Is sitting the new smoking? The benefits of physical activity are well-known, from chronic disease prevention to increased overall quality of life. However, sedentary lifestyles and fear of serious injury can act as barriers to a physically active lifestyle in adults and opportunities for outdoor risky play in kids.

Hear from a panel of UBC and community experts as they speak about risky play, concussions, and chronic disease prevention through physical activity before discussing the risks and rewards of leading an active lifestyle.

Recorded November 8, 2017, in Victoria, BC.

One of the most respected filmmakers of his generation and a true artist, Atom Egoyan is the director behind modern classics such as Exotica, the Oscar-nominated The Sweet Hereafter, Ararat, and Chloe. A master of visual and verbal storytelling, Egoyan takes bold non-linear routes through complex psychological terrain in his films.

Hear from Atom Egoyan as he shares how he tells compelling stories in Canadian film and a rapidly changing industry, and why bold film-making has never been more important than it is in our current global political climate.

The Okanagan’s wine industry is relatively young compared to the world’s classic wine regions. It was largely a local endeavor in its early days, but over the past few decades the world has taken notice. Okanagan wines are already held in high regard, but can our new world wines truly compete with the old? What qualities separate good wines from world class ones?

Hear from Okanagan winery owners and winemakers as they walk participants through a tasting of their prize-winning wines and a lively panel discussion to show how Okanagan wines stack up against the best.

Recorded November 2, 2017, in Kelowna, BC.

Vancouver has developed a reputation as a difficult place to raise kids. The high cost of childcare - for those who can find a spot - and the difficulty finding suitable housing have led many prospective parents to delay starting a family or explore alternatives, such as life in the suburbs. Those who choose to have kids in Vancouver often end up making sacrifices in their careers, lifestyles, or financial situations to make it work. Given these challenges, as well as the risks posed by the proliferation of unlicensed childcare facilities, how can government, employers, developers and community groups work together to build a more child-friendly Vancouver?

Recorded September 26, 2017, at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre in Vancouver, BC.

Innovation rarely comes as a single spark of inspiration. More often, it results from ideas coming together and efforts aligning in exciting new directions. For this to happen, there needs to be an innovation ecosystem that supports collaboration. When industry, government, and universities work together, it is possible to harness the research and talent that exists in society and take advantage of efficiencies to make progress. Hear from UBC President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Santa J. Ono as well as local and UBC experts in Calgary as they discuss the unique challenges and opportunities Canada faces in nurturing its innovation ecosystem and learn about some initiatives that are putting Canada on track to become an innovation powerhouse.

Hear from Professor Ono as he shares his early priorities and interests as well as gathers input from alumni and friends on how we can continue to strengthen our university.

Recorded in North Vancouver, BC, on July 27, 2017.

It’s no surprise that great universities can have a positive influence on industry. When you have the brightest minds conducting leading edge research, the benefits are clear. In the Bay Area, a cluster of high profile academic institutions have contributed to the growth of a robust, world-leading innovation ecosystem. But how do these relationships work and in what ways can they bridge the gaps from academia to industry to encourage continued growth and positive changes in the industry? Has Silicon Valley moved past its prime? What are the threats facing its longevity? Can academic influences improve the tech sector’s gender imbalance? Could these linkages support the expansion of the tech sector into the Cascadia Corridor? Hear from our panel as they discuss the strong influence of academia on innovation ecosystems, and their subsequent evolution.

Moderator:

Savannah Peterson - Founder and Chief Unicorn, Savvy Millennial

Panelists:

Dr. Ossama Hassanein, MASc'74, MBA'76 - Entrepreneur, Mentor, and Venture Capitalist; General Partner, Newbury Ventures

Ray Kruck, MBA'92 - Founder, Nexgate and Pointgrey Partners; Associate, Creative Destruction Lab West

Dr. Marc-David Seidel - Director of the W. Maurice Young Centre for Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Research; The RBC Financial Group Professor of Entrepreneurship; Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources (OBHR) at UBC Sauder School of Business

Jennifer Vancini, MBA’93 – Managing Partner, Pointgrey Partners; Partner, The Angels Forum

Recorded June 27, 2017, in Palo Alto, CA.

For years the possibility of new and expanded pipelines running across BC have raised questions related to First Nations land rights, coastal tanker traffic, and the nature of inter-provincial relationships. Underlying these questions, however, has always been the larger question of why we are continuing to invest in fossil fuel infrastructure at all given our international climate commitments. Hear from a panel of experts as they examine the economic, environmental, and public policy ramifications of the recent approvals.

Recorded June 5, 2017, in Vancouver, BC.

Who wouldn’t want to live in Victoria? The city is known for its inviting lifestyle, affordable housing, good schools, plentiful green spaces, and solid career opportunities. It’s so tempting, in fact, that recent years have seen a spike in the number of newcomers setting up home. This growth in population, however, means that the very enticements that brought people here in the first place could be put at risk. Hear from a panel of UBC and community experts for a discussion about how good city planning, a solid housing strategy, and a diversifying economy can support growth while maintaining the lifestyle that will continue to make Victoria a desirable place to live, build a career, or raise a family.

Recorded May 15, 2017, in Victoria, BC.

In his new book of non-fiction, Solitude: A Singular Life in a Crowded World, Governor General’s Award-winner, Michael Harris, BA’02, explores the profound emotional and intellectual benefits of being alone. He examines why our experience of solitude has become so impoverished and guides readers away from a life of ceaseless pings toward a balanced media diet. Hear from Harris and moderator, Maureen Medved, MFA’94, as they conduct a brief reading, conversation, and Q&A.

Recorded May 11, 2017, at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre on UBC's Vancouver campus.