CERM3 is an acronym for the Centre for Environmental Research in Minerals, Metals and Materials. The Centre is located at the University of British Columbia within the Department of Mining Engineering. There are about 25 Faculty and research support staff working to either understand or solve environmental problems caused by mining activity. For more information: http://www.cerm3.mining.ubc.ca/
Centres, Institutes, and Groups
UBC is a hive of sustainability-related research, much of which transcends the traditional boundaries between academic disciplines. Many of the research units in the list below are interdisciplinary by nature, while others focus on very specific areas. For more information, click on any of the units listed below to be redirected to their respective websites.
Applied Science
Clean Energy Research Centre
The UBC Clean Energy Research Centre aspires to be recognized as one of the world's leading academic research centres in clean energy technologies. For more information: http://www.cerc.ubc.ca
Design Centre for Sustainability
It is an academic leader in applying sustainability concepts to the development of land, cities, and community. Through interdisciplinary approaches, the DCS is capable of demonstrating to the development community, to municipalities, and to citizens how to shift community-based planning and design toward on-going consideration of sustainability as a matter of course rather than exception. For more information: http://www.dcs.sala.ubc.ca/index.html
Greenskins Lab
The Lab monitors the holistic environmental performance of green roofs, green facades, green streets and agriculture in cities. Current research focuses on greenroof agriculture, integrated rainwater harvesting and systems for stormwater management. The lab also conducts expertise studies and offers green building consulting in the fields of landscape architecture, urban design and planning. For more information: http://www.greenskinslab.sala.ubc.ca/
Microsystems and Nanotechnology Group (MiNa)
Applications of MiNa research span over many areas, including biomedical devices, nano-computing, nano-devices, communication, energy, sensors and actuators. For more information: http://www.mina.ubc.ca/
Nanoelectronics Group
Dedicated to studying nanoscale electronic devices. It is presently involved in research related to carbon nanotube (CN) physics and devices. The group's efforts are focused on predicting the performance of carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNFETs), via numerical simulations and compact modeling. For more information: http://www.nano.ece.ubc.ca/
Pulp and Paper Centre (PAPC)
The Pulp and Paper Centre houses collaborative post-graduate programs between The University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (Paprican). These programs focus on education and research for the pulp and paper industry. For more information: http://www.ppc.ubc.ca/
School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
The School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture is the only one of its kind in British Columbia. It contributes significantly to the dialogue, education, research and innovation within the architecture and landscape architecture professions and plays a positive role within both UBC and the wider community. Through its undergraduate, professional and research programs, the School aspires to provide the necessary design, technical and intellectual leadership that will contribute to a built environment supportive of civil and sustainable patterns of living.
For more information, please visit: http://www.sala.ubc.ca/
Arts
Department of Anthropology
The Department of Anthropology advances the study and constructive understanding of human diversity and commonality, across the globe and throughout the long span of human existence. We pursue this aim through excellence in research, teaching, and community collaboration, grounded in multiple analytical and interpretive methods that share a commitment to field-based inquiry. For more information, visit: www.anth.ubc.ca
Department of Botany
The Botany Department is part of the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. It is one of the largest and strongest Botany Departments in North America, offering a wide range of research and educational programs. Specializations range from the organismal to the molecular level.
Its departmental community of more than 200 consists of 40 full-time faculty members, several part-time faculty or associates, about 85 graduate students, numerous post-doctoral fellows and research associates, laboratory technicians, and a support staff of secretarial, equipment, herbarium, stores, workshop and greenhouse personnel.
