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Spotlight
Creating Thriving Cities

What makes a city livable?

Cities are home to a growing majority of the global population. How they are designed and managed is key not only to the quality of human life, but also to our ability to thrive in the future.

A photograph of Vancouver taken from a helicopter above the Stanley Park area. It shows West Georgia Street, with False Creek and Science World at the end, and East Vancouver in the background.
The ideal city?

There may be no such thing, but Vancouver has shown the world an admirable model.

Spotlight Archive
Arts
Women in red robes and white bonnets pray on steps in The Handmaid's Tale
Fiction about abortion confronts gender, sexuality, and women’s rights

Writers have explored how abortion becomes entangled with how we shape the future.

Athletics
Close-up shot of a UBC hockey player wearing the high-tech mouthguard showing UBC Thunderbirds logo
High-tech mouthguard tracks head impacts during varsity hockey playoffs

A UBC concussion study could pave the way for safer hockey.

Business
Fingers typing on a keyboard with emojis popping up
Can bad reviews be good for business? UBC research says yes

Low star ratings and negative comments from unsatisfied customers can have an impact on...

Campus
Tick on bumpy surface
UBC researchers test out insect forecasting system

A campus project could become a blueprint for predicting insect activity.

Careers
Headshot of Laura Dowling.
Make your career move

Whether changing positions within or outside an organization, here's how to navigate a change.
 

Community
Illustration of people enjoying a public park, with a city in the background
The gathering place

Communities are shaping their public spaces into social places.

Environment
Vehicle drives along highway surrounded by smoke from forest fire
UBC experts call for proactive approach to extreme wildfires

Here’s how families and communities can prepare for more extreme wildfire seasons.

Give UBC
Photo of Marian Leung and Tommy Tao standing together.
Inspired by their roots, two alumni give back to UBC

Marian Leung and Tommy Tao’s legacy gift to UBC focuses on support for Hong Kong studies, as...

Health
Stack of chocolate cookies on a plate, with peanuts and crumbs beside it
Peanut allergy treatment safest when started for infants under 12 months

The earlier that pre-schoolers start this treatment, the better.

Humanities
A photograph of Vancouver taken from a helicopter above the Stanley Park area. It shows West Georgia Street, with False Creek and Science World at the end, and East Vancouver in the background.
The ideal city?

There may be no such thing, but Vancouver has shown the world an admirable model.

Life
Poke bowl
Expect to see more squid and less sockeye salmon on “climate changed” menus

UBC researchers examined 362 Vancouver restaurant menus from 1880 to 2021.

Opinion
Crowd outside the U.S. Supreme Court, protesting the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade. One prominent sign reads: "March like your future depends on it."
What’s likely to happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned — and why it matters

Two UBC legal experts weigh in on the Roe v. Wade draft decision and why it amounts to a “cruel and devastating blow” for women.

Science
Scientist in protective body suit tests wastewater at outdoor treatment facility
Targeted wastewater surveillance has a history of social and ethical concerns

Wastewater surveillance involves testing sewage to obtain data about population health.

Technology
An illustration of trees growing out of skyscrapers
Turning skyscrapers into trees

UBC scientists take a leaf from nature’s book.

afterwords

alumni UBC’s afterwords is a digital conversation series that shares the stories of some of UBC Okanagan’s extraordinary alumni.

Liz Ranney holding her painting.
Liz Ranney

alumni UBC’s afterwords is a digital conversation series that shares the stories of some of UBC...

Changemakers

UBC grads defining the future

Photo of Sonja Thoma sitting on the beach.
Mother tongues

Linguist Sonja Thoma is supporting the revitalization of Indigenous languages.

Class Acts

News from your old classmates

Collective Wisdom

One pressing question. Multiple expert perspectives.

Headshots of Carey Doberstein, Dallas Hunt, Oludolapo Makinde, Rick Hansen, Oral Robinson and Heather Campbell.
How do we make our cities more equitable and inclusive?

Six UBC faculty and alumni weigh in on this important question.

In Memoriam

Lives and Legacies

My Town

Insider travel tips from alumni in the know

Leanne Rachid at the Dubai Miracle Garden, with lots of flowers in bloom in the background
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Explore Dubai from the perspective of UBC alum Leanne Rachid (BA'18).

