With Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield now returned to earth and the newest Star Trek movie about to hit the big screen, it seems everything astronomical is in the air.

That’s no different at Okanagan College where professors from multiple disciplines are working to get closer to the Milky Way by assisting with the installation of three radio telescopes and infrastructure for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada – Okanagan Chapter (RASC-OC).

“The amount of College involvement in the last year has really spiraled upwards,” said Richard Christie, Physics and Astronomy department chair and RASC-OC member. “For a non-profit like the RASC-OC it provides us with some great expertise locally to take on the challenges of developing a first-class astronomy outreach facility.”

While the building of the radio telescopes is in the hands of local amateur Hugh Pett, various aspects of the project are being handled by professors and more than a dozen students from four Engineering Technology departments: Mechanical, Electronic, Civil, and Water.

•    Two Mechanical Engineering Technology students (Jonathan Peter and Luigi Ennas) are working with professor Vladimir Neykov on the antenna mount, and designing and testing motors for precise antenna tracking
•    Two Electronic Engineering students (Jamie Maloway and Brett McDowell) are working with professors Kevin Bradshaw and Randy Brown on designing the electronics for process control and the wireless transmission for the data from the telescopes
•    Six students from Civil Engineering Technology (Michael McGoldrick, Josh Goode, Tanner Vollema, Mack Murtland, James Hall, and Nate Johnson) are conducting a survey of the locations for the telescope sites with professor Terry Stewart
•    And in the fall an entire class of Water Engineering Technology students, under the direction of lab assistant Roland Oliynyk, will be designing a water acquisition and delivery system, plus a waste water system for the chapter’s proposed new classroom space – the Discovery Centre

Each year the RASC-OC hosts more than 100 events at the Okanagan Observatory reaching more than 8,000 people. Christie said the addition of the radio telescopes gives the public a chance to learn more about what are essentially the building blocks for the universe.

“Radio telescopes capture images of the stuff that is between the stars – the gases and the dust – in other words the material that will give rise to make the stars, the planets. It’s an enriched soup of chemicals and elements from which life originates.”

All that raises the question of existence of other life forms, which is why the RASC-OC is bringing in renowned astrobiologist Dr. Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute in California to speak at its Second Annual Okanagan Observatory Fundraising Dinner. Tickets for that event are $40 and available through RASC-OC President Colleen O’Hare at chohare@shaw.ca.

Christie said the plan is to have the first radio telescope in operation this summer, with the other two coming on stream over the next two years.

“People, including kids as young as five, will be able to collect data from the telescopes and discover and look at the Milky Way.”

Christie said there’s no better time to capture the public’s interest than now.

“Our primary mandate at the RASC is one of public outreach, and here at the College it’s about giving students meaningful experiences that can lead to professional careers. To have this come together at a time when Chris Hadfield has become an international ambassador for space science is a huge boost in the arm.”

Okanagan College Media Release

A series of business seminars targeted to entrepreneurs in the technology sector is being offered tuition-free at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus, starting this June.

Professors from both the Okanagan College Computer Science department and the Okanagan School of Business, along with two European experts in international business, will be hosting nine sessions to support professional development of senior personnel and managers of small to medium-sized enterprises.

Computer Science professor Dr. Youry Khmelevsky and Okanagan School of Business professor Dr. Lynn Sparling put the series together, which is being made available tuition-free to qualified participants.

“Having our two departments work together provides a great opportunity for us to assist the growing tech community in the Okanagan,” Sparling said.

“We all know how important the role of professional development is when it comes to enhancing business success and profitability,” she said. “We also know accessing that expertise isn’t always easy when you’re running a small business. Our hope is that offering these targeted seminars to this sector will help overcome that obstacle.”

Sessions vary from one, two and three-days, and are divided up over two months, starting in June with topics such as public speaking, communication strategies, business research, and success in software engineering projects.

The series starts with Okanagan School of Business professor Dr. Kyleen Myrah presenting the two-day seminar Public Speaking with Confidence: Delivering Your Message with Power and Persuasion, which runs June 3 and 10.

The series resumes August 26 with further seminars on topics such as data management and strategic account management plus the two-day session Overview of Running an International Business. The two Europeans leading that session have 35+ combined years’ experience working with multinational corporations including Gillette, Duracell, and P&G doing business in Europe, Africa and Asia.

