Since its launch in 2011, the PDF Travel Awards have helped many UBC PDFs attend conferences to present their work, enriching their PDF experience and helping anchor them within the academic world. Please read below to find out more about past award recipients.
|
Name |
Department, Faculty |
Conference - Date Attended |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter FY 2025/26 Q1: | |||
| Dr. Charlotte Eben | Centre for Gambling Research; Faculty of Arts | Alberta Gambling Research Institute (AGRI) Conference - April 2025 | Banff, AB |
| Dr. Babak Soltannia | Department of Mechanical Engineering; Faculty of Applied Science | Department of Mechanical Engineering; Faculty of Applied Science | Albufeira, Portugal |
Quarter FY 25/26 Q4
Alberta Gambling Research Institute (AGRI) Conference April 2025, Banff, AB
The PDF Travel Award enabled me to attend the AGRI conference 2025 in Banff, Alberta. Since it is a conference with a special focus on research on gambling in Canada, I got to meet many important people from within the gambling field from Canada but also experts from abroad. The conference provided me with excellent network opportunities which led to a collaboration on open science in the gambling field. Especially valuable for me, was to get in contact with gambling researchers from other provinces within Canada to know where policies and legislations around gambling are currently standing. During the poster session, I received valuable feedback on my current research about emotional signals in gambling, some of which I can immediately incorporate in my ongoing research. I was mainly interested in the research on the use of AI in gambling treatment and cognitive mechanisms in sports betting and more broadly gambling. Between sessions, I had many stimulating discussions. In summary, this conference provided me with insight into the newest developments of gambling research within Canada and around the world. I was able to make new connections and extend my network.
2025 Tribology International Conference - April 2025
I had the privilege of attending and presenting at the 2025 Tribology International Conference held in Albufeira, Portugal. My oral presentation, titled "Studying the Ligand Chain Length Effect on Wear-resistance of Nano-stabilized Greases", was well-received and prompted insightful questions from experts across academia and industry. The opportunity to share my work with an international audience significantly enriched my postdoctoral experience and helped refine the framing of my research objectives. Beyond presenting, I attended multiple sessions focused on surface engineering, lubrication systems, and tribological testing innovations. I learned valuable lessons from keynote speakers on the role of advanced materials in energy efficiency and sustainability—concepts directly relevant to my ongoing research at UBC. The conference also served as a vital platform for professional development. I engaged in meaningful conversations with senior researchers, startup founders, and industry representatives, which have led to ongoing email exchanges and potential collaborative opportunities. I also had productive dialogues with individuals from European institutions regarding future research partnerships and career planning. This experience not only strengthened my technical knowledge but also helped grow my international network, both in research and professional domains. I am sincerely grateful for the support of the UBC PDF Travel Award, which made this valuable opportunity possible.