Wednesday is Pink Shirt Day in BC, a day established to prevent bullying and cultivate kindness. To support this, UBCO has just released a study demonstrating how high school students practice and recognize kindness in their school environments. Photo by Simon Ray on Unsplash.

A new study from UBC Okanagan is shedding light on how high school students show kindness, revealing key insights that could help foster more positive school environments.

Led by Dr. John-Tyler Binfet, Professor in the Okanagan School of Education, the study explored how students aged 14–18 conceptualize kindness and how they express it in their everyday interactions.

“While kindness is a frequent topic in education research, there have been few studies into how high school students understand and apply it in real-life situations,” says Dr. Binfet.

Dr. Binfet and his team surveyed 479 grade 9–12 students in the Central Okanagan. The students were asked to rate their own kindness in face-to-face and online interactions, as well as the kindness of their peers, teachers and school environment. The study revealed that girls rated themselves as significantly kinder than boys, while boys reported feeling kinder during in-person interactions as opposed to online exchanges. Grade 12 students rated themselves as kinder than their younger peers, while grade 9 and 12 students viewed their schools as more positive environments than their grade 10 and 11 peers do.

One of the most notable findings was the significant influence friends have on students’ kindness, Dr. Binfet notes. Participants identified their friends, teachers and classmates as being the most significant influences on their kindness with a number of students also citing public figures, such as celebrities.

“This study shows that students are demonstrating kindness in school—whether it’s cheering up a friend, helping a classmate with schoolwork or holding the door open for someone,” says Dr. Binfet. “There are grand gestures as well as small meaningful acts.”

This research confirms that students both demonstrate and receive meaningful acts of kindness within the school context, see their peers as key influences on their kindness, and generally see themselves and their school as kind. He explains that understanding how high school students understand and enact kindness helps counter negative stereotypes surrounding high school.

The findings from this research may inform low-cost and low-barrier initiatives in schools to help promote positive school environments and support students in developing respectful relationships with one another.

“High school is the last training ground for many students before they head off into the workforce or further advance their studies,” says Dr. Binfet. “As we look to create a kinder world, positive school environments become increasingly important. By modelling these behaviours, and providing opportunities for students to express them, we can help reinforce and expand those actions.”

Co-authors include student researchers Rebecca Godard and Amelia Willcox, and Building Academic Retention Through K9s coordinator Freya Green.

The full study is published in the journal Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy.

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UBCO’s Dr. Wendy Wong poses with award-winning Canadian writer Margaret Atwood at the Balsillie Prize for Public Policy award ceremony last week. Photo credit: Canadian Writer’s Trust.

UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Wendy Wong’s book about protecting your personal data just received a significant “like” by winning the 2024 Balsillie Prize for public policy.

We, The Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age, was published late last year and explores how technology companies play a pivotal role in governing our lives by leveraging the countless amount of personal data generated in our everyday online interactions.

The book describes how prevalent the collection of personal data is. For example, a simple thumbs up on a social media post can open many digital tracking calculations that send personal data anywhere, including the dark web. And the potential benefits that advancing technology and AI once provided have changed society—not always for the better.

“I was thinking about these AI systems and I realized that social science is being relatively silent, especially political science,” she says. “But in the face of these rapidly developing technologies—that promised so much for humanity—there is real detriment to society. We weren’t thinking about some of the social, political and cultural changes that were about to happen; the way we treat each other in society and the way we treat ourselves. All of that as we know now, has come to the fore. And we think about each other very differently.”

The Balsillie Prize was established in 2021 and recognizes the best non-fiction book that advances public issues relevant to Canadians. Dr. Wong’s book was selected by a jury, including Toronto author and physician Samantha Nutt, out of a pool of 58 books.

We, The Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age was also shortlisted this spring for the Lionel Gelber Prize—an international award for the best non-fiction book in international affairs written in English. The prize, issued by the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, was founded in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber and seeks to deepen public debate on significant international issues.

Dr. Wong, a Political Science Professor in UBCO’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences remains humble about the recognition, describing it as a pure honour to be in the company of the other nominated writers Gregor Craigie, M.G. Vassanji and Christopher Pollen.

“You never write a book thinking it’s going to be recognized by an international jury as a contender for a major award. It took a day for me to let it sink in,” adds Dr. Wong. “It is truly a wonderful affirmation of how centrally we need to discuss human rights when we consider AI and data about human beings.”

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A UBCO researcher says there is a need for novel interventions to encourage people to initiate and continue exercise after the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer.

While e-bikes have become highly popular for people who are trying to keep fit, researchers believe they can also make a significant difference for people recovering from cancer.

However, it’s not as simple as providing an e-bike to get people out pedalling.

Dr. Jessica Bourne, with UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences, is part of an international team that conducts research with e-bikes—specifically how they can help people who are struggling with a chronic illness such as diabetes or cancer to get exercise that could help improve their health while dealing with illness.

The team’s latest research, published in JMIR Cancer, looks specifically at determining the necessary behaviour change techniques to ensure patients will use e-bikes as part of their recovery from breast and prostate cancer. Engaging in physical activity following a cancer diagnosis, she explains, can improve survival rates, reduce recurrence and help offset fatigue—a common side effect of treatment.

