Tagged with: 2020, Food Science
UBC and BC SPCA Launch New Research Chair to Study Companion Animals
UBC and BC SPCA Launch New Research Chair to Study Companion Animals
June 22, 2020 – Companion animals play a large role in their adopted families and in service programs where their social interactions can benefit people with disabilities. Alexandra Protopopova, an Assistant Professor in UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems, has done extensive research to improve the fate of companion animals and those who surround them.
Now Protopopova has been named the NSERC/BC SPCA Industrial Research Chair in Animal Welfare, and she will lead research between UBC and the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) over the next five years.
“Companion animals face critical issues related to optimal housing in animal shelters, rehabilitation and adoption following cruelty or neglect, import of rescue animals, and in various other human-animal interaction contexts,” says Protopopova. “I’ll be working with the scientific community, professionals in non-profit organizations, and the companion animal industry to discover new ways we can improve the lives of companion animals.”
The new program will combine research, public education and outreach and will be integrated into the Faculty’s established and renowned Animal Welfare Program, which was first created in 1997.
“Our Animal Welfare Program has a long history of transferring rigorous research into findings that directly benefit industry and improve outcomes in the field, both here in Canada and abroad,” said Rickey Yada, Dean, Faculty of Land and Food Systems. “We are very pleased that Dr. Protopopova will be expanding into this new area for UBC and working in partnership with the BC SPCA.”
This program runs from 2020-2025 and will generate cutting-edge research as well as create multidisciplinary training opportunities for graduate students, professionals in the companion animal industry, and for undergraduate students through the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award program.
The BC SPCA aims to further develop research-based standards that help inform monitoring and regulation of animal industries. For example, it works nationally with animal producer organizations on Codes of Practice for farm animals. Recently, the BC SPCA has been working with pest control operators, dog trainers and pet boarding/daycare services through its AnimalKind accreditation program. In Canada, the companion animal welfare sector has the greatest capacity and need for research growth and innovation.
Protopopova’s work will fall under three themes: 1) behaviour and welfare of cats in animal shelters, 2) behaviour and welfare of dogs, and 3) behaviour and welfare of pet rabbits and rats in animal shelters. Studies will be conducted at UBC LFS, the BC SPCA, and other animal shelters. The BC SPCA is comprised of 44 locations, employs 572 staff members, 5,500 volunteers, and assists over 45,000 animals per year.
Protopopova is the inaugural NSERC/BC SPCA Industrial Research Chair in Animal Welfare. She holds a PhD and MSc in Behaviour Analysis (Psychology) from the University of Florida and two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (one in Pre- Veterinary and Animal Sciences and the other in Neuroscience).
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) aims to make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports students in their advanced studies, promotes and supports discovery research, and fosters innovation by encouraging Canadian organizations to participate and invest in postsecondary research projects. NSERC researchers are on the vanguard of science, building on Canada’s long tradition of scientific excellence.
For more information, please contact:
Karen Lee
Communications, UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Email: Karen.lee98@ubc.ca
Tel.: 604-312-6343
Sara Dubois
Chief Scientific Officer, BC SPCA
Adjunct Professor, UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Email: sara.dubois@ubc.ca
Tagged with: 2020, Animal Welfare Program, Faculty
Chelsea Harris
Chelsea Harris
About
| Undergraduate | |
| Degree | Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health |
| Major | Food Science |
| Hometown | Cloverdale Surrey, BC, Canada |
Chelsea is a passionate student who landed in LFS after discovering her interest in the art of wine-making. In addition to her discipline-focused coursework, Chelsea appreciates the opportunity to gain a broad view on the complex and layered food system here in Canada and on a global scale. The sense of community she feels in LFS and UBC is attributed to her classroom experiences, but also her involvement as a Work Learn student with LFS Student Services as the Indigenous Outreach Coordinator.
What are three adjectives that describe you?
Creative, adventurous, and hard-working
What was your pathway to LFS at UBC?
I transferred to UBC via the Aboriginal Transfer Program offered by Langara College where I completed an associate degree in Science. I thought I would just study Biochemistry but after my first wine harvest I was hooked: I had to learn everything about the wine-making process. I was trained as a Lab Technician which led me to New Zealand for a harvest, and it was there I realized I needed to return to post-secondary to learn about the science behind wine. LFS turned out to be a perfect fit. If you are looking for a smaller Faculty that feels comfortable, down to earth, and encourages eating a lot of food, LFS is the place for you too.
What has been the best part of your university experience so far?
