Most individuals would say their identity consists of much more than what meets the eye. According to researchers at UBC鈥檚 Okanagan campus, the same can be said for wine territories.

The public is invited to take part in British Columbia as a Wine Territory: Catalyzing Shared Understanding of its Identity, a series of talks that will explore various aspects of the wine territory beyond beautiful landscapes and stunning vistas. Ideas on creativity, voice, collaboration and cohesion will be examined.

鈥淯niversities bring together different approaches to knowledge, and these public talks are intended to spark discussion on economic development in the Okanagan,鈥� said Roger Sugden, one of the researchers on the project. 鈥淭he speakers bring a range of local and global expertise, and will shed light on a range of issues that impact the identity of British Columbia as a wine territory.鈥�

Four public talks have been scheduled at Penticton Public Library:

鈥淐reativity, Universities and Regional Socio-Economic Development,鈥� Roger Sugden from UBC鈥檚 Okanagan campus: Thursday, Oct. 12, noon to 1 p.m.

鈥淐ollaboration and Understanding in a Successful Wine Cluster,鈥� Paul Davies from UBC鈥檚 Okanagan campus: Thursday, Nov. 9, noon to 1 p.m.

鈥淐reativity and Voice in a Successful Economy,鈥� Silvia Sacchetti from University of Trento in Italy: Thursday, Nov. 23, noon to 1 p.m.

鈥淚dentity and Cohesion in a Successful Wine Cluster,鈥� Jacques-Olivier Pesme from KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux, France: Thursday, Nov. 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The public talks accompany Refractions: Appreciating the British Columbia wine territory, an exhibition on display at the Penticton Public Library until Nov. 30. Both the talks and the exhibition are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

The initiative is part of the UBC-KEDGE Wine Industry Collaboration, a partnership amongst UBC鈥檚 Okanagan campus and KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux, France, to help strengthen cooperation in the wine industry, enhance export readiness, and develop a globally recognized identity. The exhibition is supported by UBC鈥檚 Regional Socio-Economic Development Institute of Canada (RSEDIC) and Faculty of Management.

For more information about the exhibition and public talks, and the UBC-KEDGE Wine Industry Collaboration, visit http://ubckedgewine.ca/2017exhibition.