Resources and Energy

Find collaborative research expertise

Mineral Deposit Research Unit

A collaborative venture between the mining industry and UBC, MDRU is an internationally recognized research group devoted to solving mineral exploration-related problems. It is part of an integrated geologic and geophysical research training program, and assists industry members by increasing the understanding of mineral deposits and methods that are used for their discovery. Project development involves close collaboration with supporting companies, other research groups and creative geoscientists not generally working on ore deposits.

Bio-Products Institute

BPI works towards extracting high value products like bio-materials, bio-energy and bio-chemicals from bio-resources. The unit's objective is to impact the research and technology development of bioproducts that will build on Canada’s significant investment and global leadership in the forest bioeconomy to help turn the tide of global climate change. BPI recruits the best and brightest to create a world class innovation network, and is working to build an international bio-economy network that brings together industry, government and universities.

Seismic Laboratory for Imaging and Modeling

A widely recognized world leader in the development of the next generation of seismic acquisition and imaging technology for the oil and gas industry. With direct involvement of faculty from Computer Science and Mathematics, SLIM has leveraged recent developments in compressive sensing and machine learning (‘big data’) to drive innovations in exploration seismology.

Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research

PCIGR provides the most up-to-date analytical instrumentation available for isotopic and geochemical research. The Centre offers high-quality analytical services and support for researchers from universities across Canada, various government agencies, the mineral exploration industry and the international scientific community.

Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals and Mining

BRIMM is designed to connect scientists and engineers to promote cross-disciplinary research spanning the entire life-cycle of mining, from early exploration to mine closure and rehabilitation. Building on the successes of UBC's Mineral Deposit Research Unit, BRIMM engages experts from all research areas to address industry challenges and make each step of the mining sector safer, cleaner and more efficient.

Diamond Exploration Lab

Carries out petrological and mineralogical studies of kimberlites, mantle xenoliths and diamonds. The Lab also studies petrology and volcanology of Canadian kimberlites and other primary diamondiferous rocks. The fundamental research in mantle petrology has very practical implications for the methodology of diamond exploration.

Geophysical Inversion Facility

GIF develops and applies geophysical forward modelling and inversion methodologies. Mineral exploration and UXO characterization are primary contexts, while environmental, geotechnical and large scale Earth imaging problems are also of interest. Research is supported primarily by consortium funding arrangements with NSERC, exploration and engineering companies, and other agencies.

Geological Engineering Research Group

Faculty members in the program conduct research in landslides, debris flows, runout analysis, hazard assessment, groundwater contamination and remediation, reactive transport modelling, and open pit and underground mine design and tunnelling.

Energy and Environment Research Initiative

EERI combines expertise in geology, hydrogeology, isotope geochemistry, microbiology, vadose zone processes and atmospheric sciences to advance understanding of the potential environmental risks posed by conventional and unconventional energy resource development. The initiative is at the forefront of increasing industry-relevant knowledge about fugitive gas leakage from oil and gas development activities through multi-disciplinary field investigations.

• UBC Science co-op
• PIMS Geomathematics