Researcher spreads word

The traditional academic audience -- students and faculty peers -- has its place, he said. But he wants his cultural studies to be as accessible as possible. The Royal Roads University instructor is one of the latest members of the Canada Research Chairs program, which is giving him $500,000 over five years to study innovative learning and public ethnography.

"The idea is really simple," said Vannini, 36. "Ethnography is basically field work. It's going somewhere to learn about how people live and then writing about it."

Vannini said he doesn't venture too far to gather material. "I do what anthropologists do, but I do it here. My Papua New Guinea is the coast of B.C."

One of his upcoming research topics will be looking at the lives of people trying to live outside regular energy grids. Past projects have included a study of how B.C. Ferries' service affects people day-to-day, and how the West Coast's climate and rain affect regional cultures.

Vannini joins Royal Roads' Ann Dale as a Canada research chair. Dale's posting in the study of sustainable community development was renewed earlier this year.

The Canada Research Chairs program was started in 2000 with a goal of creating 2,000 special professorships at degree-granting facilities. About $300 million is invested each year, covering subjects such as social sciences, health sciences and engineering.

The University of Victoria has 36 of the designated research professorships, the newest one presented to computer scientist George Tzanetakis to study computer analysis of audio and video music.

Tzanetakis will look at the next level of computer use. That includes the notion of whether computers can go beyond the storage of songs and actually sense when a user wants to move from one musical form to another.

Tzanetakis will receive $100,000 over five years to carry out his research.

At UVic, three existing Canada research chairs also have had their postings renewed for a second term: ecologist Brad Anholt, biologist Ben Koop and Kim Venn, a physicist.