"Chew On This" Sustainability Week Lectures at Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

March 29, 2012

As part of UBC’s Sustainability initiative, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, in partnership with Common Energy UBC, Oxfam UBC, and the UBC Commerce Undergraduate Society’s Sustainability Committee present “Chew On This,” a week-long series of lectures, panel discussions, and workshops.  Common Energy UBC is a student-run organization of diverse and forward-thinking individuals working to incorporate sustainability into all aspects of the UBC community. It aims to affect real change by building strong networks and working proactively with the University, while fostering leadership and engaging peers through innovative programming.  Oxfam UBC is an organization committed to developing innovative ways to support Oxfam’s important aid and relief work, and to raise awareness of global poverty.  The UBC Commerce Undergraduate Society‘s Sustainability Committee works to provide opportunities for Sauder students to educate themselves on what sustainability means in the context of business and motivate students to integrate sustainability into their professional and personal lives. As well as using the CUS as a model for how sustainability can be implemented into the operations and strategic thinking of an organization.

The purpose behind this week is to open a dialogue about sustainable food on campus and engage students through a variety of different forums. This is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to engage in an open discussion around these topics which are growing increasingly important as the world’s population continues to grow and the effects of climate change on food production begin to show.



Each evening examined Sustainable Food and Food Security from a different perspective:

Monday: The Business Case Behind Sustainable Food

February 13, 2012 – 4.00pm to 6.00pm at the Lillooet Room, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

Annie Moss and Randy Hooper, founders of Discovery Organics and Chef Steve Golob from Place Vanier Residence will discuss the business case behind sustainable food and the cost and benefit of eating local, organic. Speakers will discuss the business case behind sustainable food. Webcast sponsored by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.

Tuesday: Taking a Bite Out of Your Campus

February 14, 2012 – 4.00pm to 6.00pm at the Lillooet Room, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

Sprouts is a 100% volunteer and student-run organization at UBC that connects us to our food and the people who grow it. Sprouts volunteers will lead this hands-on approach to food mapping to learn where our food comes from and how we access it at UBC and in Vancouver.

Wednesday: Food Security, Eh? A Panel Discussion on Sustainable Food in a Canadian Context

February 15, 2012 – 4.00pm to 6.00pm at the Lillooet Room, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

A diverse group of panelists shared their research and thoughts on the topic of Canada and what it means to have sustainable food in Canada.  Webcast sponsored by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. Speakers include:

Panelists include:

  • Dr. Andrew Riseman, Associate Professor of Applied Biology and Plant Breeding in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems; co-chair of the Campus Academic Plan committee working to guide the future of the UBC Farm.
  • Dr. Sean Smukler, Assistant Professor of Applied Biology and Soil Science; Junior Chair, Agriculture and the Environment; research working with farmers to assess impacts of farm management practices.
  • Dr. James Vercammen, Professor in both the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and the Sauder School of Business; research focussing on food and resource economics.
  • Will Valley, Project Coordinator, Think&Eat Green@School; member of Inner City Farms. Will’s research interests include the analysis and application of community-engaged scholarship and food system education
  • Anelyse Weiler, Communications Coordinator, UBC Farm
  • Sophia Baker-French, Registered Dietician; MSc Candidate in Human Nutrition; previous Research Assistant with Think and Eat Green @ School; prior coordinator at the UBC Farm School Tours program.

Thursday: Hungry for Change Banquet

February 16, 2012- Doors at 6pm at Thea’s Lounge. Tickets $5.

Oxfam UBC’s most well-known event has connected with Chew On This: A Week of Perspectives on Sustainable Food to bring together students, faculty, and staff for an eye-opening conversation and delicious meal. This night is meant to satisfy the appetites for learning through interesting speakers and engaging conversations.

Drop-ins are welcomed but if possible, please register in advance so that organizers can prepare an appropriate amount of food to be served.
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Presented in partnership between:

Common Energy UBC
Oxfam UBC
CUS Sustainability

And with generous support by:
AMS Sustainability Fund
Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
UBC Food Services

UBC Library Resources

Books:

Are you interested in more about this area?   There are open access resources available online selected by UBC Librarians

  • Small Business Accelerator: http://www.sba-bc.ca/
  • Industry Canada: http://www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/ic_wp-pa.htm
  • Agricultural Communications Documentation Centre: http://web.library.uiuc.edu/asp/agx/acdc/
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN: http://www.fao.org/

Other on-line resources:

UBC Resources

UBC Courses on Sustainability – http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/teaching-learning/curriculum/courses

For more information, please contact Allan Cho

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