UBC Science

News and events from the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. Also on Bluesky at @science.ubc.ca

[UBC Science @ubcscience]

"This is not a build Canada while protecting our environment act," said Dr. Sarah Otto, UBC evolutionary biologist and fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. "It is a build Canada strong while damaging the environment [act]." @UBCMicroImmuno @ZoologyUBC

https://t.co/68JBJyaFhf

[UBC Computer Science @UBC_CS]

Congratulations to Dr. Peter West, who has been named a Canada CIFAR AI Chair! Dr. West is among seven newly appointed or renewed Chairs in the latest cohort recognized for their world-leading AI research. Read more: https://t.co/r8V3Gx9EBX

[Science in Vancouver @ScienceVancity]

What if we thought of the gut microbiome as a "virtual organ"? 🦠

@UBC alum Dr. Paula Littlejohn explores how this perspective could reshape our understanding of malnutrition and lead to better patient care.

Read the Q&A: https://t.co/BAuCwrW4Kx

[UBC Chemistry @UBCChem]

Know an outstanding UBC Chemistry alum? Nominate them for a 2026 Alumni Award. Deadline: Nov. 15, 2026 https://t.co/MrlCcl13wT

[UBC Oceans (also found at ubcoceans.bsky.social) @UBCoceans]

Fish are renewable biological resources; satellites are depletable mechanical objects. Yet the governance of the high seas and orbital space share similarities. Here a Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite monitors Earth’s oceans, land, ice and atmosphere. https://t.co/oy9jHGnw8z

[UBC Oceans (also found at ubcoceans.bsky.social) @UBCoceans]

Swordfish are large-bodied, highly migratory fish typically found in temperate and warmer tropical waters far south of Haida Gwaii. It’s a rare find. Article by Isabella Morgante and Willim Cheung @coru_ubc in @ConversationCA https://t.co/UHH5jRVnl3

[UBC BioProducts Institute @UBCBioProducts]

🌱 Turning plant #waste into #valuable chemicals!

Anne Lalande and collaborators at #UBC and the University of Wisconsin–Madison @UWMadison have engineered #bacteria to convert #lignin-derived compounds into #MuconicAcid—a key building block for plastics, textiles, pharmaceuticals and more.

Their work was recently featured in The Microbiologist @, highlighting the potential to replace #fossil-based chemical #feedstocks with #renewable plant materials.

Congratulations to Anne Lalande, Logan Robeck, Dillon Hofsommer, Lucie Lippuner, Shannon Stahl and Lindsay Eltis on this exciting work!

🔗 Read the feature in The Microbiologist: https://t.co/0uL9imk1xh

📖 Read the paper in Metabolic Engineering: https://t.co/sVuJHOPofY

#Bioproducts #Biotechnology #Sustainability #CircularBioEconomy #ResearchExcellence
@ubcappscience @UBCForestry @ubcLFS @CHBEUBC @ubcscience @ubcengineering @UBC @ubcchem

[UBC Oceans (also found at ubcoceans.bsky.social) @UBCoceans]

The funding could have “a significant impact if used strategically to target priority areas of Canada’s vast marine ecosystems," said @DrRashidSumaila. Dr. Marie @AugerMethe is skeptical the funding will mitigate the harm to species from major projects. https://t.co/OofpILPrLz

[UBC Dept of Microbiology and Immunology @UBCMicroImmuno]

A UBC-led team of researchers has engineered a soil bacterium to convert plant matter into muconic acid, a ubiquitous precursor to everyday products, providing a more sustainable way to produce plastic, textiles, pharmaceuticals and more.

Read more: https://t.co/o0irfbFsH8

[UBC Computer Science @UBC_CS]

UBC Computer Science is accepting applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Teaching position, with an anticipated start date of July 2027. More information and link to apply: https://t.co/0YTV3COnzx

[University of British Columbia @UBC]

UBC up one rank to 44th in Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

THE has ranked the top 2,297 of the 22,000+ universities worldwide and UBC ranks 44th overall and 29th among public universities. The rankings are based on research excellence, teaching, and international outlook - reinforcing UBC’s standing as one of the world's leading research universities.

Learn more: https://t.co/iQDg1ATqxd

[UBC Computer Science @UBC_CS]

Come together on September 30 at 1956 Main Mall as we unite for an Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day. https://t.co/jdBHqmbjrT

[UBC Science @ubcscience]

"This is a completely new technique for probing the cosmos, delivered by an instrument that was conceived, built by Canadians," said UBC astronomer Dr. Mark Halpern. "It's a bold new step in the global cosmology program & a Canadian success story."@UBCphas
https://t.co/K8DXFjUdED

[Sea Around Us | Bluesky: @seaaroundus.org @SeaAroundUs]

The 2026 Larkin Award Lecture will bring long-time FishBase and Sea Around Us collaborator, Dr. Fabrice Teletchea, to Vancouver.

Learn more and get your tix ⬇️

https://t.co/3MEV2sIaCv

[UBC News and University Affairs @UBCNews]

CHIME has made its first standalone detection of hydrogen's ancient radio glow, using only its own observations. The result opens a new way to study dark energy and the evolution of the universe. 🔭

Read more ⤵️
https://t.co/Rfo2cGE9XM

[Project Seahorse (@projectseahorse.bsky.social) @projectseahorse]

Does collecting marine organisms to develop new medicines (marine bioprospecting), pose a threat to ocean conservation? Read more on marine bioprospecting and recommendations to minimize risk in this week’s #ThrowbackThursday study: https://t.co/K7h6PNmdim

[UBC Science @ubcscience]

If you’re swimming in the Salish Sea late at night and feel a skittering along your calves, tiny feet tapping their way higher and higher towards your face, don’t worry, it’s just the stuff of nightmares: hairy-legged, red-eyed sea spiders newly discovered by UBC researchers.

[UBC Science @ubcscience]

“Solving complex environmental challenges requires bringing together different forms of knowledge and expertise,” said Dr. Mark MacLachlan, Dean of UBC Science. @UBCoceans

https://t.co/8tfTZGqGew

[UBC News and University Affairs @UBCNews]

More than 57,000 student health and wellbeing appointments were booked at UBC last year.

Learn how UBC has expanded counselling, medical care and recreation resources to help students access support when they need it: https://t.co/DjAWFbig05

[UBC Chemistry @UBCChem]

Congratulations to UBC Chemistry Professor Corinna Schindler on being named a 2027 Arthur C. Cope Scholar by the American Chemical Society!

This prestigious recognition celebrates outstanding achievement and excellence in organic chemistry. https://t.co/Mf8WEUHwcE