When it comes to conservation, ditch the ‘canary in the coal mine’
With habitat loss threatening the extinction of an ever-growing number of species around the world, many wildlife advocates and conservation professionals rely on the proverbial ‘canary in the coal mine’—monitoring and protecting a single representative species—to maintain healthy wildlife biodiversity.
UBC researchers develop strategy to protect wine grapes from smoke-taint
It’s a problem plaguing grape-growers worldwide—in an ever-changing climate, how can they protect their crops from the undesirable effects of wildfire smoke exposure.
Researchers test common garden practice on lodgepole pine forests
New research suggests a backyard gardener’s tried and true method of ‘thinning’ could be beneficiary to tree growth and water supply, and ultimately help fight climate change.
UBC event explores true meaning of walls
Walls are everywhere. Although hardly noticed, they define who is legitimate and who is not. Whether someone is inside or outside the walls of a home, office, prison, public building or a border wall, it affects their identity and its legitimacy.
UBC becomes first Canadian institution to join open science platform
With increasing interest in promoting transparency, collaboration, and reproducibility in academic research, the University of British Columbia announced today that it has become the first Canadian post-secondary institution to join the Center for Open Science’s online platform, Open Science Framework Institutions (OSFI).
Scientist Lera Boroditsky explains why language is vital to us all
The spoken word, in any language, can be a powerful thing. But how does each word, each sentence, our tone, the context—indeed our language—impact how we think.
Make-believe zombie apocalypse puts UBC professors to the test
For many, the question of who to bring along in order to rebuild human civilization during a zombie apocalypse has gone unanswered for too long. Now, six UBC Okanagan professors, all from different fields of expertise, aim to settle the issue once and for all—or at least until next year—as they prepare for the second annual Life Raft Debate.
From heart evolution to greenhouse gas
UBCO researchers are challenging established assumptions, innovating solutions and creating new knowledge that will have broad impacts on our society. Here are some of the accomplishments reached in 2019.
UBCO professors explain the brilliance behind this year’s Nobel Prize winners
Planets, poverty, peace and powerful batteries. The science and activism behind all of these are tied together this year by the lasting legacy of Alfred Nobel’s annual recognition for game-changes.
Use the humanities to bridge cultural divisions, say UBC profs
In an era when divisions in society seem more prevalent than ever, two UBC humanities professors are using the power of arts, history and philosophy to build bridges and address the world’s most pressing issues.