Currently, there are more than 1,600 active research projects underway at UBCO.

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

The post From heart evolution to greenhouse gas appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

UBCO lecturer shares his enthusiasm for all things arachnid

Fake spider webs and eight-legged creatures decorate many homes this time of year. While living, breathing spiders may cause spine-tingling shivers for some, UBC Okanagan spider expert Matt Nelson says that this fear is misplaced. Despite commonly held beliefs, the biology lecturer with the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences says spiders rarely bite and are essential players in our world’s ecosystem.

Can you explain your fascination with spiders?

As a kid I was a rock-turner—I loved flipping them over to see what was underneath. And almost always, I found spiders.

There are more than 45,000 species and they range in size from the micro to macroscopic, with some reaching the size of a football. They are amazingly resistant to environmental changes like heat and drought, and have adapted to every terrestrial ecosystem, except that of Antarctica. Some of their fellow arachnids even reside on humans, they are commonly found on people’s eyebrows.

How important are they?

We can’t live without them. Spiders eat insects. I would say that is their primary role. Some, like the Okanagan’s native sheet-web spider do this through passive hunting with their funnel-shaped webs. Others, like the wolf spider, actively hunt. Spiders also kill other spiders, sometimes even their own mate. This helps keep their own numbers under control. Also, spiders are an important food source for other animals, including birds, lizards and other insects.

We’ve all heard of ‘spidey sense.’ Is that a Hollywood fiction?

It’s true, some spidey senses exist. Spiders have tiny sensory hairs all over their bodies that are like extensions of their bodies. Some detect, or feel, vibrations while others are chemo-sensory and can detect smells. This can give them an ability to sense their environments beyond anything that humans can.

Do they have any other qualities (other than scaring folks)?

Spiders have many other amazing abilities. For example, they have multiple eyes. This varies between two to eight, depending on the species. Not all eyes are image forming, some just ‘see’ light. The jumping spider, however, has eight eyes two of which are image-forming, can see colour and track motion.

Many spiders can even defy gravity. The tip of a spider’s leg, called the tarsus, has tiny hair-like structures, which can grip onto the irregularities of almost any surface.

Do all spiders have fangs?

Almost all spiders have fangs that are venomous. Yet, very few are dangerous to humans. In fact, there are more dog bites yearly, than those from spiders. They are actually pretty chill. They don’t want to bother you and really won’t bite unless provoked.

How can we rid our houses of spiders?

If there are spiders in your house, they are there for a reason. They are eating something, perhaps insects? I would caution against using pesticide, which may affect non-target species. The same strategies that you would use to energy-proof your house, will keep spiders out. For example, make sure there aren’t cracks in your doors and close your windows properly. If you see a spider, put it into a jar and take it outside.

UBCO Lecturer Matt Nelson holds his pet juvenile tarantula.

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

The post Detangling spooky spider myths appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Dela Hini won a Strong Woman award for creating her pink backpack project which distributed sanitary supplies, toiletries and cosmetics to exploited and marginalized women in Kelowna.

Dela Hini receives Top 20 Under 25 award from non-profit, Think for Actions

Sharing the bare necessities of life with marginalized women has brought recognition to a UBC Okanagan student.

Dela Hini, a Calgary-raised, Ghana-born third-year sociology student at UBC Okanagan, has been named a ‘strong woman’ according to the non-profit think tank Think for Actions.

The organization recognized Hini as one of its Top 20 Under 25 award recipients in the Strong Woman category earlier this month.

Hini received this award for founding and supporting the Pink Backpack Project, a campaign to provide sanitary supplies, toiletries and cosmetics for exploited and marginalized women in Kelowna.

“While living in Kelowna during my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to witness Kelowna’s growing and highly visible homeless population,” says Hini. “My sociology background and experience as a work-study student for UBCO’s Equity and Inclusion Office inspired and enabled me to take matters into my own hands. I wanted to do something positive and tangible to support the disenfranchised around me.”

Always one to get involved on campus, Hini co-founded UBCO’s Arts and Science Students Association, which helped establish and support the Pink Backpack Project.

“Inspired by the 10th UN Sustainable Development Goal, the Pink Backpack Project aims to mobilize students to address areas of inequity in the Kelowna area,” says Hini.

In their first year, the project assembled 12 ‘essential pack’ care packages, mini cosmetics kits and boxes filled with surplus items. These were then distributed by the local volunteer group, HOPE Outreach.

“I’m delighted with the accomplishments of the backpack project’s first year. We successfully provided an opportunity for students to apply their talents and skills to help support the Kelowna community,” she adds.

