When Jodie was exploring her post-secondary options, she attended a UBC event in Toronto and met an LFS student there who provided her with insight in to the student experience. In her final year in LFS, Jodie was able to give back as an LFS Student Ambassador sharing her story about studying in the Food, Nutrition and Health program with prospective students.
What are three adjectives that describe you?
Optimistic, adventurous, and intuitive
What drew you to UBC and LFS?
I wanted to move away from home to gain some independence, and Vancouver is such a beautiful and cosmopolitan city; I fell in love with it the first time I visited. When I met the LFS student in Toronto, she shared her experience with me and provided me with helpful tips and guidance - I knew that this Faculty was a place that I could thrive in based on the amount of support and help I received.
What advice would you give a high school student, exploring their post-secondary options?
My advice to a high school student would be to reflect on your strengths and explore your interests widely. Talk to professionals or university students on LinkedIn and discover what they like or dislike about the field they are in. Finding what you are passionate about is a process of self-recognition and self-reflection. Take your time - I am still in the process of discovering my passions. University is a great platform to provide you with lots of opportunities and support.
Who did you rely on when you face challenges with your academics?
My peers in the program are a great support to me. My friends and I help each other to understand difficult homework questions and we encourage each other through busy periods of school. I have also learned to seek help during TA office hours.
What are your plans after you finish your undergraduate degree?
I am hoping to enter a grad program in Media & Communications that integrates aspects of both social sciences and humanities. The LFS Faculty gives me opportunities to explore and dive into real-world issues such as malnutrition, racism, and sexism from a unique food systems-lens. Through my learning, I feel empowered to make contributions to solving these issues.
Interested in studying in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems? Learn more here!
Jennifer Black Selected as a Wall Scholar by the Peter Wall Institute for 2020-2021
Dr. Jennifer Black, an Associate Professor in the Food, Nutrition and Health program, has been selected as a Wall Scholar by the Peter Wall Institute for the 2020-2021 academic year.
As a Wall Scholar, Black will focus on developing non-traditional knowledge mobilization approaches focused on engaging children and schools in more critical discussions about the links between poverty, food insecurity and social justice. She will also be developing approaches to better understand how poverty and food insecurity in childhood shape trajectories of childhood wellbeing including examining the roles of school lunch programs in shaping experiences of stigma, wellbeing and dietary outcomes.
Black also leads the Public Health and Urban Nutrition Research Group and teaches courses related to applied nutrition, land, food and community health and research methods. Her research aims to improve understanding of the complex social and contextual factors that shape the health of individuals, communities and of the environment, with a focus on neighbourhood food environments, school health, and food systems research.
Wall Scholars are chosen among leading UBC researchers from all academic disciplines, with the objective of creating a dynamic and diverse intellectual community at the Institute. Learn more about the program here.
Our students find careers in health science, animal welfare, and veterinary medicine. Find out more about our Bachelor of Science degrees on our Undergraduate page.
Update: Bryna Turk started her Veterinary Medicine degree in August 2024.
About
Undergraduate Student
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology
Major
Applied Animal Biology
Hometown
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Bryna Turk is an undergraduate student in the Applied Biology program. Bryna applied to the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC because she appreciated the Faculty's "efforts to drive change" and she wanted to make a difference too! Read more about Bryna's journey from high school student to animal biologist, and why a science degree with social impact is so important to her.
What are three adjectives that describe you?
Charismatic, enthusiastic, and adventurous
Why did you choose the Faculty of Land and Food Systems?
LFS stood out to me because of the Faculty's efforts to drive change in areas that were important to me, like animal welfare, food security and safety, and human nutrition. After doing some research on the courses I could take and the profs in my prospective program, I could envision myself applying the knowledge and values I gained from studying in LFS to make a difference in my own community.
How would you describe your learning experience in LFS so far?
I would say the classes I’ve taken in LFS are distinct from other Faculties’. LFS courses are designed to develop real-world skills like group problem solving and communication, and how to apply them to contemporary issues with the goal of a more sustainable future. I’ve had the privilege of experiencing friendly and passionate profs who want to see me succeed, and I’ve met so many amazing and like-minded peers who are passionate about what they study, which is really energizing!
How are you involved outside of your academics at UBC?
Outside of class, I’m decently involved around campus! You’ll be sure to find me at CiTR 101.9 FM and Discorder Magazine, volunteering on the student executive, or out on the soccer pitch with my intramural team. Apart from that, my roles as an LFS Student Ambassador, Jumpstart Orientation Leader and a residence advisor have shown me how important something small like a friendly smile or simple hello can be to someone else and taking part in LFS Mentorship Program has helped me develop career goals and networking strategies as I move forward in my degree.
What advice would you give a high school student considering applying to LFS?
Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and try new things in your undergrad! University is a time to discover new passions you never would’ve imagined you’d have in high school; you might be pleasantly surprised what you find when you wonder outside of your comfort zone. The Faculty of Land and Food Systems has helped me develop as a collaborative group member and a leader- professionally, academically, and within my community.
Interested in studying in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems? Learn more here!
Sept. 6, 2019 – Should we add carbon pricing to our campus food so people become aware of emissions related to their food sources? That was one bold idea proposed by LFS 450 students.
Senior undergraduate UBC students can take LFS 450, offered by the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, to advance the university’s food sustainability activities and food system. It’s a hands-on approach to making the Vancouver campus a role model in sustainability.
As a cap to the core series of community courses, LFS 450 (Land, Food, and Community III: Leadership in Campus Food System Sustainability) welcomes students from across campus to collaborate and bring their knowledge, differing skill sets and passions to enact change.
UBC operational departments propose food sustainability projects, and student teams select which ones they wish to tackle over the term. The student team that participated in the project Climate-Friendly Food at UBC: Best Practices and Policy Recommendations presented their ideas to the campus community. The project was proposed by a collaboration of three UBC departments and student groups: Climate Hub, Sustainability Collective and Campus + Community Planning.
This was just one of eight projects in the 2018-2019 academic year, which saw 33 students participating. Projects ranged from community engagement work with the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) on the topic of biodiversity and food, to achieving zero-waste catering with UBC’s Scholar’s Catering, to finding ways to make UBC food sourcing more climate friendly.
Since it launched in 2001, LFS 450 has supported the sustainability of the campus food system with new ideas proposed by 1,900 students together with campus food representatives and faculty members. The course was initiated by the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and the UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program, which creates applied research and interdisciplinary partnerships between students, faculty, staff and community partners that advance sustainability ideas, policies and practices while addressing critical societal issues.
