Artificial Intelligence Can Predict New Designer Drugs With 90% Accuracy
By Jacqueline Chan on November 16, 2021
Artificial Intelligence Can Predict New Designer Drugs With 90% Accuracy
November 16, 2021
“We wondered whether we could use this probability to determine what an unknown drug is — based solely on its mass — which is easy for a chemist to measure for any pill or powder using mass spectrometry.”
CSFS Associate and UBC Biochemistry professor Dr. Leonard Foster gave comments on his study, training computers to predict the next designer drugs — before they are even on the market! Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta devised an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to determine the structure of a given drug’s molecular makeup.
Check out the original article here.
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By Jacqueline Chan on November 15, 2021
The Biennial BC Seed Gathering is Virtual for 2021
The BC Biennial Seed gathering is a place for farmers, gardeners, students, and seed
community activists to come together to learn and share ideas on a number of different issues
as they relate to seed security.
Speakers and sessions include a keynote from Indigenous food systems groups, ask a seed
saver panel, integrating seed crops into vegetable production, running a seed library, increasing
community engagement, and much more!
Other activities include virtual farm tours, a virtual seed swap, movie night featuring WalkingWith Plants and HA NII TOKXW: Our Food Table, an open mic night, and a taste + tell.
Funds raised from these events support our work to cultivate local, sustainable, and resilient
food systems across British Columbia.
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By Jacqueline Chan on November 10, 2021
Taste and Tell: A chef-guided and crowdsourced exploration of radicchio and rutabaga!
From 4pm-6pm on Saturday, November 20, we’ll explore radicchio and rutabaga with a community of tasters! We’ll start with a cooking demonstration from chef Rob Cleland and his culinary team at Legacy Senior Living in Vancouver, and then Rob will be available for questions and discussion. Then we’ll look to YOUR memories, experiences, and palates for more flavour insights. If you’re in the Vancouver area, you can choose to pick up a *free* radicchio and rutabaga tasting kit and contribute flavour feedback via an online survey.
Wherever you’re located, we’ll trade recipe ideas, memories of radicchio and rutabaga, and tips for making these uncommon vegetables a friendly part of your home cooking. So come with favorite recipes, tips, questions, and curiosity! After the session, you’ll receive a list of the recipes and preparation ideas mentioned in our discussion!
This event is part of the BC Seed Gathering, but you are welcome to sign up for a tasting kit and the Taste and Tell event without needing to register for the full gathering.
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By Jacqueline Chan on November 8, 2021
Montecristo Magazine: At UBC’s Wine Library, Every Bottle Tells a Story
News Source: Montecristo Magazine
November 5, 2021
“What happened here? I was just here yesterday.”
Dr. Simone Castellarin, CSFS Associate and Associate Director of the Wine Research Centre, was featured in an article detailing UBC’s Wine Library. One thing’s for sure: it’s not as tame as its bookish counterpart. Learn more about the university’s collection of research-focused bottles by exploring the link below!
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By madison pinder on October 29, 2021
CTV News: UBC forestry experts to attend UN Climate Change Conference
News Source: CTV News Vancouver
October 25, 2021
Dr. Terry Sunderland wants to emphasize the role of Canadian forests beyond the timber industry and advocates for maintaining forest biodiversity as a best defence against climate change.
CSFS Associate and UBC Forestry professor Dr. Terry Sunderland will be speaking alongside forestry experts from around the world at the Global Landscapes Forum, following attendance at the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. He will be addressing Canada’s role in forest management and how things have changed in the last 18 months. He says the government needs to look at better ways of maintaining the biodiversity of our forests so they can be more resilient to economic and environmental changes.
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By Jacqueline Chan on October 14, 2021
Feeding Growth Celebration
An Evening to Celebrate Progressive Food Entrepreneurs
Feeding Growth: We’re about growing a resilient, socially just, and globally significant community of progressive food businesses, right here in BC! Join us on
November 18, 2021 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the
Lost & Found Café to celebrate the graduation of a new cohort of fierce food entrepreneurs and to connect with Feeding Growth friends, old and new.
What to expect?
- Engaging conversations with local leaders equipped to change the food business landscape.
- Inspiring keynote from a food entrepreneurship trailblazer, Ian Walker, owner of Left Coast Naturals.
- A unique chance to connect with Feeding Growth friends, old and new.
