Updates, news and stories

30-second bio: Mehran Jamshidi

As a UBC Sauder School of Business lecturer, Mehran empowers students to better manage IT projects. Outside of work, he dedicates his time to reducing the risks associated with feelings of exclusion and discrimination among skilled immigrants.

More than 40 projects supported by the 2023/24 StEAR Enhancement Fund

41 community-led projects have received $294,385 in funding across UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan, as part of the Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism (StEAR) Enhancement Fund. These projects cover a broad range of topics:

Centre for Workplace Accessibility seeking input on new disability inclusion course

Faculty and staff who self-identify as an individual with a disability, a disabled person, or as having a chronic health condition are asked to consider completing an anonymous 5-minute survey to help develop a course on disability inclusion.The Centre for Workplace Accessibility is creating the disability inclusion course and is seeking feedback from disabled employees by May 13.Learn more

UBC Okanagan – Call for nominations for this year's Staff Awards of Excellence

The Staff Awards of Excellence celebrate the contributions of individuals instrumental in helping UBC’s Okanagan campus achieve its strategic imperatives, and to contribute to the commitment to create an outstanding work environment.There are seven categories of awards. Up to five awards per year are offered in the following categories:

Introduced bumble bee dominates Lower Mainland pollinator surveys

Earth Day op-ed by President Bacon: How UBC is Fighting Climate Change

An op-ed by Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President and Vice-ChancellorLast year, Canada experienced its most devastating wildfire season in recorded history, both in terms of carbon emissions and area burned. Our community experienced that firsthand when wildfires forced the sudden evacuation of the University of British Columbia‘s beautiful Okanagan campus last summer. Already, this year is predicted to be at least equally dire.

Scientists assess paths toward maintaining BC caribou until habitat recovers

Recognizing Teaching Excellence at UBC Okanagan

The recipients of UBC Okanagan’s Killam Teaching Prize and the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation have been announced.They are exemplary role models who make significant impacts on the culture of teaching and learning on the Okanagan campus.Winner of the Killam Teaching Prize is Dr. Christine Schreyer, Associate Professor of Anthropology, in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.The Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation was awarded to three faculty members:

“Asking the right questions” – On AI’s untapped potential for journalism

Journalism and technological innovation are not strange bedfellows. The field of journalism has gone from strength to strength by harnessing the power of new technology, be it embracing computer-processed type setting over linotype, or switching over to the internet from radio and telegraph, to name only a few such adoptions.

UBCO faculty members named 2024 Researchers of the Year

UBC Okanagan's prestigious Researcher of the Year awards recognize individuals who are making the world a better place through excellence in research and scholarly activity.Three outstanding faculty members have been honoured: Dr. Adam Ford for natural sciences and engineering research, Dr. Lesley Lutes for health research and Dr. Wendy Wong for her research in the fields of social sciences and humanities.Learn more

Evolutionary biologist Dr. Dolph Schluter named American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow

Internationally renowned evolutionary biologist Dr. Dolph Schluter has been elected to the newest class of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellows, among the most distinct honours within the global scientific community. 

Announcing the 2023/24 Community-University Engagement Support fund recipients

This year, the Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) fund awarded over $700,000 to 30 projects between community partners and UBC students, faculty and staff across BC. These partnerships are aimed at benefiting communities and advancing collaborative research, teaching and learning.