Events List for the Academic Year
Event Time:
Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Event Location:
HENNINGS building
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2025-03-01T08:30:00
2025-03-01T16:30:00
47th Physics Olympics
Event Information:
Welcome to the Physics Olympics!
We welcome you, high school students and teachers!
The Physics Olympics High School competition is one of the largest physics events in Canada.
This annual competition, hosted by the Department of Physics & Astronomy Outreach and the UBC Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, invites hundreds of high school students and their teachers from across British Columbia to compete in six physics & astronomy events. The high school team with the highest overall score receives a trophy for their school, as well as other awards. Up to five students from a team can participate in any given event, and different students from a team can participate in different events. As such, teams may have between 1 and 30 students.
Events include: two pre-build projects, two labs, one Fermi questions event and Quizzics!: a game-show style physics question event.
More details will be posted soon on our website: Welcome to UBC Physics Olympics Website | UBC Physics Olympics
Event Location:
HENNINGS building
Event Time:
Thursday, December 12, 2024 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 201
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2024-12-12T16:00:00
2024-12-12T17:00:00
Special Colloquium: The NANOGrav Experiment: Current Results and Future Directions
Event Information:
Abstract:
Galaxy mergers are a standard aspect of galaxy formation and evolution, and most large galaxies contain supermassive black holes. As part of the merging process, the supermassive black holes should in-spiral together and eventually merge, generating a background of gravitational radiation in the nanohertz to microhertz regime. An array of precisely timed pulsars spread across the sky can form a galactic-scale gravitational wave detector in the nanohertz band. I describe the current efforts to develop and extend the pulsar timing array concept, together with recent evidence for a gravitational wave background, and efforts to constrain astrophysical phenomena at the heart of supermassive black hole mergers.
Bio:
Dr. Chiara Mingarelli is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Yale University and a prominent researcher in the field of gravitational wave astrophysics. Her work focuses on using pulsar timing arrays to detect nanohertz-frequency gravitational waves, particularly those generated by supermassive black hole binaries. She has held key leadership roles, including serving on NASA's Physics of the Cosmos Executive Committee and co-chairing the Gravitational Wave Science Interest Group. Dr. Mingarelli is also a Full Member of the NANOGrav collaboration, contributing to the discovery of the gravitational wave background. An advocate for diversity in science, she previously served as the Ada Lovelace Director of Diversity at the Flatiron Institute. Dr. Mingarelli has been widely recognized for her contributions, with over 100 refereed papers with 16,000 citations, and numerous grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Learn More:
See Chiara's personal website here: https://www.chiaramingarelli.com/
Read her guest blog for Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/guest-blog/searching-for-the-gravitational-waves-ligo-can-t-hear/
View her Yale faculty page: https://astronomy.yale.edu/people/chiara-mingarelli
Watch her videos:
Frontiers of pulsar timing array experiments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDdxcS0HeeU
Unlocking the Universe: Chiara Mingarelli on Pulsar Timing Arrays & Gravitational Waves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn--gIGKmJw
79 - NanoGRAV's Big Gravitational Wave Discovery (Ft. Chiara Mingarelli) | Why This Universe Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__otsacCqhY
Links:
NANOGrav Collaboration: https://nanograv.org/collaboration/overview
Pulsar Timing Array Group: https://perimeterinstitute.ca/news/international-group-pulsar-timing-arrays-announce-gravitational-wave-detection
What are gravitational waves? https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/what-are-gw
Flatiron Institute: https://flatironschool.com/blog/flatiron-school-relaunches-lovelace-and-ford-fellowships/
NASA's Physics of the Cosmos group: https://pcos.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Event Location:
HENN 201
Event Time:
Sunday, December 8, 2024 | 1:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Event Location:
HEBB 100
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2024-12-08T13:15:00
2024-12-08T15:00:00
2024 Faraday Show
Event Information:
We are thrilled to announce that our annual Faraday Show will be held on Sunday December 8th, in-person, on the UBC-Vancouver campus in HEBB 100.
The Faraday Show is UBC’s annual science lecture, designed for children and all those who are ‘young at heart’. It is presented by UBC Physics & Astronomy students, faculty and staff.
This year’s theme is: "Physics in your House!". We will answer questions such as, How does the best fire alarm work? Where does static electricity come from? Why do your windows mist up in the winter? All these and more will be answered through fun demonstrations and hands-on activities!
Show schedule:
Pre-Show (table top demonstrations): 1:15PM – 1:55PM
Stage Show (stage presentations): 2:00PM – 3:00PM
This show is FREE! We ask that you please bring non-perishable food items to support Greater Vancouver Food Bank member, The Kettle Society. No RSVP required, although we recommend arriving 15-20 minutes earlier for good seats.
