By UBC School of Biomedical Engineering
The podcast currently has 32 episodes available.
Communicating with conspiracy theorists.
Teaching students to be advocates for science.
Rebuilding trust in science communications.
Special guest host Dr. Jenna Usprech and I sat down with Dr. Gabriel Potvin to discuss all this and more in our latest episode.
All episodes available on to watch on YouTube
Guest:
Gabriel Potvin
Associate Professor of Teaching, UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering
Dr. Potvin's current focus is in engineering pedagogy and curriculum development, with a particular interest in problem-based learning, laboratory instruction, sustainability education, and interdisciplinary education.
The challenges we face as a society, and as a species, are complex and multi-faceted. Engineers must be able to tackle them in creative ways, and be comfortable working on collaborative open interdisciplinary projects. The training of engineers must include these skills. To this end, he aims to create developmental opportunities for students, and actively support a number of undergraduate design teams, student projects, student competitions, and special research projects. He is a steadfast advocate of science and engineering literacy, and is also involved in a number of STEM outreach initiatives.
Learn more about Dr. Potvin here
Special Guest Host:
Jenna Usprech
Assistant Professor of Teaching, SBME
Dr. Usprech, PhD, PEng, is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the School of Biomedical Engineering. She received her PhD from the University of Toronto, her Master’s from Queen’s University (both in different areas of tissue engineering research), and her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering from the University of Guelph. Dr. Usprech joined UBC in 2019 so that she could introduce new areas of the field to undergraduate students and continue to be immersed in biomedical engineering education. She is particularly passionate about student wellness, science communication, and classroom strategies that promote critical thought and retention of material.
Learn more about Jenna here
Hosts:
MIGUEL EICHELBERGER
Communications & Engagement Manager, SBME
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
Learn more about Miguel here
UBC iGEM and Undergraduate Innovation.
Interdisciplinary scientific exploration.
Changing course through UBC iGEM.
We sat down with iGEM Executive Directors past and present, Emilia Chen and Janella Schwab, on all this and more in our latest episode.
Guests:
Emilia Chen
UBC iGEM 2021 Executive Director
Student, Microbiology & Immunology and Computer Science
Emilia Chen is a fifth year student studying Microbiology & Immunology and Computer Science. She is passionate about finding the intersection of computational and biological sciences. Synthetic biology has opened her eyes to the infinite possibilities we and the great power of multidisciplinary collaboration. She has been the Executive Director of the UBC iGEM team, and served as both software lead and a wet lab member. Her iGEM experience has truly transformed her undergraduate path, and she was thrilled to lead the team in creating something extraordinary together.
Janella Schwab
UBC iGEM 2022 Executive Director
Student, Honours in Applied Animal Biology
Janella Schwab is a fourth year honours student studying applied animal biology. She is itrigued by the parallels between the natural and human worlds and how synthetic biology can narrow that gap. Her curiosity in this field was harboured by having the opportunity to participate in iGEM during high school, after which she joined UBC iGEM in 2019. As the Director of UBC iGEM she hopes to inspire this admiration for biological systems in others, especially those outside the scientific community. In her spare time you can find her either climbing mountains or thinking about climbing mountains.
Learn more about UBC iGEM
Host:
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, School of Biomedical Engineering
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
Learn more about Miguel's work here
Getting science communication 80% right.
Concussion recovery and inspiring research.
The Olympics, doping, and human potential.
We sat down with Dr. E. Paul Zehr on all this and more in our latest episode.
Guest:
E. Paul Zehr
Author & International Science Communicator
Professor, University of Victoria
Affiliate Professor, UBC Department of Medicine
E. PAUL ZEHR, Ph.D., is a professor, author, and martial artist at the University of Victoria. He is passionate about the popularization of science using superheroes as foils for human achievement and ability. His recent pop-sci books include BECOMING BATMAN (2008), INVENTING IRON MAN (2011), PROJECT SUPERHERO (2014), and CHASING CAPTAIN AMERICA (2018).
His innovative work as head of the Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory focuses on the recovery of function after neurotrauma using integrated whole body movement.
At an early age martial arts got him into science and he continues his daily practice in Victoria where he also teaches karate and Ryukyu kobujutsu in the community.
Paul is a regular speaker at conferences and comic conventions including San-Diego International Comic Con and New York Comic Con and has presented to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on the science of superheroes. In addition to articles and interviews on exercise, science and superheroes in Flipside: The Science, Engineering, and Technology Magazine for Teenagers, Scientific American Online, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Maxim, Popular Mechanics, Discover and Maclean’s magazines, Zehr also blogs at Scientific American.
Zehr won the 2012 Craigdarroch Award for Research Communications at the University of Victoria and the 2015 Science Educator Award from the Society for Neuroscience. "Project Superhero" received the 2015 Silver Medal for Juvenile Fiction from the North American Independent Book Publishers.
Learn more about Paul's work
Host:
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, School of Biomedical Engineering
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
Learn more about Miguel's work here
Our renewed interest in science.
The state of scientific funding in Canada.
Supporting both applied and pure research.
We sat down with Dr. Alejandro Adem on all this and more in our latest episode.
