A University of British Columbia engineer and a team of U.S. researchers have made a breakthrough utilizing spray-on technology that could revolutionize the way optical lenses are made and used.
Media Release Archives - Last 6 Months
Mega genomes of spruce species decoded
Canadian and Swedish scientists today released genome sequences of two of the most economically important forest trees in the world.
“Fish thermometer” reveals long-standing, global impact of climate change
Climate change has been impacting global fisheries for the past four decades by driving species towards cooler, deeper waters, according to University of British Columbia scientists.
Cardio and weight training reduces access to health care in seniors
Forget apples – lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.
Expert panel events for B.C. election
UBC experts on the B.C. election are holding two events – on election night, May 14, and the morning after, May 15 – where they will offer commentary and analysis of the 2013 provincial election.
For tastier food, try a dash of workplace injustice
A new UBC study from the Sauder School of Business reveals that experiencing unfair treatment at work can sharpen the taste buds, providing evidence that stress has a physiological effect on people.
UBC Okanagan Heat teams make grade to stay in top Canada West league
UBC’s Okanagan Heat athletic teams are now members of the Canada West club – for good.
Which B.C. party is better at fiscal management? UBC prof provides independent assessment
A new study from UBC’s Sauder School of Business seeks to provide an independent assessment of the economic track records of British Columbia’s top political parties vying for the May 14th election. The study finds that no one party is significantly better at fiscal management than another. On average since 1991, according to the study, B.C. fiscal performance, compared to that of other provinces, has been modestly better under the NDP.
Rich or poor, giving makes you happy: global research finds rare evidence of universal trait
People around the world, with both modest and comfortable incomes, reported being happier when they spent money on others than on themselves, say University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School professors who have popularized their findings in a new book, Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending.
UBC hosts gathering of international university presidents, students
Presidents and students from universities around the world will be at the University of British Columbia May 8-10 to explore the impact of new technology on learning and research.
Let the shredding begin: North America’s first campus skatepark opens at UBC
UBC has opened the first campus skatepark in North America, giving students, campus residents and Metro enthusiasts a new place to get radical on their skateboards, BMX bikes and rollerblades.
UBC bootcamp helps aspiring politicians shape up for government
A new UBC program will give aspiring politicians the training to thrive as future elected officials and handle the challenges of government life.
Top photographer and much-loved poet to receive honorary degrees
World-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky and internationally acclaimed poet Patrick Lane will receive honorary doctoral degrees during convocation ceremonies at UBC’s Okanagan campus this June.
Vancouver campus deploys new $5.1M ‘smart grid’ energy storage system
UBC President Stephen Toope today unveiled a new energy storage system, or prototype smart grid, created in partnership with Alpha Technologies Ltd. and Corvus Energy.
$25M grant brings African students to UBC
More than 110 students from Africa will receive comprehensive scholarships to live and learn at the University of British Columbia thanks to a $25 million grant from The MasterCard Foundation.
Anxious about life? Tylenol may do the trick
UBC researchers have found a new potential use for the over-the-counter pain drug Tylenol. The study suggests the drug may also reduce the psychological effects of the fear and anxiety over the human condition, or existential dread.
Expedition team releases photographs of threatened double-barrier reef
A rare double-barrier reef in the Philippines is facing grave threats and urgently needs increased protection, according to new photographic evidence released today by a team of marine conservationists and photographers organized by Project Seahorse, a partnership of the University of British Columbia and the Zoological Society of London.
Spinal cord researchers to benefit from $20 M investment from Rick Hansen Foundation
Spinal cord injury research at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health will be accelerated by a 10-year, $20 million contribution from the Rick Hansen Foundation.
Doctors not informed of harmful effects of medicines during sales visits
Family doctors receive little or no information about harmful effects of medicines in the majority of drug promotions during visits by drug company representatives, according to an international study involving Canadian, U.S. and French physicians.
