The annual 'Day on the Hill,' organized by UBC's Government Relations, is a strategic mission to Ottawa where UBC's innovative research and education are showcased to parliamentarians and government officials.
This year, the Forestry and BioProducts Team, led by BPI Scientific Director Orlando Rojas, joined UBC President Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon and three other research teams to represent UBC. Their mission was to highlight their pioneering work in forestry and bioproducts research and ignite interest among federal government partners and policymakers in the university's cutting-edge breakthroughs. PhD student Daniel Barker-Rothschild had the privilege of being part of this team.
Over the course of two dynamic days, they engaged with influential figures from the Department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development; the National Research Council (NRC); the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada.
"It was a profoundly impactful experience to participate in these discussions, where I could contribute my perspectives and highlight my research," Daniel shared. He presented his ongoing work on the impacts of climate change on forest resources and innovative approaches to valorizing traditional waste streams in the forest industry, such as lignin.
A highlight of the trip was meeting the Speaker of the House, the Honourable Greg Fergus (pictured below). Daniel commented, "Meeting with such a key figure was both exciting and incredibly valuable, allowing us to directly convey the significance of our research to influential leaders in the federal government."
This experience marked a special milestone in Daniel’s professional journey. He expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am thankful to the UBC VPRI office and Government Relations, particularly Kelsi Wall, for organizing the mission, and to my supervisor, Dr. Rojas, for providing me with this incredible opportunity."
