News
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UBC mathematician says game theorists will be paying attention to World Cup
June 17, 2014
The FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 12, will capture the attention of hundreds of millions of soccer fans. It will also pique the interest of economists and computer scientists who study game theory, the study of strategic decision-making. Game theorists have studied penalty kicks and found… read more
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UBC Science staff recognized for advancing diversity, creativity
June 5, 2014
Four members of the UBC Science community have been recognized for their outstanding service to the University with President’s Staff Awards. The awards recognize personal achievements and contributions to UBC and to the vision and goals of the University. Eleven PSAs were awarded this year… read more
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Report supports shutdown of all high seas fisheries
June 5, 2014
Fish and aquatic life living in the high seas are more valuable as a carbon sink than as food and should be better protected, according to research from the University of British Columbia. The study found fish and aquatic life remove 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every… read more
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Interactive teaching methods help students master tricky calculus
June 4, 2014
Pre-class assignments, small group discussions and clicker quizzes improve students' ability to grasp tricky first-year calculus concepts, according to a new study by UBC researchers. Students taught in such active-engagement classes were 10 per cent more likely to understand key concepts… read more
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Researchers remap the epic evolution of a ‘ring species’ through central Asia
May 25, 2014
The Greenish Warbler, long considered an idealized example of a single species that diverged into two as it expanded its range, has a much more checkered family history than biologists previously realized. Ring species are a continuous loop of related populations, each adapted to its local… read more
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Promising discovery in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
May 22, 2014
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified a small molecule that prevents bacteria from forming into biofilms, a frequent cause of infections. The anti-biofilm peptide works on a range of bacteria including many that cannot be treated by antibiotics. “Currently there… read more
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Nanomaterials research training at UBC gets boost
May 16, 2014
Researchers studying nanomaterials at UBC received a $1.65 million boost in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada today. UBC chemist Mark MacLachlan received the support from NSERC's Collaborative Research and Training Experience program, with the funding… read more
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New TRIUMF-UBC training program aims to turn Vancouver into 'Isotope Valley'
May 16, 2014
A new interdisciplinary program at UBC and the TRUIMF national physics lab will provide young scientists with enriched training experiences in the production, preparation and innovative application of isotopes for science and health. The Isotopes for Science and Medicine (ISOSIM) CREATE… read more
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Lethal parasite evolved from pond scum
May 8, 2014
A lethal parasite infecting a wide range of insects actually originated from pond scum, according to a genomic investigation by UBC researchers. A team led by UBC Botany's Patrick Keeling sequenced the genome of Helicosporidium – an intracellular parasite that can kill juvenile blackflies,… read more
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Planck reveals magnetic fingerprint of our galaxy
May 6, 2014
An international team of astrophysicists has released an unprecedented map of the entire sky that charts the magnetic field shaping the Milky Way galaxy and helps in our understanding of the birth of the universe. The team—which includes researchers from the University of British Columbia… read more