Canada loses out on drug pricing: UBC study
Health systems worldwide are increasingly negotiating secret price rebates from pharmaceutical companies and Canadians risk losing out on the deal.
Healthy doctors make healthy patients, study finds
Patients are more likely to follow preventive health practices like getting a flu shot or mammography if their doctors do likewise, researchers at the University of British Columbia and in Israel have discovered.
Blood pressure medication may cause fainting when used for other ailments
An international UBC-led study has found that a common blood-pressure drug can cause lightheadedness and possible fainting in some patients.
UBC International College program gets Board of Governors’ support
The University of British Columbia Board of Governors gave its support yesterday to the creation of a new Vancouver campus program that will attract a greater diversity and number of international students, helping them to succeed in a North American academic environment.
Teacher ed comes to the world’s largest refugee camp
The University of British Columbia will soon be offering teacher education programs in the Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya, through a partnership that will increase access to education for resident children and youth.
Stephen Toope to leave UBC presidency in June 2014
Professor Stephen Toope, the 12th president of the University of British Columbia, will leave on June 30, 2014 to pursue academic and professional interests in international law and international relations, UBC Board of Governors Chair Bill Levine announced today.
Chinese foreign fisheries catch 12 times more than reported: UBC research
Chinese fishing boats catch about US$11.5 billion worth of fish from beyond their country’s own waters each year – and most of it goes unreported, according to a new study led by fisheries scientists at the University of British Columbia.
Mountain pine beetle genome decoded
The genome of the mountain pine beetle – the insect that has devastated B.C.’s lodgepole pine forests – has been decoded by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre.
Global companies beware: Rude customer treatment depends on culture
A new UBC study reveals that North American service workers are more likely to sabotage rude customers, while Chinese react by disengaging from customer service altogether.
Planck space mission sheds light on the Universe
The Planck Space Telescope has produced the best map ever made of the most ancient light in the Universe, with help from a Canadian team led by University of British Columbia Prof. Douglas Scott and University of Toronto Prof. J. Richard Bond.
UBC experts for comment on budget 2013
UBC experts are available to provide media commentary and analysis on the March 21 federal budget.
Dr. James Hogg given national award for leadership in medicine
The Gairdner Foundation has recognized Dr. James Hogg with the Canada Gairdner Wightman Award, the premier honour for leadership in medical science in Canada.
First Nations advocate and eco-activist among honorary degree recipients
The University of British Columbia will honour advocates who have fought for human rights and the environment at this year’s spring graduation ceremonies. The Honourable Steven Point, Tzeporah Berman, Lee Lakeman, and Ian Stirling will receive honorary degrees from UBC’s Vancouver campus.
Eight Canada Research Chairs valued at $4.5M appointed at UBC
University of British Columbia research in areas ranging from Indigenous literature, to nanotechnology, to evolutionary biology received a boost today with the appointment and renewal of eight Canada Research Chairs.
UBC clubfoot treatment in Bangladesh gains $4.3M federal boost
Thousands of Bangladeshi infants born with clubfoot – in which the feet are turned inward and downward – will be cured of the debilitating condition, thanks to a project led by two University of British Columbia professors, and supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Largest number of medical residents to be trained in British Columbia
A record number of medical school graduates from across Canada will soon commence their residency training at teaching hospitals and clinics around the province through University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine’s postgraduate medical education program.
Friend or foe: Babies choose sides early
Babies have a dark side under their cute exteriors, according to UBC study that finds infants as young as nine months embrace those who pick on individuals who are different from them.
Drugs targeting blood vessels may be candidates for treating Alzheimer’s
University of British Columbia researchers have successfully normalized the production of blood vessels in the brain of mice with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by immunizing them with amyloid beta, a protein widely associated with the disease.
Rapid transit key to unlocking potential of UBC/Broadway corridor: study
The City of Vancouver and UBC today released a KPMG study that shows the employment and population of the UBC/Broadway corridor will grow by 150,000 in the next 30 years and a rail-based rapid transit system is needed to meet the corridor’s population growth and significant economic potential.
