Ava Katz, a 2020 KIN Community Champion, reflects on life during Covid

Ava Katz, a 2020 KIN Community Champion, reflects on life during Covid

Ava Katz is a second-year UBC Kin student who was profiled in March 2020 as a Kin Community Champion. The Kin Community Champions initiative recognizes and celebrates the students, staff, faculty and alumni who are making a difference in their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. People whose service to others and acts of support show strength of character and the KIN values of compassion and care for the greater good.

We recently caught up with Ava to see how she has been faring since we last spoke and to learn how her volunteer delivery service for the elderly is going.

“Back in April when I began volunteering to help seniors get groceries and run essential errands, I had no idea, like everyone else, how long this pandemic would last and how serious it would become. I thought my post on Facebook would keep me busy for a few weeks as people worked out how they would navigate the stores. Throughout the summer months, I continued to volunteer by delivering meals to a senior’s residential home a couple of times a week, along with trying to complete 2 Science courses.

The summer felt somewhat easier and more ‘normal’ as we were able to spend more time outdoors and could socially distance ourselves. When September came, I felt disheartened that I would not be going back to campus for classes or see my friends. Although I can’t necessarily complain about doing a class in my pyjamas, it is admittedly hard to stay motivated, especially with winter coming. Along with my volunteering work and 5 KIN courses, I have taken up tutoring and volunteering with a mentorship program that works with young children. Although it’s hectic, I thoroughly enjoy my busy schedule and find it helps to keep me stay positive.

I consider myself fortunate not to have lost anyone to the virus and not see any close friends become sick. Compared to so many people who have suffered and sacrificed, I understand how very lucky my family and I have been. The ‘New Norm’ has us all trying to adapt as best we can.
Eight months later, it seems little and much has changed. As cases have started to spike again, it feels like we are approaching similar lockdown conditions to last March, which is the last thing we all want to hear. Yet we’ve learned many things about the virus and human behaviour and even about ourselves. Hopefully down the road, we can look back at all this craziness and even though many memories will be tough, there will be good ones too.“

Wade Zhang

Wade is a second year Kinesiology student in the Multidisciplinary stream. He hopes to work as a PE teacher in a secondary school when he graduates, and sees this career choice as a “great opportunity to combine my passions for both teaching and coaching.” Wade recently served as an Orientation & Transition Leader for UBC Jump Start and the Virtual Collegia Programs, and is currently working as a student leader on the UBC Reading Week Project.

Wade joined the KIN Mentorship Program to “explore what other career options the health and sport industry has to offer in addition to medicine and physiotherapy.” He also wanted “to meet new inspiring people and to learn from them.” Wade recommends that other students apply to the Mentorship Program as he believes that “whether you have decided on your [career] pathway or are still exploring it, you can learn a lot from both the mentors and mentees. It is a judgment-free environment where you can learn not only about the industry but about yourself, professionalism, building a network, and more.”

One of the most important things that Wade has learned so far in his degree is to “have no fear of failure,and to seek to surpass no one but yourself. Because at the end of the day, it only matters if you have become better than what you were yesterday.”
 

Asha Basi

Asha Basi is a third-year Kinesiology student in the Interdisciplinary stream. She chose UBC Kin for the variety of subject areas she could study such as psychology, biometrics and physiology. But with so many subject areas, how does one begin to hone in on an area that might lead to a career that would be a good fit? Asha’s favourite class to date has been Advanced Exercise Physiology (KIN 335) and says “the content is intriguing and very applicable to my life.” But she wanted to learn more about where she could go with this!

So, Asha decided to join the KIN Mentorship Program to find “some guidance in choosing a potential career path.” She was also interested in “hearing about the experiences of UBC Kinesiology alumni and what they decided to do with their degrees once they were out of School.” After only one term as a mentee, Asha highly recommends the mentorship program to other students; “I have already learned so much more about myself, about new and interesting career paths and it has helped me come to many important realizations.”

If you want to catch up with Asha, you can find her at BodyWorks where she currently works as a volunteer, and at the KUS where she serves on the Sponsorship Committee.

Roger Jackson

Sehmbi, Inderpal

Inderpal is currently a Canadian Men’s U21 Field Hockey Coach and is also a Physical Health Educator with the VSB. He has attended the Pan-American Games, Youth Olympics, the World Cup, the Junior World Cups twice, and the Commonwealth Games as a coach and performance analyst.

He initially decided to pursue the MHPCTL degree to seek a challenge and a way to advance his coaching and leadership skills. The program has provided him with skills that he can apply in his coaching and educational environments.

