Updates, news and stories

UBC to transition from SIS to Workday Student on Sept. 1

Starting Sept. 1, the Student Information System (SIS) will go offline and be replaced by Workday Student and switch to read-only mode. Read-only access will be removed at the end of June 2025.If you are a faculty or staff member routinely using this system, you will receive more information in the coming weeks.Find out more

Research in focus: Amir Ardestani-Jaafari

Amir is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Management. His research focuses on how theoretical math can be used to prepare for uncertainty and variability, ensuring critical systems and services – such as healthcare delivery, transportation networks or energy distribution – remain reliable even under adverse conditions.

The future of wildfire

UBC Okanagan research is helping communities build solutions for a new realityDr. Mathieu Bourbonnais is pursuing solutions to help communities predict, plan for and prevent such destructive wildfires. His low-cost, purpose-built wildfire sensors help pinpoint when forests are most susceptible to ignition.Learn more

Challenges in partnered research: The power of storytelling in collaborative research

Announcing the recipients of the 2024 Green Labs Fund

Each year, the Green Labs Fund is awarded to laboratories across both UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses to generate sustainable solutions in laboratories that reduce the environmental impact of research activities. This year, four labs across both campuses have been awarded the Green Labs Fund for their innovative sustainable projects:

Staff in focus: Akshay Singh

As the Director of Research Security, Akshay supports researchers in safeguarding their research and knowledge. Discover what he enjoys most about traveling and why he encourages others to travel as well.

People’s moral values change with the seasons

A new UBC study has revealed regular seasonal shifts in people’s moral values.The finding has potential implications for politics, law and health—including the timing of elections and court cases, as well as public response to a health crisis.Learn more

Putting accessibility at the centre of climate action

For the 22 per cent of Canadians living with a disability, climate change amplifies the challenges many of them encounter on a daily basis, while introducing an array of new ones.

Deep diving with elephant seals offers unique insights into human health

Province of BC adopts amended Land Use Plan for the UBC Vancouver campus

The Province of BC has adopted an amended Land Use Plan for the UBC Vancouver campus, enabling the university to begin implementing the ideas, policies and strategies developed with the community through the Campus Vision 2050 process.

UBC super-black wood can improve telescopes, optical devices and consumer goods

Thanks to an accidental discovery, researchers at UBC have created a new super-black material that absorbs almost all light, opening potential applications in fine jewellery, solar cells and precision optical devices.  Dr. Philip Evans and PhD student Kenny Cheng were experimenting with high-energy plasma to make wood more water-repellent, like a lotus leaf. However, when they applied the technique to the cut ends of wood cells, the surfaces turned extremely black.  

Apply for the Vancouver Workplace Wellbeing Ambassador program by Aug. 19

The Workplace Wellbeing Ambassador program helps drive wellbeing and wellbeing practices at UBC and is a key strategic priority for the university. Faculty and staff at UBC Vancouver who are interested in championing this initiative within their area of the university are invited to submit an application. Applications to the program are open until Aug. 19.The program aims to: