Dr. Kyong Yoon

Kyong Yoon was announced as a Tier 1 Principal’s Research Chair for UBC Okanagan in the summer of 2022. In this role, Yoon will work to strengthen research in Trans-Pacific Digital Platform Studies. Already a leading figure in Asian media research, this award will allow Professor Yoon to advance the research on trans-Pacific digital platforms that are increasingly reshaping cultural production and consumption.

This 5-year research project will comprehensively examine the emerging process of platform-oriented media practices, known as platformization, in trans-Pacific contexts.

“Platformization refers to a process in which media production, circulation, and consumption are reshaped around major digital platforms, such as Netflix and YouTube” Yoon says.

Through this research project, Yoon will investigate these platforms, the media texts they enable, and audience engagement with platforms.

Yoon explains that global platforms have enabled the unexpected international success of recent non-Western media texts that would otherwise have not been disseminated globally. For example, the Korean-made Netflix series Squid Game and its global popularity illustrate the ways in which Asian media production is integrated with the global platform-driven economy. The show’s production has benefitted from Netflix’s catalog-building strategies through which content produced in various geo-cultural contexts, especially in non-Western countries, is licensed so that the streaming platform rapidly expands its global viewership.

As such, Netflix distinguishes itself from traditional legacy media, such as network TV, that have introduced a limited amount of foreign content. Dominant streaming services, exemplified by Netflix, have appropriated the high production value of certain local talent and creativity, while enabling audiences to access transnational texts through prompt availability of multiple versions of translated subtitles and dubbing.

With the PRC award, Yoon will extend his expertise to explore the emerging field of digital platform studies and move beyond the dominant Western-centric discourses about digital media.

“My goal for this work is to contribute to opening up new areas of digital research and enhance the interdisciplinary research capacities of UBC Okanagan,” he says.

About the PRC

The Principal’s Research Chairs (PRC) program provides internal funding support for top-tier researchers engaged in outstanding research or creative scholarship. Supported by the UBC Okanagan Excellence Fund, the goals of the PRC program are to enable the recruitment of outstanding new faculty, retain top researchers, promote research intensification, and generate international recognition of research achievements.

Cap toss at the June 9th, 2022 ceremony

The year’s convocation ceremony was held in person on June 9^th, and the faculty and staff in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies are happy to congratulate all of the students who completed their degrees in 2022.

This year we have eighteen masters students, three doctoral students, fifty-seven Bachelor of Arts students, twenty Bachelor of Fine Arts students, and seven Bachelor of Media Studies students who are graduating with their degrees.

Camila (Alex) Labarta-Garcia, a member of the graduating class of 2022, was the student reader at our ceremony, and shared these words with the graduating class:

“I’d like to say congratulations to all of us. The fact that we are here means that we have overcome the intimidating wall that is university,” she said. “This moment for many people holds feelings of fulfillment, relief. But also regret and dissatisfaction. It is a hard task getting to know yourself before taking the next step. So whether you laugh cry to curse them, reserve those moments of uncertainty, for the questions your goals won’t really answer.”

Camila completed her BA degree with a major in Cultural Studies.

We are happy to celebrate the achievements of all of our students at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

“Congratulations to the class of 2022! It was wonderful seeing our graduates cross the stage this year and I look forward to all the great things they will accomplish in the years to come!” says Jordan Stouck, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies in FCCS.

“I am so happy and proud to be offering my congratulations to our masters and doctoral graduates of 2022. Good luck and best wishes to them all!” Says Greg Garrard, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in FCCS.

After the ceremony, a reception was held in the Creative and Critical Studies building for all of the FCCS graduates and their guests to continue the celebrations of the day. Bryce Traister, Dean of FCCS raised a glass to toast this year’s graduating class and their families.

“We are proud of all our students for what they have accomplished over their years here, and for what they have taught us,” says Dr. Traister. “We have learned about compassion and resilience from our students.”

