UBC Okanagan School of Engineering’s Geering Up team recently hosted 100 Grade 9-10 students from School District 23 to learn about sustainability in the fashion industry. 

After learning about the fast fashion industry and its impact on the environment, each group then had one hour to apply their newfound knowledge to design, assemble and present a sustainable fashion piece.

Afterward, the students had a chance to hear from UBC School of Engineering Advisors and undergraduate mentors. 

 “We were delighted to host this amazing group of students for a day of hands-on learning,” said Geering Up Okanagan Manager Jennifer Garner. “This event offered students a sneak peek into what it’s like to be a UBCO Engineering student, from the pathway to becoming a student to some of the many career paths ahead.” 

Go Eng Girl is a popular set of events aimed at inspiring young women to consider education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Geering Up offers a range of programs designed to connect, inspire and nurture the engineers of tomorrow—from Summer Camps to Science Saturdays to professional development opportunities for educators. Learn more at: https://geeringupokanagan.ca/  

View the photo gallery here.  

The Battery Innovation Centre presents:

“Advanced Interface Design for Electrode Materials in High Energy-Density Lithium-ion Batteries” by:

Dr. Jinjin Ma, Postdoc Fellow at the University of British Columbia Okanagan

• Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
• Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am (PST)
• Location: EME 4218, School of Engineering, UBC, Okanagan, Kelowna BC
• Join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 750 207 2274; Passcode: 123456)

Abstract

The increasing demand for energy storage in recent years requires higher energy of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The recent development of electrode materials, such as layered oxide cathodes and Si based anodes, with high theoretical capacity and appropriate working voltage, creates great potential to meet the requirements for higher energy density. However, the development of high-energy electrode materials has been plagued by their persistent surface degradation and structural fatigue issues in batteries. Layered oxide cathodes experience abrupt strain accumulation caused by inherent anisotropic lattice changes, leading to the generation of intergranular and intragranular cracking. Moreover, their intrinsic high reactivity with electrolyte at the highly delithiated state suffers from serious surface reconstruction, including interfacial side reaction and phase transition. In terms of the anode, large volume change and deteriorated solid-electrolyte interphase of Si anode result in the pulverization of Si particles the increase in cell impendence. This talk mainly concentrates on the advanced interface design to tackle the challenges of high-energy electrode materials for next-generation batteries.

Sponsored by: Battery Innovation Center, Cleantech Hub, the School of Engineering and UBC Okanagan

UBC Okanagan is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation

The Green Construction Research & Training Center (GCRTC) Seminar Series presents:

Unlocking Mass Timber: Sustainable Design and Collaboration, presented by:

Ricardo Brites, Ph.D., Eng°

• Director of Engineering & VDC @ Mercer Mass Timber (Vancouver, BC)
• Date: Wed. Mar 19, 2025
• Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM(PST)
• Location: EME 4218, School of Engineering, UBC, Okanagan, Kelowna BC
• Join on Zoom

Abstract

Mass Timber construction has seen remarkable growth across North America in the last decade, with the Okanagan region well-positioned to benefit from this shift towards sustainable building practices. However, a significant gap remains in expertise around the comprehensive design, manufacturing, and assembly of Mass Timber structures. This knowledge gap often results in projects being viewed as expensive or overly complex, causing potential opportunities to be overlooked in favor of conventional construction methods. While standardizing Mass Timber products is crucial for industry growth, the true cost-efficiency of Mass Timber projects depends on factors such as supplier capabilities, plant infrastructure, and regional considerations. In Europe, where Mass Timber is widely considered a commodity, the importance of building strong, collaborative relationships with specialized manufacturers is clear. This allows projects to achieve cost competitiveness while maintaining high sustainability standards.

In this session, Ricardo will share insights into the integrated Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) strategies used by Mercer Mass Timber, North America’s largest supplier of Mass Timber. He will explore the key decisions made throughout the design, production, and delivery phases of a project, emphasizing the importance of engaging suppliers at each step. By aligning these efforts with local expertise and innovations emerging in regions like the Okanagan, Mass Timber can become an even more viable and sustainable solution for the future of construction in the area.

About Ricardo Brites

Ricardo Brites, (Eng.°, PhD) is a seasoned Structural Engineer boasting over 15 years of expertise in Holistic Design for Manufacture and Assembly of Mass Timber Structures across Europe and North America with over 100 delivered Mass Timber projects. His proficiency in Structural Design adhering to both European and North American Standards positions him at the forefront of significant projects. Notably, during his tenure in the UK, Ricardo served as the Associate Lead for the Engineering team at Eurban to deliver award-winning mass timber projects, including the world’s largest Mass Timber Structure in Singapore and two recent recipients of the UK’s prestigious RIBA Sterling Prize.

