OSI Mission

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OSI Mission

• To contribute to a sustainable future through
  basic and applied research, scholarship and
  creative work relevant to the sustainability of
  the Okanagan region and elsewhere.

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How?

• Fostering collaboration between researchers in
  different disciplines.
• Sustainability issues don't respect the
  boundaries we create.
• Engaging with Okanagan communities and
  stakeholders.
• Educating us about the issues that matter and the
  solutions that will work.
• Providing information and expertise to support
  moving towards local, regional, and global
  sustainability goals.

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How?

• Develop partnerships with organizations outside
  the university that are concerned about
  sustainability in the Okanagan.
• Bring outside knowledge and experience and
  resources to bear on Okanagan sustainability
  issues.
• Provide support to local organizations working
  for sustainability.
• Build contacts and connections between local
  organizations and those outside the region.

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Partner Environment Canada

• Sustainable Planning for the Okanagan
  Environment.
• spOKe is a data portal, providing single point
  access to a range of data sources relevant to
  planning decisions in the Okanagan.

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Partner Environment Canada

• Partners in spOKe include
• Okanagan Nation Alliance
• Okanagan Basin Water Board
• Environment Canada
• UBC Okanagan
• Simon Fraser University - Canadian Water Network
• BC Ministry of Environment
• Natural Resources Canada
• Centre for Sustainable Watersheds

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Who?

• Participants from across the university (gt40)?

Computer Science
Geography
Sociology
Mathematics and Statistics
Engineering
Political Science
Earth and Environmental Science
Management
Education
Nursing
English
Biology
Health
Chemistry
Social Development
Creative Studies
Psychology
Women's Studies
Economics
Anthropology
Indigenous Studies
Creative Writing
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Profile Adam Wei

• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• What is the relationship between trees, streams,
  and wells?
• How does forestry affect stream flow?
• Is my well getting water from the nearby stream?
• What happens to fish habitat when streams are
  modified?
• How will climate change affect the way water
  moves through the Okanagan?
• adam.wei_at_ubc.ca

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Profile Liane Gabora

• Psychology and Computer Science
• What will it take for everyone to take only as
  much as they need, even when there is still
  plenty for the taking?
• How has our history led us to always want more?
• Can our outlook and behavior change so that we
  are happy to only have what we need?
• How do we develop a 'Sustainable Worldview'?
• liane.gabora_at_ubc.ca

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Profile Rebecca Tyson

• Mathematics and Statistics
• How much habitat do we need to protect if we want
  to ensure the survival of the species we like?
• How is the health of a species affected by
  breaking its habitat up into fragments?
• How must these fragments be connected to enable a
  species in different fragments to be healthy?
• rebecca.tyson_at_ubc.ca

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Profile Ramon Lawrence

• Computer Science
• Can a lawn irrigation system be smart?
• Can a cheap and reliable moisture sensor be
  developed?
• Can a control system, using moisture sensors, be
  developed to manage lawn irrigation?
• ramon.lawrence_at_ubc.ca

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Profile Gord Lovegrove

• Civil Engineering
• How can we evolve the infrastructure in our
  communities (land use, transportation) to support
  our sustainability goals?
• How do we plan and build new communities that
  sustainably satisfy mobility desires?
• Within our existing communities, how can we save
  resources, reduce pollution and waste, reduce
  costs, and maintain or improve the quality of
  life?
• gord.lovegrove_at_ubc.ca

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Profile Nancy Holmes

• Creative Writing
• How has our relationship with nature changed as
  it appears in the written word?
• Are there regional differences in this attitude
  across Canada?
• Has this relationship changed?
• How can we foster a critical examination of this
  relationship here in the Okanagan?
• nancy.holmes_at_ubc.ca

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Profile John Janmaat

• Economics
• What is motivating the choices Okanagan residents
  are making, and can those motivations be changed?
• How can people be encouraged to conserve water?
• What will encourage people to use more
  sustainable transportation?
• What is so valuable about a single detached
  house?
• john.janmaat_at_ubc.ca

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Summary

• Members of the OSI are committed to supporting
  sustainability in the Okanagan.
• For almost any issue in the Okanagan, there is an
  OSI member with related knowledge and/or
  experience.
• http//web.ubc.ca/okanagan/academic-research/osi.h
  tml

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