FCCS is also pleased to recognize the achievements of the following graduating or continuing students who received awards for their outstanding academic performance this year:

• Mackenzie Beeman, Doug Biden Memorial Scholarship in Visual Arts
• Alex Bourassa, French Scholarship
• Sophia Cajon, International Student Award
• Taylor Carpenter, Murray Johnson Memorial Award in Visual Arts
• Gabrielle Chee, Jessie Ravnsborg Memorial Award
• Pip Mamo Dryden, Audain Travel Award
• Katja Ewart, Frances Harris Prize in Fine Arts
• Fiona Firby, Bachelor of Media Studies Interactive Media Prize
• Amelia Ford, BFA head of Class
• Chloe Griffiths, French and Spanish Scholarship
• Asahna Hughes, Jack and Lorna Hambleton Memorial Award
• Candice Hughes, FCCS Visual Arts Scholarship
• Chloe Jenkins, Okanagan Visual Arts Scholarship
• Camila (Alex) Labarta-Garcia, Cultural Studies Scholarship
• Karly Larson, Creative Studies Transfer Prize in Creative Writing
• Jordan Macdonald, Elinor Yandel Memorial Award in Fine Arts
• Rachel Macarie, Kelly Curtis Memorial Scholarship in English
• Amber Nuyens, Creative Writing Prize
• Julia Pearson, Craig Hall Memorial Visual Arts Scholarship in Printmaking
• Arthur Pielecki, 2021 Vernon Film Society Media Prize
• Jordan Pike, Bachelor of Media Studies Capstone Prize of Excellence, BMS Head of Class
• Natalie Rice, HSBC Bank of Canada Prize
• Jaime Sanrtos, Jack and Lorna Hambleton Memorial Award
• Anna Shaeffer, French Essay Prize
• Lark Spartin, Bachelor of Media Studies Computational Art Prize
• Karen Takahashi, Asper Graduating Prize
• Maura Tamez, Norma and Jack Aitken Prize in Visual Arts
• Mackenzie Rose Tennant, Creative Writing Scholarship
• Abigail Wiens, Dr. Shelley Martin Memorial Scholarship
• Maggie Wileman, English Scholarship

Dean Bryce Traister

FCCS reception, cheers to our graduates!

Dr. Megan Smith with BMS Head of Class, Jordan Pike

PhD graduate Toby Lawrence (centre) with supervisors Ashok Mathur and Tania Willard

BFA graduates Avery Ullyot-Comrie and Sofie Lovelady

Student reader, Camila (Alex) Labarta-Garcia

Aisha Ravindran, mace bearer

Anita Chaudhuri

Anita Chaudhuri is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of English and Cultural Studies. She specializes in second language writing (broadly, Writing Studies) and world Englishes, and is interested in the identity construction of language learners, their development in writing and communication, and how pedagogical practices such as, Writing in the Disciplines, Writing Across Curriculum and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy impact curriculum development.

Dr. Chaudhuri shared some insights on her research and teaching practices here at UBC Okanagan.

What brought you to UBCO?  

Research-intensive activities and UBC’s focus on teaching and learning have appealed to me since graduate school. Researchers such as, Bonny Norton and Ryuko Kubota guided my learning and research interest. When the opportunity to join UBC’s Okanagan campus became possible, I was ecstatic to join some wonderful colleagues and furthering my career in the Educational Leadership stream.

How did you know you wanted to be a professor? 

I come from a family of teachers so, my childhood was spent sitting in classrooms where I didn’t belong, sometimes tutoring, and always enjoying the idea of being surrounded by interesting people and questions. I have come to value the process of teaching and learning even more because I share classrooms with learners who bring with them the knowledge of geographical spaces and socio-cultural interests that are fascinating.

Tell us about a recent project that you are excited about.

I am excited about the new Certificate and Minor in Communications and Rhetoric (CORH) project. Working with Drs. Aisha Ravindran, Jordan Stouck and Marie Loughlin on this ALT-2040 funded project has been an opportunity to prepare students with strong communication and argumentative skills. We hope to offer the Capstone course in Winter 2022-23 for our first cohort of students to complete the CORH Certificate. The Minor is currently in development.

I am also excited about UBC’s Curriculum MAP project supported by UBCO’s Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic. Participating in the creation of the curriculum mapping, alignment and planning tool for UBC (and beyond) has been a rewarding experience.

