From heart evolution to greenhouse gas

UBCO stories you may have missed in 2019

UBC Okanagan has grown to a student population of more than 10,000. With this growth, has come new research opportunities—currently, there are more than 1,600 active projects. UBCO researchers are challenging established assumptions, innovating solutions and creating new knowledge that will have broad impacts on our society. Here are some of the accomplishments reached in 2019.

Promoting resilient environments

UBCO biologists have discovered a new source of carbon dioxide in lake water that is used for irrigation. Their findings have practical applications for agriculture-based communities in arid regions. To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/02/21/ubc-researchers-explore-an-often-ignored-source-of-greenhouse-gas

Ecologists from UBCO and the University of Alberta have developed non-invasive methods for tracking animals, using DNA found in their feces, saliva and hair. These approaches will provide improved understanding of wildlife migration and population trends. To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/07/04/genetic-tagging-can-be-an-economical-ethical-tool

Supporting healthy people

UBCO has joined with international partners to determine how the human heart has adapted to engage in endurance physical activities. The findings will bring new insights to the international effort to reduce hypertensive heart disease—one of the most common causes of illness and death in the developed world. To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/09/16/taking-evolution-to-heart

UBCO researchers partnered with an international research team to complete 15 major scientific studies in Peru’s Cerro de Pasco to better understand how high altitude affects newcomers and Indigenous populations. This research is relevant for people who suffer from low oxygen health conditions including those with lung or heart disease. To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/07/16/global-research-expedition-begins-release-of-15-major-studies

A new Faculty of Medicine Research Centre, the first such facility outside the Lower Mainland, was established at UBC Okanagan. The Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management will serve as a provincial leader for research, knowledge translation and exchange in the urgent research field of chronic diseases. To find out more, visit: smp.med.ubc.ca/2019/07/22/new-faculty-of-medicine-research-centre-at-ubc-okanagan

Developing emerging technologies

UBC Okanagan researchers have discovered a new class of anti-ice surface coatings. These low interfacial toughness (LIT) materials ease the force required to remove ice from large areas, such as car windshields. To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/04/26/clearing-an-icy-windshield-is-about-to-get-easier-says-ubc-engineer

Researchers at UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering have developed a low-cost sensor that can be interlaced into textiles and composite materials. While the research is still ongoing, it may pave the way for smart clothing that can monitor human movement. To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/05/16/ubc-researchers-create-washable-sensor-that-can-be-woven-into-materials

Building thriving communities

UBCO researchers were involved in an international study which found that people are more charitable if allowed to quickly claim tax credits for their donations. Their findings showed that changing the deadline for donations so they land close to tax time increased contributions by nine per cent. To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/04/15/time-is-money-especially-when-it-comes-to-giving

Thanks to a visiting international fellowship, a UBCO professor is collaborating with the University of Exeter to promote and disseminate environmental humanities research. This field speaks to the interconnectedness of climate change, factory farming and human health. To find out more, visit: fccs.ok.ubc.ca/2019/11/08/ubc-professor-visits-university-of-exeter-under-the-global-partnership-visiting-international-fellowship

UBC is putting a spotlight on the human side of research through the creation of a public humanities hub on both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. Research from the Public Humanities Hub will bridge connections in faculties across both campuses, support UBC’s research culture, and publicize and organize humanities research and amplify the work of humanists on the Okanagan campus. To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/11/18/use-the-humanities-to-bridge-cultural-divisions-say-ubc-profs

About UBC's Okanagan campus

UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. Ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world, UBC is home to bold thinking and discoveries that make a difference. Established in 2005, the Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world.

To find out more, visit: ok.ubc.ca