Newsletter

The newsletter, distributed quaterly, highlights opportunities, initiatives, events, and success stories within the Social Exposome Cluster (SEC). We are always looking for additional content, so feel free to email Ruanne at ruanne.lai@bcchr.ca if you have any announcements that you would like included.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Apply to the 'Society to Cell' Clyde Hertzman Memorial Fellowship

The Social Exposome Cluster and Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) are proud to announce the 'Society to Cell' Clyde Hertzman Memorial Fellowship! The 'Society to Cell' Clyde Hertzman Memorial Fellowship is intended to financially support UBC trainees who are conducting research projects that are directly and/or indirectly related to child health and well-being. Funded projects would align with the mission of the Social Exposome Cluster and fall into one or more of the four research themes; and/or align with the mission of the HELP. We invite applications from graduate students (masters and doctoral) and postdoctoral researchers. Complete and submit the forms below.

Learn More & Apply

Experiences Under the Skin: Journey from Infancy to Adolescence

April 27, 2021 | 9:30-11:00am

How does the social environment affect kids’ health and well-being as they grow? How can society support optimal social environments for our children? Join the conversation on April 27th with invited speaker, Sara Austin, Founder and CEO of Children First Canada, and Social Exposome Cluster researchers Dr. Joelle LeMoult, Assistant Professor and Director of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Laboratory in the Department of Psychology, UBC, and Dr. Michael Kobor, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Social Epigenetics, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, UBC. 

As the Founder and CEO of Children First Canada and one of “Top 25 Women of Influence”, Sara Austin is leading a national movement to make Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up. She will highlight the work of Children First Canada, and how they are building greater awareness among Canadians about the urgent needs of kids in our country. Children First Canada is mobilizing government and other key influencers to change the status quo. Sara Austin will highlight you how you can play a role in making Canada a world-leading country for kids.

Moving from ‘society to cell’, Dr. Joelle LeMoult and Dr. Michael Kobor will share the latest research related to the cognitive, emotional and biological responses to environmental factors in kids’ lives. Dr. LeMoult will share her work on psychological distress and resilience in pre-adolescence. Dr. Kobor will shed light on how nurturing and positive experiences can buffer adversity in the social environment through biological changes “under the skin”.

Finally, Sara Austin, Dr. Joelle LeMoult and Dr. Michael Kobor will connect the research to practice with an engaging dialogue that centers on the question asked at our previous Expo events — How ambitious do we think we can be in reducing early childhood vulnerability?

Register

Promoting outdoor play in schools and communities: Moving from risk and barriers to opportunities and facilitators

May 10, 2021 | 11:30-1:00pm

Outdoor play promotes children’s healthy social and physical development, emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, risk management and provides opportunities for being physically active. However, free outdoor play in childhood has declined across past generations and been widely displaced by structured activities that take place indoors and tend to be sedentary. Concerns about risks involved in outdoor play have led many families to believe that children are safest indoors. Child care settings and schools can play a critical role in (re)-connecting children to the outdoors and to offer opportunities for outdoor play and outdoor learning for all children in society. Please join Megan Zeni, teacher, author, PhD Student, Faculty of Education, UBC, and Room to Play Consultant and SEC faculty, Dr. Eva Oberle, Assistant Professor, HELP and SPPH, and Dr. Mariana Brussoni, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, Scientist with the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, as they explore this disparity, sharing the latest research and information, including a new online educational tool to help early childhood educators learn about the importance of outdoor play for children in their centres’ and provided strategies for implementation. 

Register

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Dr. Eva Oberle 

Dr. Eva Oberle is an assistant professor with the Human Early Learning Partnership.

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Dr. Benedikt Warth

Dr. Benedikt Warth is an associate professor at the University of Vienna.

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Dr. Keegan Korthauer

Keegan Korthauer is an assistant professor in the Department of Statistics at UBC.

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Rachel Lai

Rachel is a population and public health Master's student with the Human Early Learning Partnership.

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Tebby Leepile

Tebby is in the final stages of her PhD in the Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems.

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Salima Kerai

Salima Kerai is a PhD student at the School of Population and Public Health.

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Shorter Wu

Shorter is a research assistant in the Department of Psychology.

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Karlie Edwards

Karlie is a Master's student in the Department of Biochemistry and Moledcular Biology.

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WORKING GROUPS

NEW Working Groups Webpage

In March, three Working Groups have been formulated and working hard. These groups are meant for faculty members and trainees to brainstorm, create initiatives, and implementation of the Social Exposome Cluster's strategiac plan and goals.

Research Working Group

  • Next meeting date: May 18, 11am-12pm

Knowledge Translation, Dissemination &  Engagement Working Group

  • Next meeting date: TBA; see webpage for updates

Training Working Group

  •  Next meeting date: May 4, 11am-12pm

New members are welcome to the working group. Address questions and RSVPs to Ruanne Lai at ruanne.lai@bcchr.ca.

Working Groups Webpage

UPDATES & REMINDERS

  • Inform us of your publications, events, awards and scholarhips. We would like to know what you're up to so that we can share your acheivements and activities with the Cluster.
  • Update your profile. You now have the option to add your pronouns, Twitter and LinkedIn to your SEC profile. Let us know.
  • Engage in informal discussions with other members on Slack.
    • Click here to join Slack for informal conversations related to the Social Exposome Cluster.
    • New available channels! They are #extinsic-factors, #intrinsic-responses, #technical-developments, #policies-and-interventions, #grants, #recent-publications, #equity-diversity-inclusion, #working-group-research, #working-group-ktde, and #working-group training

 Email Ruanne at ruanne.lai@bcchr.ca for any updates or questions.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Tao Huan

Dr. Tao Huan is an assistant professsor in the Department of Chemistry at UBC Vancouver and a key member of the Social Exposome Cluster Steering Committee. Dr. Huan's research was featured in UBC's Research in Focus.

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TRAINEE'S CORNER

Trainee Tebby Leepile wins UBC 3-Minute Thesis First Place

Title: MyData_MyVoice: Prevalence of Anemia among San Women and Young Children in Rural Botswana

"Hard work pays! Diversity and representation are important and possible in UBC! I am humbled and honored; I never imagined that I could win the 3MT, especially at a reputable institution like UBC, in a sea of extremely talented individuals! May this win inspire others particularly, the Black, the African, and the wider international student community, to consider the 3MT in the future. The experience will definitely change your life! May this achievement also motivate women and young girls to pursue their dreams with full zest; all things are possible!" - Tebogo (Tebby) Leepile

Watch Video of Tebby's 3MT

Welcome Ellen to the Trainee Steering Committee

Ellen is a Vanier doctoral scholar in clinical psychology at UBC’s Depression, Anxiety and Stress Lab, under the supervision of Dr. Joelle LeMoult. 

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Community Spotlight: Paula Littlejohn

PhD Candidate Paula Littlejohn was featured on International Women’s Day 2021, as an inspiring women championing inclusion at UBC 

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Trainee Social 

Date: May 25

Thank you to everyone who attended the Trainee Research Speed Dating social event! Keep an eye out on SEC's website about our next event, where trainees will brainstorm potential SEC research projects! Prizes will be available.