Updates, news and stories

Call for proposals for the Health After 2020 program

Faculty members at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan are invited to submit proposals for Health After 2020. This program is aimed at promoting interdisciplinary collaborations that raise awareness about health and health equity, fostering an exchange of knowledge and dialogue, and creating engagement opportunities between researchers and the public.

30-second bio: Anirudh Asuri Mukundan

As a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Mathematics at UBC Vancouver, Anirudh develops numerical methods to understand human blood flow. Find out why he believes he received the best advice from his PhD advisor.

UBC engineers develop nano-copper to quickly kill superbugs

A team of UBC researchers led by Dr. Amanda Clifford, an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Engineering, have designed a nano-copper coating that includes bacteria-killing nanoscale features and zinc. The nanoscale features are tiny bumps that can kill bacteria by rupturing their cell wall. Zinc, which is also antibacterial, selectively oxidizes in the presence of copper and helps kill bacteria more quickly compared to pure copper alone.

UBCO researcher points to gap in Indigenous health equalities

A UBC Okanagan researcher is calling attention to the looming gap in health equality when it comes to Indigenous populations living off-reserve in Canada — specifically, Indigenous women. New research by Dr. Min Hu, an assistant professor in the Department of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science at UBC Okanagan, confirms that a particular population group has the worst health outcomes of any resident in Canada.

Reappointment of Heather Berringer as Chief Librarian and Associate Provost, Academic Operations and Services

Consideration of the reappointment of UBC Chancellor

A message from Debra Doucette, Chair, alumni UBC Board of Directors; Kate Ross, Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Services and Registrar

Computer modelling aims to inform restoration, conservation of coral reefs

A UBC Okanagan research team has created a computer modelling program to help scientists predict the effect of climate damage and eventual restoration plans on coral reefs around the globe. This is a critical objective, says Dr. Bruno Carturan, because climate change is killing many coral species and can lead to the collapse of entire coral reef ecosystems. But, because they are so complex, it’s logistically challenging to study the impact of devastation and regeneration of coral reefs.

Travel restrictions significantly reduced COVID-19 cases entering Canada — but insufficient to prevent new outbreaks

Introducing the “Get to Know UBCO” tour series

Applications for the Managing at UBC program open until Aug. 12

Managing at UBC is a leadership development program designed to equip new managers with the foundational skills, knowledge and tools to succeed and grow in leadership roles at UBC. The program will take place online from Oct. 2022 to May 2023. During this time, leaders from across the university will come together to share experiences and learn best practices on topics related to leading self, leading teams, and leading within the organization. Applications are open until Aug. 12.

Mapping the brain using advanced neuroimaging

Using advanced neuroimaging, UBC scientists are changing how we understand and treat mental health disorders. After her brother’s death, Lisa Ridgway found herself overtaken by a sadness that wouldn’t go away. “When he received the cancer diagnosis, I did everything I could to help,” Lisa remembers. She travelled from B.C. to Australia, where her brother lived, to donate bone marrow. The transplant worked, and his cancer went into remission for about two hopeful years. The disease returned, and a second transplant couldn’t save him.

Texts can help when someone is dealing with a mental health crisis

According to new research from UBC Okanagan, crisis text lines are useful in supporting people seeking help during a mental health breakdown. Dr. Susan Holtzman, who teaches psychology in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, explains that mental health crisis services have expanded recently beyond telephone hotlines to include communication methods such as live chat and texting.