Department of Geography
Geographers study the natural and social processes that form our environments and interpret the changing interrelationships between environment and society. Geography courses examine the role of the natural environment in limiting and creating opportunities for people, and the role of society in reshaping the Earth habitat. The study of the natural environment itself, and the broad question of society's relationship to nature, along with such concerns as the management of scarce resources and many environmental crises, have long been of interest to geographers. For more information, visit: www.geog.ubc.ca
Department of History
The History Department at the University of British Columbia offers a complete range of programs, including a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Arts with Honours; a Master of Arts; and a Doctor of Philosophy. Interdisciplinarity: Historical study is inherently interdisciplinary. We have strong links, both formal and informal, to many other disciplines and research units in the university, including Arts One, Science Studies, Foundations, Canadian Studies, 19th Century Studies, Critical Studies in Sexuality, Latin American Studies, Medieval Studies, the departments of Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science and Fine Arts, and Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies
For more information, please visit: www.history.ubc.ca
Department of Philosophy
The UBC Philosophy Department is an active, mid-sized department that has broad interests in philosophical issues within the Anglo-American analytic tradition. Members of the department are engaged in research in ethics, social and political philosophy, philosophy of mathematics and science, logic, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind and language, aesthetics, and the history of philosophy.
For more information, please visit: www.philosophy.ubc.ca
Department of Psychology
Psychology is both a science and a profession. On the scientific side, researchers try to measure, explain, and modify the behaviour of humans and other species. Research in Psychology includes both behavioural and physiological studies of many sorts. As a profession, Psychology includes a number of different types of practitioners who apply psychological principles to solve practical problems. This group includes clinical specialists, who work in the areas of mental health, behavioural medicine, stress management, psychological testing, and guidance counselling.
Department of Sociology
Through excellence in research, teaching and community engagement the Department of Sociology seeks to apply the principles of UBC's Trek 2010 by preparing its students to become exceptional global citizens, by promoting the values of a civil and sustainable society, and by conducting outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world. This is done by advancing knowledge of and engagement with the social world, with a special focus on social processes involving inequality, justice and change. The department has research and teaching specializations in seven key areas: Environment, Community and Social Movements, Family and Life Course, Gender and Sexuality, Health and Healthcare, Knowledge, Culture and Power, Race, Ethnicity and Immigration, and Work, Economy and Globalization
Economics
Development Economics, Envrionment/Natural Resources Economics, Health Economics, Political Economy. For more information: http://www.econ.ubc.ca/fields.htm
Program on Water Governance
The Program on Water Governance (PoWG) conducts basic research on water management, engages the wider community in outreach and education on water issues, and facilitates dialogue on water governance between universities, communities, government, NGOs and the private sector. For more information: http://www.watergovernance.ca/
College for Interdisciplinary Studies
Aboriginal Fisheries Unit
The Aboriginal Fisheries Research Unit combines traditional ecological knowledge and modern science to support more effective ecos ystem and aquatic resource management. The unit, led by David Close, employs a multi-disciplinary approach including aquatic ecology and fish physiology directed toward the maintenance of sustainable aquatic resources that support aboriginal communities. For more information: http://www2.fisheries.com/archive/projects/aborig_new/
Active Transportation Collaboratory
To assess and to convey how community design, including the location and form of transportation investments and land development actions, impacts: travel, time use, and activity patterns; air quality; climate change; energy consumption; and public health. For more information: http://www.act-trans.ubc.ca/index.html
Bridge Program
The Bridge Program is a scholarship-funding and research training program linking the University of British Columbia's faculties of medicine, engineering and interdisciplinary studies. Our mission is to develop creative evidence-based prevention measures for public, environmental and occupational health problems. For more information: http://www.bridge.ubc.ca/
Centre for Interactive Research in Sustainability (CIRS)
The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) is dedicated to research, collaboration and outreach that lead us to workable solutions for the challenges of urban sustainability. When it opens in 2011, CIRS will be among the most innovative and high performance sustainable buildings in North America, demonstrating leading edge research and partnerships on sustainable design practices, products, systems and policies. For more information: http://www.cirs.ubc.ca/
Centre for Health and Environmental Research
