2025 UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research award ceremony

Ridhwanlai Badmos, Ciara Albrecht, Ethan Lui, Joshua Bransford and Sophie Pavey with Dr. Susan E. Parker, University Librarian.

On May 6, winners of the 2025 UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research celebrated their awards with family, faculty, donors and other members of the UBC community. The event was hosted by Dr. Susan E. Parker who was joined by other speakers including Dr. Sabina Magliocco, Professor, Sociocultural Anthropology.

“This year, we received a diverse array of research statements from students across many UBC faculties. We were thrilled by the quality of applications, and in fact, received far more strong submissions than we are able to honour here today. This will be the first year that we are able to award five prizes” says Dr. Parker.

Joshua Bransford, Sophie Pavey, Ciara Albrecht, Ethan Lui and Ridhwanlai Badmos speaking about their projects.

This year’s winners include:

• Joshua Bransford, 5^th year Faculty of Arts student, won a $3,000 prize for his reflective statement on his project, “The Neoliberal Production of Urban Space and Urban Subjects in India and Bolivia.”
• Sophie Pavey, 4^th year Faculty of Arts student, won a $2,000 prize for her reflective statement on her project, “Cosmographia.”
• Ciara Albrecht, 4^th year Faculty of Arts student, won a $2,000 prize for her reflective statement on her project, “A Memory of Skin and Bone: Lace as a Lifeline in Nineteenth Century Ireland.”
• Ethan Lui, 4^th year Faculty of Arts student, won a $1,500 prize for his reflective statement on his project, “Conflict, Cruelty, and Concern: Exploring the Negative Reactions to Vesalius’ ‘On the Fabric of the Human Body.’”
• Ridhwanlai Badmos, 2^nd year Faculty of Science student, won a $1,500 prize for his reflective statement on his project, “Investigating Suicide Rates Across Demographic Subgroups in the Muslim American Community Using Technical Frameworks.”

Students and their instructors provided short presentations about their projects, highlighting their effective and innovative use of library services, information experts and resources provided by UBC Library. The ceremony was followed by a reception for guests to meet the winners and learn more about their projects.

Guests meeting the winners and asking them questions about their project.

Congratulations to Joshua, Sophie, Ciara, Ethan and Ridhwanlai!

Learn more about the UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research and how you can apply for the 2026 prize.