News
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UBC Microbiologists to Investigate Bacterial-Powered Cleanup of Military Test Sites
November 17, 2009
UBC microbiologist Lindsay Eltis is leading a new $3.45 million Genome BC-funded project which will explore using bacteria to degrade toxic residue left by military munitions. Nitramines--specifically a compound called RDX--have been used in military munitions for decades, often to propel tank… read more
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UBC Students Reclaim Regional Title at International Programming Competition, Prepare for Worlds
November 7, 2009
Students from the University of British Columbia have won the 2009 ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest Pacific Northwest Regionals, beating out teams from Stanford and Berkeley for a chance to compete at the world finals this February. Teams of UBC Computer Science students took… read more
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UBC Researchers Map Genome of Key Microbial Indicator of Ocean Health
October 22, 2009
Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute have mapped the genome of a microbe that is silently shaping the ecology of the planet's expanding ocean dead zones. "Microbes specialize in metabolic innovation and many can use alternatives… read more
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UBC Scientists to Help Evaluate Canada's Biodiversity Research Capacity
October 13, 2009
Two UBC scientists have been appointed to a national panel tasked with reviewing the state of biodiversity research in Canada. Professors Wayne Maddison and Sarah Otto will join 13 other biodiversity experts on a Council of Canadian Academies panel which will consider the supply of taxonomic… read more
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UBC Microbiologists Identify Gatekeeper Cells' Role in Immune Response to Listeria
October 5, 2009
UBC microbiologists have identified a key defence mechanism used by the immune system against Listeria, a finding with important implications for the development of vaccines. Listeria is the bacteria that causes listeriosis, the food-borne infection that caused 22 deaths in Canada in an August… read more
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UBC Science Gains New CRC in Computer Security, Five Renewals
September 23, 2009
Research into software system stability and security will receive a major boost at UBC Science with the appointment of a new Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Computer Systems and Security out of the Department of Computer Science. Adjunct professor Andrew Warfield comes to UBC from the University… read more
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Two UBC Computer Scientists Elected to RSC
September 22, 2009
Two UBC computer scientists--one an expert on algorithms and data structures, the other a leading figure in artificial intelligence--have been elected as Fellows to the Royal Society of Canada. The award is the highest honour that can be attained by scholars and scientists in Canada. Professor… read more
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New sequencing technique could boost pine beetle fight, improve cancer research
September 15, 2009
UBC researchers have helped developed a cheaper, more efficient way to compile draft genome sequences that could advance the fight against mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestation and improve cancer research. Current sequencing methods have a variety of advantages and disadvantages--including the… read more
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Andromeda Galaxy Cannibalized Neighbouring Galaxies
September 2, 2009
UBC astronomers are part of the first international team to chart the unexplored outskirts of the Andromeda galaxy, a survey that has detected stars and giant structures that are almost certainly remnants of smaller galaxies gobbled up by Andromeda as part of its ongoing growth. The survey-… read more
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UBC Research Pokes Holes in Hubbard Model, Could Help Solve Enigma of High-Temperature Superconductors
August 19, 2009
New UBC research has literally and figuratively poked holes in single-band Hubbard physics--a model that has been used to predict and calculate the behavior of high-temperature superconductors for 20 years. The findings are the first compelling evidence challenging the model under certain… read more