*Planning Tip:
Plan a day on campus! Mention “Faraday Show” and get 50% off admission at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum on Sunday December 8th, between 10am-5pm!
Event Location:
HEBB 100
Event Time:
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2024-12-03T16:00:00
2024-12-03T17:00:00
Entanglement Bootstrap, a perspective on quantum field theory
Event Information:
Welcome to the third talk in our new Pioneers in Theoretical Physics Colloqium Series.
On December 3rd, we present Dr. John McGreevy, professor of physics at UC San Diego.
Abstract:
I will introduce the Entanglement Bootstrap, a program to extract and understand the universal information characterizing a phase of matter starting from the entanglement structure of a piece of a single representative state. This universal information is usually packaged in the form of a quantum field theory; the program therefore provides a surprising new perspective on quantum field theory. I will discuss what we can learn about gapped topological phases and their associated topological field theories, and about quantum critical points in 1+1 dimensions and their associated conformal field theories.
Bio:
Professor McGreevy is a theoretical physicist with interests in quantum matter, string theory, and quantum field theory. His current research centers on the study and application of quantum field theory, both in condensed matter physics and in high energy physics.
Learn More:
See his personal webpage here: mcgreevy (ucsd.edu)
View his faculty profile at UC San Diego here: UC San Diego | Faculty Profile (ucsd.edu)
For more on what is Quantum Field Theory, see this Quantum Field Theory summary, from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Thursday, November 28, 2024 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Location:
BRIM 311
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2024-11-28T10:00:00
2024-11-28T11:00:00
Measurement induced criticality in monitored quantum systems
Event Information:
Abstract: A novel aspect of recent experiments with quantum devices is that measurements can play an active role in preparing the state of the system, not just in diagnosing it. Unlike unitary evolution, the quantum collapse induced by local measurements can have a highly non-local impact on entangled quantum states, instantaneously destroying or creating new long distance correlations. I will review the surprising collective effects that can arise, such as measurement induced phase transitions and new entanglement structures. There is, however, a fundamental challenge to observing post-measurement correlations, conditioned on the outcome of many-measurements with exponentially small Born probability of recurring. I will discuss how to resolve this post-selection problem by cross-correlating experimental data with results of an approximate classical model. This allows us to reframe the measurement induced transition as a transition in the ability of a classical intelligent agent to learn the quantum state.
Event Location:
BRIM 311
Event Time:
Thursday, November 28, 2024 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2024-11-28T09:00:00
2024-11-28T12:00:00
Exotic Decay Measurements at the Experimental Storage Ring for Neutron Capture Processes
Event Information:
Abstract:
The slow (s) and rapid (r) neutron capture processes are responsible for producing almost all elements heavier than iron. Both processes require a lot of nuclear data to make more reliable predictions, and heavy-ion storage rings provide unique methods for measuring nuclear masses and exotic decay modes that can play an important role in these processes. A prime example is bound-state β− decay, where the β-electron is produced in a bound state of the decaying nuclei. This decay mode for highly-charged ions can currently only be measured at the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR) at the GSI Helmholtz Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.
This thesis describes the analysis of the bound-state β− decay of 205Tl81+ at the ESR. 205Tl is a particularly interesting isotope due to its applications in solar neutrino spectrometry and for dating the early Solar System. A bound β-decay half-life of 291(+33,−27) days was measured, which is much longer than previously predicted. The experimental half-life determines the nuclear matrix element of this transition, which allows for the calculation of accurate astrophysical decay rates of 205Tl and 205Pb in the stellar plasma. This enables models of the s process in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars to provide accurate 205Pb yields, which are essential for using 205Pb as a cosmochronometer to date processes in the early Solar System, like the time required for the solar material to isolate from its parent molecular cloud. This thesis presents a preliminary determination of the isolation time of the Solar System using 205Pb.
In complement, a heavy-ion detector called PLEIADES was constructed and commissioned at the ESR, which will be used to detect decay products leaving the storage ring acceptance. PLEIADES is a δE–E telescope that uses silicon pads to measure energy loss and a scintillator stopper to measure the total ion energy. It was commissioned with a 208Pb beam at the ESR, and achieved a FWHM resolution of δZ = 0.66 and δA = 1.14.
PLEIADES and its predecessor CsISiPHOS will be used as multi-purpose detectors for future measurements in the ESR.