The First Nations Longhouse is such a welcoming space and great resource for Indigenous students! This is where I learned about the UBC chapter for .caISES (Canadian Indigenous Science and Engineering Society) and joined the club. I was able to travel to Saskatoon for the regional conference on sustainability pertaining to land, water, energy, and engaging Indigenous youth in STEM. It was a life changing experience where I was able to meet many amazing Indigenous scientists, learn about current issues within Canada, and I was inspired to get more involved with Indigenous youth in STEM fields.
What was the most significant challenge you faced when transferring to UBC, and who helped you navigate things?
I found registering for courses online very overwhelming. Luckily, I reached out to Joel Liman, the Academic Advisor with a focus on supporting Indigenous students, who helped guide me to register for specific courses at Langara College before I even transferred to UBC, which has helped me immensely in the long run. In general, LFS Student Services is a great and friendly resource to connect with. When I could go visit them in person, I not only received academic advising, but snagged some candy and worked on a puzzle while in the waiting room.
What is one UBC event you think more students should be aware of, and why?
Being on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people I believe everyone should be aware of Orange Shirt Day on September 30th each year. It is a day to rock some form of orange clothing while being mindful, respectful, and to honour Indigenous children that were forced into residential schools in Canada. I found on Orange shirt day so many fellow students, and faculty participating in an event that means so much to me and to reconciliation, heartwarming. Every day on campus I am grateful for the generosity and humility of the Musqueam people to allow all of us to gather on their homeland to better our education.
Interested in studying in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems? Learn more here!
Tagged with: Food Nutrition and Health, Food Science, Indigenous, Undergraduate
Meet the LFS Class of 2020
Meet the LFS Class of 2020!
Congratulations to all of our students in the Class of 2020! Here are just a few of our outstanding students who are poised to make their mark in the world.
Njoki Mburu, Global Resources Systems
As an international student from Nakuru, Kenya, Njoki received the MasterCard Foundation Scholarship to study in Canada. She choose UBC because of its commitment to sustainability and the environment.
After her first year of studies, she transitioned into the Global Resource Systems (GRS) when a student in the program and club mate recommended it to her. “I was immediately excited about it, as it allowed me to incorporate more social science into my science degree.”
From her time spent in Vancouver and UBC, Njoki was moved when learning about the inequalities that exist among the Indigenous populations, especially as a visitor living in comfort. She was inspired to shift her focus in her program to work against these systems of oppression.
“A valuable lesson that Dr. Les Lavkulich shared with me, is that nothing good comes out of guilt. If I want to create meaningful change, I need to do it from a place of love.” Njoki plans to pursue a Masters degree in the future, looking into the equalities in the systems of environmental policy and development.
Tip for first year students:
While it becomes easy to focus on your coursework because they give you credits, make time for extra-curricular opportunities! They have their own unique benefits and help broaden your perspective.
Misa Gillis, Global Resource Systems
Misa created an educational experience in GRS that satisfied her curiosity about health, going well beyond the core sciences.
It’s paid off as Misa has been accepted into UBC’s medical school next semester. In the future, she would love to work in global health, and says her GRS experience has given her the ideal perspective to succeed.
A UBC Wesbrook Scholar, Misa discovered land and food systems (LFS) after spending two years in UBC sciences. She made the switch to LFS’s GRS program because of its cross-disciplinary nature – she wanted to gain an understanding of the social and community aspects of health: “We didn’t just learn in the classroom. There were so many opportunities to attend conferences, international events and exchanges.” A highlight for Misa was travelling to Tokyo to present at the International Student Summit on Food, Agriculture, and the Environment on food literacy in the classroom. This built upon a past internship she had with Think&EatGreen@School, a collaboration between the Vancouver School Board, City of Vancouver and LFS, that aims to increase understanding of food among youth and teachers.
Tip for first year students:
Seek out opportunities beyond the classroom and treat every experience as a learning experience! Now is the time to explore what interests you.
Taryn Scarff, Applied Biology
No matter where she goes – from Nelson, B.C. to Vancouver – a common thread for Taryn is working with animals. Post-graduation, Taryn will be pursuing a UBC master’s degree in Zoology with plans to study the transient killer whale population along B.C.’s coastline. Starting this summer, she will be on a boat tracking the northern and southern resident killer whales.
Taryn grew up in Nelson and was involved with their local BC SPCA for seven years. She began as a volunteer in high school, then ran summer camps and eventually became an animal care attendant. Taryn first studied business in college, but soon realized she wanted to return to animals. She joined LFS’s Applied Biology program, majoring in Applied Animal Biology. One of Taryn’s most valuable takeaways was gaining research skills in APBI 398 (Research Methods in Applied Biology). It was through this course that she joined UBC’s Marine Mammal Research Unit led by Andrew Trites, and where she will continue on for her master’s degree.