CHER is a multidisciplinary research centre located in the University of British Columbia. CHER is comprised of a team of investigators all of whom have a common mission: to research and prevent diseases caused by hazards in outdoor and indoor environments. Hazards under investigation include: air pollution, emerging water and bioaerosols, environmental noise, indoor air pollutants and occupational exposures. For more information: http://www.cher.ubc.ca
Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies
The Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies (CWAGS) is an interdisciplinary, cross- faculty unit with over 60 Faculty Associates drawn from across the Faculties of Arts, Education, Law, Science, Applied Science, Medicine, and the College for Interdisciplinary Studies. Since its origins the Centre has been committed to fostering
feminist research that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and connected to community and social justice issues of both local and global importance. For more information: http://www.wmst.ubc.ca/
Centre of International Relations
A research centre within the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia. Its purpose is to facilitate internationally-orientated interdisciplinary research and curricula among the faculty and students of UBC and other institutions, in Canada and abroad. For mor einformation: www.cir.ubc.ca
Climate Change and Security
A research team in the Centre of International Relations at UBC is exploring the potential security implications of climate change for Canada, with a particular focus on the anticipated challenges for Canadian organizations with responsibilities and accountabilities in the areas of public safety, national security and international security. For mor einformation: http://www.cir.ubc.ca/#/climate-change/4532641878
Cycling in Cities
Cycling in Cities is a program of research investigating which factors encourage or discourage the use of bicycles for urban transportation,and which types of transportation infrastructure are associated with increased or decreased risks of injuries to cyclists. For more information: http://cyclingincities.spph.ubc.ca/
Fisheries Centre
The Fisheries Centre promotes multidisciplinary study of aquatic ecosystems and broad-based collaboration with maritime communities, government, NGOs and other partners. We believe that the social capital developed through collaboration and the intellectual capital that increased knowledge of ecosystem function and values represents can lead to the re-investment in natural capital necessary to conserve and restore aquatic systems. For more information: http://www.fisheries.ubc.ca
Fisheries Economics Research Unit
The Fisheries Economics Research Unit studies the economics of capture and aquaculture fishery resources. Under the guidance of Rashid Sumaila , the unit explores how ecosystems can provide sustainable and equitable economic and social benefits to both present and future generations, while maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. For more information: http://feru.org/
Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability
Our mission is to foster sustainable futures through integrated research and learning about the linkages among human and natural systems, to support decision making for local to global scales. IRES is a unique place at UBC: An issue-driven interdisciplinary research institute with interest and expertise in a wide range of environment and sustainability issues. For more information: http://www.ires.ubc.ca/
Liu Institute for Global Issues
The Institute takes an interdisciplinary problem-solving approach to explore new ideas and ways of learning to catalyze innovative thinking and positive societal change. Its current focus is on advancing sustainability, security, and social justice: understood as moving toward economic, social, and environmental interactions that promote the well-being of people in ways that are just, equitable, and sustainable. For more information: http://www.ligi.ubc.ca/?p2=/modules/liu/researches/category.jsp&id=13
Marine Mammal Research Unit
The Marine Mammal Research Unit , led by Andrew Trites , conducts multidisciplinary research on marine mammals in the field, in captivity and in the laboratory. Members address pressing questions on the natural history, biology and conservation of marine mammals, and provide independent research and advice. For more information: http://www.marinemammal.org/MMRU/
Project Seahorse
Project Seahorse advances marine conservation by undertaking biological and social research, then applying its findings to the management of populations, habitats, fisheries, and trades. Amanda Vincent and the rest of the team are active around the world, using seahorses as flagship species for broad issues. For more information: http://seahorse.fisheries.ubc.ca/
School of Community and Regional Planning
SCARP's mission is to advance the transition to sustainability through excellence in integrated policy and planning research, professional education and community service. The School of Community and Regional Planning at U.B.C. was one of the first dedicated planning schools in Canada. With more than five decades of experience in graduate planning education and research, SCARP pioneered the integrated approach to planning for development. For more information: http://www.scarp.ubc.ca/research
School of Environmental Health
The School's primary objective is to prepare professionals and researchers with the expertise to evaluate risks from physical, chemical and biological exposures and the skills and sensitivities to effect changes that will protect human health and well-being. Its vision is a world in which risks from occupational and environmental hazards are minimized by their recognition, evaluation and control, to the benefit of workplace and community health and well-being. For more information: http://www.soeh.ubc.ca/
