Skip to main content
alumni UBC | Trek
A Publication of UBC University of British Colombia

Sections

Arts
Athletics
Business
Campus
Careers
Community
Environment
Give UBC
Health
Humanities
Life
Opinion
Science
Technology

Departments

afterwords
Changemakers
Class Acts
Collective Wisdom
In Memoriam
My Town
President's Message
Quiz
Rewind
The Big Picture
The Last Word
  •  
  •  
  •  

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Webcasts
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
Golfer hitting ball on golf course at competition
The politics of golf: Sportwashing versus the "attention economy"

In sportwashing, sports are used to distract from social or environmental problems.

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
Blurred health care worker with patient on gurney in hall near hospital elevator
When health care goes wrong: It's time to improve transparency and trust

The pandemic has exacerbated high levels of errors and mistreatment in health care.

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.

Submissions

 

In Memoriam Submissions

Class Acts Submissions

Letters to the Editor

 

alumni UBC | Trek

Site Map

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Archive
  • Past SPOTLIGHTS
  • Submissions

Follow Us

  •  
  •  
  •  

© 2021 TREK Magazine

Footer bottom

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
A Publication of UBC University of British Colombia