Tip for first year students:
My biggest tip is to get involved in any clubs that you’re interested in. I was president of the UBC Pre-Veterinary and Animal Welfare Club for two years and it was a great way to get involved and meet other students with similar interests. Also, if you think you are interested in research, find a researcher and volunteer to help in their lab, as the introductions you make are extremely valuable when you graduate.
Hannah Spitzer, Applied Biology
Hannah Spitzer’s introduction to livestock came about when she was doing fieldwork at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre. Prior to that, she had no experience with cows! When Spitzer started at UBC LFS, she was certain she wanted to become a vet. But her experience doing research – collecting and analyzing data – and interacting with large animals, such as dairy cattle, in a non-medical way was enjoyable.
Post-graduation Spitzer plans to move to the East Coast to start a master’s degree at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). However, she will keep her options open and may pursue vet school at some point in the future. She’s happy that Professor Marina von Keyserlingk made the initial introduction to her future academic supervisor, Kathryn Proudfoot, Associate Professor, and Director of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI. Proudfoot is also an alumnae of UBC’s Animal Welfare Program.
Tips for first year students:
- Make sure you take advantage of opportunities to meet students above you, professors and TAs. Keep an open mind.
- In your personal life, it’s OK to take breaks and take some time for yourself. Take care of your health and well-being and don’t feel like you need to be working all of the time.
Nilanga Aki Ediriweera Bandara, Food, Nutrition and Health
Nilanga (Aki) Ediriweera Bandara chose the FNH program because he was interested in how our health and overall wellbeing are impacted by what we eat. He was curious about filling in the gaps between the food on our plates and a healthy body. Aki’s mom owned a Sri Lankan restaurant, so he was often surrounded by wholesome, homemade food, and he wanted to understand the nutritional impact of the food they served. Post-graduation he will be pursuing graduate school.
Aki is a UBC Wesbrook Scholar who has been involved in undergraduate research projects, and many community organizations. One of his long-term volunteer positions is with the Fraser Health Crisis Line where he provides mental health support to citizens across B.C. He is grateful for the support he has received from LFS throughout his degree: one highlight was presenting at the Canadian Public Health Association’s Tobacco Control Forum, where he received invaluable support from then Associate Dean of Academic Christine Scaman and Dean Rickey Yada.
Tip for first year students:
At this time of COVID-19, it will be challenging for first year students to have a person-to-person connection during online learning. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it! Approach your TAs and your professors who are there to help you. Also if you’re feeling stuck, ask for guidance sooner than later, as coursework can compound on itself.
Francesca Tse, Food, Nutrition and Health
Francesca’s discovery of LFS was a happy accident, as she thought she was applying to the Faculty of Science originally. At first unsure of what she wanted to study, she was introduced to the FNH program by her high school guidance counsellor, as it combined her strong interest in science and her love of food.
“I learned quickly upon arriving at UBC that I was in the right place at LFS, and I became immersed in the community very quickly. Students here are fortunate to have some of the most welcoming, supporting and encouraging faculty and staff.” Francesca believes in taking the many opportunities for getting involved and giving back as a complement to your education.
Tip for first year students:
Say yes and seize all opportunities that arise, especially if it makes you uncomfortable. The most growth happens when you put yourself in a spot that makes you uncomfortable. It is okay to make mistakes and fail because there is no better time to learn.
Jodie Zhao, Food, Nutrition and Health
Jodie was fortunate to experience the UBC campus for the first time in an all-expenses paid trip as part of Destination UBC, and didn’t hesitate to accept her offer of admission shortly after arriving. “I applied to UBC for its prominence, and stayed for the community and West Coast vibe!”
Following her passion for food, Jodie originally enrolled into the Food Science major, and later transitioned into the general Food, Nutrition and Health major. “This made space in my schedule to take more electives, so that I was able to broaden my realm of knowledge by complementing my science courses with art and social sciences.”
During her undergrad, Jodie also accepted a work learn position with the LFS Student Services office, where she had a very memorable experience in a professional workplace setting, and was able to share her passions with fellow and future students.
Tips for first year students:
- Seek as many different opportunities as you can to broaden your perspective and have unique experiences.
- Take advantage of the many resources around campus: everything from advisors to career fairs to clubs, you’ll never know who you might meet or what doors might open.
