VIU Media Highlights: February 3, 2023

VIU in the news this week 📃

The Spring Semester is ramping up at Vancouver Island University. Next week, the campus will be packed with events as part of Global Citizens Week, which features a wide variety of speakers, events and panel discussions. As always, please reach out to us if you need experts for your stories. 

Top stories

Lecture series kicks off with story of endangered marmot

Learn more about everything from the endangered Vancouver Island marmet to investigating deep-sea organisms with computational chemistry. VIU's Science and Technology Community Lecture Series starts next week. 

Students will go to Japan to talk business in March

Delegates from the Kansai University of International Studies in Japan recently visited VIU to celebrate a new partnership between the two institutions. VIU is part of Venture Makers, a transnational project that focuses on nurturing and piloting entrepreneurship initiatives and small business development. VIU students will go to Japan for a first visit this March to join representatives from other partner institutions, including the University of Delhi, Western Sydney University and the University of Birmingham.

Featured expert

Scientist available to speak on harm reduction research

Starting this week, possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs was decriminalized in BC. Dr. Chris Gill, Co-Director of VIU's Applied Environmental Research Lab, is available to talk about HarmCheck, a cutting-edge drug-checking technology his team developed, and how it is being used as a harm reduction method. To speak with Chris Gill, simply reply to this email. Learn more. 

VIU in the news

VIU experts participate in the CBC Nanaimo live show

The CBC launched its Nanaimo bureau with a special live broadcast at the Serious Coffee on Hammond Bay Road. Three VIU experts shared knowledge about Harbour City culture and history. Listen to the segments. 

Craig Evans receives Patron of the City award

Congratulations to Craig Evans, a longtime community advocate who works with VIU's Workplace Essential Skills Training program, on receiving a Patron of the City award. Evans pioneered many recycling, community food and organic farm programs on the mid-Island. Learn more about Craig in this Nanaimo News Now article. 

Creating innovative treatments for substance use disorders

VIU Psychology alum Dr. Travis Baker recently received a $2.5-million grant to develop the next generation of brain-based therapies for substance use disorders. Read more.

Campus events

Speaker addresses herring and the health of the Salish Sea

The new Netflix documentary Island of the Sea Wolves calls the annual herring spawning event "absolutely life-sustaining for the Island." Bryce Casavant, Director of Conservation Intelligence with Pacific Wild, will talk about the importance of herring to BC coastal communities, as well as gaps and opportunities for repair and reform of current management practices. Learn more and register.

Global Citizens Week promotes solidarity in action

Visiting speakers, film screenings, live music and a panel discussion about working for non-governmental organizations are some of the features of this year's Global Citizens Week, which starts on Monday, February 6. Read more. 

Learning at Work MBA talent showcase

On February 7, the VIU MBA program is hosting an evening of networking and celebration. All community members and VIU alumni are invited to meet current MBA candidates and to hear internship success stories. Learn more and register.