UBC Applied Science research that made an impact in 2025
Throughout 2025, UBC Applied Science research made real impact on our communities and our planet. Explore some of the stories that highlight recent discoveries and advancements made by our researchers.
Innovating for impact
This year, transformative inventions and discoveries emerged from Applied Science research and stand ready to make real world impact.
- A team from Chemical and Biological Engineering including Dr. E. Johan Foster and master’s student Samin Yousefi developed a prototype stir stick that can detect the presence of drink-spiking drugs within thirty seconds.
- The world’s first mushroom-powered waterless toilet, developed by SALA Associate Professor Joseph Dahmen, was launched at the UBC Botanical Garden.
- A team from the School of Engineering is developing an air-cleaning device that can remove airborne pathogens.
- Dr. Ryan Ziels of Civil Engineering led research that discovered microbes which help convert food waste into renewable natural gas.
Thriving cities and communities
The latest federal budget prioritized a national response to the housing crisis. Applied Science is providing key guidance through research in AI-supported construction, responsive design, and the systems that support an increasingly urban world.
- The plan to build 22 million homes by 2030 will require a balance between rapid construction and design that works in both social and environmental contexts. Dr. Tony Yang of Civil Engineering and School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture’s John Bass are working on projects that address both elements of the challenge.
- A study by UBC Okanagan School of Engineering Associate Professor Dr. Mahmudur Fatmi and PhD student Bijoy Saha showed how infrastructure influences the routes taken by cyclists, while Civil Engineering’s Dr. Alex Bigazzi assessed how an e-bike rebate program helped residents drive less and save money.
- The conversation around density has become increasingly polarized and the success of major projects requires a deep understanding of detractors, advised the School of Community and Regional Planning’s Michael Hooper.
Solutions for people
Our faculty are at the forefront of conversations on addressing the complex challenges facing Canada’s health care system.
- Research by Dr. John Oliffe of the School of Nursing found that closing gaps in five key areas in men’s health could save thousands of lives and millions of dollars.
- As the average age of Canada’s population continues to climb, Dr. Kristen Haase identified that aging is the top risk factor for cancer and makes the case for investments in geriatric oncology.
- Students in the Nurse Practitioner program began training in a new space adjacent to Surrey Memorial Hospital, bringing a new wave of healthcare professionals closer to the communities they serve
- The doors of the Gordon B. Shrum Building opened, providing a new home for the School of Biomedical Engineering to develop cutting-edge technologies and treatments.
Planetary health
Applied Science experts are providing world-leading solutions that address how to develop smarter, more equitable ways to manage natural resources.
- Dr. John Steen, director of the UBC Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining explained the importance of critical minerals in BC and why mine projects are being fast-tracked.
- MineSense, co-founded by Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering Professor Bern Klein, is using high-tech sensors to determine critical mineral concentrations at every stage of the mining process.
- A unique collaboration between Mechanical Engineering and Seaspan is examining how to reduce emissions from marine vessels.
- Dr. Zheng Lui and doctoral student Chengkai Zhang of the School of Engineering developed an AI framework to help ports efficiently manage vessel arrivals.
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