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2024-11-27T10:00:00
2024-11-27T11:00:00
Searching for continuous gravitational waves from unknown neutron stars in binary systems
Event Information:
Abstract:
Unknown neutron stars in binary systems might be one of the best sources of continuous gravitational waves (yet to be detected), due to their millisecond rotation rates and the accretion from their companion that can source the required asymmetry. However, searching for these signals poses significant computational challenges due to the extensive number of unknown parameters and the substantial amount of data required to achieve detectable signal-to-noise ratios. In this talk I will review the different search results up to date and discuss recent advancements in data analysis techniques that improve the efficiency and sensitivity of these searches.
Learn More:
Article: More computing power to search for continuous gravitational waves, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
Dr. Pep Blai Covas Vidal's contact page: Dr. Pep Blai Covas Vidal (mpg.de) and CV.
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2024-11-26T10:00:00
2024-11-26T11:00:00
Long-duration transient gravitational waves from newborn neutron stars and glitching pulsars
Event Information:
Abstract:
All gravitational waves detected so far have been seconds-scale transients from compact binary coalescences. At the other extreme, a long-standing science target of ground-based interferometric detectors are years-long continuous waves from spinning, deformed neutron stars. Between these regimes, a rich variety of long-duration transient signals could be within the reach of LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA or future detectors. The richest zoo of such signals is again provided by neutron stars, promising rich multi-messenger studies that probe both the overall structure and the dynamics of these extremely dense objects. This seminar will cover the physics and detection methods for the two most promising scenarios: (1) highly deformed neutron stars just after theirbirth in core-collapse supernovae or binary mergers, and (2) emission triggered by pulsar glitches, the enigmatic spin-up events observed in the radio, X-ray and gamma-ray bands.
Bio:
David Keitel, as a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) since 2011 and the GRAVITY group at UIB since 2020, focuses his research on gravitational waves (GWs) from neutron stars and black holes. His work covers large-scale data analysis and the modelling and interpretation of astrophysical GW sources. DK studied physics and astronomy in Bonn, Germany with a semester at Stony Brook, NY and graduated with a diploma thesis (master's equivalent) on statistical methods for weak gravitational lensing in 2010. He obtained his doctorate from Leibniz University Hannover, Germany in 2014 for work at the Albert Einstein Institute (AEI) on searches for continuous waves (CWs) from spinning neutron stars and a concept for space-based GW detection.
Learn More:
Read Dr. Keitel's faculty page from the Universitat de les Illes Balears: Dr David Benjamin Keitel - Personnel file - UIB - Universitat de les Illes Balears
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Friday, November 22, 2024 | 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2024-11-22T19:00:00
2024-11-22T20:00:00
Star Party!
Event Information:
Star Party, hosted by the UBC Astronomy Club, will be showcasing several of the UBC Astronomy Club's telescopes to an audience of undergraduates, graduates, and faculty members of the physics and astronomy department interested in astronomy. It will feature the live operation of Thunderbird South, UBC's Southern Observatory, configured and maintained by UBC professors Aaron Boley and Paul Hickson.
Pizza will be served to all in attendance!
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Friday, November 22, 2024 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Event Location:
BRIM 311
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2024-11-22T15:00:00
2024-11-22T16:00:00
Symmetry-Protected Topological phases and Duality
Event Information:
Symmetry-Protected Topological (SPT) phases are, as the name suggests, topological phases without any conventional local order parameter, but distinct from the trivial phase only in the presence of a certain symmetry. The concept was first proposed by Gu and Wen in 2009 as a generalization of topological insulators discovered earlier. However, the prototypical example of the SPT phases, the Haldane gap phase in odd-integer spin chains, was discovered much earlier in the 1980s. Thanks to the pivotal construction of the Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) state, numerous "topological" properties of the Haldane gap phase were identified by the 1990s. In particular, a non-local transformation introduced by Kennedy and Tasaki maps the Haldane gap phase and a conventional Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking (SSB) phase. The duality picture could have naturally led to the concept of the SPT phases. In this talk, I will review the concept of SPT phases from the duality point of view, and its historical developments. I will also discuss the recent resurgence of the duality approach, with applications including a systematic construction of SPT phases including a novel variety of “gapless SPT phases”.
