Coastal temperate rainforests hold a high biodiversity of living organisms, including many fungal species. The diversity of fungi remain poorly described in forests of BC. In the proposed study, we will document these species and improve our understanding of ecosystem complexity by gathering essential baseline information on fungal communities. This will be useful for applied […]

The overall goal of this project is to approach the concept of “smart buildings” from a novel perspective by creating a new building automation and controls technology that unifies smart buildings with data centres, with a focus on interaction between digital models and human operators. Data centres pose unique agility, reliability, security, and efficiency requirements […]

The recent legalization of marijuana across the globe has sparked new interest in studying the health benefits of non-psychotropic cannabinoids. The majority of the studies have revolved around cannabidiol as it can readily be isolated in high quantities from hemp. Preliminary medicinal studies into CBD have revealed its promise as a treatment for anxiety, and […]

Data anonymization focuses on removing any personal or other information that would identify an individual or a set of persons from a given collection of records. In addition, anonymization should also mask information that could potentially be combined with other publicly available data to re-identify the individuals. This project aims to study data anonymization for […]

Land snails are important ecological components of ecosystems, providing multiple services that maintain the health of ecosystems in which they occur. The Oregon forestsnail (Allogona townsendiana), currently designated as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act, is found only in southwestern British Columbia in Canada at the northernmost extent of its known range. Trans Mountain […]

This project will develop and optimize high throughput, rapid screening analytical methods for twoclasses of aquatic toxins that threaten salmonid populations on Vancouver Island. These include UV filter sunscreen products associated with recreational activities and tire preservative compounds associated with roadway run-off. Working with project partners, community groups, and First Nations communities on Vancouver Island, […]

The use of a modern greenhouse is considered an efficient way of maintaining favourable growing conditions to enhance the productivity of agriculture and horticulture. However, the high production cost is associated with the greenhouse operation due to the high energy demand that results in significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental impact. It is important […]

Financial institutions ensure borrowers’ ability to repay the loan before lending them for the pursuing projects. The ESSAFIN Logic 1.0 software tool is available for evaluating loan proposals based on the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. The tool has a potential for improvement to account for the lack of critical practical application and evidence-based […]

Photon Control Inc. is a Burnaby, British Columbia company that designs and manufactures a wide range of optical sensors & instruments to measure temperature, pressure, position, and flow in the semiconductor, oil and gas, power, life science, and manufacturing industries. The operating principle of many of their products is based on the optical response of […]

Mental illnesses, particularly depression, is one of the leading causes of global disease burden. In addition to reducing the quality of life of patients and their relatives, it costs billions of dollars annually to the Canadian economy. Unfortunately, current antidepressant drugs are barely satisfactory and have numerous side-effects. The goal of this project is to […]

This proposal aims to advance large-scale dust mitigation strategies in hydroelectric reservoir sites through improved revegetation outcomes, and through leveraging revegetation efforts to additionally enhance local biodiversity and cultural values. Our team has developed a strategic partnership between university researchers, BC Hydro, environmental industry partners, and the local First Nations community to provide an interdisciplinary […]

Vertical agriculture could play a strong role in sustainable food systems, as it can be used to produce year-round supplies of nutritious foods with low environmental footprints. Vertical farming could be a valuable strategy for developing urban agriculture and local food systems, thereby contributing to sustainable community development and resilience. This research explores this potential […]