schools. There is an optional additional day in the secondary school as well. Transport and food will be covered!

When: Training will be May 22 in the afternoon at the Aquarium. The day on the beach is May 30^th 9am to 4pm, and the optional school day is May 29^th 9am to 4pm.

 

Sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/ybd7k8dr

Please email volunteer@ubclts.com if you have any questions

Hello from your colleagues at the University of Guelph!

We are proud to announce the inaugural Arrell Food Summit, May 22-24, and are excited to invite you to attend. https://arrellfoodinstitute.ca/food-summit/

The theme is “innovation,” and the summit offers an extremely diverse series of sessions and speakers to explore how innovative people, practices, and products will help to sustainably, equitably and nutritiously feed the world’s growing population. The two main days of conference content will be in Guelph, while a third day will be hosted in Toronto.

As the Education Coordinator for the Arrell Food Institute, I’m most excited about the opportunities this Summit offers to students in ag & food (LFS undergrad and grad students!)

• We worked hard to ensure there’s a big representation of student voices
• As a result, student registration is deeply discounted: only $75 for each of the two Guelph days! (food incl.)
• Our cohort of grad students has developed an exciting student-specific session, as well as a networking dinner night only for students
• They/we see this summit as a key opportunity for food/ag graduate students across Canada (and beyond) to really build their networks with one another, as future leaders. So we’ve been very intentional about designing the program to maximize those opportunities – and that’s why we were firm on setting a low cost ticket-price for students. 

I hope to get to see some of you here!

Please feel free to pass this along to your friends and colleagues.

Let me know if you have questions at all

Warmly,

Kelly Hodgins
Education Coordinator  | Feeding 9 Billion

Arrell Food Institute of the University of Guelph
519-824-4120 Ext. 53836 | hodginsk@uoguelph.ca

Attention: research students (MSc and PhD)

INTERNAL deadline – May 11, 2018

Please let me know by May 4^th  if you plan on applying for the Spring Graduate Awards Competition (MSc and PhD) in order for me to prepare certified true copies of your previous transcripts and/or print UBC Academic History from the system.

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Spring Graduate Awards Competition

A number of criteria-based awards for the 2018/19 academic year are available to current and incoming graduate students. Applicants will apply via their graduate programs with a single application that may be considered for as many of the awards as they are eligible for, taking note of the following important considerations:

• Eligibility: To be eligible to receive funding, applicants must meet all the criteria for each award they apply for. Applicants must clearly address their eligibility as specifically to the award criteria as possible.
• Selection: While award recipients will be selected based on academic merits, priority will be given to eligible candidates who do not already hold significant scholarship funding (e.g., external, 4YF, Affiliated Fellowship, etc.).

Deadline for nominations to G+PS: 4 p.m. on Friday, 25 May 2018. (Applicants: Please check with your graduate program for your internal deadline.)

Please see the G+PS Awards site for the eligibility criteria and application materials: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/spring-graduate-awards-competition.

Kind regards,

Lia

Lia Maria Dragan
Graduate Programs Office
Faculty of Land and Food Systems The University of British Columbia
344-2357 Main Mall | Vancouver BC Canada V6T 1Z4
Phone 604.822.8373 | Fax 604.822.4400
Lia.maria@ubc.ca / lfs.gradapp@ubc.ca www.landfood.ubc.ca

 Waitlist registration is now open for the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) July 7, 8, 14 2018.  The ISW is a 3-day intensive workshop that develops participant’s teaching skills and confidence.  It is appropriate for first time teachers or those with years of experience.  Join the thousands of students who have taken this workshop. The ISW is an internationally recognized program and students receive transcript notation for their participation. In addition, graduate students in STEM departments are eligible to become CIRTL associates upon completion of the workshop.    

IMPORTANT: The workshop runs from 8:15am-5:00pm. Please note you must attend all three days for the complete duration of the workshop, i.e. the entire 24-hour workshop.  Please find attached the policy for registering in an ISW.  