“We’re very fortunate to have Dmitry Syrotovsky and Steve Clark here to present this seminar,” Sparling said. “Their insight will be invaluable to those businesses that want to expand their markets.”

Okanagan College is putting on the series as agents of the Vancouver-based Discovery Foundation and its Technology Education Program. The Foundation is a registered charity that works to educate technology entrepreneurs about business practices that will enable them to grow world-scale B.C.-based technology companies.

"This is the first time Discovery Foundation is offering programs to technology entrepreneurs outside of the Lower Mainland,” said Discovery Foundation Executive Director Mark Betteridge. “We are very pleased to be working with Okanagan College to deliver these seminars to support and help grow the tech industry in the Okanagan region."

To see a full list of the seminars and to register, visit Okanagan College’s TrainingBC website at www.trainingbc.ca, or send an email to info@trainingbc.ca.

UBC’s Conferences and Accommodation staff (from left) Suzanne Nazareno, Debbie Harding, and Maaike Ammerlaan are prepared for a busy tourist season this summer.

Rental suites on campus host thousands of visitors during summer season

At UBC, summer means the busy season gets underway in earnest – the campus turns into the biggest conference and accommodation centre in the Okanagan.

With the academic year over, the hustle and bustle of student move-out from the residences only means there is a transition in the makeup of the guests staying on campus. And summer 2013 is shaping up to be a rather busy one, says UBC Conference Sales and Services Manager Debbie Harding.

“Our summer season is relatively short, as our students move out in late April and return in early September,” Harding says. “But within the time frame of mid-May to late August, we can have more than 6,000 visitors and host dozens of conferences and events.”

This season started with a bang as UBC’s Okanagan campus hosted the eighth-annual Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution conference this week, alongside the 2013 A/BC Inorganic Discussion Weekend. More than 500 visitors were on campus for the two events – and Harding says the majority booked rooms in the Cascade, Monashee, and Purcell student residences.

“The Okanagan has a robust hospitality sector that serves the tourism industry very well,” says Harding. “We are filling a niche, especially for those needing meeting and conference facilities for academic and business gatherings large and small.”

For those on retreats or with business plans, UBC’s Conferences and Accommodation staff can help with events of every size. There are more than 50 meeting rooms on campus, plus several large lecture halls with stadium seating and full teleconferencing capability. There are workshop spaces, exhibit and trade show areas, sports facilities, multi-media technology, and on-site catering.

UBC has more than 650 rooms available with a variety of summer rental options. Choices include: single rooms, with access to a shared bathroom, kitchen, and common lounge; suites in the Monashee building, ranging from a studio option to a four-bedroom family suite, all with private bathrooms, queen beds, and fully-equipped kitchens; and the four-bedroom Cascade apartments, with private kitchen, living room, and two bathrooms.

Harding says UBC’s location, just two kilometres from Kelowna’s airport, is a definite bonus, and it helps with the university’s appeal to groups that have plans before or after attending conferences – travellers, golfers, winery tours, athletes competing in summer events, and families looking at different options of stay.

“We are perfectly situated for access to the north Okanagan, and for people exploring Kelowna,” she says. “We’re steps away from five first-class golf courses, surrounded by fabulous wineries, and have a variety of lakes, just a short drive in any direction.”

The rental units – with single rooms starting at $48 a night – include linens and housekeeping, high-speed Internet, air conditioning, and access to UBC’s fully-equipped gym, hiking trails, and the self-guided campus tour.

“We cater to everybody and every style of visitor,” Harding says. “We host people looking for a place for one night, and groups of golfing friends on an extended visit, to youth groups on a retreat, and sports teams playing in tournaments.”

Taylor Scanlon, co-chair for the recent Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Association graduate conference, says planning for the event was made easier by UBC staff.

“The assistance we received from UBC Okanagan staff has been thorough and exemplary,” Scanlon says. “Considering that our committee was new at this kind of thing, we were very grateful for all the professional help and detailed support we received. Having some professional support behind us was a definite bonus. ”

UBC’s three, two-bedroom townhomes are open for visitors year round. The two-storey rentals book up quickly, says Harding, as they’re popular for fall winery tours and ski groups in the winter.