You recently received ALT-2040 Learning Transformations Funds and UBC’s Equity Enhancement Fund Tell us about these projects.  

I received ALT-2040 Learning Transformations Fund to create an OER titled, Disciplinary Approaches to Academic Integrity in 2022. This multidisciplinary work in student engagement and learning will contribute to discussion on how AI needs to be unpacked and made relevant to the student body before they are penalized for academic misconduct, plagiarism, contract cheating, to name a few. Therefore, the objectives of this OER are to: (i) offer student-facing, discipline-specific content for undergraduates to become informed decision makers vis-à-vis their own learning practice and (ii) support classroom discussion and activities on AI.

I also received UBC’s Equity Enhancement Fund in 2022 to create an e-magazine on equity matters. Dr. Rishma Chooniedass at FHSD is a collaborator on this project. The objective of this project is to plan and produce a student-facing and UBC student-run e-magazine titled, RESPECT that publishes their understanding of EDI issues as essays, interviews, artwork, photographs, multimodal, and interactive presentations to enhance UBC’s Inclusive Action Plan.  By promoting conversations around sensitive topics that are current and impactful, this e-magazine will develop opportunities for engagement, development of ideas, individual and shared understanding with fellow UBC students and the community at large.

As part of the ALT funded project to create a certificate and minor in Communications and Rhetoric, Dr. Anita Chaudhuri joined a discussion with the Provost’s office here at UBCO to find out what kind of supports were available for program development. That sparked a conversation with Dr. Bowen Hui and Janine Hirtz about tools to help streamline the process of program and course development.

Laura Prada explains that in the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic, they were looking at ways to support faculty members to create and evaluate programs from a learning outcomes perspective which is a pillar of high-quality education towards student success.

“There was excitement to do something that was thoughtful, intentional and supported by pedagogical best practices,” she says.

So a team was created with faculty members, staff from the Office of the Provost and the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT), along with co-op students to help build the Curriculum MAP platform that would assist with mapping, alignment and planning of courses and programs and support instructors in creating course syllabi consistent with our Senate guidelines.

The CTL and the CTLT support faculty in developing curriculum for new courses, redesigning current courses or with new programs.

Janine Hirtz, Manager and Senior Education Consultant with the CTL explains that when working with faculty, they look at ways to align curriculum learning outcomes with program and institutional goals around things like the Indigenous Strategic Plan and Inclusion Action Plan.

“The more faculty can show collaboration with interdisciplinary ways or foster goals of university and programs, they are more likely to have better success,” she says.

This team has now been working on the Curriculum MAP project for the last two years, and the platform is ready and available for use. The tool supports a step-by-step process with links to resources that will help identify learning outcomes, principals of universal design for learning to support inclusive learning design as well as a syllabus generator.

For their ALT funded project,  World Literatures and Intercultural Communication’s team has used the Curriculum MAP tool to develop a major and minor. They will include the reports generated by the tool in their package for the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

Dr. Chaudhuri says she was motivated to be part of this development with a desire to understand how courses across campus approach learning objectives and how we prepare students for their academic and professional lives.

She notes that this tool can also help us identify gaps, for instance, if assessment practices and classroom activities align with the course objectives, and visualize how program level outcomes relate with strategic priorities of the institution.

This online tool provides flexibility to meet the needs of faculty in any point of their development to generate ideas, create, and evaluate new or existing courses and programs, using backward design.

With this tool, the goal is to get to a point where instructors feel they are supported with curriculum development without having to know the ins and outs of pedagogical needs, or of specific program requirements.

“The website will meet the needs of instructors at different points – if they want to identifying learning outcomes, or figure out how to align assessment strategies, or how are they meeting the TRC Calls to Action or sustainability commitments for the university,” says Prada.

Hirtz adds that they want to see faculty use this to generate syllabus to make the planning process more streamlined in finding statements and policies that are needed on an outline. “On a student level, it would be great to have something standardized that is similar across faculties and departments.”

Visit the curriculum MAP 

The following are examples of some of the Curriculum MAP outputs.

Table generated by the Curriculum MAP tool, showing how courses align with program learning outcomes

Bar graph showing frequency of learning activities across courses

Please note these are not accurate representation of CORH courses.

