Updates, news and stories

UBC super-black wood can improve telescopes, optical devices and consumer goods

Thanks to an accidental discovery, researchers at UBC have created a new super-black material that absorbs almost all light, opening potential applications in fine jewellery, solar cells and precision optical devices.  Dr. Philip Evans and PhD student Kenny Cheng were experimenting with high-energy plasma to make wood more water-repellent, like a lotus leaf. However, when they applied the technique to the cut ends of wood cells, the surfaces turned extremely black.  

Apply for the Vancouver Workplace Wellbeing Ambassador program by Aug. 19

The Workplace Wellbeing Ambassador program helps drive wellbeing and wellbeing practices at UBC and is a key strategic priority for the university. Faculty and staff at UBC Vancouver who are interested in championing this initiative within their area of the university are invited to submit an application. Applications to the program are open until Aug. 19.The program aims to:

Announcing the 2024 recipients of the alumni UBC Achievement Awards

The alumni UBC Achievement Awards recognize excellence, leadership, and innovation in achievements and contributions to the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of society, which positively reflect on the university.This year, three current faculty members were recognized for their endeavours: 

Teaching in focus: Richard Wong

Richard, a sessional lecturer in the UBC Sauder Accounting Program, believes that a successful educator wears many hats. To make learning income tax and accounting more engaging for his students, he incorporates gamification, real-world practice opportunities, and even humour in his non-traditional classroom.

Why your kids should take risks while playing outdoors this summer

Meet the spring recipients of UBC’s 2024 Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund

This year, the Partnership Recognition and Exploration (PRE) Fund opened in May and has already provided funding for 16 community-university projects in Vancouver and the Okanagan. This fund aims to boost collaboration and relationship building, as well as empower community partners to build reciprocal relationships with UBC students, faculty, and staff.   

The carbon costs of the construction industry

When it comes to climate change, it’s easy to believe that the burning of fossil fuels is mainly responsible for high global carbon emissions. We’re told we need to drive less, fly less and generally rely less on the non-renewable energy sources that have sustained our society’s way of life for over a century.

Staff in focus: Alia Januwalla

Alia, a learning and development specialist with the Knowledge Exchange, helps researchers, staff, and students develop and share the social impact of their research. Find out why her work is guided by the quote "Nothing about us, without us," which is used by disability rights activists to promote people-centred solutions.

Apply to the Teaching Development Program for new faculty

The Teaching Development Program for new faculty is an eight-month long flexible program offered by the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology that supports instructors teaching credit courses. The program runs from September 2024 to April 2025 and will help faculty members (research-stream, educational leadership stream, sessional faculty, lecturers) build a foundation for their teaching careers by providing a network of support around teaching and learning. 

Faculty Research Awards — call for nominations

We are happy to announce that nominations are now open for the annual UBC Faculty Research Awards. These awards acknowledge research excellence across all disciplines at UBC.Recognition at the university level can also lead to increased opportunity at the national and international level. We strongly encourage you to consider equity, diversity and inclusion principles in your nominations.Application process for 2024:

Tailoring depression treatment

Why the 2024 Paris Olympics are pivotal for gender equity in amateur and recreational sports

The Paris Olympics have made some high-profile announcements around gender equity, making these the first Games with full numerical gender parity on the playing field. The Games will have a nursery in the Olympic village in which athletes may breastfeed, and organizers have scheduled the women’s marathon as the final event of the games, in a prime-time spot previously reserved for the men’s marathon.