This success motivated Hini to apply for the Think for Actions award.

Calgary-based Think for Actions aims to support the professional development of youth and has a long-term goal of establishing a community affairs research institute. The organization is focused on effectively engaging communities through research, collaborations and partnerships poised to solve large societal challenges.

The Top 20 Under 25 award has multiple categories to recognize the efforts made by people under 25 years and the organizations supporting them. There are seven categories, including the Strong Woman division, which recognizes two individuals who are helping to raise awareness on issues that are prominent in their community.

The award is meant to inspire the younger generation and to instil a sense of selfless service to society.

“I just want to make a difference in an innovative way,” adds Hini.

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

The post UBC student wins ‘Strong Woman’ accolade appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

UBCO graduate Kathleen Cusmano and her dog Haven will cross the stage together during the 4 p.m. ceremony Thursday, June 6.

Two vision-impaired UBCO students didn’t let ‘no’ get in the way of their degrees

Two students who have the extra challenge of being sight-impaired will cross the stage at UBC Okanagan’s convocation ceremony on Thursday to receive their Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology.

Many students will agree, earning a degree can be a long and hard journey. This holds particularly true for both Michelle Jorgensen and Kathleen Cusmano, who are a testament to determination and will-power. Despite being visually-impaired, they both obtained good academic standing throughout their programs and see their accomplishments as a stepping stone to helping others achieve their goals.

“The UBCO professors were super encouraging and accommodating with my requests for extra support,” says Jorgensen, who was diagnosed as being legally blind since birth. “The professors okayed my magnifiers (which helped her read), spent extra time with me and buoyed my spirits.”

One who scoffs at perceived limitations, Jorgensen has learned to advocate for herself. Much to her mother’s surprise and joy, and despite the doctors’ predictions, Jorgensen used what limited vision she had to play with toys and get to know her environment. Since then, there has been no stopping her.

“I heard the word ‘no’ a lot,” she says. “No, you can’t play sports, no you can’t read, just no.”

These discouragements have added fuel to Jorgensen’s fiery spirit. She learned the three Rs in public school by using her own devices—she brought magnifiers to school and learned to do math in her head.

“I once scored 65 per cent on a math exam because I didn’t show my work,” she says. “When it came to writing the final exam, which was multiple choice, my grade was above 90 per cent.”

Jorgensen applied the same ‘can-do’ attitude to university. She quickly embraced the campus culture, volunteering and joining clubs and wasn’t shy to approach the professors with questions or requests. She also discovered a love for martial arts. Thanks to the support of her jiu jitsu instructor and the gym community, she has risen to the ranks of a blue belt. She has won three gold medals, two silver and one bronze in both judo and jiu jitsu competitions.

“I like to challenge people’s perceptions of me,” she says while standing on stiletto heels and holding her white cane.

Jorgensen is currently employed as a client support worker at NOW Canada, an organization that provides a continuum of care for vulnerable women, youth and their children who have been exploited or are homeless. She agrees that her academic training, especially the forensic psychology classes, prepared her well for her new position.

“Thanks to an understanding of how the mind works, I can better empathize and support our clients,” says Jorgensen.

An interest in human behaviour also triggered Kathleen Cusmano’s application to UBC Okanagan. She too will cross the graduation stage Thursday, cane-in-hand.

“I was so excited about finishing my last classes,” she says.

Unlike Jorgensen, Cusmano lost her sight in her twenties and had to adapt to this change later in life. As she is completely blind, Cusmano relies on her dog, Haven, to help navigate her world.

“She’s such a friendly dog. I spend a lot of time stopping while people pet her,” she says.

Technology has played a key role in Cusmano’s learning as does her assistant Lynn Eileen. Cusmano learns by listening to the professor during lectures, while Eileen takes notes. To reinforce the learning, Cusmano will listen to a transcribed audio version of the notes. Just like Jorgensen, she agrees the UBCO professors have surpassed expectations for support.

“I really enjoy the class environment and energy,” says Cusmano. “The professors have been incredibly encouraging.”

Cusmano’s main challenge has been manoeuvring through the campus and spaces. She and Haven bussed from Vernon to attend classes.

“Learning the material was the easiest part for me,” she says. “Bumping into people, finding the right classes and seats required a huge amount of energy.”

Cusmano has applied her psychology knowledge to working with the Canadian Mental Health Association and has aims to be a personal counsellor.

It’s not uncommon for fresh graduates to offer advice to next year’s students. Both Cusmano and Jorgensen echo each other by saying that any incoming students should seek help when they need it and that pursuing an interest makes learning a pleasure.