Meet the Team

The Curriculum MAP working group consists of Dr. Anita Chaudhuri (Department of English and Cultural Studies); Dr. Bowen Hui (Department of Computer Science); Janine Hirtz (Manager and Senior Educational Consultant, CTL); Carrie Hunter (Curriculum Consultant, CTL); Laura Prada (Office of the Provost); Abdelmuizz Yusuf (Undergraduate Developer); Jia Fei LuoZheng (Undergraduate Developer); Damyn Filipuzzi (Undergraduate Developer); Daulton Baird (Undergraduate Developer); Kieran Adams (Undergraduate Developer).

The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies along with alumni UBC are seeking art submissions for Colour My UBCO 2022. Color My UBCO was produced for Homecoming 2021, and featured original artwork by students, alumni and the UBCO community under the theme of the Spirit of the Okanagan. Art therapy is used for meditation and as a relaxation technique, and coloring books are a fun way to help adults destress and relax, and improve mental health and wellbeing.

UBC Okanagan student, alumni, staff and faculty artists of all levels are invited to submit an original work for a colouring book page in any style (remembering that is should be an outline of an image that can be coloured in!) Submissions may be a re-creation of an existing work, or a new piece for this book. From personal sketchbook drawings, pop art designs, portraits, landscapes, we want to see your creativity and what the Okanagan means to you.

Submission Details

• Must be created by a UBC Okanagan student or alumni from any program or degree.
• Size: 8.5”x11”
• File type: ai, eps, psd, tiff or jpg
• Resolution: vector or 300 DPI

If you do not have access to a high-resolution scanner, you can deliver or mail your artwork with a postage-paid return envelope to:

alumni UBC
Development and Alumni Engagement
1138 Alumni Avenue
Kelowna, BC  V1V 1V7

The coloring books will available at UBC Okanagan Homecoming (September 23-24, 2022) celebrations. Final pieces will be selected by a Selection Committee. Featured artists will receive a complimentary copy of the colouring book.

Deadline for submissions: July 20, 2022

Submit your design

By submitting artwork, the submitter agrees they own the right to recreate or reproduce the piece.

The first-year English courses at UBC Okanagan are some of the most widely required courses across all program areas. Whether you are majoring in the sciences or the arts, the chances are high that you will have to take at least one first-year English course. Fortunately, the Department of English and Cultural Studies offers a plethora of interesting and dynamic courses that feature the writing and literature skills and knowledge that will be a valuable asset throughout the entirety of your university career.

While you may feel the urge to overlook your first-year English courses as just another prerequisite to check off the list, there are ample opportunities in these courses to achieve a deeper level of learning and to develop a skill set that is sure to help you thrive in other areas of your academic life.

One of the best ways to learn about just how impactful these courses can be is to turn to testimonials from previous first-year English students.

Maddie Rocco with English instructor, Cathi Shaw

“My enrolment in English 112 in my first year of university has made a tremendous impact on my academic journey and inspired me to positively continue my studies with confidence in my writing abilities. Regardless of one’s program, I believe successful completion of English 112 equips students with the skills essential for a successful university career.” – Maddie Rocco

English 112 is a three-credit course called Studies in Composition. Any student at UBC is welcome to take this course if they have not previously taken English 109 or English 114. This course was designed to give students a comprehensive learning environment surrounding research-based writing. English 112 is a great option to bolster your confidence when it comes to university-level writing and prepare you for writing assignments in any course you choose to take throughout your degree.

“I can undoubtedly say that ENGL 112 with Dr. Shaw gave me the necessary skills to succeed in my academic journey as an undergraduate student – skills that will also accompany me in my next academic endeavors, including a possible post-secondary degree. First, it provided me with a refresher of the different citation styles that were introduced to me in high school. As a student majoring in Philosophy, Political Science and Economics, an interdisciplinary degree, I found this very helpful since professors from different disciplines have contrasting citation requirements. Additionally, this course helped me strengthen my literary analysis and writing skills by encouraging me to think critically in each assignment and class discussion. It also taught me the different formats and writing styles used in argumentative, descriptive, narrative, and expository essays, which is essential to write a successful paper in any discipline. Finally, it helped me gain confidence while writing academic papers by requiring me to constantly practice the theories learnt throughout the course and subsequently providing very insightful feedback. With that said, I believe ENGL 112 is a foundational course from which all students, including those with an English requirement waiver, can benefit, since it is as good as an English writing refresher course as it is as an introductory course.” – Lisvet Parra Montas

English 112 is offered in every term of the calendar including the Summer terms. In addition, there are options to take this course both online and in person.

