Peter Simpson, the new Dean of UBC Okanagan’s College of Graduate Studies, is focused on finding fun in academia

An eager learner all his life, Peter Simpson decided to pursue a PhD in an area of physics that was less established and more exploratory. This led him to Western University to study electronic materials, positron annihilation and, as he puts it, “fun.”

“When I first visited Western, I met with all kinds of people. And although I didn’t understand the physics they were talking about at the time, I could see they were excited about it — they were having fun, and I thought, I want to get in on that and have fun too.”

Years earlier, when Peter started his undergraduate studies at Waterloo University in physics, he initially chose to study acoustics because of his keen interest in music. But as he progressed through his bachelor’s degree, Peter soon realized that he was fascinated by the science of materials. A self-proclaimed laboratory tinkerer, he thrived in an environment where he could conduct research, experiment in the lab and explore new ideas.

“That’s the beauty of graduate studies,” Peter explains. “There are so many interesting things that you don’t know anything about until you arrive in an environment where you can delve into them.”

In July 2020, Peter made the move from Western University to UBC Okanagan, joining the graduate community as dean of the College of Graduate Studies. When asked why UBC Okanagan appealed to him, Peter stays true to the concept of finding fun.

As Dean, Peter will work with leaders across campus toward the ambitious vision outlined in Outlook 2040, which calls for rapid growth in graduate programs through the introduction of 30 new programs by 2025 and a threefold increase in graduate enrolment — up to 3,000 students — by 2040.

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