Sea Around Us Project
The Sea Around Us was established by Daniel Pauly to document large-scale impacts on marine ecosystems and find solutions to the challenges they pose. Its work is cataloged and accessible on the web, offering ecosystem data, distribution maps and catch data for more than 1,000 species, historical trends and peer-reviewed publications. For more information: http://www.seaaroundus.org/
Sustainable Building Science Program
The Sustainable Building Science Program explores lasting ways of building human habitats and connects people who are interested in advancing this conversation. For more information: http://sbsp.ubc.ca/
UBC Centre for Human Settlements
Currently undertaking research on: community design, transportation and public health; gender equity; healthy and sustainable communities; international development planning and urbanization; metropolitan governance; participatory planning; planning for disaster resilience; risk analysis; rural-urban linkages. For more information: http://www.chs.ubc.ca/
W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics
The Centre’s approach to other UBC academic and research units follows from our position as an interdisciplinary academic centre, and from our mission to advance the research agenda of applied ethics. A number of departments and units -- including Animal Welfare, the Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, Nursing and Philosophy -- have contributed outstanding students to the Centre, while our research and teaching/supervision now ties us to Medical Genetics, Law, Political Science, Journalism, Forestry, Botany and Computing Sciences. These relationships and the products of our collaborations place the Centre at the forefront of the movement to create “transdisciplinary” research. For more information: http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/
College of Health Disciplines
Centre for International Health Research
Activities organized directly by the Centre for International Health represents a small part of the activities in international and global health embarked by students and faculty at UBC. Our goal is to provide a platform for raising awareness of these activities a stimulating interactions mutual learning and synergies that results from greater understand and collaboration. For more information: http://www.cih.ubc.ca/
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Education
The Faculty of Education at UBC has served the international education community through leadership in research, service, and advocacy for more than 50 years. One of the leading faculties of education in the world, the FoE prepares professionals for practice in a wide range of education-related fields, from preschool through adulthood. The FoE prepares more than forty-five per cent of the elementary teachers, the majority of secondary teachers, and a significant proportion of the special needs teachers, counsellors, school administrators, school psychologists, vocational rehabilitation counsellors, and First Nations teachers in British Columbia.
For more information, please visit: www.educ.ubc.ca
UBC Centre for Sport and Sustainability
The UBC Centre for Sport and Sustainability aims to be a global resource to capture and transfer knowledge on how sport can create sustainable benefits locally, regionally and internationally. The Centre dedicates its resources to improving our understanding of how sport can help advance the themes of: health, economy and infrastructure, social development and impacts, public policy and planning, urban renewal and ecological change. For more information, please visit: www.css.ubc.ca
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences aspires to advance knowledge, health-care outcomes, and the profession through leadership and innovation in research, education, and scholarly activity in the pharmaceutical sciences.
For more information, please visit: www.pharmacy.ubc.ca
Forestry
Africa Forests Research Initiative on Conservation and Development (AFRICAD)
The Africa Forests Research Initiative on Conservation and Development (AFRICAD) is committed to a vision of healthy and prosperous forest-dependent communities in Africa where the maintenance of forest resources is considered vital to long-term poverty alleviation, the mitigation of conflicts, and sustainable and equitable economic development.
Centre for Applied Conservation Research
The centres key goal is to identify, develop and propose solutions to interdisciplinary problems in natural resource conservation with innovative, novel and unbiased research and stakeholder engagement. For more information: http://cacr.forestry.ubc.ca/
Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning
The Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP) is an informal group of researchers at the University of British Columbia specializing in landscape visualization, environmental perception, public land management processes and sustainable landscapes. For more information: http://www.calp.forestry.ubc.ca/index.htm
Forests and Communities in Transition (FACT)
FACT (Forests and Communities in Transition) is a Faculty of Forestry initiative dedicated to research, dialogue and knowledge exchange. We aim to foster a global network of researchers and communities working in partnership with governments, non-government organizations, academia, industry and others to contribute to the development of more resilient and liveable forest-dependent communities.
Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory
We are committed to the study of salmonid ecology, behaviour and physiology, and to providing management systems with information needed for the conservation and sustainable use of fish resources. For more information: http://faculty.forestry.ubc.ca/hinch/index.html
Sustainable Forest Management Research Group
The Sustainable Forest Management Laboratory was established in 2000 to encourage inter-disciplinary research into problems related to sustainable forest management. All aspects of management are considered, ranging from physical through biological to social issues. For more information: http://sustain.forestry.ubc.ca/
Land and Food Systems
Animal Science Program
The University of British Columbia established the Animal Welfare Program in 1997 to improve the welfare and humane care of animals in agriculture, research, companionship and other areas, and to help build knowledge-based consensus on the broader ethical questions that arise over human use of animals. The Program addresses these issues through active efforts in teaching, research and public outreach. For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/animalwelfare/
Avian Research Centre
The Avian Research Centre at The University of British Columbia will focus on leading edge, basic and applied, avian research and will provide an educational and learning environment within the University. The Avian Research Centre will liaise with other Faculties and educational institutions, industry, government, consumers and other stakeholders, with the intent of building strong community relationships and support. For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/avian_research/
Biometeorology and Soil Science
The Biometeorology and Soil Physics Group of UBC is part of two major Canadian initiatives aimed at providing reliable carbon budgets for representative forests of Canada. The group is committed to long-term monitoring of carbon dioxide, water and energy exchanges between forests and the atmosphere. For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/biomet/index.htm
Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, UBC Farm
The Farm is a student-driven initiative where students, faculty, staff, and the local community have been working together to create a place where anyone can come to learn, live and value the connection between land, food and community. The ultimate goal of the farm is to retain and re-create existing farm and forest lands at the University of British Columbia into an internationally significant centre for sustainable agriculture, forestry and food systems. For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/
Food and Resource Economics Group
The Food and Resource Economics (FRE) group (formerly Agricultural Economics) uses rigorous tools of economic analysis to examine applied problems in the general area of food markets (e.g., trade and regulated markets, food demand analysis, food safety and biotechnology) and the economics of renewable resources and the environment (e.g.,trade and the environment, environmental policy). For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/fre/index.htm
Human and Animal Nutrition Group
The Human and Animal Nutrition Group's research mission is to understand food and its relationship to the physical fitness of humans and animals. It's goal is to better promote a safe, nutritious and economical food supply to Canadians and the world. It is positioned to be a premier research group with an integrated focus on food, nutrition and health. For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/about-us/departments#HUMANNUT
Soil-Water and Communities
SWC provides an integrated approach to improve and maintain soil and water resources through research, education and community outreach. For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/swc/index.html
Soil-Water Environmental Laboratory
A core analytical facility in the MacMillan Building that features state-of-the-art equipment for analyses of soil, water and air. SWEL is a focal point for collaborative research between scientists and students from a diverse array of academic units on campus – Science, Arts, Forestry, Interdisciplinary Studies, and LFS. SWEL is envisioned to foster the collegiality and information exchange that expands UBC’s position as a world leader on issues of sustainability. For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/swel/index.htm
UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
The main role of a University botanic garden is to facilitate scientific research and education using living plants. The University of British Columbia Botanical Garden has the second largest living plant collection in Canada, providing well-documented and well-maintained materials for research and teaching. The significant research collections include Acer, Clematis, Cornus, Epimedium, hardy Eucalyptus, Hebe, Lardizabalaceae, Lindera, Magnolia, Populus, Rhododendron, Sorbus, Styracaceae, BC native flora, alpines and Chinese flora. For more information: http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/research/
UBC Centre for Aquaculture and Environmental Research (CAER)
CAER is a collaborative effort between UBC and the DFO, Canada's principal agency responsible for regulating aquaculture and the protection of the marine environment. The Centre combines a state-of-the art facility, a tradition of scientific and academic excellence, a highly technical workforce and outstanding graduate students. The CAER centre is an internationally recognized research and education facility dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable aquaculture. For more information: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/about-us/departments#dfo
Law
Centre for Global Environmental and Natural Resource Law