“Our range of accommodation is different from most hotels because we offer a variety of single rooms and suites, all at a great price,” she adds. “But I think we’re a popular place to stay, mostly because UBC Okanagan is such a unique place. We have a beautiful campus in a great location and we’re happy to share this space with our visitors.”

UBC’s Okanagan campus has amenities for staging conferences of any size.

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Teams vote to approve full membership after two years of probationary play

UBC’s Okanagan Heat teams are now members of the big club – for good.

Today, after a process that spanned more than five years, the UBC Okanagan Heat received the votes necessary to become members of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA).

Rob Johnson, Director of Athletics and Recreation

“It is wonderful news for our institution and our athletics program and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our application – and that's a big group of people,” says Director of Athletics and Recreation Rob Johnson.  “Back in 2007, full membership in Canada West and the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) was one of a number of institutional goals that were set, and it is very gratifying to see it achieved.”

Canada West policy requires a minimum three-quarters majority vote to grant full member status. UBC’s Okanagan campus becomes the 14^th member, joining UBC Vancouver and universities from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

"We've been working hard on this for five years. It is wonderful for our entire program and everyone who worked so hard on our application to see that work come to such a positive result," says Johnson.

The positive membership vote also means that UBC Okanagan men’s and women’s soccer teams will start competing in Canada West in 2014.  That application was submitted in 2012 and was conditionally accepted pending the successful vote on full membership.

UBC President Prof. Stephen Toope says the move to accept Heat teams as full members of CWUAA is extremely gratifying to him.

“Strong UBC Okanagan Heat teams playing at the highest level invigorates school spirit and brings students, alumni and the community together to cheer them on,” says Toope. “Seeing the UBC Thunderbirds and Heat compete against each other is a great motivator for both campuses. With great conviction I can say, ‘Go UBC!’ ”

Deborah Buszard, deputy vice-chancellor and principal of UBC’s Okanagan campus, says the Heat’s full membership in CWUAA is a significant milestone.

“Our UBC Okanagan Heat are now officially recognized amongst the best university teams in the country,” says Buszard. “Our entire campus and the communities of the Okanagan are proud to cheer them on. Heat student athletes are outstanding ambassadors of our campus with their commitment and dedication to athletic competition and scholastic achievement.”

Ian Cull, associate vice-president students, says the moment has long been anticipated that Heat teams became full members of CWUAA.

“The ability for our UBC student athletes to play at the highest level of competition makes our campus a destination of choice for more and more students,” says Cull. “It is a great thrill going to Heat games and seeing our fans get behind their teams in a big way.”

For coaches, full membership in CWUAA opens more doors for recruiting.

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” says Steve Manuel, head coach of the Heat women’s volleyball team and national coach of the year. “The perception to athletes, recruits and the community that we are full members will be a benefit to building our programs. This stability gives prospective recruits a solid reason to choose UBC Okanagan, knowing that they will always be playing against top-tier teams during their university years.”

The process began in December 2007, when Toope and then-Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Doug Owram submitted a letter of intent to apply to Canada West for membership. In 2009, the initial vote for probationary standing was delayed a year by Canada West as the organization needed time to clarify its membership plan.

After gaining probationary status in 2010, the Heat played their final year of men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball in the BC Colleges’ Athletics Association (BCCAA) with both volleyball squads capturing provincial gold in the last collegiate games on their home floor.

Competing in Canada West as probationary members, the last two years have produced many memorable moments in the gym at UBC’s Okanagan campus. The Heat started CIS competition as winners as both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams defeated the University of Winnipeg at their inaugural home openers.

Other probationary period highlights include the women’s basketball team knocking off Interior rival Thompson Rivers in the final game of three graduating and storied players – Roz Huber, Madison Kaneda, and Melissa Irish – of 2013, with Kaneda hitting a three for the win; the men’s volleyball team sweeping Thompson Rivers University in back-to-back must-win matches on the final weekend of the 2011-12 season to earn a berth in the playoffs;  the men’s basketball team losing a heart-breaker by two points on a “buzzer-beater” to the then number two nationally-ranked UBC Vancouver Thunderbirds;  the men’s volleyball team defeating the Thunderbirds in their first-ever matchup; and the women’s volleyball team finishing the 2012/13 regular season tied for third with a 15-7 record and earning the right to host a playoff series this past February.

