UBC Faculty of Applied Science

an older lady holding a snail shell and showing it to a young girl

New action guide empowers people with dementia

One group of people living with dementia collaborated with UBC researchers to develop an anti-stigma toolkit, offering an action guide to bolster community engagement and bridge healthcare support gaps.

Sep 13, 2023

The stories men tell themselves after getting dumped

When a partner breaks up with them, men often try to make sense of it by telling themselves stories about how it happened.

Nov 30, 2022

Breaking up is hard to do – but many men find healthy ways to cope

The popular stereotype that men don’t want support during a breakup, separation or divorce is simply not true, according to a new paper by researchers at the UBC school of nursing.

Jul 14, 2022

Bioform turns kelp and wood fibre into thin, durable bioplastic films for making products like agricultural mulch film and packaging products such as beverage lids and takeout containers. Photo: Kai Jacobson/UBC Applied Science

UBC entrepreneurs join fight against plastic pollution

The end of plastic pollution—in the oceans, on land and in our air—could be within reach with two UBC ventures working hard on solutions that could make this vision a reality.

May 26, 2022

Fionn Byrne analyzes how U.S. forces used landscapes to fight insurgency during the war in Afghanistan

New research highlights the role of green spaces in conflict

Green spaces can promote well-being, but they may not always be benign. Sometimes, they can be a tool for control.

Apr 14, 2022

The report used data from the B.C. Adolescent Health Survey from 2008, 2013 and 2018, each of which sampled around 30,000 students in grades 8-12 across the province.

New report shows improvements in LGBTQ youth lives and health, but more work needed

Most of B.C.’s LGBTQ teens experience safer environments and fewer health risks than previous generations, but more work is still needed to get them to where their straight peers are, according to new research.

Apr 13, 2022

Self-sanitizing copper has been applied to high-contact surfaces in nine UBC buildings. Photo: Teck

Microbe-slaying copper applied to UBC buildings

More than 400 sanitizing copper patches have been added to high-contact areas at UBC as part of a collaboration between Teck Resources and UBC to study the antimicrobial properties of copper.

Mar 28, 2022

UBC Forestry’s Cool ‘Hood Champs program workshop facilitator Dr. Stephen Sheppard (front) asks participants questions during a neighbourhood climate action session recently held in Vancouver.

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

UBC's smart hydrogen energy district (SHED) is a renewable energy hub that will include a hydrogen fuel station for cars and buses. Photo: 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