Below are news items from the UBC IRES community.
Hummingbirds are able to see millions more colours than human
Research co-authored by Harold Eyster, a UBC PhD student at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, shows hummingbirds see an array of combination colours involving UV that humans are blind to.Graham McDowell Awarded Sumaila-Volvo Graduate Prize in Environmental Sustainability
The Sumaila-Volvo Graduate Prize in Environmental Sustainability is a $3,850 prize has been made available through an endowment established by Dr. Rashid Sumaila upon being named the 2017 Volvo Environment Prize laureate for a Master’s or Ph.D. student whose peer-reviewed publications to date are expected to have the most significant impact on the field of environmental sustainability. […]Recovery of sea otter populations yields more benefits than costs
A study led by UBC professor Edward Gregr, an adjunct professor at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, examined the economic costs and benefits of reintroducing sea otters into the North Pacific region.AERL ROCR (Return to On-Campus Research) Protocols: Phase 1
Dear IRES Community, Apologies for the delay in getting this update out but we’ve been working very hard on getting the protocols for Phase 1 of the AERL ROCR (Return to On-Campus Research) finalized. Note that “In Phase 1, all Science faculty, staff and research personnel who can work off campus must continue to do […]The Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability is proud to stand in solidarity with UBC’s Black Student Union and all people protesting police violence against Black people in Canada and the United States.
IRES Statement of Solidarity The IRES community categorically denounces the recent events of anti-Black racism and police brutality in North America. We denounce the excessive use of police and military force by the United States government against those protesting police brutality towards Black Americans and people of colour. Black lives matter. The lives of George […]How Quickly Will Your Business Recover? Lessons Learned From Natural Disasters
Forbes highlighted a study co-written by Stephanie Chang, a professor at UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability and School of Community and Regional Planning, that analyzed patterns of economic recovery following a dramatic natural disaster.Congratulations 2019 BC Studies Prize Award Recipient: Johnnie Manson
Congratulations to UBC IRES PhD student, Johnnie Manson, for being the 2019 BC Studies Prize award recipient.COMMENTARY: The pandemic has taught us the importance of preparation. Let’s apply that lesson
The COVID-19 crisis shows that over-preparing is the right thing to do. UBC professor Kai Chan says we should learn from that experience and act to prevent climate change.Congratulations to the 2019/2020 Freda Pagani Award Winners!
Congratulations to the 2019/2020 recipients of the Freda Pagani Award for Outstanding Master’s Thesis and the Freda Pagani Award for Outstanding PhD Dissertation! Freda Pagani Award for Outstanding Master’s Thesis Emily Mistick Supervised by: Mark Johnson Forest harvest and water treatability : analysis of dissolved organic carbon in headwater streams of contrasting forest harvest […]Sandeep Pai on Ensuring a ‘Just Transition’ for Fossil Fuel Workers
Sandeep Pai, a PhD candidate at UBC's Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability, says the government needs to do more to help transition fossil fuel employees into the green economy, especially during COVID-19.What If We Responded to Climate Change Like We Have to Coronavirus?
Jiaying Zhao, a professor in UBC's psychology department and in the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, shared why it’s hard for us to respond to climate change with the same urgency of COVID-19.B.C. farmers retool their offerings to sell more locally
Hannah Wittman, a professor and academic director of the UBC Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, says we need to build a resilient, regional food system and the government needs to provide economic support to farmers and to make sure they have access to their labour in times of crisis.Vancouver experiences reduced air pollution amid COVID-19 pandemic
Kai Chan, a professor at UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, commented on the substantial improvement in air quality and predicted that it’ll go back to the way it was upon recovery of economic activity.The importance of relations between politicians and scientists
UBC academics Adam Ford, Cole Burton, Jiaying Zhao, Mary A De Vera and Stephanie Waterman wrote about building links between the scientific and political spheres in Canada.Biodiversity loss and wildlife trade are making pandemics like COVID-19 more likely, experts say
Kai Chan, a professor at UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, was quoted about the prevalence of wet markets in South Asia where fresh meat, fish, produce and other perishable goods are sold.Zero Hour: There’s no stopping climate change, but how bad it gets is still up to you
Rolling Stone cited a study co-authored by Justin Ritchie, a UBC postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, that examined emissions projections and the future of climate change.Adrian Semmelink, MSc – New Entrant Agrologist, BC Ministry of Agriculture
This interview features Adrian Semmelink, a 2018 RES MSc graduate! Adrian is currently working as a New Entrant Agrologist at the BC Ministry of Agriculture. What is your current position? New Entrant Agrologist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture. What kinds of responsibilities do you have in your current position, and what kinds of […]Seeking a more balanced indicator, Canada set to leave GDP in the dust
Fernanda Tomaselli, a lecturer at UBC’s faculty of forestry, and Sandeep Pai, a PhD student at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC, wrote about using traditional economic measures such as GDP growth to measure Canada’s progress.Overhaul your carbon footprint: These are the most impactful choices you can make
UBC psychologist Jiaying Zhao, Canada Research Chair in behavioural sustainability, spoke about carbon footprint and which aspects of our daily lives contribute to climate change.Dr. Hannah Wittman Awarded UBC Killam Research Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Hannah Wittman, Professor at the UBC Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) and the UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS), for being awarded a UBC Killam Research Fellowship.UBC Women in Science: Amanda Giang
For the days leading up to International Day of Women and Girls in Science, UBC Science is featuring 10 women researchers who are making their mark at UBC and beyond. Dr. Amanda Giang, a UBC IRES and Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor is the 6th feature for this #WomenInScience campaign!Bridging science and policy: UBC scientists are building relationships with Canada’s political leaders
Q&A with Dr. Jiaying Zhao, Associate Professor, UBC Department of Psychology and UBC Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, on a new partnership program, Science Meets Parliament (SMP), where scientific delegates met directly with policy decision-makers for the first time in Canadian history.Understanding The Great Climate Science Scenario Debate
Forbes quoted Justin Ritchie and Hadi Dowlatabadi from UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC, about the RCP8.5 pathway.We may avoid the very worst climate scenario. But the next-worst is still pretty awful.
