Making better decisions for more resilient energy systems
How can communities plan for a more sustainable energy future when resources are limited and conditions keep changing? For UBC Okanagan mechanical engineering PhD student Mohammad Reza Khodoomi, the answer lies in using operations research to turn complex challenges into practical decisions. Working with Drs. Babak Mohamadpour Tosarkani and Eric Li, Khodoomi studies sustainable supply […]
Camille Leclerc receives UBC Wall Research Award
Antibiotics save lives, but with antibiotic resistance on the rise, traces left behind in water and food are a growing environmental concern—one that can be difficult to detect and monitor. UBC Okanagan School of Engineering doctoral student Camille Leclerc is developing a potential solution, small enough to fit on a microchip. His research uses microfluidic […]
GCRTC panel explores Indigenous knowledge and engineering perspectives on wildfire resilience
As communities across British Columbia confront the growing impacts of wildfire, building resilience requires knowledge and collaboration across disciplines, professions and lived experiences. The Green Construction Research & Training Centre (GCRTC) at UBC Okanagan invites the campus and broader community to an upcoming panel discussion: Indigenous Knowledge, Land-Use, Planning, and Engineering Perspectives on Wildfire Resilience: […]
UBC innovation offers a creative solution to cleaning the air
The summer of 2026 brought another challenging wildfire season to the Okanagan, with smoke and poor air quality affecting communities across the region. Against that backdrop, a made-at-UBC innovation is offering a creative approach to cleaner indoor air. Developed at UBC Okanagan and brought to life through student ingenuity, three handcrafted air-filtering art installations have […]
From PhD student to professor: reflections on the road to research and resilience
Dr. Niloofar Akbarian-Saravi shares her UBC Engineering experience At their core, sustainable supply chains are about resilience. For Dr. Niloofar Akbarian-Saravi, those same themes have shaped the past six years of her academic journey at UBC. What began as a PhD in Mechanical Engineering became an experience marked by interdisciplinary collaboration, industry partnerships and opportunities […]
From resilient infrastructure to AI-powered communications: UBCO engineering researchers receive NSERC Discovery Grants
Stronger infrastructure. Smarter communications. Cleaner energy. Better health technologies. Six UBC Okanagan School of Engineering researchers have received a combined $1.55 million in Discovery Grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for work advancing solutions to some of today’s most pressing challenges. The grants are part of a broader investment announced […]
From Research to Reality: How Ana Isabel Sarkis Is Rethinking How We Build Safer Structures
Ana Isabel Sarkis Fernandez is a postdoctoral research fellow in earthquake engineering at UBC Okanagan. Originally from Costa Rica, she has lived, studied, and worked across multiple countries, bringing a global perspective to her work on seismic resilience. Her research focuses on understanding why innovative building technologies are not widely adopted in Canada and how […]
Dr. Qian Chen named an inaugural UBCO Impact Research Chair
Dr. Qian Chen, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering with UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering, has been named one the campus’ six inaugural Impact Research Chairs in recognition of her leadership in advancing digital construction technologies and sustainable housing solutions. The new program supports researchers whose work is driving meaningful impact within communities, industries and society. […]
UBCO engineering researcher named an international leader in earthquake-resilient construction
Dr. Lisa Tobber’s collaboration with New Zealand researchers aims to strengthen the safety and resilience of prefabricated buildings A UBC Okanagan engineering researcher is helping lead an international effort to make buildings safer in earthquake-prone regions. Dr. Lisa Tobber, Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering, has been awarded a Catalyst International Leader Fellowship from New Zealand’s Royal Society Te Apārangi. […]
UBC Okanagan engineering professors recognized with national CSCE honours
Two UBC Okanagan School of Engineering professors have received prestigious national honours from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE), recognizing their contributions to research, innovation and the advancement of the profession. The awards were presented during the 2026 CSCE Annual Conference in Québec City. Dr. Shahria Alam awarded Horst Leipholz Medal Dr. Shahria Alam, Professor and Tier 1 […]