“Don’t bury yourself in school work,” says Jorgensen. “Try to achieve a school-life balance. Try out different clubs, even just get a free piece of pizza.”

As more than 1,700 graduates cross the UBC Okanagan stage to receive their degrees this week, they will be joined by two pairs of unfaltering feet and a four-legged tail-wagger.

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.

The post Defying the odds appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

UBC Okanagan sustainability researcher Lael Parrott, report editor and contributor

Experts say Canada’s mountains are bellwethers of change

New reporting led by UBC researchers is examining how changing conditions of Canada’s mountainous regions may impact the rest of the country.

Mountains are a rich source of biodiversity and provide natural and economic resources on which humans and other species depend. They comprise a quarter of the world’s land surface and are home to a quarter of the world’s human population. Mountains also provide the world’s freshwater needs—they are the water towers of the world.

“Understanding how our mountains respond to climatic and environmental changes is more important than ever,” says UBC Okanagan Sustainability Professor Lael Parrott, report contributor and editor. “Our world’s ecosystems are deteriorating quickly and mountains are the bellwethers of change.”

The 2019 State of the Mountains Report describes the causes and consequences of the 2017 and 2018 extreme wildfires in North America. UBC Vancouver Forestry Professor Lori Daniels, one of the contributors to the report, suggests that coexisting with wildfires will be part of society’s adaptation to climate change.

“Now is the time for transformative change,” she says.

Other articles in the report include a call for increased Indigenous participation in mountain research, an examination of the challenges of sustainable tourism, and stories about the ecology of alpine species ranging from snow algae to caribou.

“These summaries will provide valuable resources for learning about Canada’s mountains,” says Parrott. “Our goal is to increase awareness and inform Canadians about the changes in mountain places and how these affect people and other species. This knowledge, in turn, may lead to support for policies to preserve alpine environments and manage our cumulative human impacts on mountain ecosystems.”

“In times of change, mountains need stewards more than ever,” adds Parrott.

About the State of the Mountains Report

The 2019 State of the Mountains Report, published by the Alpine Club of Canada, is a collection of expert summaries written to raise awareness about the ways a changing climate is transforming the alpine environment. Editors include University of Alberta mountain historian Zac Robinson, mountain ecology researcher David Hik from Simon Fraser University and sustainability scientist Lael Parrott from UBC’s Okanagan campus.

The State of the Mountains Report is an annual publication of the Alpine Club of Canada, in partnership with The Royal Canadian Geographic Society.

Both Lael Parrott and Zac Robinson serve on the Board of Directors of the Alpine Club of Canada. David Hik is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.

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.

The post Do our mountains matter? appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

UBC Okanagan sustainability researcher Lael Parrott, report editor and contributor

Experts say Canada’s mountains are bellwethers of change

New reporting led by UBC researchers is examining how changing conditions of Canada’s mountainous regions may impact the rest of the country.

Mountains are a rich source of biodiversity and provide natural and economic resources on which humans and other species depend. They comprise a quarter of the world’s land surface and are home to a quarter of the world’s human population. Mountains also provide the world’s freshwater needs—they are the water towers of the world.

“Understanding how our mountains respond to climatic and environmental changes is more important than ever,” says UBC Okanagan Sustainability Professor Lael Parrott, report contributor and editor. “Our world’s ecosystems are deteriorating quickly and mountains are the bellwethers of change.”

The 2019 State of the Mountains Report describes the causes and consequences of the 2017 and 2018 extreme wildfires in North America. UBC Vancouver Forestry Professor Lori Daniels, one of the contributors to the report, suggests that coexisting with wildfires will be part of society’s adaptation to climate change.

“Now is the time for transformative change,” she says.

Other articles in the report include a call for increased Indigenous participation in mountain research, an examination of the challenges of sustainable tourism, and stories about the ecology of alpine species ranging from snow algae to caribou.

“These summaries will provide valuable resources for learning about Canada’s mountains,” says Parrott. “Our goal is to increase awareness and inform Canadians about the changes in mountain places and how these affect people and other species. This knowledge, in turn, may lead to support for policies to preserve alpine environments and manage our cumulative human impacts on mountain ecosystems.”

“In times of change, mountains need stewards more than ever,” adds Parrott.

About the State of the Mountains Report

The 2019 State of the Mountains Report, published by the Alpine Club of Canada, is a collection of expert summaries written to raise awareness about the ways a changing climate is transforming the alpine environment. Editors include University of Alberta mountain historian Zac Robinson, mountain ecology researcher David Hik from Simon Fraser University and sustainability scientist Lael Parrott from UBC’s Okanagan campus.