“My major paper had a huge impact on my everyday practice. Having a framework to anchor drills design and technical skill development allowed me to focus my attention on the things that really mattered.” Inderpal’s area of research on his final project was “Goal Scoring in Men’s International Field Hockey. A deep dive into how field goals are scored at the Men’s 2016 Rio Olympics.”

He believes that the MHPCTL program allows the culture of coaching to change by practice, that it will impact his athletes and those he works with and will have some long-lasting effects on sport in a positive way.

He reflects, “the program was the catalyst for my leadership and coaching evolution. The content in the program provides you with the tools to advance your practice. The relationships you build with other Canadian sport leaders provide you with an amazing support network.”

Igor Kopecky

Maximizing the impact of global and national physical activity guidelines: the critical role of communication strategies

The paper presents a new planning framework to communicate global and national physical activity guidelines. Use of the planning framework may increase the effectiveness of communication and help maximise the impact of physical activity guidelines.

Clear communication strategies to accompany the publication of physical activity guidelines has not been usual practice. The aim of the paper is to provide a planning framework for communication of physical activity guidelines. The specific objectives are to:

  • Outline a process for communication planning and implementation.
  • Describe the key audiences, aims and approaches to physical activity guideline communication and,
  • Identify future research directions.

Read the article: Click Here.

In Memoriam: Robert Laycoe, 1947- 2020

It is with great sadness that the School of Kinesiology has learned that one of its highly noted alumni, Bob Laycoe passed away on December 28th, 2020 at the age of 73 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

The son of Hal Laycoe, the NHL Canucks first head coach, Bob graduated from the School of Kinesiology (then known as the School of Physical Education) with his Masters of Physical Education in 1969. While studying for his masters, Bob played football for the Thunderbirds and was named the Most Inspirational Player. This same 1968/69 season Bob was a member of the UBC wrestling team and was the Western Canadian Champion, National (USPORTS) Champion and Canadian National Champion.

In 1973, after serving four years as head football coach and Athletics Director at the University of Saskatchewan, Bob returned to UBC to work in the School of Kinesiology (P.E.) as the head coach of the UBC wrestling team and assistant coach with the Thunderbird football team. Bob continued teaching a full academic schedule in the School and was also involved in academic planning for the school.

From 1973 through 1979 Bob guided the wrestling team to four Western Canadian titles, and in 1978 he was named CIS Wrestling Coach of the Year. And from 1973 through 1987, Laycoe partnered with head coach Frank Smith to coach some of UBC’s best football teams including the 1982 and 1986 national champions. Bob is still lauded by coaches and players for his strength and conditioning program, his thoroughness, his motivation and his meticulous preparation.

Frank Smith remembers Laycoe “Immediately made an impact on the program coaching defence… Bob’s rapport with his players was remarkable… Bob’s defence… was one of the most feared in the country.” He was considered a great coach and mentor to many.

Bob left UBC for the University of Toronto where he coached the Blues football team for 3 decades from 1988-2001 and turned the U of T team around to guide them to the 1993 Yates and Vanier Cup championship titles.

In 2019, Bob was selected for induction into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. We are proud to include Laycoe as one of our alumni.

Bob is survived by his wife of 52 years, Suzanne and children David and Tonya and granddaughter Stevie in British Colombia, brother Bryan in Ridgefield, Washington, and sister Rhonda in Portland. Our condolences go out to his family.

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Biomechanics of Human Movement

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Faculty of Education

School of Kinesiology

Vancouver Campus

The School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the area of Biomechanics of human movement. The successful candidate will contribute basic and applied research that supports the areas of neuromechanical and systems biology. In addition to basic research into the biomechanical and aspects of human movement, the successful candidate will be able to contribute to teaching in areas that require expertise and advanced knowledge in applied biomechanics (e.g. occupational, sport performance, injury biomechanics, robotics and human factors). The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2021 or as negotiated with the successful candidate.

The candidate must hold a PhD at the time of application in biomechanics or a closely related discipline. Post-doctoral training would be an asset. The candidate must have a record of research dissemination, in terms of peer-reviewed articles in recognized academic journals in the field, and evidence of presentations at national and international scholarly conferences. Demonstrated ability to participate in scholarly activity and to secure competitive research funding (e.g. tri-council and partnership grants) in biomechanics is required.

