Faculty of Applied Science

UBC researchers find ways to hackproof smart meters

Smart electricity meters are useful because they allow utility companies to efficiently track energy use and allocate energy production. But because they’re connected to a grid, they can also serve as back doors for malicious hackers.

Jun 6, 2019

Combing through someone’s phone could lead to end of relationship – or not

For some people, the thought of their partner, friend or colleague snooping through their phone, reading their texts and emails, is an automatic deal breaker. However, some relationships can survive the snooping, a new study examining the motivations behind phone snooping has found.

May 30, 2019

UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering nears student gender parity

UBC’s new school of biomedical engineering (BME) is closing in on a milestone of student gender parity.

May 14, 2019

Cellulose nanocrystals used for bone implants. Credit: Clare Kiernan/UBC

From foam to bone: Plant cellulose can pave the way for healthy bone implants

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and McMaster University have developed what could be the bone implant material of the future: an airy, foamlike substance that can be injected into the body and provide scaffolding for the growth of new bone.

Mar 19, 2019

VardMarine designs icebreakersand ice-capable ships such as the Polar Icebreaker, currently proposed to be built by Seaspan. Credit: Vard

Vard $1.5 million gift advances marine engineering research and learning at UBC

The University of British Columbia has received a $1.5 million donation that is expected to advance naval architecture and marine engineering education and promote innovative technologies in Canada’s shipbuilding industry.

Mar 15, 2019

Optical probe for skin cancer screening developed at UBC. Credit: UBC

Low-cost ‘cancer probe’ could spot deadly melanoma early

Work is being done at UBC on a tool to help in the early detection of melanoma: a simple, compact laser probe that can distinguish between harmless moles and cancerous ones – in a matter of seconds.

Mar 6, 2019

Bat flight model can inspire smarter, nimbler drones

Engineers at UBC have captured the full complexity of bat flight in a three-dimensional computer model for the first time, potentially inspiring the future design of better drones and other aerial vehicles.

Feb 27, 2019

New China and US studies back use of pulse oximeters for assessing blood pressure

Fast and easy blood pressure monitoring could soon be at your fingertips thanks to new UBC research that showed BP can be assessed by a fingertip oximeter, a tool not generally used for that purpose

Nov 21, 2018

UBC to launch connected vehicle test bed

UBC researchers will unveil a test bed for connected vehicles on campus on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Nov 14, 2018

Students show off Star Wars-style rescue robots in competition at UBC

In a scene reminiscent of Star Wars, 16 student-designed robots will attempt to rescue the good guys—Ewoks and Chewbacca, represented by plush dolls—from the evil Empire stronghold.

Aug 8, 2018

Breaking up ‘fatbergs’: UBC engineers develop technique to break down fats, oil and grease

Cooking oil and similar waste can clog pipes, harm fish and even grow into solid deposits like the “fatbergs” that recently blocked London’s sewage system. But UBC researchers may have found a way to treat these fats, oils and grease—collectively called FOG—and turn them into energy.

Aug 1, 2018

New moms need better support easing back into exercise after birth

Getting enough exercise is crucial to the health of new moms, yet most programs designed to increase postnatal physical activity are only somewhat effective.

Mar 8, 2018

Christine Nesbitt in downtown Vancouver.

Olympic speed skating champion now going for academic gold

Vancouver, Calgary and Sochi. Beijing, London and Rio. How does an Olympic host city fare after the fanfare fades and the stars and their adoring crowds go home? It’s a question that has fascinated Canadian long-track speed skating champion Christine Nesbitt for years.

Jan 18, 2018

Road pricing most effective in reducing vehicle emissions

Motor vehicles are a major source of air pollution in urban areas, and for decades municipal and regional governments have used various traffic management strategies in an effort to reduce vehicle emissions, alongside advancements like cleaner fuel and greener cars.

Oct 5, 2017

Disaster-proofing our cities requires concerted effort, says UBC expert

Recent flooding in Texas has underscored the need for flood prevention in flood-prone North American cities.

Sep 6, 2017

Trees can make or break city weather

Even a single urban tree can help moderate wind speeds and keep pedestrians comfortable as they walk down the street, according to a new UBC study.

Jul 26, 2017

Teens consuming less alcohol, but LGB youth rates declining more slowly

British Columbian teens of all sexual orientations are drinking less alcohol compared to youth in the late 1990s, according to a new UBC study that’s one of the first to compare trends in alcohol use among straight and sexual minority youth.

Jul 5, 2017

Serious pain afflicts a third of nursing home residents in last six months of life

Many nursing home residents have a fairly pain-free experience until the end of life, but at least a third suffer persistent, significant pain during their last six months.

Jun 29, 2017

How to stay sane when your child can’t sleep

Your child’s sleep problems may be making you depressed and unsure of your parenting skills, says a new paper by UBC sleep expert and nursing professor Wendy Hall.

Jun 26, 2017

When the rubber hits the road: Recycled tires create stronger concrete

UBC engineers have developed a more resilient type of concrete using recycled tires that could be used for concrete structures like buildings, roads, dams and bridges while reducing landfill waste.

Jun 13, 2017