Walking the talk: Language Sciences at UBC
There is a certain buzz in the air at the University of British Columbia; scientists, administrators, graduate students, and undergraduate students are all talking. They’re talking about a new initiative that brings together scholars from across the university, united by their common interest: language sciences. The initiative is UBC Language Sciences, a platform for inspiring collaboration […]
Professor Ara Norenzayan: What can evolution tell us about morality?
What can evolution tell us about morality? UBC Psychology professor and “Big Gods” author Dr. Ara Norenzayan seeks to answer this question in an essay for the Center for Humans & Nature, titled “What can cultural evolution tell us about the human conquest of the planet?”. Dr. Norenzayan explains the role that cultural evolution has played in […]
Baby Talk: How language learning begins before birth
Explore the secrets of early childhood development with UBC Psychology professor Dr. Janet Werker as part of the University Killam Professor Lecture series. Dr. Werker will host a special screening and discussion of the acclaimed documentary Babies, directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmès. Babies joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of […]
January Lab of the Month: A new model of suicide with the Personality, Emotion, and Behaviour Lab
Dr. David Klonsky on the psychology of suicidal behaviour, insights into suicide, and how we can show support and help prevent suicide.
The Centre for Gambling Research at UBC discovers new treatments for problem gamblers
After looking at images of slot machines and roulette, problem gamblers experience increased activity in the same part of the brain that lights up when drug addicts have cravings, according to a new study out of the Centre for Gambling Research at UBC. The findings, published today in Translational Psychiatry, suggest that this part of […]
Q&A with PhD candidate Ashley Whillans: Why do we give?
The holiday season is a time of giving, but the reasons why people donate to charity aren’t well understood. UBC psychology PhD candidate Ashley Whillans is the lead author of a study published this month in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology that looks at the effect of wealth on willingness to donate to charity. […]
Michael Muthukrishna receives 2016 CGS/ProQuest Dissertation Award
Michael Muthukrishna, a former UBC Psychology PhD student, has been selected as the winner of the prestigious 2016 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social Sciences, for his dissertation, The Cultural Brain Hypothesis and the Transmission and Evolution of Culture. In his dissertation, Muthukrishna discusses theories to explain the evolution of the human brain and human social networks. […]
Dr. Kiley Hamlin among UBC’s Canada Research Chair renewals
On December 2nd, 2016, UBC received a $11.5 million boost in federal funding to support researchers who “improve our scientific understanding and strengthen Canada’s reputation for research excellence.” Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kiley Hamlin, whose Canada Research Chair appointment was renewed. Dr. Kiley Hamlin, Canada Research Chair of Developmental Psychology, focuses her research on the role […]
Dr. Peter Suedfeld awarded Canadian Honours Polar Medal
We would like to congratulate Professor Emeritus Dr. Peter Suedfeld, who was awarded the Canadian Honours Polar Medal. The Polar Medal celebrates Canada’s northern heritage and recognizes those who have contributed to or endeavoured to promote a greater understanding of Canada’s northern communities and its people. Dr. Suedfeld has conducted field research in both polar regions. His research focuses on understanding […]
Language Science Talks: SSHRC Gold Medal Speaker Series announced
UBC Language Sciences presents Language Science Talks, a series of talks by leading researchers in the language sciences from around the world. The first five talks are partly sponsored by the SSHRC Gold Medal awarded to Dr. Janet Werker, Canada Research Chair in Psychology at UBC, in recognition of the pioneering discoveries Dr. Werker has […]