President's Message

A message from UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Santa J. Ono

Headshot of Santa J. Ono.
How connecting a city makes people’s daily lives better

UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Santa J. Ono

Quiz

A non-credit test of your UBC smarts

Black and white illustrations of newspaper, voting ballot and Shakespeare book.
Classics, critters, and capers

(Answers below)

1. This January, the UBC Library acquired a Shakespeare First Folio. Which...

Rewind

A glance into UBC’s past

UBC archives image
Marathon swim across the lily pond

“SHE MADE IT! ‘Canada’s Honeybun,’ marathon swimmer Carol Gregory, conquered the chilly waters...

The Big Picture

More show, less tell

Photo of Robby the robot.
Robby the robot

The newest member of UBC’s Athletics & Recreation team is a line-painting robot.

The Last Word

Q&As featuring well-known individuals with a UBC connection

Headshot of Avi Lewis.
Avi Lewis

Loves Earth, despises open cupboards.

A nurse works in her office as a student approaches her.
Tackling toxic drugs

UBCO’s collaboration with the community is breaking down barriers when it comes to accessing harm reduction services.

Viola Cohen
8 Min
Photo of Ashleigh Green leaning on a railing with a background of mountains.
Ashleigh Green

Learn what life as a freelance artist looks like for UBCO alum Ashleigh Green.

4 Min
Fingers typing on a keyboard with emojis popping up
Can bad reviews be good for business? UBC research says yes

Social proximity plays a role in how consumers respond to negative reviews.

Collins Maina, MJ'20
4 Min
Aerial view of an intersection in the city of Asahikawa, Japan.

Spotlight

Creating Thriving Cities

Supported by
HearingLife-logo
A photograph of Vancouver taken from a helicopter above the Stanley Park area. It shows West Georgia Street, with False Creek and Science World at the end, and East Vancouver in the background.
The ideal city?
Richard Littlemore
10 Min
Illustration of people enjoying a public park, with a city in the background
The gathering place
Chris Cannon
7 Min
An illustration of cities enclosed in bubbles
Alone in a crowded city
Madeleine de Trenqualye, BA’07
8 Min
See All Articles
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Featured

Three men on bikes cycling through a forest
New research suggests ways to get men to open up
Patty Wellborn
4 Min
Honeybees on a honeycomb
Extreme heat waves threaten honeybee fertility and trigger sudden death
Alison McAfee, BSc'14, PhD'19
5 Min
Nurse in PPE suit pours liquid into tube at patient's bed in hospital
Excess deaths in Canada during COVID-19 pandemic highest in the West
By Erik Rolfsen, BA’92
4 Min
Hill and empty field at mining site
UBC spin-off companies win $2 million for carbon removal technology
Alex Walls
4 Min
Dr. Sana Shahram standing in front of an orange butterfly mural wall.
Removing the barriers to health equity
Nils Donnelly
6 Min
Journalist Anastasiia Lapatina in Ukraine
Pandemic and Putin turn UBC student into war correspondent
Erik Rolfsen, BA’92
6 Min
Dr. Leanne ten Brinke holding a white mask over her face
Mask of deception

Dr. ten Brinke and her students study liars, truth-tellers, and everything in between.

 

Viola Cohen
6 Min
Ratana and Arran Stephens of Nature's Path
Encouraging sustainability one bite at a time

A groundbreaking Vancouver couple helped nurture vegetarian and organic markets in Canada.

Craig Takeuchi, BA‘96, MFA‘02
9 Min
See All

Podcasts

Illustrated graphic showing "Joy in the Summer" over a yellow background with a blue wave at the bottom and a sun in the top right
Joy in the Summer: Wonders of Wine
26 Min
Illustrated graphic showing "Joy in the Summer" over a yellow background with a blue wave at the bottom and a sun in the top right
Joy in the Summer: Seeking and Moving
27 Min
Illustrated graphic showing "Joy in the Summer" over a yellow background with a blue wave at the bottom and a sun in the top right
Joy in the Summer: Traveling with Music
24 Min
alumniUBC Podcast
UBC Dialogues - How can BC become more welcoming for new immigrants...
85 Min
My Financial Life - S2E4 - Taking Smart Risks: Investment Strategies...
52 Min
See All

Give UBC

Illustration of 5 diverse students, who each have a thought bubble over their heads, showing a unique wellness activity.
Give students the skills they need to thrive in an uncertain future
4 Min
UBC President’s Pandemic Recovery Initiative
UBC President’s Pandemic Recovery Initiative
3 Min
Montage of student headshots with the copy "UBC Giving Day, April 6, 2022" in the centre
What’s your cause? Show the world on UBC Giving Day
3 Min
alumni UBC | Trek

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A Publication of UBC University of British Colombia