The Centre is a leader in teaching and research on critical issues of environmental and natural resource law. Through the Centre, UBC Law students, faculty and researchers have a voice in solving the pressing environmental and natural resource issues of the 21st Century. Law students are able to specialise in environmental and natural resource, earning a certificate of specialization. For more information: http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/enlaw/
Medicine
Centre for Relationship-Based Care
The Department of Family Practice is dedicated to the education of physicians and midwives who will be effective providers of patient-centered care in the context of family and community. The Department will provide leadership in the stimulation and facilitation of academic and community-based research and education that addresses the needs of communities. For more information: http://www.familymed.ubc.ca/department/_centres/crbc.htm?PageMode=Edit#what%20rbc
Community Health Initiative by University Students (CHIUS)
The mission of CHIUS is to provide an exciting, dynamic and innovative program that emphasizes the development of mental, emotional, social and physical well-being of all participants in a safe and welcoming environment. Our inter-professional team focuses on diminishing barriers to health care, establishing strong partnerships, and enhancing the community's perception of health care. Active evaluation and refinement of our service ensures continual delivery of a high-quality program that is responsive to the needs of all participants. For more information: http://www.chius.ca/chius.htm
Epidemiological Research
The Division of Infectious Diseases in the UBC Department of Medicine is actively involved in combating infectious diseases through patient care, education, and research. We are part of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and work through Vancouver General and UBC Hospitals, St. Paul’s Hospital, BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital, G.F. Strong Hospital, the BC Cancer Agency and the BC Centre for Disease Control. For more information: http://www.id.med.ubc.ca/Home.htm#
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Departmental faculty, staff, trainees and other personnel work at multiple sites across the UBC system, in partnership with Regional Health Authorities, Hospitals and Agencies, Research Centres and Institutes, Educational Institutions, Government and other stakeholders toward fulfillment of the academic mandate. For more information: http://www.pathology.ubc.ca/NewPathology/Index.html
School of Population & Public Health
We create, share and apply knowledge to protect and improve well being and to promote equity in the health of people and communities at home and around the world. For more information: http://www.spph.ubc.ca/
Uganda Sustainable Trauma Orthopedic Program
The Uganda Sustainable Trauma Orthopedic Program (USTOP) is a collaboration between Makerere University and the University of British Columbia to reduce disability caused by neglected Orthopedic Trauma in Uganda. For more information: http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca/index_ustop.html
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS)
The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) is led by the University of Victoria in collaboration with UBC, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Northern British Columbia. PICS partners with governments, the private sector, other researchers and citizens to undertake research on climate change impacts and to assess, develop and promote mitigation and adaptation solutions. PICS has a number of core programs and activities at UBC. Follow PICS at UBC or visit PICS at UVic to learn more about this innovative climate change Institute.
Sauder School of Business
ISIS, Research Centre for Social Innovation and Sustainability
The core research themes at ISIS are building the low carbon economy, social economy, and economic development with First Nations. Our goal is to build intellectual and human capacity by linking knowledge with action to further the field of sustainability and social innovation. For more information: http://isis.sauder.ubc.ca
Science
Biodiversity Research Centre
To understand and conserve the diversity of life on earth through research, education, and outreach. For more information: http://www.biodiversity.ubc.ca/
Cetacean Research Program
The Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Biological Station conducts scientific studies on whales, dolphins and porpoises in waters off Canada’s west coast. It was formally established in 2001, when the Station’s long-term research on killer whales was expanded to include other cetaceans considered Endangered or Threatened under the new Species-at-Risk Act. For more information: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sci/sa/cetacean/default_e.htm
Department of Biochemistry
Home to many internationally recognized researchers, work in the department of Biochemistry is focused on subjects of great interest to the general public. Researchers in the Department study many important diseases including cancer, diabetes, blindness, heart disease and inflammation. Together with others in the Departments who focus on drug research, they are working both understand these issues and develop treatments and cures. Other major aspects of the Department's research focus on developing new antibiotics: this is an urgent priority since resistance to existing drugs is so prevalent around the world. Several members of the Department are working to understand how the function of genes is controlled. The excellence of our research is amply demonstrated by the fact that several members of the Department have been recognized by major research prizes.