Event Location:
BRIM 311
Event Time:
Thursday, November 21, 2024 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 201
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2024-11-21T16:00:00
2024-11-21T17:00:00
Biophysical models of cell motion in confined geometries - from single-cell to collective dynamics
Event Information:
Abstract:
Living cells move and change shape through forces created by a network of proteins inside them called the cytoskeleton. Scientists use biophysical models to study how this internal system makes cells move. A major challenge is understanding how the behavior of individual cells connects to the collective movement of many cells. In this study, we look at how single cells move along narrow tracks and in circular patterns using time-lapse imaging. These artificial patterns help control where the cells move and allow us to track many cells at once. We present models that explain how cells move, how their shapes change over time, and how they transition between different movement behaviors. Our findings show that mechanical models can explain universal patterns observed across different types of cells, such as the relationship between how strongly cells stick to surfaces and how fast they move. We also discuss how standardized tests can help measure cell movement and how simulations can improve our understanding of cell migration behaviors.
Bio:
Dr. Sabrina Leslie PHAS faculty and Director of the Leslie Labs is pleased to host an expert in single-cell imaging, Dr. Joachim Rädler from Munich, for this MSL Seminar Series and PHAS Colloquium. Joachim is a world-recognized physicist, with an h-index of 67, who has advanced single-cell imaging and connects with biology and genomics. He's uniquely at a crossover between physics and biology, as well as stem cell therapeutics.
Learn More:
See Dr. Rädler's faculty contact page from LMU: https://www.physik.lmu.de/softmatter/en/people/contact-page/joachim-raedler-cd971327.html
What is soft matter physics? https://www.physik.lmu.de/softmatter/en/
Event Location:
HENN 201
Event Time:
Thursday, November 21, 2024 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Location:
BRIM 311
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2024-11-21T10:00:00
2024-11-21T11:00:00
Topological qubits from fractional quantum spin Hall states
Event Information:
The recent experiments have shown evidence for a fractional quantum spin Hall (FQSH) state in twisted MoTe2 bilayers. In this talk I will review these experiments, survey some theoretical scenarios for candidate abelian and non-abelian FQSH orders. I will also describe a possible route towards building a topological quantum memory by interfacing FQSH states with superconductors, and propose an all-electrical scheme to detect their topological ground-space degeneracy.
Event Location:
BRIM 311
Event Time:
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2024-11-20T12:00:00
2024-11-20T13:30:00
USRA Application Workshop
Event Information:
Have questions about how to apply to Undergraduate Summer Research Awards (USRA)? Need some help navigating all the steps required for USRA (SURE, NSERC, WLIURA) and other non-USRA research opportunities?
Come hear our panel of PHAS undergrads relate their research experiences and tips for applying. All are welcome! Snacks will be available.
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Event Location:
Zoom
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2024-11-19T19:00:00
2024-11-19T20:00:00
AI and Your Child’s Future: Smart Strategies for Academic Success
Event Information:
Discover how AI can support your child’s education! This interactive workshop is designed for parents of middle and high school students to explore how AI tools can enhance learning, provide personalized support, and simplify homework. Learn practical strategies to guide your child’s responsible and effective use of AI while fostering their academic success. Join us to empower your family with the skills to thrive in the digital age!
Time and date: Tuesday, November 19, 7pm on zoom
Register here to receive your Zoom link
Learn More:
Follow Marina's blog" Thoughts on Science & Math Education' here
Event Location:
Zoom
Event Time:
Monday, November 18, 2024 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
HENN 304
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2024-11-18T16:00:00
2024-11-18T17:00:00
Astronomy Jamboree!
Event Information:
Today's Astronomy Jamboree is a social to meet our new graduate students in Astronomy!
Join us as we mingle, network and share research ideas with this 2024 cohort.
Event Location:
HENN 304
Event Time:
Monday, November 18, 2024 | 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Event Location:
HENN 204
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2024-11-18T14:30:00
2024-11-18T15:30:00
PHAS Monday Tea
Event Information:
Welcome to Monday Tea!
This week we are celebrating the International Day of LGBTQ+ in STEM! Join us for some rainbow snacks and celebrations!
This is a weekly event for students, staff and faculty to meet new-to-you colleagues, catch up with your community and to learn about what's happening in the PHAS Department.
Meet your hosts in the EDI Community Building Working Group:
Jess McIver
Adele Ruosi
Megan Bingham
Evan Goetz
Mona Berciu
Howard Li
Mandana Amiri
See you there!
*Due to renovations, we are in HENN 204 today!
Event Location:
HENN 204
Event Time:
Monday, November 18, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Event Location:
HENN 318
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2024-11-18T12:00:00
2024-11-18T13:30:00
An Introduction to Careers in Geophysics
Event Information:
Hey students! Did you know that geophysics careers include more than working the Oil & Gas industries? Join us with UBC Phd student Devin Cowan, who will present on a variety of lesser-known careers for physics students in the Geophysics spectrum. From data and computational sciences to climate change, physics students are in demand for their mathematics, problem-solving and technical skill-sets.
