The Public Scholars Initiative was established to assist UBC PhD students who wish to contribute to the public good outside of academia, such as through collaboration with community and social partners. Julia will work with organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross to translate and apply her research on volunteering, working to improve the accessibility and enhance the benefits of volunteering nation-wide.
In the announcement and Q&A by UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Julia explains that research focused on volunteering is often detached from the specific challenges volunteers experience in the real world. Additionally, volunteering organizations don’t always have the knowledge they would need about volunteers’ specific experiences to increase volunteer satisfaction and equity. As a Public Scholar, Julia hopes to bridge these gaps, having the opportunity to further her knowledge about the Canadian Red Cross’ work while supporting their goals of promoting volunteering and improving the experiences of volunteers.
To read the announcement articles and the remainder of the Q&A, see:
https://psych.ubc.ca/news/julia-nakamura-named-a-ubc-public-scholar/
https://www.grad.ubc.ca/campus-community/meet-our-students/nakamura-julia