$2M from BCLC and the Province creates Centre for Gambling Research at UBC
A $2-million investment from the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and the Government of B.C. will create a major new Centre for Gambling Research at UBC to advance our understanding of gambling psychology and help reduce problem gambling behaviours.
Canadian adult obesity at historic high
Obesity rates across Canada are reaching alarming levels and continue to climb, according to a new University of British Columbia study.
Better than polls? UBC launches prediction market for B.C. Election
UBC’s Sauder School of Business has launched an online prediction market for investors seeking to predict the outcome of B.C.’s May 14 provincial election.
Doing good is good for you: Volunteer adolescents enjoy healthier hearts
Giving back through volunteering is good for your heart, even at a young age, according to University of British Columbia researchers.
New flu drug stops virus in its tracks
A new class of influenza drug has been shown effective against drug-resistant strains of the flu virus, according to a study led by University of British Columbia researchers.
New $10.1 M imaging facility will unlock medical, engineering secrets
Scientists will get a closer-than-ever look at everything from molars to soils with today’s opening of the Faculty of Dentistry’s Centre for High-Throughput Phenogenomics at the University of British Columbia.
Private premiums add up to largest out-of-pocket health expense for Canadians
Private insurance premiums are Canadians’ single largest out-of-pocket health expense, averaging $1,200 a year per affected household, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia.
Arrhythmia culprit caught in action
Using powerful X-rays, University of British Columbia researchers have reconstructed a crime scene too small for any microscope to observe – and caught the culprit of arrhythmia in action.
As predators decline, carbon emissions rise
University of British Columbia researchers have found that when the animals at the top of the food chain are removed, freshwater ecosystems emit a lot more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Bilingual babies know their grammar by seven months
Babies as young as seven months can distinguish between, and begin to learn, two languages with vastly different grammatical structures, according to new research from the University of British Columbia and Université Paris Descartes.
Computerized ‘Rosetta Stone’ reconstructs ancient languages
University of British Columbia and Berkeley researchers have used a sophisticated new computer system to quickly reconstruct protolanguages – the rudimentary ancient tongues from which modern languages evolved.
New tool helps towns assess resources needed for bioenergy plant
For B.C. communities considering investing in a bioenergy heating system, it can be expensive and time-consuming to weigh the pros and cons.
Blowing hot and cold: U.S. belief in climate change shifts with weather
A UBC study of American attitudes toward climate change finds that local weather – temperature, in particular – is a major influence on public and media opinions on the reality of global warming.
Body language can predict outcomes for recovering alcoholics
To predict whether a problem drinker will hit the bottle again, ignore what they say and watch their body language for displays of shame, a new UBC study finds.
Where’s the puck? Time-lapse video shows extreme makeover of UBC rink to Davis Cup tennis court
UBC is releasing a time-lapse video of the transformation of UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, which is now ready to welcome Canada’s and Spain’s top tennis stars for the Davis Cup. The facility, which boasts three ice rinks and was a hockey and sledge hockey venue during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, goes through a surface and technology makeover to become a world-class tennis venue.
BC Skills deficit looming in 2016: More jobs than qualified people unless post-secondary capacity expanded
A skills shortage will hit British Columbia in 2016 and continue to grow, unless immediate action is taken to improve access to all types of post-secondary education – university, college and trades.
UBC MBA up 25 places in Financial Times Global MBA Ranking
Up 25 places over its 2012 ranking, the MBA at the University of British Columbia ranks 57th among the world’s top 100 MBA programs in the 2013 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, published today.
UBC building wins prestigious Wallpaper* Magazine design award
Design and lifestyle magazine Wallpaper* has bestowed its 2013 ‘Best Lab’ award to the University of British Columbia’s new Pharmaceutical Sciences Building.
When food porn holds no allure: the science behind satiety
New research from the University of British Columbia is shedding light on why enticing pictures of food affect us less when we’re full.
