Cultures at the Table 2026
November 13, 2026, 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm
BPI Cultural Diversity Workshop & Lunch
LOCATION: KAIS #2020 on the 2nd Floor of Fred Kaiser Building located at 2332 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
Join the BPI community for a celebration of cultural diversity through food, personal stories, and meaningful conversations!
Enjoy a lunch featuring East Asian, South Asian, and Persian cuisines while exploring how diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives enrich our community.
The program will feature a short keynote on cultural diversity, followed by BPI EDII Committee members sharing their cultural backgrounds and experiences at BPI. Through interactive group discussions, participants will explore cultural awareness, recognizing and addressing bias, and respectful communication, with an emphasis on practical approaches to strengthening inclusion and belonging.
Agenda
- 11:45 AM – Lunch & Networking
- 12:00 PM – EDII Learning: Embracing Cultural Diversity
- Renata Hall, Educational Consultant, Anti-Racist Teaching and Learning, UBC Centre for Teaching Learning and Technology
- 12:15 PM – Cultural Stories: Perspectives from BPI EDII Committee Members
- Daniela Figueroa, Research Program Manager, Energy Reduction in Mechanical Pulping, UBC
- Qingshi Tu, Associate Professor, Wood Science, UBC
- Cynthia Truong, Undergrad Student, Bioeconomy Science & Technology, UBC
- Tianxi Yang, Assistant Professor, Food Science, UBC
- Jaya Joshi, Assistant Professor, Wood Science, UBC
- 12:40 PM – Interactive Table Discussions: Cultural Awareness, Bias & Inclusive Communication
- 1:00 PM – Open Mic: Reflections & Ideas for Building an Inclusive BPI Community
- 1:15 PM – Closing
Lunch will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring traditional food or dessert from their culture to share (optional).
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Come for the food, stories, and conversations, and help build a more connected and inclusive BPI community.
Registration
Registration closes on November 11 at 1 PM. Walk-ins are welcome if space permits, but food will be prioritized for pre-registered attendees.