“Not a bad start for a fledgling program,” says Johnson.

Full member status grants UBC’s Okanagan campus voting rights, so its delegates can hold office in Canada West. It can apply to add new sports.

The next and final step for the Heat in this membership process will be acceptance as a full, rather than probationary, member of the CIS at its annual general meeting from June 4 to 7 in Toronto.

Canada West will release its basketball and volleyball schedules Monday and Tuesday, June 10 and 11, respectively.

More information: http://www.canadawest.org/custompages/Releases/2013-14/050913_Membership.pdf

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Anthony Sinclair discusses the science behind life on the Serengeti at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Monday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. The event is part of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution conference taking place at UBC’s Okanagan campus, May 13 to 15.

Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution conference draws top researchers

The Okanagan’s fauna, flora, and natural beauty will be on full display when UBC’s Okanagan campus hosts 400 scientists during next week’s conference for the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution (CSEE).

The eighth-annual event, taking place May 12 to 15, attracts ecologists and evolutionary biologists from around the world, says Jason Pither, assistant professor of biology and physical geography at UBC. The Okanagan, he notes, is the perfect backdrop for a conference of this kind, especially since it represents one of Canada's biodiversity hotspots and is home to many endangered species.

“Some of the most influential and well-respected ecologists and evolutionary biologists will be at this event,” says Pither. “This is where they come to share their latest research findings—the ‘hot-off-the-press’ type of information.”

Membership in the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution is not just reserved for academics, he notes. CSEE members include scientists from industry, government, and non-governmental organizations. And the topics can be of global significance, such as the ecological and evolutionary impacts of climate change, and, more specific to our region, the effect of the Mountain Pine Beetle on western forest ecosystems.

The CSEE encourages student involvement in the annual meetings, and provides award funding for best student presentations. Pither says UBC is well represented at this year's meeting, with more than 20 graduate and undergraduate students presenting their latest research. The scientific program also includes nine organized symposia, some with a specific focus on policy. One symposium tackles hot-button current events with lawyers, policy makers, media analysts, and seasoned scientists discussing the growing barriers to getting good science into the hands of politicians.

Keynote speakers include Pierre Legendre, biology professor at the University of Montreal, who will receive the CSEE Presidents’ Award for his extensive contributions to advancing ecology and evolutionary biology research.  Fred Allendorf, Regents Professor Emeritus at the University of Montana, and a world-renowned authority on population genetics and conservation biology, will address the conference theme Range margins in a rapidly changing world.

The CSEE has two public events. On Saturday, May 11, children are encouraged to come to the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan (EECO) and participate in a nature walk.

Organized by UBC graduate students, the walk includes tips to identify birds by their song, an introduction to mushrooms, and a trip to the turtle pond with a local reptile expert. Pither notes that while the nature walk is aimed at elementary school students, people of all ages are welcome. The EECO is located at Mission Creek Regional Park on Springfield Road, Kelowna. The nature walk begins at 9 a.m.

The May 13 public event features Anthony Sinclair, professor emeritus at UBC's Department of Zoology in Vancouver, who will unveil the story behind the science of Africa’s Serengeti. Sinclair has spent more than 50 years in Tanzania where he has studied the cycle of wildlife through years of drought and starvation, the role of predators and disease, and the reasons behind the migration of specific species.

Sinclair’s talk takes place in the Mary Irwin Theatre at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna, on Monday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. This public event is free. However, registration is encouraged at www.sinclairtalk.eventbrite.ca.

SCEE conference participants will also have opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the Southern Interior. Organized field trips include visits to the South Okanagan Desert and Saline Lakes, Lac du Bois Provincial Park, and Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, to explore the rebirth of the flora after the 2003 fires.

While much of the week’s highlights cater to conference delegates, Pither notes that the public is welcome to attend the keynote seminars. Legendre speaks at UBC on Tuesday, May 14, at 1:15 p.m., and Allendorf speaks on Wednesday, May 15, at 8 a.m. Both keynote events take place in Room 130 of the Arts and Sciences Centre, 3187 University Way in Kelowna.

For a full conference schedule, visit: csee2013.ok.ubc.ca

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