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 […]
Growing Through Resistance: FarmPod
A student-designed modular dome system exploring sustainable agriculture, agritourism and year-round growing in Northern BC Capstone Project Name: FarmPod: Micro-Farm Domes for Agri-Tech + Agritourism Team Members: Cassidy Legebokow, Mechanical Engineering Enrica Guidi, Civil Engineering Vivian Schmeeckle, Mechanical Engineering Jessalyn Svendsen, Mechanical Engineering Esteban Meiffredy, Mechanical Engineering Khiem Nguyen, Mechanical Engineering Students in the Capstone Design […]
Donor support helps UBCO Engineering grad research healthier futures
From the soccer field to the engineering lab, Ciana Dawydiuk-Clozza embraced every opportunity during her undergraduate journey at UBC Okanagan. Donor-funded awards gave the ’26 mechanical engineering graduate the freedom to pursue varsity athletics, international learning, co-op and research experiences—helping launch the next stage of her education. This fall, Dawydiuk-Clozza will begin a master’s degree […]
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 […]
A made-in-BC heat pump with global impact
James Seabrook graduated from UBC Okanagan’s engineering program in 2011 and didn’t leave the region. He walked into a shop in Kelowna, got a job and started building his own business. Today, Vitalis Equipment Technology Inc. employs more than 70 people and counts half its engineering team as UBCO graduates. It’s poised for global growth, […]
Engineering healthier futures through wearable technology
For Brooke Franchuk, engineering is about creating technologies that can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. A 2018 graduate of the Mechanical Engineering program at UBC Okanagan School of Engineering, Franchuk now works at Garmin, where she helps develop wearable technologies designed to support health and well-being. Her journey highlights how engineering skills can […]
Designing for Winter Mobility: A Wheelchair-Accessible Snow Shovel
For wheelchair users, snow-covered paths can create significant barriers to independent mobility. Capstone Project Name: Wheelchair Accessible Snow Shovel Team Members: Axcan Alba Gonzalez – Mechanical Engineering Ian Schoeman – Mechanical Engineering Marcus Chan – Mechanical Engineering Aidan MacKenzie – Mechanical Engineering Lewis McCombie – Mechanical Engineering Michael Zidkovich – Mechanical Engineering Students in the Capstone […]
Building a solid foundation for sustainable communities: meet Quinn Soon
2026 UBC Okanagan engineering graduate Quinn Soon reflects on leadership, sustainability and creating impact through engineering Meet UBCO 2026 BASc Civil Engineering Graduate Quinn Soon Growing up in the Okanagan, Quinn Soon was drawn to engineering by a desire to help address some of society’s most pressing challenges, including sustainability, housing affordability and community resilience. […]
UBCO engineering student recognized as an emerging founder
A UBC Okanagan School of Engineering doctoral student is being recognized as part of Innovation UBC‘s latest Venture Founder cohort, highlighting the growing impact of engineering-led entrepreneurship across the university. Shayan Narani, founder and CEO of Cement Dioxide, was recently featured by Innovation UBC among a select group of founders advancing ventures with the potential to […]
Master of Design: Reflecting on our first month together
UBC Okanagan’s Master of Design (MDes) professional graduate program recently welcomed its inaugural cohort of students. Rooted in critical design thinking, creative practice and design principles, the program—collaboratively delivered by the School of Engineering (SoE) and Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS)—empowers students to tackle real-world challenges alongside industry, community and public sector partners. […]