The State of the Mountains Report is an annual publication of the Alpine Club of Canada, in partnership with The Royal Canadian Geographic Society.

Both Lael Parrott and Zac Robinson serve on the Board of Directors of the Alpine Club of Canada. David Hik is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.

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.

The post Do our mountains matter? appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

UBC research measures an accurate and precise dose of radiation

Delivering just the right dose of radiation for cancer patients is a delicate balance in their treatment regime. However, in a new study from UBC Okanagan and Duke University, researchers have developed a system they say may improve the ability to maximize radiation doses to cancer tissues while minimizing exposure to healthy ones.

“Radiation is a significant part of cancer therapy and it’s important to make it as effective as possible,” says Andrew Jirasek, a UBC Okanagan physics professor and senior author of the study. “The challenge is that radiation, while great at attacking rapidly dividing cancer cells, is also damaging to the surrounding healthy cells. Our solution is to make it easier to see exactly which tissues are getting a radiation dose and how much.”

The new system uses a specialized polymer gel used to assess both the 3D location and the dose of the treatment. The team’s first step was to validate the spatial accuracy of the gel, known as a dosimeter. They compared the dosimeter readings with traditional radiation treatment planning algorithms and found that the gel dosimeter was accurate in mapping the spatial location of the delivered radiation. Measurements of the radiation dose were also validated and visualized with the dosimeter.

The new system also allows for direct visualization of the radiation dose immediately after therapy, which results in highly efficient and accurate testing.

“Advances in delivery technology have enabled radiation beams to be rotated and adjusted to target the tumour and spare the healthy tissue, which reduces side effects,” he adds. “Now more advanced measuring devices are required to ensure that the dose and delivery of the treatment is accurate.”

Jirasek worked with colleagues from Duke University to take advantage of positioning systems already in place on most linear accelerators that deliver a radiation beam to the patient. The advantage of using the existing systems allowed for a new adjustment to be implemented without significant changes to the equipment.

“For the first time we are able to visualize a radiotherapy dose in true 3D and very quickly after the radiation has been delivered,” says Jirasek.

More than 50 per cent of all cancer patients benefit from radiation therapy as it helps manage their disease. However, because radiation affects both healthy and tumour tissue, accurate and tightly controlled dosing is crucial. This new system may lead to improvements in dose accuracy, sensitivity and localization during therapy.

“The next steps are to improve the process so that it can move into the clinic—the sooner successful therapy is implemented, the better for the patient,” he adds.

Supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada grant, this research was published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics.

April is Daffodil Month

For more than 60 years, Canadians have been acknowledging and supporting those affected by cancer by purchasing daffodils during the month of April. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society have funded research, information and patient support services. Partially through these efforts, the cancer survival rate has increased from 35 to 60 per cent since 1950. In 2017, about 565 Canadians were diagnosed with cancer each day.

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.

The post ‘Seeing the light’ behind radiation therapy appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

UBC experts discuss Earth Day relevant research. Photo credit: Lael Parrott

Almost 50 years ago, millions gathered to protest the negative impacts of industry and development on the world. Since then, the tradition has continued with Earth Day, a global celebration that is recognized by more than one billion people in 192 countries. It is a day of civic and political action to focus on environmental issues such as biodiversity, sustainability, pollution, climate change and clean energy.

The following UBC Okanagan experts are available to discuss their research around these issues:

Cigdem Eskicioglu
Associate Professor of Engineering

– treatment of biological waste
– renewable energy
– organic fertilizer

More info: ourstories.ok.ubc.ca/stories/cigdem-eskicioglu

Greg Garrard
Associate Professor of Sustainability

– climate skepticism
– sustainability and culture

More info: ok.ubc.ca/in-the-field/chasing-the-whale

Karen Hodges
Professor of Biology

– ecology
– conservation biology
– predator-prey dynamics
– extinction risks
– species-at-risk legislation

More info: biol.ok.ubc.ca/faculty/hodges

Nancy Holmes
Associate Professor of Creative Writing

– Border Free Bees project
– pollinating insects
– habitat preservation

More info: ok.ubc.ca/okanagan-stories/hive-of-activity

Nathan Pelletier
NSERC/Egg Farmers of Canada Chair in Sustainability
Assistant Professor and Endowed Chair in Bio-economy Sustainability Management

– sustainable practices in the agri-food industry

More info: ourstories.ok.ubc.ca/stories/nathan-pelletier

Rehan Sadiq
Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Engineering

– water supply systems
– infrastructure management
– environmental risk analysis
– lifecycle thinking

More info: ok.ubc.ca/okanagan-stories/one-water

David Scott
Associate Professor, Earth Environmental and Geographic Sciences
Research Chair, Watershed Management

– hydrological effects of forest management and land use change
– effects of wildfire on hydrology and erosion
– effects of fast-growing timber plantations on streamflow
– environmental assessment

More info: eegs.ok.ubc.ca/faculty/scott

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.

