Social sciences faculty honours two of its best

An internationally renowned social gerontologist and an award-winning geographer whose research was influential in preserving Victoria’s Chinatown are the winners of this year’s faculty of social sciences awards for research and teaching excellence.

Drs. Neena Chappell and David Chuenyan Lai were honoured for their work last month.

Chappell, a Canada Research Chair holder and the founding director of UVic’s Centre on Aging, is the research award recipient in recognition of the leading role her work has played in building Canadian and international knowledge about issues related to aging, including home and long-term care, quality of life and health care policy.

Chappell’s research has received support from several of the country’s major granting agencies and its results have been influential both inside and outside the academic world. By working closely with members of the broader community, she ensures that her scholarship is extensively applied in debates about health and aging policy.

Lai, recipient of the teaching award, has been a UVic faculty member for 34 years. He’s worked tirelessly to help students extend their studies beyond the classroom to study in China and in the Chinatowns the Chinese established in their new homes. Lai is responsible for 13 undergraduate awards, travel grants and scholarships at UVic.

Although he maintains a busy research schedule (he and Chappell are currently collaborating on a research project on Chinese-Canadian seniors attitudes toward health), Lai enjoys an exceptional rapport with his students. As one wrote: “There is a moment in learning where what was foggy suddenly becomes clear … these moments are milestones in the life of someone who wants to learn. It is in creating these moments that Dr. Lai excels.”

Patty Pitts photo