Dan Hilbers

“My path to ENGL 150 and ENGL 112 was likely different from most. I completed an undergraduate degree in business and then studied sciences at UBC. I enrolled in my ENGL 150 and ENGL 112 as these courses were prerequisites for my desired future education. These English courses further developed my reading and writing skills. Also, ENGL 150 and ENGL 112 allowed me to explore personal interests by composing research papers and short videos. I highly recommend enrolling in either ENGL 112 or ENGL 150 to supplement any undergraduate education.” – Dan Hilbers

English 150 is another great first-year English course that UBCO has to offer. Introduction to Literary Genre is a three-credit course that differs from English 112 because it focuses on learning about research and writing through a literary lens. This is especially useful for any students who are pursuing a degree in the arts and humanities as it teaches key analytical and critical thinking skills that are highly valuable in those subject areas. However, learning writing skills through literature is an exciting option for all students regardless of their program. English 150 classes explore several forms of literature and genre including fiction, poetry, and more.

Ximena Cayo Barrantes

“As an international student, the transfer of my entire life, especially academics, to a language that is not my native one was frightening. However, ENGL 109 allowed this process to flow as naturally and empathetically as possible, which introduced me to English academic writing in a clear and consistent manner. And so, my university career started in the optimal way, by understanding what was expected of my academic writing at UBC, but also realizing that having a native language other than English is not a disadvantage but a source of a lot of knowledge which I learned to apply thanks to Dr. Chaudhuri in ENGL 109.” – Ximena Cayo Barrantes

English 109 is an excellent option for students who want a more in-depth approach to studying writing and composition. In addition, some students are recommended to take English 109 to provide them with an encouraging and comprehensive space to expand their learning. Unlike some other first-year English courses, English 109 runs from September to April so you have double the time to flesh out your understanding of important composition concepts.

Nancy Lu

“ENGL 109 was a transition course for me to university-level writing. Through the application of academic skills, I developed more effective communication skills, and I learned to think critically. Assignments and practices such as narrative, summary and research analysis lead me to study and reflect on personal and academic contexts. As a student who studies science, it helped me prepare for research-based writing in many of my science courses.” – Nancy Lu

These student testimonials are just a small peek into the world of first-year English courses. Having said that, there are many other first-year English courses that UBCO provides. If you are interested in improving your writing and analytical skills through the study of literature then English 151, English 153, English 154, English 155, and English 156 are fantastic options. In addition, your main area of study may influence which of these classes appeals to your interests. If you are drawn to the arts and humanities, then English 151 or English 154 are exciting courses for you to explore. If your passion lies in the realm of digital technology and media, English 155 delves into this subject area. English 156 would be an ideal choice if you are interested in learning more about sustainability and the environment.

Joanna Cockerline with her dog Charlie, enjoying the hiking opportunities on UBCO’s beautiful campus

Joanna Cockerline is cross-appointed in the Department of English and Cultural Studies and the Faculty of Management. Drawing on her love of literature and writing, she teaches English courses such as ENGL 112; based on her experience as a professional consultant for top Canadian and international firms, she shares her expertise in Management Communications courses. Additionally, she is the Program Director for the Go Global Tanzania – Community, Creativity, and Communications program that brings UBC students to East Africa. In addition to her teaching and private sector work, she is currently completing a novel focused on the homeless and sex work communities in Kelowna, inspired by her volunteer work with marginalized women who live and work on Kelowna’s streets.

We sat down with Joanna to find out a bit more about her teaching and research interests.

Tell us about your research interests.

