Past Events
Wall Catalyst Program | Jan 19, 2023
The Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies and the UBC Emeritus College have assembled a cohort of Emeriti to participate in the 2022-23 PWIAS Catalyst Program.
The Wall Catalyst Emeriti cohort will meet monthly to share research experience and engage with guest lecturers on the topic of the "Climate and Nature Emergency".
For more information on this program and the list of participating Emeriti click here.
Members of the Emeritus College are invited to attend speaker lectures throughout the year.
Future Energy: How climate change, sustainability, and geopolitical stability is transforming the path forward
David Wilkinson
Professor of Biological and Chemical Engineering, UBC, working on the details of decarbonization, energy conversion and storage, and advanced sustainable solutions for energy and water use.
Future Energy: How climate change, sustainability, and geopolitical stability is transforming the path forward
ABSTRACT
Energy is one of the most important challenges facing humanity today, forming a nexus with the environment, food, water, health, and global security and prosperity. Since the late 1700s and the start of the industrial revolution our dependence on fossil fuels has grown and resulted in significant climate change and global instability. Electrification of the energy system (targeting over 50% by 2050) and phasing out of fossil fuel use are cornerstones of the energy path forward. The use of batteries, fuel cells, biofuels and hydrogen, are critical to the success of this plan. The transition away from oil and gas is key but carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS), and timing are important in the near-term to meet energy and climate change requirements, and for geopolitical stability. This talk will discuss the clean energy plan and transition based on the Net Zero 2050 Roadmap by the International Energy Agency (IEA), and others, some related research at UBC, and some of the potential issues we face in this massive undertaking.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
David P. Wilkinson is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC. His research is focused on electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering, particularly with respect to materials, processes, and devices to create clean and sustainable energy and water. Prior to joining UBC he had over 20 years of industrial leadership positions in the areas of fuel cells, hydrogen and advanced lithium batteries. He has over 82 issued US patents and over 235 refereed journal articles, a co-authored book, and a number of book chapters and edited books. Dr. Wilkinson is also the cofounder of the company Mangrove Lithium focused on water treatment and processing of lithium for batteries. He has received a number of awards from various academic, scientific and industrial organizations, including the Order of Canada.
FORMAT: In-person and on Zoom
Co-sponsors
Emeritus College and Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies
Thursday, 19 January 2023 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
SPEC Elders Circle | Jan 19, 2023
Crossing Bridges - Youth Talk to Elders
This is an opportunity to hear from a diverse group of exceptional young people who are eager to meet with and talk to elders about their values, hopes and concerns for the future, and how elders can support youth in bettering the world. We are recruiting elders who feel similarly interested and eager to listen to and share with young people.
This panel is a pilot module of the course Legacy-making for Organizational Guiding Elders, which is designed to encourage and equip elders to bring an expanded set of skills and knowledge to their volunteer experience.
Click for Registration on Eventbrite
Thursday, 19 January 2023 - 10:00am
Poetic Odysseys Group - January 17, 2023
The group welcomes members who write or enjoy poetry. Those interested in attending can contact convenor Philip Resnick, philip.resnick@ubc.ca for details on how to attend and to be added to the Poetry Group list.
Learn more about the group and their activities
Tuesday, 17 January 2023 - 2:00pm
Photo Group January 13, 2023
Theme: "Cold"
Format: Zoom
The theme for this regular meeting is “Cold” As always, you can send photos on other themes, and the photos can be recent (preferred!) or from your catalog.
Please send two photos to Richard Spencer at richard@rhspencer.ca on this theme (or your choice) before the meeting.
If you would like to join, please contact Richard Spencer at richard@rhspencer.ca for Zoom details
Friday, 13 January 2023 - 3:00pm
Co-housing Women's Group January 12, 2023
Baba Yaga House and other models for living for women retirees
Guest Speaker: Ruth Walmsley is an original member of Cranberry Commons Cohousing Community in North Burnaby.
From 1998-2001, Ruth and her husband Tim were involved in the process of developing and building the community prior to move-in in 2001. Ruth is now an empty nester, as her two children who were 4 and 7 years old at move-in, are now 25 and 28. Her son Shaun still lives in the community, where he rents an apartment with his girlfriend. Ruth’s mother Barbara, now in her 90’s, is also an original member, and still lives independently in her own apartment. Ruth will speak from her experience about the development of Cranberry Commons, and how we are set up with regards to governance and self-management of everything including maintenance, legal-finance, community building, landscaping etc.
Join the Co-housing Women's Group mailing list: Please email sneja.gunew@ubc.ca and express your interest.
Meeting Format: Zoom. Group members will receive the Zoom links in advance of all meetings.
Thursday, 12 January 2023 - 4:00pm
Co-housing Women's Group December 8, 2022
Baba Yaga House and other models for living for women retirees
The recent crises in long term care as a result of the Pandemic have emphasized the need for coming up with new models for aging demographics. It remains a well-documented fact that women generally have fewer access to resources than men when it comes to this stage of their lives. The group is intended to comprise those who wish to delve further into the possibilities for self-governing models of group living that combine independent spaces with communal ones (co-housing, coop housing etc.). The Baba Yaga model set up in France has inspired people across the world: https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20130305-babayagas-house
We will share experts and expertise (including inspiring writers, artists and film directors) that exist in the field to see what is possible. It is anticipated that pooling our knowledge will provide a range of realistic models for the future and may even have direct practical outcomes. While the call to participate is initially directed at women only we will decide at the first meeting whether to stay with this model.
Guest Speaker: Catherine Kingfisher, Professor Emerita of Anthropology at the University of Lethbridge. Author of Collaborative Happiness, Building the Good Life in Urban Cohousing Communities.
Join the Co-housing Women's Group mailing list: Please email sneja.gunew@ubc.ca and express your interest.
Meeting Format: Zoom. Group members will receive the Zoom links in advance of all meetings.
Thursday, 8 December 2022 - 4:00pm