Since relocating to Canada in 2019, Ricardo has contributed to notable teams, including Katerra’s Equilibrium Group and Aspect Structural Engineers, before assuming a leadership role in the Engineering & VDC group at Mercer Mass Timber in May 2022. Ricardo holds graduate membership with the Institute of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Engineering Membership with the Portuguese Engineers Association (Ordem dos Engenheiros) and is actively working towards achieving PEng status with EGBC.

About the Green Construction Research and Training Center

The Green Construction Research & Training Center (GCRTC) is multi-disciplinary research and training hub, which is the results of collaboration between the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Okanagan College (OC). The center enables a multitude of disciplines to work in a symbiotic manner to enrich and broaden all disciplines’ capabilities towards greener construction. Learn more at https://gcrtc.ubc.ca/.

Do you feel pressured to finish your degree quickly? Or that you have to cram everything into the standard four years that most university students take to finish their degree? These can be difficult pressures to manage, especially in the context of the engineering program where students need to take six courses a semester to finish their degree in four years.

Meet Ryan Shaw, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student who is taking more than four years to finish his degree. He highlights how the five-year degree plan has made his degree much more enjoyable, and why you should consider it too.

About the Five-Year Degree Plan

1. Why did you choose a five-year degree plan instead of the traditional four years?

I’m originally from Vancouver, so because this was my first time moving out and living by myself, it was really difficult to adjust to adulting responsibilities while being thrown into six fairly difficult courses. The academic load was difficult to get through in my first year, and because I wanted to ease my workload in upcoming years, I decided to take the plan. My academic workload is now a lot more manageable now as I have more personal time and space to try extra-curriculars.

“It was really difficult to adjust to adulting responsibilities while being thrown into six fairly difficult courses”

2. How has the extra time allowed you to explore opportunities to benefit your professional life (e.g., internships, research, extracurriculars)?

With the extra time in my schedule, I actually reached out to one of my previous professors, Dr. Sina Kheirkhah, asking if there were opportunities to do research in his combustion laboratory. Luckily for me, there was a spot in his lab! I now do part-time research on hydrogen flame patterns, and I believe that it will be very useful in the future if I ever decide to pursue graduate studies. (It’s also a nice resume booster!) I also joined Marine Bots’ mechanical team, where I’m able to apply and extend the knowledge I learned from my classes, such as SolidWorks and fluid mechanics, to the torpedo and gripper arm that I’m designing for them!

General Degree Planning

3. What resources (e.g., advisors, career services) were most helpful in planning your degree path?

This isn’t mentioned very often, but I read the academic calendar like a book to ensure that I am meeting all of my degree requirements, especially because I also want to fit in a few co-op terms. The calendar helped me plan my course schedule accordingly, and I also consulted with

the academic advisors to make sure I was on the right track for pre-requisites etc. I believe these sources can be especially helpful if you’ve failed courses, or you need to re-organize your schedule for whatever reason.

4. If you could go back, would you change anything about how you planned your degree?

I actually wouldn’t change anything since I like my schedule the way it is now with enough time for extra-curriculars. I started my degree in 2021 and I’ll be graduating in 2027; in that time, I’ll also be completing a minor in computer science and co-op work terms, so it’s well worth it.

Advice and Reflection

5. What would you say to students who feel pressure to finish their degree “on time”?

Different students will have different difficulties (e.g. financial pressure, pressure to complete their degree in four years etc.). If you do face those difficulties, bring your concerns up to your parents or advisors to figure out if something can work with the resources you have. However, it is important to remember that university isn’t all about lectures- a lot of it is also being involved in extra curriculars and learning a lot more outside of the classroom.

“It is important to remember that university isn’t all about lectures- a lot of it is also being involved in extra curriculars and learning a lot more outside of the classroom.”

6. What tips do you have for students to prevent burnout while managing their workload?

Try to plan ahead to manage your workload, such as taking courses over the summer. Personally, I stayed on campus during the summer to complete additional courses, which helped lighten my schedule during the winter. Another option is taking a gap year to travel, volunteer, or participate in a co-op program. This can give you a clearer sense of your goals and what you’d like to achieve when you return. For each course you take, set specific goals and have a clear mindset about what you want to gain from it. Understanding how a course will benefit you helps prevent the feeling that you’re just there to “take notes and listen.”

Planning your degree can be an overwhelming experience, but there are many resources available to help you. The five-year degree plan is a great option for those who are looking to have more time to devote to extra-curriculars, or for those who are transitioning to university life. We would like to thank Ryan for his time and for the valuable insights he shared with us today. If you’re interested in the five-year degree plan, extending your education to allow for more extracurriculars, or simply want guidance on navigating your engineering degree, reach out to the Engineering Academic Services Team.