My background is in critical theory, cultural studies, Canadian literature, East African literature, and creative writing, and I find these directions continue to inspire me. Most recently, I have been engaging with a lot of contemporary writing and human rights activism emerging out of East Africa, where there is a vibrant literary and activist scene. I regularly travel to Kenya and Tanzania to meet with authors who have since become dear friends, and am excited to share these connections via author visits in the context of Go Global Tanzania; I also share these insights in my other courses, bringing in international perspectives and a decolonizing lens.

A collage of Go Global Tanzania experiences, authors, and activists, such as Munira Hussein and Ndungi Githuku

Beyond my teaching at UBCO, I run my own consulting business, providing technical writing, editing, and professional communications courses to leading Canadian and international firms. I enjoy sharing the skills and strategies I apply in these contexts with my students to share industry insights and help professionalize their writing.

I’m also at work on a novel focused on the sex work and homeless communities in Kelowna. I love exploring ideas and perspectives from a creative point of view, and always enjoy it when my students approach me with their own writing ideas.

What kind of learning experiences do offer your students

In my English and Management Communications courses, I believe in giving students a lot of choice and freedom in their assignments so they can explore directions that matter to them. Within course parameters, I encourage my students to develop their own research essay topics and management communications projects so that they can pursue trajectories about which they truly care.

For Go Global Tanzania – Community, Creativity, and Communications, we are immersed in the local community, read a diverse range of East African literature, and have opportunities to participate in a wide range of cultural and environmental experiences; I also arrange for authors and human rights activists to visit us and share their insights in an intimate, conversational setting. In addition to immersing themselves in East African culture and literature, students have the opportunity to design and pursue self-directed projects, and can include creative pursuits such as creative writing, photography, and art as part of their learning. In the most recent program that ran, before Covid, students were so inspired they went on to write newspaper articles about their experiences, publish a chapbook of poetry, and hold an interactive photography, writing, and multi-media exhibit in UBCO’s FINA Gallery.

What most excites you about your field of work 

In the context of East African literature, the vibrant and emerging literary scene, particularly out of Nairobi, excites me, and I have really enjoyed getting to know a diverse range of authors personally, arranging for students to connect with them, and bringing their insights into my teaching.

When it comes to professional and technical writing and editing, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to major engineering and environmental projects with a cumulative capital value of over $6 Billion – working with diverse interdisciplinary teams on innovative pursuits of all scales is exciting, and enables me to share these insights and strategies with my students.

Writing my novel, Still, has also been deeply rewarding, especially as I listen to the diverse voices on the street. Members of the sex work and homeless communities have become my friends over the years, and they are excited to see their perspectives reflected in the book as a way of making their perspectives heard. And the process of writing, of working with language, is continually inspiring.

I love seeing students make discoveries and explore their passions, encountering new ideas and pushing themselves to discover new capabilities. I’m always learning myself and encourage my students to take an open-minded, inquisitive approach to their learning and discovery.

What do you enjoy about living here and working at UBC Okanagan

At UBCO, I love the freedom we have to design programs and courses that let students explore their interests and develop the skills they need to succeed in university and beyond.

As for living here, I absolutely love it. I am in love with the landscape and feel a deep connection with the land, from its mountains to its desert climate to its trees to its lake. I’m always hiking, writing outdoors, and enjoying landscape and wildlife photography. There are so many incredible places to explore and enjoy, and I would encourage all students to get outside and get to know this beautiful unceded Syilx Territory that we are privileged to call home. It’s an incredible place to live and learn.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the CAS Book Prize for 2022 is Zoe Wineck for “Making the Connection: An Exercise in Moral Comparisons, Invoking Compassion and Deconstructing Killability”.

Dr. Castricano notes that Zoe’s essay offers a compelling reflection on the way that “comparisons and metaphors, for example, the PETA campaign “Holocaust on Your Plate,” invoke prohibitive emotional reactions that can shut down the critical thinking process. Seriously considering the anger, trauma, and the limits of emotional reactions when analyzing the value of comparisons of oppression and suffering is a requirement to this work.” Zoe’s paper draws upon visual images and other comparisons to genocide and enslavement to discuss how “the two legacy evils in modern human history, instrumentally narrativized to fit many struggles, are still dreaded in the animal liberation context.”