The successful candidate must have advanced knowledge and a demonstrated history of publications using biomechanical approaches in 3-Dimensional kinematics and dynamics. Demonstrated research experience in electromyography, tissue mechanics, mechanical energy, modelling, as well as evidence of using these biomechanical techniques in applied settings would be preferred.

The candidate will have demonstrated capability to provide effective instruction at introductory and advanced levels of biomechanics. The candidate will be expected to teach three courses, including a core undergraduate course in biomechanics as well as develop and teach a new advanced undergraduate/graduate course in a) injury biomechanics and b) applied biomechanics (e.g. occupational, sport, robotics and human factors).

The successful candidate will be encouraged to collaborate across the diverse research areas in the School and, more broadly, the University. The successful candidate will complement the School of Kinesiology’s strategic plans for interdisciplinary research excellence within the School and across Faculties at UBC and play a key role in generating and disseminating knowledge on the role of physical activity and health in diverse populations. The successful candidate is expected to establish a program of original, externally funded research (e.g. tri-council and partnership grants) and teach undergraduate courses in the School, and contribute to the growth of the School through supervision of graduate students, participation in service activities within the University and in the broader scholarly community, and collaboration with scientists within the School and across Faculties at UBC.

The School of Kinesiology currently has 24 full-time tenure stream faculty members, 1350 full-time undergraduate students, and 160 graduate students. We offer a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree with specializations in Neuromechanical and Physiological Sciences, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Multi-disciplinary Science. The graduate program includes M.A., M.Sc., Master of Kinesiology (non-thesis), Master of High Performance Coaching & Technical Leadership, and Ph.D. degrees. For further details about the School of Kinesiology and its research, please visit the School’s website at http://kin.educ.ubc.ca/.

The UBC Faculty of Education is one of the leading faculties of its kind in the world, advancing educational research and understanding of teaching and learning in a way that celebrates diversity, equity and innovation, and welcomes international collaboration in an increasingly borderless globe. We provide a comprehensive set of programmatic offerings at the baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral levels. For further details about the Faculty of Education and its research and teaching programs, please visit www.educ.ubc.ca.

The UBC Vancouver campus is located on the traditional ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people in Vancouver, currently a multicultural, multilingual city ranked as one of the best places to live in the world. The University is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university.

The School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, and UBC are dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive academic community. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate through their teaching, research experience and service that they can contribute to this goal. Familiarity with, and experience using pedagogical methods and designing research that enable students across Indigenous, racial, ethnic, sexual and gender identity and socio-economic groups to reach their maximum potential will be considered an asset. Candidates should have a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity and teaching in a welcoming and politically astute environment.

This is a tenure-track position in the Professoriate Stream. The successful candidate will be reviewed for reappointment, tenure and promotion in subsequent years, in accordance with the Collective Agreement. For a detailed description of the Assistant Professor rank and criteria for reappointment and promotion, please visit, https://hr.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/2020-09/Faculty-CA2019-2021.pdf. The position is subject to final budgetary approval. Starting salary is determined both by the candidate’s qualifications and experience and by their placement on the career progress scale within the UBC Faculty of Education.

Interested applicants are invited to send:
(i) a cover letter,
(ii) curriculum vitae,
(iii) a five year research plan,
(iv) a summary of teaching interests and philosophy,
(v) evidence of teaching excellence (such as course outlines and student evaluations if available),
(vi) three papers that are the most significant and relevant to their research interests, and
(vii) a Diversity Statement. Diversity is an important part of the School of Kinesiology/Faculty of Education/UBC mission. Please provide a Diversity Statement (max 1 page) that describes and documents how diversity figures into your past and present experience of teaching, research, and your lived experience. Going forward, how would you imagine incorporating attention to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion?

The complete application file must be submitted in the format of one bookmarked PDF file, addressed to Dr. Robert Boushel, Director School of Kinesiology, and sent electronically to kin.hr@ubc.ca by the application review start date (below). Please indicated in subject heading: Biomechanics of Human Movement. Following the submission of the application, the applicant will receive an Equity Survey link via email. Completion of the anonymous Equity Survey is strongly encouraged as part of the application process.

Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly to kin.hr@ubc.ca by the application review start date (below).

While applications will be received until the position is filled, interested parties are encouraged to submit by February 15, 2021, to ensure optimal consideration.
Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Robert Boushel, Director School of Kinesiology at kin.hr@ubc.ca.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Congrats Dr. Riazi!

Dec. 8th, 2020 – Many congratulations to Dr. Negin Riazi who recently passed her doctoral defence!

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