October 14, 1997 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia will be hosting an open house, called UNBC Works, on Sunday, October 26th to showcase its innovative research activities.

The open house will come at the conclusion of Science and Technology Week and coincide with the Western Trade Ministers meeting at UNBC and the start of the Premier's Summit on Northern Jobs and Development.

The public is welcome between noon and 5pm. Some of what's planned includes:

• a computer centre in the Northwood Winter Garden, with web access to UNBC web courses, a career information display, and cutting-edge teaching and research resources
• demonstrations of state-of-the-art lab equipment, including the electron microscope computer models of the local airshed, showing the pattern of air pollution in the Bowl
• a reading from local poet Jacqueline Baldwin, who recently published her book, Threadbare Like Lace, and poetry presentations by other UNBC students
• a women's history bus tour of Prince George which will be led by Bridget Moran (the tour will begin at the Fraser Fort George Regional Museum and includes a stop at UNBC)
• local archaeological displays, a chance to take a lie detector test, demonstrations of superconductor research, and presentations by all UNBC programs and research centres.
• and much more

"Visitors to the campus will not only be able to view a large number of displays, but actually have the chance to participate in research," says UNBC Vice-President Academic Deborah Poff. "Much of the research that UNBC is engaged in has national significance and is already making a difference to the quality of life in northern BC. UNBC, for example, has key research centres like the Child Welfare Research Institute and the Northern Land Use Institute. As well, the University is a participant in two national centres of excellence programs: in sustainable forestry and women's health."

UNBC currently receives more than $7 million dollars in research funding, from agencies such as Forest Renewal BC, The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.