Zoe Wineck (she/they) is a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at UBCO. She was initially most interested in studying Genocide, Human Rights and Transitional Justice. However, after three friends had suggested she take Jodey Castricano’s ENGL 457: Posthumanism and Critical Animal Studies seminar, Zoe realized she could start answering one of her many burning questions: If no animal’s life was of lesser value than any other being would there be Genocide? Recently, Zoe has been using Critical Animal studies to bridge the gaps they have found in their degree. Zoe hopes to do the same in Germany next semester, where they assume the same gaps exist. If anything comes from their work, Zoe hopes it brings a new level of consideration for non-human animal lives to their anthropocentric degree. When Zoe is not reading about absolutely dreadful current and historical events, she spends her time learning German, snowboarding, skateboarding and baking the best (secretly vegan) Challah her family has ever had.

The Book Prize for CAS is Hidden: Animals in the Anthropocene (Joanne McArthur & Keith Wilson, Eds, We Animals Media, 2020)

The successful SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s (CGS M) Program award recipients were announced in April 2022. We are proud to share that two of our master’s of fine arts students and one masters student in the IGS sustainability theme have received the CGS-M, which provides financial support to graduate students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies.

“Congratulations to this year’s masters SSHRC awardees! These prestigious awards support students through their Master’s degrees with predictable funding, and enhance their CV for future academic and job applications.” Says Greg Garrard, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies.

Below are the recipient from our Masters of Fine Arts with a summary of their research.

Masters of Fine Arts student Claire Miller-Harder has been awarded a SSHRC CGS-M fellowship for her MFA creative writing project, titled One Acre of Land on Mars. Miller-Harder is completing an MFA with a specialization in Creative Writing, with supervisor Nancy Holmes, and committee members Anne Fleming and Lisa Grekul.

Here is a summary of Claire’s research proposal: “My proposed thesis is a collection of linked short stories that explore the intersections between female Mennonite identity and issues of deviance, such as queerness, infertility, mental illness, and suicide. In “Visitant,” Iris struggles with infertility in the shadow of her midwife-healer grandmother. In “As Blue as This,” Rachel visits an aquarium while pondering a suicide pact proposed by her friend Louise. In “Pomelo,” a teenager returns from the psychiatric ward to find she is haunted by Elvis. We return to Rachel in “Where We’re Going” as she grieves Louise while dealing with end-times anxiety. By illuminating how Mennonite women find belonging through forms of deviancy, this project discovers new ways of looking at entrapment and liberation.”

First year Masters of Fine Arts student Eviah Shimshon Obadia-Wong has been awarded a SSHRC CGS-M for their interdisciplinary MFA research titled, Queer Sounds in the Substructure: Queering Space with Locative Digital Stories. Obadia-Wong is completing an MFA with a specialization in Interdisciplinary Studies, with supervisor Michael V. Smith and committee members are Kevin Chong, and Megan Smith

Here is a summary of Eviah’s research project: “Queer Sounds in the Substructure is a public art installation that embodies a queer presence in the conservative small city of Kelowna, BC. This project uses site-specific interactive lyric non-fiction storytelling informed by my personal history living here as a trans person who struggled to come out for years. This work addresses a problem highlighted in UBCO’s latest Report on Diversity which asserted that members of the LGBTQ+ community feel severely alienated in Kelowna due to an imposing cis/heteronormative culture. I’m attempting to improve this situation by examining how hearing queer stories in public places might generate a sense of belonging for folk like me.”

Masters student Chhavi Mathur has been awarded a SSHRC CGS-M for her interdisciplinary MA research titled, Picturing Paradise: An Ecocritical Study of Literature in the Okanagan. Mathur is in the IGS program Sustainability theme, and is supervised by Dr. Greg Garrard along with committee member Dr. Lisa Grekul.

Here is a summary of Chhavi’s research project: “While the Okanagan Valley is the traditional unceded territory of, primarily, the Sylix people, successive phases of settler colonialism in this area have altered the landscape in significant ways, particularly through the establishment and growth of its fruit, tourism and wine industries. Through my research on literature from the Okanagan Valley, from between 1892 and the present, I will be exploring the shifting perceptions, imagination, and entangled cultural-material history of the landscape.”

