Leads: Sunaina Assanand (UBC Psychology), Joanne Fox, Chad Hyson (VP Student Development), David Ng, Allen Sens (UBC Political Science)
Funding: VP Students, TLEF, SSHRC Connection and AMBL lab.
Project Start: 2006
Content Includes: High profile speaker series, TEDx student conference, website, podcast, BarTalk, university course (ASIC200), UBC MIX program.
Website: terry.ubc.ca
Course: ASIC200 (info, registration)
UBC MIX: link
Podcast: web | RSS | iTunes
GLOBAL ISSUES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY DISCUSSIONS FOR THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
The Terry Project is a cross-faculty program designed to educate undergraduate students on pressing global issues like climate change, poverty, conflict and disease. Recognizing that these problems demand a rich multi-dimensional understanding, our chief aim is to create forums that promote interdisciplinary dialogue between students of the humanities and students of the life sciences. By hosting a prominent speakers series, organizing a TEDx student conference, offering an interdisciplinary academic course, and fostering a vibrant online community, we inspire students across disciplines to come together to discuss issues of global import.
IN SHORT…
It’s a bit amorphous, with a lot of different things going on.
Maybe the best way to get a sense of what it is, is to immerse yourself in a few of our favourite moments:
1. ASIC 200 GETS APPROVED
Meaning that the course designation ASIC (or Arts and Science Integrated Course) passes through both the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science curriculum committees. This means there is now a course designation that allows for interdisciplinary courses where reciprocal Arts and Science credit can be obtained. See ASIC200 course link for more details.
1. INVITATION OF HIGH PROFILE SPEAKERS WHO GIVE A FREE TALK AT UBC.
Like the one below by Sir Ken Robinson. Other recent favourites include Margaret Atwood, and K’naan
Sir Ken Robinson – September 30th, 2009. from terrytalks on Vimeo.
3. WEBSITE PUBLISHING GREAT WRITTEN PIECES.
Like this poem. Also, you can check out a number of global FAQs.
4. AWESOME STUDENT SPEAKERS AT OUR ANNUAL TEDXTERRYTALKS
The Terry Project has hosted dozens of passionate student speakers over the years. Note that this has morphed in the TEDxUBC program, which is still running. Anyway, here are six to get you started.
5. LISTENING TO THE TERRY PODCAST
Which eventually turned into the award winning CITED podcast. You can see more of the fine radio documentary work at www.citedpodcast.com
6. HAVING A DRINK AND WEIGHING IN ON AN INTERESTING PANEL DISCUSSION
Organized under the name “BarTalk.” These are also generally presented as podcasts, which tend to sound a little like this.
The Mission
By creating a synergistic forum that addresses topics such as climate change, sustainability, GMOs and AIDS, we hope to stress the importance of multi-disciplinary learning, thus inspiring students to actively pursue university educations that will assist them in developing and promoting just, civil, and sustainable societies throughout the world.
History
Terry is affectionate for “terra” – as in the Earth, as in where you live. In 2006, former Dean of Arts Nancy Gallini brought two professors together- one from the sciences (Dave) and one from the arts (Allen). Over coffee at 99 Chairs the two immediately hit it off, and started to focus on creating a project that pushed undergraduate students from the arts and sciences to focus on interdisciplinary thought. The first thing they realized, of course, was that neither was at all comfortable talking about the sciences and the humanities. Allen, after all, specializes in international security, and David dabbles in molecular genetics, worthy disciplines on their own, but obviously nowhere near representative of the enormous breath behind the two largest faculties on campus. What to do? What to do? Well, they wrote a grant. To make a long story short, the grant reviewer people thought this was a great idea, and the Terry Project was born. Essentially, the Terry Project’s primary mission is to educate members of the UBC community (notably undergraduate students) on the pressing global issues of our time. This will encompass a website, provision of an interdisciplinary course addressing global issues, and delivery of a speaker’s series showcasing high profile (and engaging) academics, cognoscenti, and proactive members of our global community. By creating a synergistic forum that addresses topics such as climate change, sustainability, social inequity, GMOs and AIDS, we hope to stress the importance of multi-disciplinary learning, thus inspiring students to actively pursue university educations that will assist them in developing and promoting just, civil, and sustainable societies throughout the world. Terry has now grown, and includes a number of projects.