News
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New analysis of Apollo data shows Moon is tectonically active and shrinking: Smithsonian, UBC researchers
May 13, 2019
New analysis of Apollo mission seismic data shows that some shallow moonquakes can be linked to young faults—evidence that the moon, like Earth, is tectonically active. Researchers at the Smithsonian, UBC and NASA published the findings today in Nature Geoscience. “It’s a great… read more
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Toward a pure aesthetic of teaching
May 8, 2019
Killam Teaching Prize winner Elisa Baniassad (MSc 98, PhD 03, ) has helped redesign three major computer science courses at UBC, and created free online classes on edX that reach thousands of learners. Her secret? Crystalizing ideas, and creating a sense of belonging for students. How did… read more
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Green chemistry, microbial bioremediation projects receive $1.2 million in NSERC funding
May 3, 2019
UBC research into green chemistry and microbial bioremediation are among five UBC projects receiving funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Strategic Partnership Grants program. “When researchers, businesses and governments work… read more
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New free guide aims to improve STEM teaching at universities
April 11, 2019
With The Science Education Initiative Handbook, UBC’s Warren Code and the University of Colorado Boulder’s Stephanie Chasteen offer a free guide designed to help universities transform their STEM teaching practices. The book details the SEI model pioneered at both institutions over 10… read more
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Four UBC researchers appointed to Canada-CIFAR AI chairs
April 8, 2019
Four UBC computer scientists have been appointed to chairs as part of an expansion of the Canada-CIFAR AI research program. The AI program, funded by the Federal government with $86.5 million over five years, provides researchers with long-term, dedicated funding to support their research… read more
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Unearthing the recipe for rare gemstones in the Canadian Arctic
April 4, 2019
When Philippe Belley came to the University of British Columbia to study how gemstones form, he didn’t think he would need to learn how to protect himself from polar bears. But when some of those precious stones are buried in the Canadian Arctic on Baffin Island, where the world’s… read more
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Scientists discover first organism with chlorophyll genes that doesn’t photosynthesize
April 3, 2019
For the first time scientists have found an organism that can produce chlorophyll but does not engage in photosynthesis. The peculiar organism is dubbed ‘corallicolid’ because it is found in 70 per cent of corals around the world and may provide clues as to how to protect coral reefs… read more
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The bigger the evolutionary jump, the more lethal cross-species diseases could be
March 28, 2019
Some diseases which are fatal in one species can cause only mild discomfort in another—but it’s hard for scientists to predict how lethal a disease will be if it leaps across species. However, a new paper published this week in PNAS indicates that the evolutionary relationship between… read more
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In the Tree of Life, youth has its advantages
March 26, 2019
It’s a question that has captivated naturalists for centuries: Why have some groups of organisms enjoyed incredible diversity—like fish, birds, insects—while others have contained only a few species—like humans. Researchers trying to explain why the Tree of Life is so… read more
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Big data from tiny babies: New blood sample method could improve infant vaccines
March 12, 2019
The first week of a newborn’s life is a time of the most rapid biological change in life as the baby adapts to living outside the womb, yet surprisingly little is known about these early changes. An international research team co-led by University of British Columbia researchers has… read more