Our top 5 stories of 2024
It’s December, which means it’s the season for holiday music, festive lights, cozy drinks, and, of course, “Best of” lists! So grab your favourite hot beverage, sink into a comfy chair, and join us as we count down UBC Magazine’s most popular reads of 2024.
From the mysteries of the natural world to a surprising — and revealing — shift in dating trends, here are the five stories that our readers were most drawn to this year.
5. Tenant
“Night fell quickly in Jeanine’s city, or it didn’t come at all.”
So begins “Tenant,” a short story by UBC alum Carrie Grinstead (MLIS'20), about a Vancouver woman in the winter of her life — and her tenant Affie, a UBC student for whom life is still unfurling.
Grinstead's piece won first place earlier this year in alumni UBC’s first-ever short fiction contest, which was judged by a distinguished panel of writers and editors. A story that at once captures “our very human desire for companionship and our very human fear of commitment,” as author, juror, and UBCO alum Umar Turaki (MFA'23) noted, “Tenant” caught the eye not only of our judging panel but also of our readers, and kicks off our list of the most popular stories of the year.
4. UBC researchers reveal hidden worlds in 5 TED Talks
From communication below the forest floor to the inner workings of human motivation, there are hidden worlds all around us. Unearthing these worlds and sharing their secrets is what UBC researchers excel at doing.
Our fourth most-clicked article features five such UBC professors whose astonishing research in the realms of human nature and the natural world has not only earned them academic acclaim — it’s also ushered each of them onto the TED Talk stage. Their resulting talks have captivated audiences around the world and collectively garnered more than 15 million views (and counting!). See what the buzz is all about in this roundup by writer Kyna Airriess.
3. Can AI change life for the better?
If you ask UBC computer scientist Kevin Leyton-Brown whether or not AI can be used as a force for good, he’ll get somewhat philosophical: “You have to have humility,” he advises. “You have to avoid the colonialist impulse to say this is going to make life better.”
But speak with him at length, as writer Richard Littlemore did earlier this year, and you’ll find that Leyton-Brown does believe in the potential of AI to improve lives — whether it’s supporting underserved communities, freeing up workers to tackle high-value tasks, or even serving as “a kind of democratizing force” in society. Dive into why he’s cautiously optimistic about the power and potential of AI in our third most-clicked article of the year.
2. South Asian screen stars: 7 UBC alumni in entertainment
Coming in spot number two is an article we published almost at the start of the year — as a toast to 2024 (and the long-awaited end to the writers’ and actors’ strikes in Hollywood).
In contrast to January’s dreary vibes, the article shines a light on some sparkling talent. Writer Craig Takeuchi (BA’96, MFA’02) traces the intriguing paths and noteworthy achievements of seven South Asian alumni whose acting abilities and artistic talents have lit up the screen. From Arts alum Hannah Simone’s best-friend role in the hit TV series New Girl, to Fine Arts graduate Zaib Shaikh’s performance as a lawyer turned cleric in CBC’s groundbreaking Muslim sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie, get to know seven talented grads who have made their mark in screen industries.
1. Thinking about polyamory? You’re not the only one
And clinching the top spot in our “Best of” list of the year is an article by UBC philosophy professor Carrie Jenkins (MFA'20) about the rise and appeal of polyamory.
Jenkins explores an intriguing — and seemingly contradictory — trend: more young people today are opting to stay single; at the same time, polyamory is more popular than ever before, especially for those under 45. What’s going on? Jenkins’s fascinating analysis reveals how those who choose to have multiple partners, and those who choose to have none, have more in common than you might expect. Find out why in our most popular read of 2024.
