AMBL is the science literacy and education unit stationed within the Michael Smith Laboratories. This is a high profile interdisciplinary unit, first conceived in 1987, under the visionary leadership of Dr. Michael Smith. The Michael Smith Laboratories is governed internally by a Director (Dr. James Kronstad) that reports to the VP Academic, and who coordinates the inter-departmental activities of the MSL through an advisory committee of six Deans. There are approximately 250 research personnel in the Laboratory, with research activities falling into four major areas of emphasis: medical and animal molecular genetics; statistics, genomics and experimental evolution; bioengineering and bioanalytical/process technologies; and plant and forestry molecular genetics. There is a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary interaction and overlap of interest among the different groups. Awards from prestigious national and international organizations are continually recognizing the faculty members for their excellence. In 1993, Dr. Michael Smith received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
The MSL itself is placed within the Vancouver Campus of the University of British Columbia. UBC, established in 1908, educates a student population of 50,000 on major campuses in two cities and holds an international reputation for excellence in advanced research and learning. The largest is 30 minutes from the heart of downtown Vancouver, a spectacular campus that is a ‘must-see’ for any visitor to the city — where snow-capped mountains meet ocean and breathtaking vistas greet you around every corner.
Both Joanne and Dave are tenured Faculty within the UBC system, and have teaching commitments as well as a variety of projects that connect directly with the UBC community. Most noteworthy are the various elements of the Terry Project, as well as Joanne’s administrative leadership in the First Year Science Seminar and Vantage College programs.
UBC Collaborators – Past and Current:
Faculty of Science. Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry. Life Science Institute, Biomedical Research Centre, ICord, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, UBC iGEM, SCIE113, Genomics Entrepreneurship@UBC
Faculty of Medicine. Departments of Experimental Medicine, Pathology, UBC UAEM
Faculty of Arts. Departments of Political Science, Visual Arts, Creative Writing, School of Music, Anthropology, English. School of Journalism.
Faculty of Lands and Food Systems. Wine Research Centre, Soil, Water and Sustainability Group, UBC Farm
Faculty of Education. Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy
Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, VP Students, VP Academics, UBC Bookstore, UBC Public Affairs, Alma Mater Society, CiTR, UBC Farm, UBC Engineers without Borders, UBC Sustainability, IRES, Vantage College.