$22 million awarded to UBC research in conservation, new materials, cyber security

The University of British Columbia has received $22 million from the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund for 24 research projects across campus. 

Nine of the projects involve UBC Science researchers in areas such as climate and environment, particle physics, and computer science. 

“The BCKDF plays a crucial role in the modernization of our universities’ research infrastructure capacity and capabilities,” said Anne Kang, B.C.’s Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. “By investing in technologically advanced equipment and buildings, B.C. institutions will be well-positioned to develop successful collaborations with industry and other partners.”

The funded projects include:

Reactor for Atmospheric Transformations (ReACTr) to track the fate of outdoor and indoor air molecules

• Nadine Borduas-Dedekind (Chemistry)

Funding will be used to provide infrastructure to study indoor and outdoor molecules of interest in order to obtain quantitative data for predictive capabilities of the chemical composition, transformation and fate of atmospheric pollutants.

HAICU: Hydrogen Antihydrogen Infrastructure at Canadian Universities for Quantum Innovations in Antimatter Science

• Takamasa Momose (Chemistry)

Funding will explore precise comparisons between hydrogen and antihydrogen in order to answer the mystery of the missing antimatter in the Universe.

VELOSITY: Bringing the Benefits of VLSI to System Software

• Margo Seltzer (Computer Science)

Funding will investigate ways to make system software quickly and easily available on emerging hardware platforms. 

Enabling gravitational wave astrophysics with calibration, monitoring, and characterization of the LIGO detectors

• Jessica McIver (Physics and Astronomy)

Funding will explore the dark Universe with gravitational waves and the Advanced LIGO detectors to increase the number of confident gravitational wave signals observed.

Multifunction landscapes for people and nature (NEW TITLE: Working to Restore Connectivity and Sustainability (WoRCS) Research Program)

• Claire Kremen (Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability)

Funding will aid research in understanding how diversification practices in agriculture affect biodiversity and influence long-term persistence of wildlife populations.

Field and laboratory characterization of the climate and landscape response to surface elevation change

• Joel Saylor (Earth, Oceans and Atmospheric Sciences)

Funding will acquire field and laboratory equipment to characterize climate change and landscape change through time.