Hadi Dowlatabadi, a professor at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC, says the levels of coal use in the high-end warming scenario were always implausible given the world’s coal reserves.Ottawa closer to single-use plastic ban after finishing science assessment
UBC environmental lawyer David Boyd says Canada needs to take action to match the rhetoric about the single-use plastic ban.
INSTRUCTOR OPPORTUNITY FOR 2 WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM
Future Global Leaders is a Pre-University Program for high school students ages 15 – 18 run by Extended Learning. The two-week course (July 26th – August 8th) includes three hours of morning classes and afternoon workshops focused on University preparation and social activities. IRES offers one class entitled ‘Introduction to Climate Change and […]
Don’t demonise farmers
Balsher Singh Sidhu, a PhD student at UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, wrote an article about agricultural burning and air pollution in North India.
2019/2020 Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral (CGS D) Program Award Recipient: Jo Fitzgibbons
Congratulations to Jo Fitzgibbons, a 2019/2020 recipient of the Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral (CGS D) program! About the Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral (CGS D) Program: The objective of the Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral (CGS D) Program is to promote continued excellence in Canadian research by rewarding and retaining high-calibre doctoral students at Canadian institutions. By providing […]
IRES Graduate Students on the Global Climate Strike
On September 27th, 2019, students, staff, and faculty members from the UBC Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) participated in the Global Climate Strike. The department’s Statement of Support for the Global Climate Strike can be found here. UBC IRES Students began the day by making posters out of reused pizza boxes, attending the […]
Kai Chan Named One of Canada’s Clean50 for 2020
Kai Chan is a Clean16 Honouree for 2020. The 2020 Clean16 are truly the leaders of the leaders in sustainability in Canada. www.clean50.com. Kai coordinated an international team of experts on a ground-breaking analysis of the ways forward, culminating in the “Pathways” chapter of the UN Global Assessment of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and […]
SESSIONAL LECTURER/POST-DOCTORAL TEACHING FELLOW OPPORTUNITY
The Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability invites applications for the position of sessional lecturer/ post-doctoral teaching fellow for the January – April 2020 period to teach an undergraduate course focusing on an introduction to sustainability. The salary range for this position will depend on qualifications and experience. Applicants must hold a PhD (or […]
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report: The Special Report on the Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
UBC IRES PhD candidate, Graham McDowell, a Contributing Author for the IPCC Special Report on the Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’s High Mountain Areas’ chapter. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report highlights the urgency of prioritizing timely, ambitious and coordinated action to address unprecedented and enduring changes in […]
UBC ecologist honored by American Museum of Natural History
UBC ecologist Claire Kremen has been awarded an honorary degree by the American Museum of Natural History. Claire Kremen, a UBC ecologist and biologist whose research involves reconciling agricultural land use with biodiversity conservation, has been awarded an honorary degree by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Kremen received the degree Doctor […]
Congratulations to the September 2019 Graduates!
Congratulations to our RES & RMES September 2019 Graduates! Sending you all of our best wishes! If you wish to check out the graduate theses & dissertations, click here. Nayadeth Arriagada (MA) Supervisor: David Boyd Poushali Maji (PhD) Supervisors: Milind Kandlikar Marco Vazquez Perez (MSc) Supervisor: Gunilla Oberg and Daniel Steel Sean Smillie (MSc) Supervisor: […]
UBC IRES – Statement of Support for Global Climate Strike
September 20, 2019 The Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability dedicates its teaching and research to solving critical sustainability challenges. Our research is fundamentally linked to the search for climate solutions and we are deeply committed to climate research and education. We recognize the need for a drastic shift in public policy to combat the growing threat of climate change and […]