UBC Faculty of Applied Science

Kits workshop - crowd with Cheryl and Stephen

UBC researchers are helping communities prepare for the effects of climate change

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) takes place next week and one of its four goals is to help countries adapt to climate change in order to protect communities and natural habitats.

Oct 26, 2021

UBC clean hydrogen technology deployed to Alberta in a $7 million collaboration

UBC-developed thermal methane cracking technology can produce up to 200 kilograms of hydrogen a day using natural gas, without using water, while reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.

Oct 21, 2021

How to beat the heat—indoors and out

UBC experts Dr. Sarah Henderson and Dr. Adam Rysanek share some tips and practices for warm weather safety during B.C.’s current heat wave.

Jun 25, 2021

Strong school and family ties buffer gender-diverse teens from bullying and hostility

B.C.’s gender-diverse youth continue to face significant bullying and harassment, but a new report by UBC and McCreary Centre Society underlines how social supports like strong school and family relationships make a significant impact on their well-being.

May 31, 2021

111 West 57, a supertall residential skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City

New book maps links between global finance and the places we call home

Architecture professor Matthew Soules is a thought-provoking artist, designer and author. His latest offering is a new book, Icebergs, Zombies, and the Ultra Thin which tackles the impact of global capital on large cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Barcelona and New York.

May 13, 2021

The renewable energy hub will transform an entire city block at UBC into a smart energy district, including the province’s first-ever hydrogen refuelling station for light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Credit: Dialog

UBC breaks ground on $23 million renewable energy hub

A new $21 million renewable energy hub will transform an entire city block at the University of British Columbia into a smart energy district, including the province’s first-ever hydrogen refuelling station for light and heavy-duty vehicles.

May 5, 2021

COVID-19 survey shows almost eight out of 10 adults are worried, bored, stressed, lonely or sad

The pandemic continues to take an emotional toll on people in Canada, with 77 per cent of adults reporting negative emotions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest mental health survey by UBC researchers, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).

May 3, 2021

Canada’s first unmanned aerial vehicle flights over a 5G network highlights future potential applications of 5G-enabled autonomous flight

Canada’s first 5G drones fly over UBC

Canada’s first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights over a 5G network took place at UBC last week, showcasing some of the future potential applications of 5G-enabled autonomous flight.

Apr 15, 2021

Premature baby resting on Calmer in the NICU at BC Children's Hospital. Photo credit: Liisa Holsti

Therapeutic bed can help keep preterm newborns’ brain oxygen levels stable

A medical device that has been shown to manage pain among babies born preterm can also help keep their brain oxygen levels steady during medical procedures, finds new analysis by researchers at UBC.

Mar 25, 2021

UBC study highlights need for more effective staffing in care homes

Even the best-managed long-term care homes will need to step up to get through the second wave of the pandemic, suggests a new study by researchers at the UBC school of nursing.

Dec 17, 2020

The salt marshes in Boundary Bay are part of the South Coast region being studied by the Living with Water project with the support of partners including the city of Surrey. Photo: City of Surrey

New partnership aims to help B.C. communities adapt to surging seas

Mud Bay is increasingly under threat as sea level rise pushes the salt marsh up against the dikes lining the shore—a phenomenon known as coastal squeeze. If the marsh disappears, so too will the marine life that it supports.

Dec 17, 2020

Is there something in the air? These UBC researchers want to know

We all know air quality can sometimes be imperfect. The smells and aromas produced by traffic, businesses and industry, and thousands—if not millions—of people living in close proximity can combine to produce an olfactory experience that’s less than pleasant.

Dec 8, 2020

New national survey finds Canadians’ mental health eroding as pandemic continues

The second wave of the pandemic has intensified feelings of stress and anxiety, causing alarming levels of despair, suicidal thoughts and hopelessness in the Canadian population.

Dec 3, 2020

Online supports for COVID-19 stress are there—but Canadians aren’t accessing them

Many Canadians are not making use of virtual resources that could help them cope with the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new analysis by researchers at UBC, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Nov 10, 2020

High walk and bike scores associated with greater crash risk

Neighbourhoods with high bikeability and walkability scores actually present higher crash risks to cyclists and pedestrians in Vancouver, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.

Aug 27, 2020

UBC lab spins nanofibre ‘gold’ from waste fabrics

Fast fashion generates huge amounts of textile waste, but researchers have developed a way to recycle some of that fabric into useful products In the materials engineering labs at UBC, […]

Oct 15, 2019

Big problems, tiny solutions

Vikram Yadav, a chemical engineering assistant professor who joined UBC’s faculty of applied science four years ago, is using some of the world’s tiniest creatures—yeasts and bacteria—to find solutions for some weighty problems.

Apr 29, 2019

Inclusive primary care improves people’s health, finds UBC-Western study

Respectful, inclusive practices in primary care clinics can significantly improve the health of low-income, marginalized people who may have previously experienced trauma or discrimination, a new study from the University of British Columbia and Western University has found.

Dec 18, 2018

Urban greenways can reduce neighbourhood carbon emissions

A new UBC study has found that greenways significantly reduce carbon emissions, with 300 metres being the optimal distance for maximum environmental benefits.

Jul 5, 2018

Researchers found that feelings of powerlessness, a mismatch between reality and expectations of motherhood, and unmet expectations of support contributed to anger in the context of postpartum depression.

Anger overlooked as feature of postnatal mood disorders: UBC study

Women in the postpartum period should be screened for anger in addition to depression and anxiety, new research from the University of British Columbia suggests.

Jun 26, 2018