Two UBC researchers are exploring the problem of dwindling salmon runs from opposite ends of the knowledge continuum—cutting edge genomics, and empirical evidence gathered over millennia by the Indigenous Peoples of the coast. — By Geoff Gilliard At least 7,000 years ago, the First Nations of the densely populated North Pacific coast had already grown prosperous from the ocean’s bounty, particularly near salmon fisheries. The salmon runs were surging in 1791 when Chief Kayapulano welcomed to his territory Spanish Captain José Narváez, the first…

University of British Columbia researchers have developed a process that could make blood types obsolete. — By Geoff Gilliard Dr. Stephen Withers has learned a lot about the economics of blood over the past few years. Blood donations dried up during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2022, Canadian Blood Services reported that the nation’s blood supply was critically low. Shortages also struck the U.S., Australia, much…

By Nealan Gerrebos and Dr. Allan Bertram, University of British Columbia Wildfires are a major source of air pollution. They are also predicted to worsen as climate change progresses. Within the smoke particles produced by these fires is a wide range of organic chemical compounds known as “brown carbon.” …

How UBC community members are flocking together to bird-proof campus buildings — By Silvia Moreno-Garcia Vancouver’s shiny, tall, mirror-like buildings are an attractive and much-photographed sight. So too is the local wildlife, with Vancouver boasting one of the highest densities of wintering birds of any Canadian city. Unfortunately, the combination can turn those beautiful reflective glass windows into bird killers.

But governments need to get serious about protecting it — By Dr. Aaron Boley, University of British Columbia, and Dr. Samantha Lawler, University of Regina In early 2021, just after the Perseverance Rover landed on Mars, a purported image of the Martian night sky went viral. …

Computer vision and visual geometry are key to improving autonomous vehicles — By Silvia Moreno-Garcia UBC computer scientist Dr. Kwang Moo Yi studies computer vision and visual geometry — hoping to enable computer systems to better understand their environment, which could lead to truly autonomous drones, vehicles and robots. Can you tell us about your research? Autonomous drones, vehicles and robots need…

Could insulated hives protect bees from next summer’s heat waves? — By Silvia Moreno-Garcia It was a macabre sight. Dozens of dead drone bees spread over the ground, looking as if they had literally exploded from the inside out. “When drones die from shock, they spontaneously ejaculate,” explains Dr. Alison McAfee, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories who has…

Looking for STEM activities for your family this summer? The University of British Columbia has online resources for you to explore, or check out some of our in-person programming 🎟️. UBC partners The Beaty Biodiversity Museum offers downloadable activities, online exhibitions and videos. …

We should care about our environment all year long, but Earth Day is a good reminder to pause and consider the myriad issues affecting our planet and envision how we can create a cleaner, fairer, more sustainable world for all. — This Earth Day, we look at some of the resources around UBC that explore the many ways humanity and our planet are interconnected. Earth 2020 Last year, UBC oceanographer Dr. Philippe Tortell edited Earth 2020: An Insider’s Guide to a Rapidly Changing Planet, a free selection of essays from scientists considering the ecological issues facing our planet. Researchers such as Dr. Sally Aitken explain why tree planting alone can’t fix climate change, Dr. Rashid Sumaila…