Below are news items from the UBC IRES community.
UK failing to match EU in fight against ‘forever chemicals’, say scientists
The UK government responds to a letter from 59 experts, including IRES's Gunilla Öberg, which called for wide-ranging restrictions on “forever chemicals”.
Here’s how a scarcity mindset forms—and how to overcome it
Dr. Jiaying Zhao spoke about scarcity mindset.
Have a very sustainable Christmas: 5 tips from the experts
UBC researchers Dr. Jiaying Zhao, Dr. Kai Chan, Dr. Johan Foster, Dr. Guangyu Wang, Dr. Nadine Borduas-Dedekind, and master’s student Daphne Chevalier gave advice on how to make the holiday season sustainable!
Want folks to use reusable mugs? Give them a chance to win free coffee: UBC researchers
A chance at a free coffee works better than a discount to encourage people to bring in their reusable mugs at coffee shops. UBC Psychology and IRES researchers are featured in Prince George Post for their findings.
TA Opportunity for UBC Course: ASIC 220
Looking for a TA for an introductory course that provides a comprehensive introduction to sustainability from a science, economics, and societal perspective!
COP29 preview
Dr. Simon Donner spoke to CBC about what to expect from COP29, the 29th UN climate change conference
How much progress has Canada made since the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015?
Dr. Simon Donner spoke about B.C. and Canada’s progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement was signed.
The smog capital of India
A study by Dr. David R. Boyd explained the urgency for treating air pollution as a human rights issue.
Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Board recognizes BECCS
Dr. Simon Donner explained Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, of which he is a co-chair
The secret lives of Vancouver’s bats — and the race to save them
Master’s student Aaron Aguirre discussed his urban bat project which can help combat white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease affecting bats.
What Canadian provinces can learn from the Texas energy experience
Dr. Milind Kandlikar is featured in The Globe and Mail for his observations on B.C's expertise in hydropower shaping the market of renewable energy for its province
B.C. atmospheric river a successful first test of community-led rain management project
PhD student Charlotte Milne weighed in on CBC News about the benefits of rain gardens to manage stormwater.
How can B.C. protect itself from the next atmospheric river?
CBC features Dr. Kai Chan for his recommendations to reroute water through ecosystems instead of human-made structures for stormwater management.
‘Rustad is a threat to first nations and a threat to reconciliation’
Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Justine Townsend commented on the importance of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas
Canada must boost climate change targets: report
Dr. Simon Donner, discussed a new report from the federal Net-Zero Advisory Body which recommended that Canada boost its 2035 emissions reductions target.
Understanding hearts and minds is key to buy-in for federal climate policy
Dr. Jiaying Zhao commented on the federal government’s behavioral studies and surveys to shape federal climate policy and encourage sustainable actions in the National Observer
Finalists for 2025 Indianapolis Prize helping protect parrots, manatees, jaguars and more
PhD candidate Alberto Alves Campos is among the finalists for his work on helping the endangered Antillean manatee in Brazil. Photo credit: Maegan Luckiesh
New stormwater infrastructure is needed for Canadian cities to handle increased urban flooding
PhD candidate Mauricio Carvallo Aceves is featured in the Conversation, writing about increasing concerns of urban flooding in Canada.
What is societal collapse? Lessons from the past can help us understand our future, but only to a point
IRES's Dr. Amanda Giang and Charly Phillip are featured in The Conversation with Dr. Daniel Steel (School of Population and Public Health) for their article about how lessons from historical societal collapse is helpful for thinking about the future.
Graduate Academic Assistant for the Pathways to Zero Impacts project | Deadline September 13
Dr. Amanda Giang’s LEAP lab is looking to hire a Graduate Academic Assistant for the Pathways to Zero Impacts project. This is a part-time temporary role for a graduate student. Details from the posting are below and you can learn more about the project here. We are seeking a highly motivated graduate academic assistant (GAA) […]
PARKS+ Collective Project Coordinators: 4 part-time positions | Deadline: August 23, 2024
The PARKS+ Collective Project is looking for up to four UBC undergraduate or graduate Project Coordinators.
UBC Micro-certificate in Climate Action Planning: Foundations, Finance and Implementation
This course is for local policy makers, planners, industry players and anyone interested in learning the foundation and practicalities of climate action planning—the goal of the program is to build capacity in different sectors to advance climate action. A background in climate change is not required!
Global effort to end plastic pollution
Dr. Kai Chan discussed the global effort to end plastic pollution on CTV Morning Live
Red gold: Climate change plays role as saffron cultivation comes to Nova Scotia
Dr. Navin Ramankutty is featured in City News, he discusses how farmers are adapting to warming temperatures and climate change.
Your fridge is a place where fresh food goes to die. That doesn’t have to happen.
Professor Dr. Jiaying Zhao discussed how to organize your fridge to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
What’s the secret to a more sustainable future?
Dr. Kai Chan is featured in Broadview for being optimistic about climate action and his belief that the answer lies in the power of community.
‘This work matters’: How Vancouver’s biggest hospital is redefining food in health care
t Dr. Annie Lalande co-led the Planetary Health Menu project which introduced plant-based and sustainable food choices to patients in hospital.
Beyond personal carbon impacts, seeking a more sustainable planet
Professor Dr. Kai Chan discussed ecological footprint calculators which calculates how much of the environment is needed to sustain a particular lifestyle.
Deniers and doomers are leading the carbon tax opposition
Dr. Kathryn Harrison (political science) and Dr. Simon Donner (geography, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries) wrote about the importance of Canada’s carbon tax
Sustainable farming does pay off, B.C. scientists find
Dr. Claire Kremen co-authored a study which found that replacing single-crop farming with a diversity of plants, animals and farming techniques will maintain food production while increasing farmers’ income and reducing negative impacts on the environment and climate.
How do droughts impact the production of goods?
Professor Dr. Kai Chan discussed how droughts affect crop health and productivity.
EV owners have to drive farther to break even, study suggests
A new study co-authored by PhD student Bassam Javed and Dr. Amanda Giang explored electric vehicle costs across different provinces and territories.
What’s behind India’s farmer protests? For one thing, climate change
Dr. Balsher Singh Sidhu, adjunct professor in UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, said Indian farmers are facing difficulty growing rice and wheat because of more frequent heat waves and drought
Wanting to do actionable research brought alum Claire Ewing to IRES
Interview from 2024
At IRES, alum Alejandra Echeverri Ochoa combined social and ecological sciences
Interview from 2024