Faculty of Applied Science

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

Sharing extra spots could ease West End parking woes

Renting out unused residential parking could be the answer to chronic parking shortages in Vancouver’s West End, according to a new University of British Columbia study.

Mar 2, 2017

Vancouver “teardown index” predicts which houses are at risk

Approximately one-quarter of detached homes in Vancouver’s red-hot housing market could be torn down between now and 2030, according to a new forecasting tool.

Feb 21, 2017

Tiny magnetic implant offers new drug delivery method

A new magnetic device implant could offer a DIY alternative for administering drugs.

Feb 14, 2017

UBC’s urban miners keep LEDs out of landfills

Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs last much longer and use less energy than fluorescent lights and are becoming a popular choice for holiday lighting, indoor lights and many other uses.

Jan 16, 2017

Experts launch online child-sleep improvement tool for parents

Parents of children who don’t sleep well have a new resource to help them develop better sleep habits and routines for their child.

Nov 1, 2016

UBC study finds optimal walking and cycling speeds to reduce air pollution inhalation

Cyclists should be riding at speeds between 12 and 20 kilometres per hour, while pedestrians should be moving at two to six kilometres per hour to minimize their inhalation of air pollution while still getting the health benefits of exercise, according to new UBC research.

Oct 27, 2016

UBC researchers plumb the secrets of tissue paper

Canada’s tissue manufacturers are now much closer to producing the perfect paper, thanks to new UBC research.

Aug 24, 2016

Scientists develop painless and inexpensive microneedle system to monitor drugs

Researchers at UBC and the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) in Switzerland have created a microneedle drug monitoring system that could one day replace costly, invasive blood draws and improve patient comfort.

Jul 25, 2016

Engineer yogi releases breath device

For Cindy Gu, a mechanical engineer and certified yoga teacher who graduates from UBC at the end of this month, mindfulness was key to coping with campus life.

May 25, 2016