Marine debris is an ever growing environmental and human health concern. Beach litter is a major contributor to the issue of marine debris, especially in the Global South where often lack of awareness and lack of policy enforcement are factors that promote continuous littering of beaches in coastal communities. Under the community-based, participatory action framework, […]

Architectural design data have mostly been limited to visual representations, specifications and contractual documents. Today, design firms generate vastly more and diverse data, but lack adequate access to tools to gain insight from such data. Yet the field of “visual analytics” provides concepts and systems exactly for working with such data. The proposed research aims […]

This project aims to improve energy efficiency and conservation in commercial buildings through statistical modeling and data analysis. Computer software will be developed which can predict future building energy consumption, and assist in diagnosing misconfigured equipment and recommending ways to save energy within buildings. This project is joint work between Pulse Energy, a Vancouver-based company […]

The purpose of this study is to understand and promote awareness of the mental health experiences of adults 50 years of age and older who live in a rural community. This study uses photovoice, a research and advocacy method that helps people to tell their stories with photos. Participants will determine what types of experiences […]

An estimated 5-10% of cancers are inherited through family members. To identify patients’ risk for developing hereditary cancers, genetic testing can be used. Communicating hereditary cancer genetic results to patients is challenging for health care practitioners. Practitioners want to ensure that patients understand and communicate their preferences for receiving information. Tools to aid patients in […]

This research project aims to explore how civil society organizations in Metro Vancouver might devise Community Land Trusts that allow their property interests to intersect with their social mission. Metro Vancouver Alliance, a broad-based community organizing alliance of faith, labour, community, and education sectors, previously conducted listening campaigns identifying reconciliation and affordable housing as common […]

Pacific salmon are important from ecological, economic, social and cultural perspectives, but many species in the Salish Sea have seen drastic decrease in marine survival rate in recent decades, likely linked to reduced survival of the young stages of salmon due to a combination of environmental, food web changes, and human impacts. This activity will […]

Cyanide is a chemical used in the dissolution of gold. It is highly toxic and environmentally unfriendly but cheap and highly efficient. In Canada, more than 90% of the gold mines uses cyanide in its operation, however, the toxicity of cyanide after some serious cyanide accidents has raised the alarm for consideration of an alternative […]

Antibody-based medicines are playing an ever increasing role in the arsenal of treatments of many diseases, from cancer to obesity to Alzheimer’s. Cell surface proteins, called membrane receptors, are considered key therapeutic targets in many of these pathologies, yet targeting them with antibodies has proven to be a challenge. Amgen British Columbia is dedicated to […]

The interns in this project will help to develop a sensor system capable of measuring the aerodynamic forces on a bicyclist. The measurement will be done in real-time; i.e. the rider will be able to see as they ride down the road how changes in their position or equipment affect their drag, and hence be […]

Machine learning approaches are transforming fields such as finance, healthcare, electronic commerce, social networks, and natural disaster forecasting. We propose collaborative research that develops novel methods and applications of machine learning techniques for event prediction, modeling relations between entities, and inference techniques that can impact these domains. In the context of event prediction, we will […]

This project involves the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of new low-molecular weight gelators for cleaning up oil spills. First responders to oil spills can add these gelators to the oil / water mixture to prevent spreading of the oil before additional resources are available to clean up the spill. This project will involve collaboration with […]