For more information, please visit: www.microbiology.ubc.ca
Department of Botany
The Botany Department is part of the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. It is one of the largest and strongest Botany Departments in North America, offering a wide range of research and educational programs. Specializations range from the organismal to the molecular level.
Its departmental community of more than 200 consists of 40 full-time faculty members, several part-time faculty or associates, about 85 graduate students, numerous post-doctoral fellows and research associates, laboratory technicians, and a support staff of secretarial, equipment, herbarium, stores, workshop and greenhouse personnel.
Department of Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry at UBC is centrally located on the campus and has facilities to accommodate over 300 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty. Courses offered in the Department cover a wide range of subject matter, from synthetic organic chemistry to chemical physics and theory. In addition, a student is allowed to select courses in other departments, notably biochemistry, biology, mathematics, anatomy, earth and ocean sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, and zoology, as well as some courses in applied science. Fourth year undergraduate chemistry courses, or similar level courses from outside the Department, may also be taken. For more information, please visit: www.chem.ubc.ca
Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences
The Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences administers majors, honours and applied science programs that attract some 300 undergraduate students and 150 graduate students. Our modern facilities, demanding curriculum and award winning faculty place us among the most prominent departments of this type in North America and enable our programs to offer challenges to students at all levels.
The research focus of the EOS Department extends from pure science studies of the earth`s deep interior, through near surface geological studies and environmental earth science, to a variety of studies of the oceans and atmosphere. Programs of study at the graduate and undergraduate level are equally diverse and can be found at the following site: www.eos.ubc.ca
Department of Microbiology
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology provides a stimulating environment in which to pursue a graduate or undergraduate research program. Our faculty is internationally recognized for contributions in microbiology, molecular biology and immunology. Students will have the opportunity to experience the most up to date molecular approaches to the study of problems in microbiology and immunology. The department has excellent facilities and a strong support staff to backup the research programs. Recent developments in immunology, molecular biology and biotechnology have opened many new possibilities in industry and medicine for the application of microbial-based technologies. Thus the opportunities for qualified students will continue to increase in both universities and industry. The Department has established itself as a leading centre for immunology, recombinant DNA technology and for research into infectious diseases. Another notable research field is applied and environmental microbiology, with the focus mainly on sources of environmental problems and solutions involving microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and algae). As both academic and industrial research opportunities abound in such areas as Biotechnology, Bioremediation, Agriculture, and Food Processing, the career outlook for graduates from the Department is excellent.
For more information, please visit: www.microbiology.ubc.ca
Department of Physics
The Department of Physics currently teaches approximately 180 undergraduate Physics and Astronomy students in years 2-4, approximatley 240 Engineering Physics students in years 2-5, and over 3000 first year students destined for other programs. Our Graduate Program includes approximately 175 graduate students (roughly half MSc and half PhD), working on experiments and theory in research fields that include:
Applied Physics
Astronomy/Astrophysics
Atomic/Molecular/Optics
Biophysics
Condensed Matter
Cosmology
Gravity
Medical Physics
Sub-atomic
For more information, please visit: www.physics.ubc.ca
Department of Statistics
Environmental Statistics is currently one of the main themes of faculty members and their research teams (graduate student, postdocs, collaborators, etc.) in the Department of Statistics at UBC .