This workshop is always in high demand. To register for the July 7, 8, 14 2018 ISW please go to the following link and sign-up:  

https://events.ctlt.ubc.ca/events/graduate-instructional-skills-workshop-july-7-8-14-2018/ 

Waitlist registration will close on Friday at 4:30pm. By clicking this link, you can register for the waitlist, however this does not register you for the workshop. If you are accepted into the workshop, you will be contacted directly by our office. 

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Sincerely,
Julia 

Julia Levasseur
Senior Events Program Assistant
Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Technology
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus
214-1961 East Mall  | Vancouver BC | V6T 1Z1 Canada
Phone 604 822 0064
julia.levasseur@ubc.ca | @UBC_CTLT
http://www.ctlt.ubc.ca/

2018-2019 LFS TA Training Coordinator Position

We are looking for one graduate student to fill the position of coordinator for the 2018-2019 LFS TA Training Program under the supervision of an Advisory Committee.

This position pays $30.32/hour for an approximately 110-hour contract. There is some flexibility when the hours are worked, but generally they will be as follows:

Month(s)	Coordination Hours
July/August	20
September	10
Oct/Nov/Dec	30
January	20
Feb/March/April	30

Background: LFS TA Training Program

The Faculty of Land & Food Systems has on average an annual total of 167 Teaching Assistantships, filled by approximately 110 Teaching Assistants. All TA positions involve very different duties and skills. TAs in the Faculty are responsible for: marking and assessing student work, leading lab activities, facilitating community and problem-based learning, giving lectures, monitoring in-class and online discussions, providing instruction on field trips, and more.

We are excited to offer LFS TAs a faculty-wide development program, which includes:

• A Teaching Assistant Handbook
• TA Orientations (September & January)
• Workshops in

o   Problem-based Learning

o   Instructional Skills

o   Marking & Assessment

o   Facilitation Skills

• Technology Seminars
• Early Alert Training
• Monthly TA Community of Practice Coffee Hours
• Access to Faculty-based Support for TAs

The overall program objectives are 1) to have TAs feel better prepared and supported in their TA roles, 2) to allow TAs to gain valuable professional skills (applicable beyond TA-ships), 3) to receive feedback from instructors and TAs on the skills they would like TAs to gain and 4) to establish a culture of Teaching Assistantships, where TAs and faculty are actively involved in a community of teaching and learning in LFS

Coordinator Job Responsibilities

• Preparation of the TA Training Grant application for UBC
• Develop the 2018-2019 TA Training Program (based on previous years records)
• Develop the 2018-2019 TA Training Program budget (based on previous years records)
• Update the 2018-2019 TA Handbook
• Coordinate and facilitate Term 1 and Term 2 Orientations
• Coordinate and facilitate monthly Community of Practice meetings
• Coordinate workshops (e.g., Problem Based Learning, Marking and Assessment, Conflict Management, Instructional Skills Workshop)
• Keep accurate accounting records of spending
• Monitor and record success of each TA Training Program activity with recommendations for improvement
• Develop annual progress reports
• Prepare project reports for the Granting agency
• Maintain records in open source (Google Drive) folders
• Promote high standard of teaching and learning in the faculty to students, TAs, instructors, faculty, staff and administration
• Develop a succession plan for future years (particularly relevant for masters students)
• Facilitate meetings with Faculty Advisory Committee (approximately 3 times/year) 

Qualifications

• Graduate student (Masters or PhD) in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems for 2018-2019 academic year
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly effective organizer and developed coordination skills
• Trained facilitator
• Proficient public speaker
• Strong interest in how we learn and teach
• Knowledge of campus-wide resources available to TAs for their teaching practice
• TA experience (preferably in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
• Self-driven and able to work on your own 

Application

Please submit all resumes and cover letters to Christine Scaman, Associate Dean Academic, Faculty of Land and Food Systems by June 1, 2018. Applications should be sent by email to christine.scaman@ubc.ca. Only successful applicants will be contacted for an interview. Position start date is July 1, 2018.

If you have any questions about the position, please direct them to the 2017-2018 TA Training Program Coordinators, Fernanda Mujica (mfmujica@mail.ubc.ca) or Colin Dring (colin.dring@ubc.ca)