Updates, news and stories

Invitation to join UBC’s Accessibility Committee

UBC is taking steps to establish an Accessibility Committee to support disability inclusion and guide future direction at the university. Students, staff, and faculty are invited to apply to serve on the inaugural committee. The committee will be tasked with providing ongoing guidance and advice to the university on the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to accessibility and to help fulfill the university’s legal obligations and commitments to disability inclusion and justice principles. 

So-called ‘safe’ pesticides have surprising ill effects

Finding new life for plastic waste

From bottles and straws, toys and Tupperware to medical stents, eyewear and even tea bags, plastic is everywhere in our society. Although the meteoric rise of plastic was the result of its economy and ease of production, the question now is, what do we do with the estimated 380 million tonnes of plastic waste produced globally each year? This problem was something UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Mohammad Arjmand knew he could help solve with the varied expertise and state-of-the-art plastic processing equipment available at the university.

Discover six newly funded projects aimed at advancing sustainability and wellbeing

Last fall, the Campus as a Living Lab invited proposals from faculty and staff at UBC Vancouver seeking funding for their teams to test new ideas to support climate action, resilient systems, sustainable places and communities, and health and wellbeing. 

Teaching in focus: Patrick Walls

Patrick is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics at UBC Vancouver. Find out how the use of open source programming transformed his approach to teaching and why he is inspired to engage students in the messy job of learning.

Charting a new course for Multiple Sclerosis treatment

Research from the UBC Faculty of Medicine could stop Multiple Sclerosis in its tracks — and even reverse its devastating effects One day in the spring of 2014, Heidi Scott’s face went numb. Out-of-nowhere, just-returned-from-the-dentist numb, as she vividly remembers. “I was on a business trip and it took me completely by surprise. My entire face was affected,” Heidi says. Alarmed, she returned home to see her doctor, who ordered a battery of tests. The results were inconclusive.

Counselling sessions available to Black faculty and staff

Building trust and working in partnership to re-design academic courses

UBC recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers in 2023

UBC has been recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers in 2023. This special designation recognizes the British Columbian employers that lead as exceptional places to work – and who offer employees the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. Find out more

Call for nominations for faculty representatives to the Senate

A message from Rella Ng, Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Services and RegistrarAs part of the 2023 – 2026 triennial election process, we would like to invite nominations for two representatives from each Faculty to serve on the Okanagan and Vancouver Senates.For nomination forms and information about eligibility, find out more.

Participate in the International Freezer Challenge

Does your lab have refrigerators, freezers, or cold rooms for sample storage?  If so, join the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge. Compete with labs to improve sample accessibility and integrity, reduce costs, and improve energy efficiency for cold storage in your lab. 

Research in focus: Theresa Rogers

As a scholar of language and literacy practices of youth, Theresa hopes her work will help students engage in active citizenship through art, digital media and new forms of participation.