News
-
What’s killing killer whales? Orca report covering a decade of necropsies identifies threats
December 2, 2020
Pathology reports on more than 50 killer whales stranded over nearly a decade in the northeast Pacific and Hawaii show that orcas face a variety of mortal threats—many stemming from human interactions. A study analyzing the reports was published today in the journal PLOS ONE. The study… read more
-
Three UBC Science researchers recognized with NSERC prizes
November 10, 2020
Three UBC Science researchers have been awarded some of the most prestigious science and engineering prizes in Canada. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) awarded fisheries expert William Cheung and zoologist Mary O’Connor a E.W.R… read more
-
Ecologically friendly agriculture doesn't compromise crop yields
November 4, 2020
Increasing diversity in crop production benefits biodiversity without compromising crop yields, according to an international study comparing 42,000 examples of diversified and simplified agricultural practices. Diversification includes practices such as growing multiple crops in rotation,… read more
-
Scientists detect 39 new gravitational wave events
October 29, 2020
The LIGO-Virgo Collaboration, including researchers at the University of British Columbia, has confirmed 39 new gravitational wave event detections, more than quadrupling the total known gravitational wave events from 11 to 50. The results, published in four papers on arXiv, and soon to… read more
-
New funding boosts UBC research into enhanced cannabis cultivars
October 27, 2020
More than $4.2 million in federal, provincial and industry support announced this week will bolster UBC research into enhanced cannabis cultivars, with a particular focus on disease resistance. The project--Fast-Track Breeding of Powdery Mildew-Resistant Cannabis--is being led by UBC researchers… read more
-
Q&A: How the human right to a healthy environment can help protect us all
October 27, 2020
From the COVID-19 pandemic to the raging wildfires in Australia and the U.S., scientific evidence shows an increase in planetary environmental emergencies that pose a risk to Canadian and global communities. While many countries recognize the right to a healthy environment through constitutions,… read more
-
UBC researcher wins 2020 Volvo Environment Prize
October 13, 2020
UBC conservation biologist Claire Kremen is this year's winner of the Volvo Environment Prize, recognizing her world-class research on how humanity can feed itself while also protecting biodiversity. Since its inception in 1990, the Volvo Environment Prize has become one of the scientific world… read more
-
Camera traps show impact of recreational activity on wildlife
September 24, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has fired up interest in outdoor activities in our parks and forests. Now a new UBC study highlights the need to be mindful of how these activities may affect wildlife living in protected areas. Researchers placed motion-activated cameras on the trails in and around the… read more
-
Science researchers join Royal Society of Canada
September 8, 2020
Three UBC Science researchers have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada. Election to the RSC is the highest honour a scholar can achieve in the arts, humanities and sciences in Canada. The 2020 UBC Science fellows are: Mark Halpern (Physics & Astronomy) Mark Halpern’s research… read more
-
Long live the queen: UBC scientists find clues to queen bee failure
September 8, 2020
Scientists at UBC are unravelling the mysteries behind a persistent problem in commercial beekeeping that is one of the leading causes of colony mortality—queen bee failure. This occurs when the queen fails to produce enough fertilized eggs to maintain the hive, and is regularly cited by… read more