New Dept of Geography Graduate Course for Spring 2020

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Good afternoon,

The Department of Geography is excited to announce a new ecology, graduate-level course offered this spring by Dr. Jennifer Williams and we invite students from across campus to register.  We hope you can help us in spreading the word.  Thanks.

Population dynamics in time and space: models, data and application
Tuesdays, 9:30 – 12:30, in Spring 2020 (2019 W2)

Offered as GEOB 507A Section 202: Topics in Geographical Sciences 

Course Description: Underlying much of population ecology are models using different approaches to describe how population dynamics change through time and space. Goals of this course are to 1) assess the role of modeling in answering fundamental questions in population ecology; 2) articulate the strengths and weaknesses of the quantitative approaches presented for modeling population dynamics in time and space; 3) successfully implement mathematical models (in R) to describe population dynamics and spatial spread, and provide a clear interpretation of the results. Course will be a mix of lecture, discussion, hands-on labs in R, and an independent project to analyze your own or someone else’s data. Complementary to Biology 548M (Fundamentals of Population Ecology).

Evaluated on:

–      Participation: 20%
–      4 assignments (build on weekly in-class activities): 30%
–      Project (analysis of your own or someone else’s data) – proposal + small steps showing progress + presentation + short paper: 50%

Weekly readings from: Morris & Doak 2002 (Quantitative Conservation Biology), Ellner, Childs & Rees 2016 (Data-driven Modelling of Structured Populations: A Practical Guide to the Integral Projection Model), Vandermeer & Goldberg 2002 (Population Ecology), Gotelli (Population Ecology) and relevant papers drawn from the literature

For any questions or to see a tentative schedule, email: jennifer.williams@geog.ubc.ca

Updated transcript and submission information on the CDC Scholarship Program

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Good morning:
The CDC has confirmed that all applications must be sent to them electronically through the LFS Grad Office by Friday, May 31, 2019.
In order for us to confirm that your application is complete, please make sure you send a complete electronic version to Lia, by Wednesday, May 29th.  This should give us enough time to receive/review your application and contact you if anything needs correcting.
Please note:   The CDC will accept copies of your transcripts.  Please confirm with Lia that the electronic transcripts that she has on file for you are complete.  We can provide an “unofficial” SISC printout in lieu of an official UBC transcript (I apologize if this contradicts previous information).
http://www.milkingredients.ca/index-eng.php?id=296
Shelley

PhD Defense – Friday, May 24 Hanna Eriksson

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The Oral Examination for the Degree of
 
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(Applied Animal Biology)
 
Hanna Eriksson
Management Practices and Cow-Level Factors Related to Claw Horn Disruption Lesions in Dairy Cows
Friday, May 24, 2019 at *9:00 am
Room 350, HR MacMillan Building, 2357 Mail Mall
 
 
 
 
EXAMINING COMMITTEE 
 
 
Chair:
Prof Mark Beauchamp (Kinesiology)
 
Supervisory Committee:
Research Supervisor: Prof Daniel Weary (AABI)
Committee Member: Prof Marina Von Keyserlingk (AABI)
 
University Examiners:
University Examiner: Prof David Kitts (Food Science)
University Examiner: Prof Anthony Farrell (AABI)
 
 
Everyone is welcome
 
 *Latecomers will not be admitted

2019-2020 TA Coordinator Position

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Attn: Graduate Students, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Re: 2019-2021 LFS TA Training Coordinator Position

Are you looking for work experience that builds your network and enhances your professional abilities in training and supporting your colleagues? We are recruiting one graduate student to fill the position of LFS TA Training Coordinator for the 2019-2021 LFS TA Training Program period (July 2019 to May 2021) under the supervision of an Advisory Committee. Working with another coordinator, TAs in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and the Centre for Teaching Learning Technology, the successful applicant will have a strong interest and passion for education and empowering TAs to be successful in their work, learning, and teaching practice.

Currently, we 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
· Preferential access to the Instructional Skills Workshop

Our program objectives are: 1) to have TAs be 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

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     10
Feb/March/April/May     40

Coordinator Job Responsibilities

· Preparation of the TA Training Grant application for UBC
· Develop the 2019-2020 TA Training Program (based on previous years records)
· Develop the 2019-2020 TA Training Program budget (based on previous years records)
· Update the 2019-2020 TA Handbook
· Coordinate and facilitate Term 1 and Term 2 TA Orientations
· Coordinate and facilitate monthly Community of Practice meetings
– Coordinate workshops in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching Learning Technologies (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 2019-2021 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 a resume and cover letter to Christine Scaman, Associate Dean Academic, Faculty of Land and Food Systems by June 1, 2019. Applications should be sent by email to christine.scaman@ubc.ca with the subject line: (TA Training Coordinator Position Application – [First Name, Last Name]. Only successful applicants will be contacted for an interview. Position start date is July 1, 2019.

If you have any questions about the position, please direct them to the current TA Training Program Coordinators, Colin Dring (colin.dring@mail.ubc.ca) or Jun Obayashi (jun.obayashi@ubc.ca)

LFS Graduate Teaching Assistant Award 2018-2019

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Katie Koralesky, winner of the 2018-2019 LFS Graduate Teaching Assistant Award!

Congratulations to Katie Koralesky, PhD student in Applied Animal Biology.

After reviewing the submissions the award committee had the difficult decision of choosing a single best candidate for the award.   After individual ranking followed by deliberation the committee decided that Katie Koralesky is the recipient of the 2018-2019 LFS Graduate Teaching Assistant Award.

Katherine Koralesky is a Ph.D. candidate in the Animal Welfare program. Her broad range of experiences as a Teaching Assistant and her devotion and commitment to teaching made her an ideal candidate for the award.

The winner of the LFS Graduate Teaching Assistant Award receives a certificate and $1,000.00.

 

TA Awards and Recognition