- Local brews and bites (food includes tasty vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options).
How Much?
Tickets are $29 and include canapés. Feeding Growth Workshop Series alumni can access a 30% discount by sending an email to
info@feedinggrowth.com.
Do I need to have proof of vaccination to attend?
Everyone 12 and over must show a valid BC Vaccine Passport to attend the event. Please arrive with government issued photo ID and proof of two doses of vaccination ready to display. You can get your BC Vaccine Card
here.
The event is open to all!
Learn More and Register
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By melanie kuxdorf on October 7, 2021
UBC CANOVI Season Exit Survey
Survey open from November 15 to December 15, 2021
Data interpretability, usefulness, and trustworthiness
In addition to carrying out participatory variety trials, we seek to understand how trial participants use trial data and how this is influenced by dynamics of trust. Specifically, we are investigating the relative usefulness and trustworthiness of personal observation, peer knowledge exchange, and aggregated data from participatory variety trials. Finally, we are exploring ways to increase the usefulness of trial data by increasing data quality, data interpretability, or trust among trial network members.
If you’re a CANOVI participant, thank you for sharing your experiences and ideas on this topic! Informed consent forms are below; feel free to contact Solveig Hanson with any questions.
Informed consent for CANOVI 2021 Season Exit Survey
ENQUÊTE DE FIN DE SAISON DU PROGRAMME ALÉBIO DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DE LA COLOMBIE BRITANNIQUE (UBC)
Enquête ouverte du 15 novembre au 15 décembre 2021
Interprétabilité, utilité et fiabilité des données
Nous cherchons à comprendre comment les participant·e·s aux réseaux d’essais variétaux utilisent les données des essais et comment cela est influencé par la dynamique de confiance. Plus précisément, nous étudions l’utilité relative et la fiabilité perçue de l’observation personnelle, de l’échange de connaissances entre pairs et des données agrégées des essais de variétés participatifs. Enfin, nous explorons des moyens d’accroître l’utilité des données d’essais agrégées en augmentant la qualité des données, l’interprétabilité des données ou la confiance entre les membres du réseau d’essais.
Si vous êtes un·e participant·e d’ALÉBIO, merci de partager vos expériences et vos idées sur ce sujet! Les formulaires de consentement éclairé sont ci-dessous ; n’hésitez pas à contacter Solveig Hanson pour toute question.
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By madison pinder on September 23, 2021
The Narwhal: Some of Canada’s oldest living trees escape the chopping block
News Source: The Narwhal
October 13, 2021
“I hope they make it clear to government that they want old forests protected, that they are not okay with the business-as-usual model.” – Dr. Cindy Prescott
Dr. Cindy Prescott, CSFS Associate and Professor in UBC’s Department of Forests and Conservation Sciences, recently spoke up with concern about the increasingly intense old-growth logging around the sunshine coast. Dr. Prescott comments that the most effective way to protect rare, untouched old-growth forests is for First Nations to be vocal about the need to leave them standing, and that the government’s current management of forests seems worryingly out of touch.
Check out the original article on The Narwhal.
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By Jacqueline Chan on September 23, 2021
Times of Oman: Heightened food worries linked to worse mental health
News Source: Times of Oman, UBC News
September 23, 2021
“Our research and advocacy efforts need to continue to seek out more effective strategies to make sure that everyone has physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.” – Dr. Jennifer Black
Dr. Jennifer Black, CSFS Associate and Professor in UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems, spoke about her recent paper which examined the associations between food worry and mental health during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that Indigenous participants, people with pre-existing health conditions, and those who had children were more likely to be concerned about their food supply.
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By Jacqueline Chan on September 22, 2021
Scout Vancouver: 2021 Vancouver Radicchio Festival
News Source: Scout Vancouver
Fans of vegetables (and vegetable puns) cannot miss out on the ‘Bitter Together’ Radicchio Tasting Event, happening on October 20th (5-8pm) at Main Street’s farm-to-table restaurant, Burdock & Co.
Scheduled as part of the 2021 Vancouver Radicchio Festival, ‘Bitter Together’ is a collaboration between FarmFolk CityFolk, UBC Farm and Chef Andrea Carlson. All of the radicchio on the menu was grown as part of the Canadian Organic Vegetable Improvement (CANOVI) initiative, a collaborative project between farmers and researchers to improve local seed supply and growing, without the use of labs.
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