Construction begins on Canada’s largest radio telescope
$11M UBC-led CHIME project to attempt largest survey of observable universe
Construction is now under way in Penticton, B.C. on Canada’s largest radio telescope – and the first research telescope to be built in the country in more than 30 years.
Master switch discovery could provide road map for treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases
Scientists trying to create drugs to treat chronic inflammation in diseases like arthritis now have a new culprit known as MMP2. New University of British Columbia research shows that this enzyme works as a master switch to activate inflammatory diseases.
UBC research: Forget about fair – it’s better when bosses pick favourites
A new study from the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business shows that bosses should pick favourites if they want top performing teams.
UBC campaign hits $1 billion
The University of British Columbia’s start an evolution campaign crossed the $1 billion mark and is now two-thirds of the way toward its fundraising and alumni engagement targets – to raise $1.5 billion and to involve 50,000 alumni annually in the life of the university by 2015.
UBC receives $22.7M for research from the Canada Foundation for Innovation
University of British Columbia research in areas ranging from astronomy to cancer, quantum materials to plant evolution, received a $22.7M boost from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
UBC and Fraunhofer Society enter $4.9 million clean energy partnership
A $4.9-million research partnership between UBC and Germany’s Fraunhofer Society – Europe’s largest applied research institution – will advance clean energy research in five critical areas, from wind energy to zero emission vehicles.
Film produced by UBC student goes to Sundance
A UBC student who helped make The Corporation an international hit film has executive produced a powerful documentary that will premiere at next week’s Sundance Film Festival.
Four UBC professors appointed to Order of Canada
Four University of British Columbia professors, four alumni and two honorary degree recipients have been named to the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest civilian honours.
Kindness key to happiness and acceptance for children
Children who make an effort to perform acts of kindness are happier and experience greater acceptance from their peers, suggests new research from the University of British Columbia and the University of California, Riverside.
UBC releases 2011 statistics of animals involved in research
For the second year, the University of British Columbia has published the total number of animals involved in research, their major species groupings, as well as their purpose of use and the degree of invasiveness of the research activities.
Violence in Mali threatening survival of endangered elephants
University of British Columbia and Oxford University researchers have revealed the secrets of survival of an endangered population of African elephant in the unforgiving Sahara desert. These animals have the biggest migration among elephants, the study finds, but recent violence in Mali may now be putting them at risk.
Single spill could wipe out economic gains from Northern Gateway
UBC researchers estimate losses of $300-million, cleanup costs of up to $9.6-billion.
Mussel goo inspires blood vessel glue
A University of British Columbia researcher has helped create a gel – based on the mussel’s knack for clinging to rocks, piers and boat hulls – that can be painted onto the walls of blood vessels and stay put, forming a protective barrier with potentially life-saving implications.
UBC’s new Vancouver School of Economics to educate global economic policy leaders
An expansion of Canada’s top-ranked economics department will create the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia, a new global centre for research and learning on the world’s most pressing economic issues.
Examiners tend to grade relative to work already seen: UBC research
How well you fare on a subjective evaluation – whether it’s of you treating a patient, auditioning for a play or even interviewing for a job – may depend largely on the person who was examined just before you. And the worse the person before you did, the better for you.
UBC research finds another culprit for obesity: Too much insulin
A serendipitous discovery by a researcher at the University of British Columbia could overturn widely accepted notions about healthy eating habits.
Alzheimer’s researcher reveals a protein’s dual destructiveness – and therapeutic potential
A scientist at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health has identified the molecule that controls a scissor-like protein responsible for the production of plaques – the telltale sign of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
HIV/AIDS Treatment as Prevention strategy working in B.C. Montaner calls for national implementation
A new study from the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) shows highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reduces new HIV diagnoses, deaths and HIV prevalence, suggesting that the made-in-Canada Treatment as Prevention strategy should be implemented across the country.