Guest:
Alejandro Adem
President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Professor Alejandro Adem was appointed President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in October 2019.
As a highly accomplished researcher in the field of mathematics and a faculty member at the University of British Columbia, Professor Adem has significant leadership experience in the Canadian research and innovation ecosystem. Before joining NSERC, he was CEO and Scientific Director of Mitacs (2015–19) where he oversaw a significant expansion of its domestic and international internship programs, as well as launching the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowships, an Indigenous engagement initiative and an innovative entrepreneurship program. Prior to that, he served as Director (2008–2015) of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences , a research and training consortium supporting the mathematical sciences across Western Canada. From 1989 to 2004 he was a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA).
Professor Adem is currently the Chair of the Canada Research Coordinating Committee and Vice-Chair of the Governing Board of the Global Research Council. Over his career he has served on a variety of scientific, editorial and governance boards for the worldwide mathematical sciences community, and is a member of the International Mathematical Union's Committee for Women in Mathematics.
Alejandro Adem is a Canadian citizen who was born and raised in Mexico City, and is a proud member of the Latin American community in Canada. He is married and has two grown children.
Learn more about Alejandro here
Host:
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, School of Biomedical Engineering
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
Learn more about Miguel's work here
Connecting Climate Change to our gut.
Doing better in the EDI space.
Did we learn from the pandemic?
We caught up with Dr. Carolina Tropini on all this and more in our latest episode.
Guest:
Carolina Tropini
Assistant Professor, SBME & Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology
Dr. Tropini’s interests lie at the nexus of medicine, microbial biophysics, and engineering. Working in the field of the gut microbiota, she is applying novel tools to longstanding questions regarding the stability of microbial communities and their response to perturbations during disease. By combining imaging, microfluidics and computational techniques to animal studies, she is building a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of the complex interactions between microbes and their hosts. Dr. Tropini is also keenly interested in teaching and outreach, particularly with the goal of building a common language between physicists and engineers, biologists and clinicians.
Learn more about Carolina here
Host:
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, School of Biomedical Engineering
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
Learn more about Miguel's work here
In this special episode, Miguel Eichelberger chats with Payam Zahedi, former host and Strategic Planning and Operations Director for the school as he looks back over his time with SBME, and says farewell.
Guest:
Payam Zahedi
Former Strategic Planning & Operations Director, SBME
Current Director, Office of the Vice Principal, Research, UTM
Payam is a born problem solver and dot connector who believes that real impact only occurs when everyone is given the means to chase it. He's the Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at UBC's School of Biomedical Engineering and holds a BASc in Biomedical Engineering and an MSc and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, from the University of Toronto. He believes we are better together and is an advocate for equity and inclusivity. In his spare time, when he's not chasing his two sons around, he's experimenting in the kitchen, reading crime fiction and untangling the mechanisms of effective leadership.
Learn more about Payam here:
Host:
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, School of Biomedical Engineering
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
We chat with Dr. Ubaka Ogbogu, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, and the Katz Research Fellow in Health Law and Science Policy, at the University of Alberta, Recipient of the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations Distinguished Academic Early Career Award and a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellow (2020).
We discuss the national and international biotechnology policy process, how Biomedical Engineering fits in the Canadian economic landscape over the next five years, and our biggest challenges moving forward.
All episodes available to watch on our YouTube Channel
Guest:
Ubaka Ogbogu
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, UofA
Katz Research Fellow in Health Law and Science Policy, UofA
Ubaka Ogbogu is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law and the Katz Research Fellow in Health Law and Science Policy, at the University of Alberta. Dr. Ogbogu is a recipient of the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations Distinguished Academic Early Career Award. He holds a doctorate in law from the University of Toronto, a Master of Laws degree from the University of Alberta and undergraduate degrees in law from the University of Benin, Nigeria and the Nigerian Law School. Ogbogu’s scholarly work is focused broadly on the ethical, legal and societal implications of novel and emerging biotechnologies and associated research. His publications have explored a diverse range of issues in this field, including the ethical and legal issues associated with stem cell research, gene and engineered cell therapies, biobanks, germline gene editing and assisted reproductive technologies.
He has led or been involved in many prominent national and international biotechnology policymaking activities and writes and comments frequently in the popular press on matters relating to the impacts of biotechnology and science on society. Ogbogu has served as the Chair of the University of Alberta’s Research Ethics Board No. 2 and as a member of numerous boards and councils, including the Health Quality Council of Alberta, Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on Somatic Gene and Engineered Cell Therapies, the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on Medical Assistance in Dying, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Stem Cell Oversight Committee, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Governing Council’s Standing Committee on Ethics, and the International Society for Stem Cell Research Task Force on Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation.
Learn more about Ubaka here
Hosts:
Dr. Payam Zahedi
Strategic Planning & Operations Director, UBC School of Biomedical Engineering
Payam is a born problem solver and dot connector who believes that real impact only occurs when everyone is given the means to chase it. He's the Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at UBC's School of Biomedical Engineering and holds a BASc in Biomedical Engineering and an MSc and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, from the University of Toronto. He believes we are better together and is an advocate for equity and inclusivity. In his spare time, when he's not chasing his two sons around, he's experimenting in the kitchen, reading crime fiction and untangling the mechanisms of effective leadership.
