Announcement Archive

We are saddened to announce that Professor Emeritus Barrie Morrison passed away last week on North Pender Island.  One of the earliest faculty members of the Department of Asian Studies, Professor Morrison played an important role in the establishment of the Institute of Asian Research in 1978 and was the first Director of the Institute of Asian Research and Slavonic Studies (the precursor of IAR). Both before and after his retirement, Professor Morrison was an active faculty associate and Honorary Professor at IAR, serving on the Management Committee of the Centre for India and South Asia Research, and conducting a SSHRC research project on Sri Lanka and Kerala, India. He also initiated a weekly seminar series at IAR on South Asia in the global context and conducted it for many years. In remembrance of Professor Morrison's contributions to South Asian Studies and to the stimulating part he played in nurturing IAR, the Centre for India and South Asia Research plans to organize a seminar on his work in September 2013. 

For tributes shared by colleagues, please visit the Department of Asian Studies.

We are pleased to announce the 3 year appointment of Professor Brian Job as Associate Director at IAR. His appointment will begin on May 15, 2013. As part of his appointment he will also be joining the IAR Executive Committee as well as co-directing the IAR Fellows Program.  Professor Job is a professor in the Department of Political Science and one of Canada's foremost specialist in international relations. A large part of his work and teaching has been devoted to international relations in the Asia-Pacific region and Canada-Asia relations. Professor Job is the former director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues and of the Centre for International Relations. 

A group of MAAPPS students together with students from the Master of Public Health have been collaborating on an Asia Pacific Policy Project that aims to increase breastfeeding rates in China all term. For more information on the project, see their blog.

The students are close to completing their report and recommendations and will publicly present their work on Tuesday, April 16, at 3:00 pm in Room 120 in the C.K. Choi Building.

Literary Review of Canada features an essay by Paul Evans “Dancing with the Dragon”.

The Master of Arts Asia Pacific Policy Studies program (MAAPPS) at The University of British Columbia is inviting you to attend our annual conference to be held at the C.K. Choi Building, room 120 on the UBC campus Saturday, April 6 from 9:30 to 16:30. This academic conference titled ‘People, Place and Policy’ will explore the relationship between the people of the Asia Pacific region, the spaces – both physical and imagined – in which they inhabit, and the policies which govern those relationships. Please confirm your attendance here. A reception will follow the conference. See schedule

For further questions or inquiries, please send an e-mail to maappsconference@gmail.com.

For more details.

The Johal Chair, a 3-year term appointment effective July 1, 2013, is intended to recognize outstanding scholarship and to support cross-campus leadership at UBC focused on India. For more details, please refer to the full announcement.

Geremie Barme of the Australian National University College of Asia and the Pacific is presenting a talk on Chasing China Dreams and Telling China Stories on March 26.

The Great Chinese Political Transition of 2012-2013 and its Impact on China and the World from March 27-28 has now passed. If you would like to catch a recap of all the events they are available at:

• IMPACT OF THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP CHANGE FOR CANADA AND THE WORLD
• ELITE POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND POLITICAL REFORMS
• ECONOMIC IMPACT, SOCIAL ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE

The Centre for Southeast Asia Research of the Institute of Asian Research is holding an Open House on Thursday March 14 starting at 5:00pm for all those in the UBC community who are interested and involved in Southeast Asia. This includes students from the region, as well as faculty, staff, and students who are involved in research and teaching related to Southeast Asia.  It will be held in the lobby of the Choi building, 1855 West Mall, Vancouver. RSVP here