The post Experts Advisory: Earth Day, 49 years later appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

UBC experts discuss Earth Day relevant research. Photo credit: Lael Parrott

Almost 50 years ago, millions gathered to protest the negative impacts of industry and development on the world. Since then, the tradition has continued with Earth Day, a global celebration that is recognized by more than one billion people in 192 countries. It is a day of civic and political action to focus on environmental issues such as biodiversity, sustainability, pollution, climate change and clean energy.

The following UBC Okanagan experts are available to discuss their research around these issues:

Cigdem Eskicioglu
Associate Professor of Engineering

– treatment of biological waste
– renewable energy
– organic fertilizer

More info: ourstories.ok.ubc.ca/stories/cigdem-eskicioglu

Greg Garrard
Associate Professor of Sustainability

– climate skepticism
– sustainability and culture

More info: ok.ubc.ca/in-the-field/chasing-the-whale

Karen Hodges
Professor of Biology

– ecology
– conservation biology
– predator-prey dynamics
– extinction risks
– species-at-risk legislation

More info: biol.ok.ubc.ca/faculty/hodges

Nancy Holmes
Associate Professor of Creative Writing

– Border Free Bees project
– pollinating insects
– habitat preservation

More info: ok.ubc.ca/okanagan-stories/hive-of-activity

Nathan Pelletier
NSERC/Egg Farmers of Canada Chair in Sustainability
Assistant Professor and Endowed Chair in Bio-economy Sustainability Management

– sustainable practices in the agri-food industry

More info: ourstories.ok.ubc.ca/stories/nathan-pelletier

Rehan Sadiq
Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Engineering

– water supply systems
– infrastructure management
– environmental risk analysis
– lifecycle thinking

More info: ok.ubc.ca/okanagan-stories/one-water

David Scott
Associate Professor, Earth Environmental and Geographic Sciences
Research Chair, Watershed Management

– hydrological effects of forest management and land use change
– effects of wildfire on hydrology and erosion
– effects of fast-growing timber plantations on streamflow
– environmental assessment

More info: eegs.ok.ubc.ca/faculty/scott

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.

The post Experts Advisory: Earth Day, 49 years later appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Study evaluates texting as a poor way to deliver criticism

Many think they’re doing a favour by texting criticism instead of giving it in person. Not so, say researchers at UBC Okanagan’s campus who have determined that negative comments can have the same impact regardless of how they are delivered.

Their findings suggest that text messaging can be just as harmful as face-to-face conversations when it comes to delivering unfavourable remarks.

Susan Holtzman is an associate professor in UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.

“Text messaging has become a popular way for communication, including heated discussions,” says UBC Okanagan psychology researcher and study senior author Susan Holtzman. “Our study is among the first to provide a clear picture of the emotional impact of receiving a critical text.”

Her research team analyzed the emotional responses of 172 individuals between the ages of 18 and 25, who were given criticism in-person, through text messaging or no feedback at all. The participants were also assessed for trait mindfulness—the ability to focus on the present moment.

“The emotional impact of criticism was strikingly similar for participants in the text message and in-person groups,” says Holtzman, an associate professor in UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences. “However, participants low on mindfulness, who tend to be more emotionally reactive, reported more hurt feelings when criticism was provided through a text message.”

“Generally speaking, the use of text messaging for providing negative feedback is not necessarily ill-advised. But it is important to remember that not everyone responds to critical text messages in the same way—there are personality differences in how people react,” says Holtzman. “People also tend to be less inhibited when they are texting, and that can lead to worse outcomes.”

Basically, she says don’t say anything in a text message that you wouldn’t be willing to say in-person.

“And when it comes to making amends, our previous research and other studies show that in-person communication is likely best.”

The study, published in Computer in Human Behaviour was supported by funds from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Facts

• 95 per cent of adults own mobile phones in North America
• Text messaging is the most frequently used function on smartphones
• From the study above:
  • The average age when participants received their first cell phone was 14.5
  • 85 per cent of the participants had a cell phone by the age of 16
  • 41 per cent of the users sent more than 50 text messages a day

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. For more visit ok.ubc.ca.

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