Masters student Brianne Christensen has been awarded a SSHRC CGS-M Fellowship for her MA research titled, Hospitality in Crisis: New Sincerity and Receiving the Stranger in Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet. Christensen is in the Masters in English program, and is supervised by Dr. Jennifer Gustar along with committee members Dr. George Grinnell and Dr. Margaret Reeves.

Here is a summary of Christensen’s research project: “Hospitality suggests the process of welcoming, whether into a home, a community, or a nation. By engaging with critical theories of hospitality and migration ethics to compliment my textual analysis, I will explore how Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet reflects the (in)hospitality extended to migrants in post-Brexit Britain, which serves as a synecdoche for our global condition. My study of hospitality also locates Smith’s work in the growing corpus of New Sincerity literature and, in so doing, theorizes authorship in a time of global crises, during which the author cannot afford postmodern                                                             distance.”

Masters student Jessica Beaudin has been awarded a SSHRC CGS-M Fellowship for her MA research titled, Killing Kindly: Euthanasia and Animal Ethics in McCarthy’s The Road and Coetzee’s Disgrace.

Jessica is in the Masters in English program, and is supervised by Dr. Jodey Castricano, as well as Dr. George Grinnell and Dr. Astrida Neimanis.

Here is a summary of Jessica’s research project: “Euthanasia or well-intentioned putting-to-death is historically and culturally entangled with the biopolitical legacy of eugenics and with that, the systematic and state-sanctioned annihilation of marginalized bodies. Importantly, euthanasia is also a mercy; it is the method by which one alleviates known suffering through putting-to-death. Within this framework of euthanasia, this project is concerned with the representation of euthanasia practices for both human and nonhuman animals in their complex relationalities in contemporary literature. I explore ethical incongruencies and discrepant responsibilities with regard to euthanasia practices through the lens of ecofeminism, particularly with regard to the unnamed dog and boy of McCarthy’s post-apocalypse in The Road (2006) and the myriad canine characters of Coetzee’s Disgrace.”

Miles Thorogood working with students on app development

Creative tasks, such as graphic design, video production, game design, and music-making have grown to be the leading professional use of computers, besides communication. Recent initiatives in artificial intelligence (A.I.) and machine learning are driving a renaissance in how creative tasks are carried out by amateurs and professionals alike.

With this in mind, Dr. Miles Thorogood is working to establish a new lab, the Sonic Production, Intelligence, Research, and Applications Lab (SPIRAL), supported by Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

CFI gives infrastructure funding to create research centres and labs on campus, which can include renovating or building space, the purchase of equipment and software as well as operational funds to get spaces up and running.

SPIRAL will be located in the new Innovation Annex Building as part of the cutting-edge research infrastructure being developed at UBCO. With this funding, the space will be renovated and equipment will be purchased to include a 900 sqft performance and immersive experience space, a dedicated sound control room – boasting a 36-channel audio dispersion system, 10 ft high-definition video projection, and VR headsets for media production and perception focussed research.

It is widely recognized that augmenting and simulating human creativity is the next frontier in, explains Thorogood. “I am interested in exploring sound design to develop state of the art models and algorithms for developing new computational tools in the video game, animation and virtual reality industries.”

Dr. Thorogood is an assistant professor teaching media studies, with a background in audio engineering, computer science, and music information retrieval.

“The goal with this new space is to research and develop new computational models to simulate cognitive tasks of the creative process in sound design,” he says.

Projects in SPIRAL will focus on the development of the next generation of A.I. computer-assisted tools for sound design production in the growing field of video games and virtual reality.

“We will work to align sound design with current trends in creative A.I. by developing new state of the art sound analysis and generation algorithms and innovative production tools,” he says.

The impact of Dr. Thorogood’s research has the potential to transform industry. Instead of searching through hundreds of hours of recordings to retrieved small sections of audio that fulfill criteria based on creative selection, a sound designer will simply set the parameters of what they are seeking in terms of salient criteria and the machine will return alternatives in mere seconds. Producers of VR and augmented reality can enter descriptions of the environment and the machine will generate appropriate immersive sound. Video game developers will label objects in the environment and autonomously generate the sound scene that also responds to player and narrative.