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, UBC School of Biomedical Engineering
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you ac
We chat with Karen Cheung, Associate Director and Professor at SBME (as well the Graduate Program Director), on the school, the SBME graduate program, chatting with the Prime Minister, advocating for women in STEM, and much more.
All episodes available to watch on our YouTube Channel
Guest:
Karen Cheung
Associate Director and Professor, SBME
Graduate Program Director, SBME
Karen C. Cheung is a Bioengineering Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as an Associate Director and Professor in the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering. Cheung received her BSc and PhD degrees in Bioengineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1998 and 2002, respectively. From 2002–2005, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland. Her research interests include lab-on-a-chip systems for cell culture and characterization, inkjet printing for tissue engineering, and implantable neural interfaces.
Learn more about Karen here
Hosts:
Dr. Payam Zahedi
Strategic Planning & Operations Director, UBC School of Biomedical Engineering
Payam is a born problem solver and dot connector who believes that real impact only occurs when everyone is given the means to chase it. He's the Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at UBC's School of Biomedical Engineering and holds a BASc in Biomedical Engineering and an MSc and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, from the University of Toronto. He believes we are better together and is an advocate for equity and inclusivity. In his spare time, when he's not chasing his two sons around, he's experimenting in the kitchen, reading crime fiction and untangling the mechanisms of effective leadership.
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, UBC School of Biomedical Engineering
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
We chat with Murali Chandrashekaran, Vice Provost International and Fred H. Siller Professor of Marketing and Behavioural Science at Sauder School of Business, on UBC, the role of Universities in building a more just and prosperous world, changing the way we teach and learn, and on SBME creating its very own "Learning Cauldron."
All episodes available to watch on our YouTube Channel
Guest:
Murali Chandrashekaran
Vice Provost International & Fred H. Siller Professor
UBC Sauder School of Business
Dr. Murali Chandrashekaran is UBC’s first Vice-Provost, International. Born in Bangalore, India, Dr. Chandrashekaran is no stranger to the international scene. He has lived on three continents, and has travelled widely across Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. He came to UBC in 2011, joining the Sauder School of Business as Director of the Robert H. Lee Graduate School and as Associate Dean, Professional Graduate Programs, and then started his role as Vice Provost, International in September 2017.
With a focus on deepening UBC’s engagement on issues of global relevance, he and his team manage more than 500 active institutional partnership agreements with universities and research institutions in more than 65 countries.
Learn more about Murali here
Hosts:
Dr. Payam Zahedi
Strategic Planning & Operations Director, UBC School of Biomedical Engineering
Payam is a born problem solver and dot connector who believes that real impact only occurs when everyone is given the means to chase it. He's the Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at UBC's School of Biomedical Engineering and holds a BASc in Biomedical Engineering and an MSc and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, from the University of Toronto. He believes we are better together and is an advocate for equity and inclusivity. In his spare time, when he's not chasing his two sons around, he's experimenting in the kitchen, reading crime fiction and untangling the mechanisms of effective leadership.
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, UBC School of Biomedical Engineering
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
On this episode recorded at the end of May 2021, we caught up with SBME Grad Students Maryam Tayyab and Emily Bliven on the Graduate experience at SBME, the role of student leadership, the SBME Graduate Association, and more.
All episodes available on to watch on YouTube
Guests:
Maryam Tayyab
MASc Student, Tam Lab, SBME
Maryam is a Master's student at the School of biomedical engineering, president of BMEGA and co-chair of BMEGA REDI subcommittee. Her research is on developing machine learning methods to predict clinical outcomes in populations with neurological disorders like Multiple Sclerosis. Maryam is a strong advocate of respect, equity, inclusion and diversity in the workplace and graduate school. In her free time, she loves to hike, hit the beaches and explore Vancouver every chance she can get.
Learn more about Maryam
Emily Bliven
PhD Student, Cripton Lab, SBME
Emily hails from the island of Alameda, California and studied Mechanical Engineering (B.Sc.) and Biomedical Engineering (M.Eng.) at the University of Portland in Oregon. She worked in industry researching fracture fixation plates, WaveCel helmet technology, and at a German biomechanics laboratory before moving to British Columbia. Her work at UBC concerns strengthening the femur with an orthopaedic implant to prevent fracture.
Learn more about Emily here
Hosts:
PAYAM ZAHEDI
Strategic Planning & Operations Director, SBME
Payam is a born problem solver and dot connector who believes that real impact only occurs when everyone is given the means to chase it. He's the Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at UBC's School of Biomedical Engineering and holds a BASc in Biomedical Engineering and an MSc and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, from the University of Toronto. He believes we are better together and is an advocate for equity and inclusivity. In his spare time, when he's not chasing his two sons around, he's experimenting in the kitchen, reading crime fiction and untangling the mechanisms of effective leadership.
MIGUEL EICHELBERGER
Communications & Engagement Manager, SBME
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
The podcast currently has 32 episodes available.