Updates, news and stories

COVID-19: Resumption activities and updates

A message from Shelley Kayfish, Director, Campus Operations and Risk Management; Co-chair, UBC Okanagan Resumption Planning and Coordination Committee; and Prof. Michael Burgess, Associate Provost, Strategy, UBC Okanagan, Professor and Chair in Biomedical Ethics, School of Population and Public Health, UBC Faculty of Medicine; Co-chair, UBC Okanagan Resumption Planning and Coordination Committee

From the Provost's desk

A message from Ananya Mukherjee Reed, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Okanagan Dear colleagues,

UBC research shows wastewater genomic testing can effectively track COVID-19 variants of concern within a region

Wastewater testing can accurately and rapidly identify levels of COVID-19 infections in the community, including the rise of variants of concern, suggests new research led by UBC professor Dr. Ryan Ziels. Ziels and his colleagues analyzed sewage samples from five municipal wastewater plants in the Metro Vancouver region during a period of increased COVID-19 case counts, from February to April 2021.

Supporting a safe and healthy work environment in preparation for increased on-campus activity

Safety & Risk Services has created a series of online campus resources to support a safe and healthy work environment in preparation for increased on-campus activity. The online series will launch during the week of July 26-30 with various live sessions, information sessions, and workshops. The series is intended for faculty and staff who have been working on campus throughout the pandemic, as well as those returning to work on campus later this year. 

UBCO’s cross country coach running for the best time of her life

Dr. Jan Hare appointed Dean pro tem of the Faculty of Education

Dr. Jan Hare, an Anishinaabe scholar and educator from the M’Chigeeng First Nation, assumed the role of Dean pro tem of the Faculty of Education on July 1st. Dr. Hare is a Professor in the Department of Language and Literary Education and holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Indigenous Pedagogy. She previously served as the Associate Dean, Indigenous Education and the Director of the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP).

Kai Ostwald appointed Director of Institute of Asian Research

New excellence funds available for student access and intercultural initiatives

A message from Dale Mullings, Associate Vice-President, Students, UBC Okanagan Dear campus partners,

Podcasting as a pedagogical tool in the time of remote learning

Dr. Tamara Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies, Faculty of Arts, explores the benefits and challenges of podcasting pedagogy and the art of wandering within the context of remote learning.  Find out more

New paper solves the soft solid puncture problem

Dr. Mattia Bacca and PhD candidate Stefano Fregonese from the Department of Mechanical Engineering have recently published a paper answering the previously unsolved question of how the mechanics of piercing works on soft materials – like skin – by looking at the way nature has approached the issue. Learn more

UBC Library Awards 2021 winners announced

Each year, the Library Awards Program shines a light on those employees who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation, leadership, excellence and a dedication to customer service through their work. This year's award winners are Emma MacFarlane, Hannah McKendry and Veronica Mewis.