Jim Zidek has been active in this area for many years, and has consulted for the US EPA, and various Canadian agencies. Ongoing research ranges from analysis of pollution data collected over a geographical area and time to studies involving global climate models. Some of this work is summarized in his recent book Statistical Analysis of Environmental Space-Time Processes with Nhu Le (Springer, 2006). John Petkau works on the public health issues related to air pollution. Recently Claudia Tebaldi has joined us an adjunct professor; she is well known for her work on global climate modeling. We will soon be moving in to a new building with the department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, which we expect will result in further collaborative work in this growing area.
For more information, please visit: www.stat.ubc.ca
Department of Zoology
Studies in the Department of Zoology revolve primarily around 4 Research Areas:
1. Cell and Developmental Biology
Molecular and genetic bases of development and cellular function
2. Comparative Physiology
Many aspects of animal physiology from a comparative perspective, particularly those mechanisms underlying adaptive responses to environmental constraints
3. Ecology
Blends field ecology and natural history with ecological theory and conservation biology
4. Evolution
Encompasses evolutionary ecology, evolutionary genetics, conservation genetics, theory, and systematics
For more information, please visit: www.zoology.ubc.ca
Environmental Chemistry
From studies of atmospheric chemistry to the analysis of metal ions in seawater, the Department has a number of programs available for those interested in environmental science. For more information: http://www.chem.ubc.ca/research/environmental.shtml
Geophysical Disaster Computational Fluid Dynamics Unit
To save lives and minimize economic losses caused by weather-related disasters including avalanches, forest fires, windstorms, cyclones, floods, debris flows, air pollution, and greenhouse gases. For more information: http://www.gdcfd.ubc.ca/GeoDisasterCFD/
Michael Smith Laboratory
The Michael Smith Laboratories is governed internally by a Director (Dr. James Kronstad) that reports to the VP Academic, and who coordinates the inter-departmental activities of the MSLA through an advisory committee of six Deans.
There are approximately 250 research personnel in the Laboratory, with research activities falling into four major areas of emphasis:
•human/animal molecular genetics
•fermentation and bio-process engineering
•plant and forestry molecular genetics
•bioinformatics
There is a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary interaction and overlap of interest among the different groups. Awards from prestigious national and international organizations are continually recognizing the faculty members for their excellence. In 1993, Dr. Michael Smith received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
For more information, please visit: www.michaelsmith.ubc.ca
Mineral Deposit Research Unit
The Mineral Deposit Research Unit (MDRU) is a collaborative venture between the mining industry and The University of British Columbia (UBC). The unit, which was established in 1989 with support and financial assistance from the mining industry and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). For more information: http://www.mdru.ubc.ca/
Research
05.15.12 -
Green + Green: Podcasts highlight Environmental Entrepreneurship
The fight for sustainability has long been painted as a pitched battle of environmentalists versus...
05.4.12 -
Sustainability Leadership: Playing a Bigger Game
Sustainability leaders tackle tough questions: What is the bigger game you are playing? What are...
04.27.12 -
The next generation of sustainability
What if there was a new way of approaching sustainability? What if the old environmental agenda of...
Intro to Cheese Making
Wed, May 16, 2012 6:00 PM - 9:45 PM UBC Point Grey Campus. $40 (+ $1.99 registration fee). Join...
Purple and Yellow Volunteer Night
Tue, May 22, 2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM STUDENT UNION BUILDING (SUB). Volunteer with the Bike Co-op to...
Transforming Sustainability Education
Sat, May 26, 2012 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS)....
05.15.12 -
UBC researcher wins 2012 Trudeau Foundation scholarship
Daniel Werb, senior research assistant at the Addiction and Urban Health Research Initiative (UHRI...
05.14.12 -
Vancouver, Montreal, Portland and Minneapolis among most “bikeable” cities in North America: UBC research
University of British Columbia researchers are making bikeability research easily accessible to...
05.8.12 -
H1N1 discovery paves way for universal flu vaccine: UBC research
University of British Columbia researchers have found a potential way to develop universal flu...
