Mission and Vision
Mission – To develop resources and share knowledge mobilizing faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Asian Studies to act on climate change and related issues. The Sustainability Initiative Committee develops and supports action plans in our department to address climate change via operations, research, and teaching.
Vision – Working to improve our relationship with nature and acting in alignment with Indigenous caretakers of the land, at UBC and beyond.
Committee Members
Pamela Francis
I am the Administrative Assistant for the Department of Asian Studies. I have a Masters Degree in Art History and have worked at UBC for 14 years. I am very keen to become more environmentally conscious and learn tips and tricks for how to reduce waste and my carbon footprint and assist the department in doing the same.
Xiaoqiao Xu
I am a lecturer in modern Chinese Literature and Cinema. I teach modern Chinese fiction and cinema courses. My work involves exploring the historical and cultural narratives within Chinese literature and how they intersect with contemporary issues. I am keen to explore ways to integrate environmental studies into my classroom and am eager to learn from everyone.
Léa Charette
I am a first-year MA student in the Department of Asian Studies, with a research interest in Taiwanese cinema and popular culture. Joining the Sustainability Committee represents an exceptional opportunity for me to interact and learn from like-minded individuals regarding the climate crisis and its mitigation. Having been raised in a family environment who taught me to be mindful of my own consumption and environmental impact, I am excited to discuss and share sustainability practices with everyone!
Taran Dhillon (On Leave)
I am a student librarian at the David Lam Management Research Library, where I support business students with their research, analysis, reports, databases, and more. I am passionate about building sustainable libraries of the future, educating others on the impact of overconsumption, promoting repair and reuse practices, and raising awareness around sustainability.
Hok Yau Tim Pit
I am a PhD student in the Department of Asian Studies, with research interests in non-human animal history, welfare, and other topics within the terrain of Environmental Humanities including waste studies and climate crisis. I believe that individual commitment to mitigating climate crisis matters, and that is why I am a vegetarian. If you have any questions about the Sustainability Committee or collaboration ideas with us, please feel free to reach out to me at timpit@student.ubc.ca.