Presentation:
While physicists develop governing equations for understanding matter, energy and their interactions, geophysicists apply these governing equations to image planetary structure and understand geological processes. Some well-known applications include: earthquakes, glaciers, plate-tectonics and mineral exploration. Despite having its roots in Earth science, geophysics requires a strong background in physics, engineering and/or applied math. Unfortunately, many undergraduate physics, engineering and applied math students are never exposed to geophysics and will never consider it as a career. This presentation aims to provide a high-level overview of geophysics. By the end of the presentation, we hope the audience will gain a fundamental understanding of geophysics, the problems geophysicists solve, how geophysicists solve these problems, and the range of careers available.
Bio:
Devin Cowan is a computational geophysicist at the University of British Columbia Geophysical Inversion Facility (UBC-GIF). Devin obtained a BSc. in physics and Earth sciences from the University of Victoria in 2012. He then spent some time working in industry before joining the UBC-GIF group and obtaining an MSc. in geophysics in 2016. Following his Master's, Devin remained with the UBC-GIF group as a research scientist where he had the opportunity to lecture undergraduate geophysics courses, participate in geosciences without boarders projects, collaborate with industry professionals, write geophysics software and perform scientific research. In 2024, Devin enrolled as a PhD student to complete his scholastic journey. Devin's research is focused on the inversion of airborne natural source electromagnetic and time-domain electromagnetic data to recover geologically representative distributions of subsurface conductivity. Devin is also heavily involved in the development of SimPEG; an open-source Python-based package for forward simulation and inversion of geophysical data.
Learn More:
View Devin's LinkedIn here: Devin Cowan - PHD Student - University of British Columbia - Geophysical Inversion Facility | LinkedIn
Find out more about the UBC Geophysics Inversion Facility: About Us | UBC Geophysical Inversion Facility
Read up on Geophysics: Geophysics | UBC Science and UBC's Geophysics Research & Partnerships: Research and Partnerships | UBC Science
Event Location:
HENN 318
Event Time:
Thursday, November 14, 2024 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
LIFE Building Room 2201
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2024-11-14T16:00:00
2024-11-14T17:00:00
Meet CSA Astronaut Jenni Gibbons
Event Information:
Save the Date for a unique presentation by Canadian Space Agency Astronaut, Jenni Gibbons, coming to speak at UBC on Thursday November 14th, from 4-5pm.
This event, hosted by the Canadian Space Agency and our Department, will explore Jenni’s background education as a mechanical engineer and training as the backup crewmember for CSA Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the NASA Artemis missions, astronaut training and more.
Bring your questions and curiosity to this very special public talk and Q&A session!
Date: Thursday, November 14th, from 4pm-5pm
Location: LIFE building Room 2201
Contact: communications@phas.ubc.ca
Event Location:
LIFE Building Room 2201
Event Time:
Thursday, November 7, 2024 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Location:
xʷθəθiqətəm (the Place of Many Trees) at the Liu Institute for Global Issues (6476 NW Marine Drive)
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2024-11-07T16:00:00
2024-11-07T17:00:00
PHAS EDI Town Hall
Event Information:
Please save the date to join the UBC Physics and Astronomy EDI committee for an EDI town hall meeting in place of our usual dept colloquium slot on November 7th.
When: Thursday November 7th at 4:00 pm (as this week's dept colloquium)
Where: xʷθəθiqətəm (the Place of Many Trees) at Liu Institute for Global Issues (6476 NW Marine Drive)
Details: We will hear a short overview of the Physics and Astronomy EDI committee's new strategic plan for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion based on feedback from our last EDI town hall meeting. Please bring your ideas: together we will brainstorm how we can further transform the department's initiatives to build community, offer better support structures, and provide professional development opportunities to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Please keep an eye out for a registration link (to help us order snacks and coffee) and an open call for asynchronous feedback - coming soon!
Event Location:
xʷθəθiqətəm (the Place of Many Trees) at the Liu Institute for Global Issues (6476 NW Marine Drive)
Event Time:
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 | 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Event Location:
HENN 201
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2024-11-06T17:30:00
2024-11-06T20:30:00
PHAS Career Night
Event Information:
PHAS undergrads, come meet our PHAS Alumni panel to get some good stories, tips, tricks and recommendations on carving out a career path with a Physics, or Astronomy degree in Canada and abroad.
Panelists, faculty and staff will be available after the presentations for questions and networking!
Event Location:
HENN 201