“Limited time, treatment side effects and a lack of confidence are common barriers to physical activity for this population,” Dr. Bourne adds. “There is a need for novel interventions to encourage the initiation and maintenance of physical activity.”

Knowing that the popularity of e-bikes is booming, Dr. Bourne wanted to test the feasibility of encouraging cancer patients to engage in activity using e-bikes. But while conducting research in the UK, she not only discovered a lack of clinical guidance on an appropriate amount of physical activity to undertake, she also learned that even with equipment provided, people might lack the confidence or skills to ride the bike—meaning they are not getting exercise that could help with their recovery.

“To date, the majority of e-cycling interventions have involved the provision of an e-bike, however, no additional behaviour changes have been reported,” she explains, suggesting that being given an e-bike simply isn’t the answer.

Dr. Bourne explains this particular research was about developing and documenting an intervention package that can be used during an e-bike trial. To do this, the researchers drew on previous research with other clinical populations, individuals being treated for, or recovering from cancer as well as cycling instructors.

These behaviour change techniques included looking at past successes to bolster self-efficacy, using self-rewards—even something as simple as small congratulations after exercising—preparing cycling equipment ahead of time to reduce stress, monitoring success and reminding participants of the joy experienced when e-cycling, a common feeling among e-cyclists.

“It’s important that if we’re giving people e-bikes to help them with cancer recovery, we’re also giving them advice on how to safely and regularly use those bikes,” she adds. “You can’t just give someone an e-bike and expect them to use it. But if you give someone an e-bike along with a package of theory-driven behavioural intervention tips, the chances are they will increase their cycling and work towards improving their health.”

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UBCO’s Dr. Shahria Alam has receive two significant awards of recognition for his work this year, including being named a Fellow with the American Society of Civil Engineers, one of the highest recognitions of professional distinction within the field.

It has been quite a year for UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Shahria Alam.

The soft-spoken professor of civil engineering is internationally known as a pioneer in advancing sustainable construction practices.

And Dr. Will Hughes, Director of UBCO’s School of Engineering, says he’s also regarded as one of the world’s best at helping society prepare for the worst disasters imaginable, as evidenced by the numerous breakthroughs in climate change and disaster-resilient infrastructure he’s made in a career as a civil engineer that’s lasted more than 25 years.

Dr. Alam’s exemplary contributions to the field have earned him not one, but two impressive accomplishments this year—accolades that, like the impact of his research, teaching and mentorship, span borders and disciplines, explains Dr. Hughes.

In November, Dr. Alam was awarded the designation of Fellow by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), one of the highest professional distinctions within the field.

The honour marks Dr. Alam’s second career-defining milestone of the year.

In June, he was named a Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE)—a plaudit reserved for those who have demonstrated excellence and who have contributed actively towards the progress of the civil engineering profession.

Dr. Hughes says these back-to-back honours speak to Dr. Alam’s deep commitment to sharing his knowledge and to training highly qualified engineers who will also make a positive impact on countless organizations, institutions and municipalities around the world.

“Each of these Fellow designations is a lifetime achievement, and earning both in the same year is extraordinary,” he adds. “Through his continual pursuit of excellence, he consistently models to our students and his colleagues that our best work and most important discoveries are always ahead of us. On behalf of the School of Engineering, congratulations to Dr. Shahria Alam on this well-deserved recognition.”

For Dr. Alam, the Fellowships serve as milestones marking the progress of a lifelong journey and he notes a sense of gratitude to his mentors, colleagues, students and family members who have been instrumental in his professional career path.

“Becoming a fellow of both ASCE and CSCE in the same year is an extraordinary honour that feels both humbling and deeply affirming,” says Dr. Alam. “Being named a Fellow by ASCE, with its longstanding legacy and global reach, validates the significance of my work within a community I hold in the highest regard. Similarly, the CSCE Fellowship reinforces my connection to Canadian civil engineering, encouraging me to further contribute to the resilience and sustainability of infrastructure in Canada and beyond.”

“These honours are also profoundly motivating. They remind me of the responsibility I have to continue pushing boundaries, not just in research but also in supporting the next generation of engineers,” he says. “This dual recognition in a single year represents a unique moment, filling me with deep gratitude and renewed inspiration to keep contributing to our profession and society with renewed purpose.”

Dr. Alam and his research group’s work has garnered extensive interest across academia, industry, government and media, including recent work on the topics of building better infrastructure for climate resilience and the carbon costs of the construction industry. Among other projects, he is currently working with industry and government partners to research, test, and apply a sustainable, low-carbon waste material—wood ash—into concrete, as also highlighted recently by the Government of Canada.

“At UBC Okanagan, we take pride in fostering an environment that supports excellence in teaching, outstanding research, and positive impacts in communities, both local and global. Dr. Shahria Alam stands out as someone who is adept in each of these areas and who understands them appropriately as closely related,” says Dr. Lesley Cormack, UBC Okanagan’s Principal and Deputy-Vice Chancellor.

“Dr. Alam’s dedication to furthering sustainable construction and speeding the adoption of innovative, climate-resilient infrastructure has made—and continues to make—a tremendous impact on our campus and far beyond. These two fellowships are a testament to his celebrated contributions and creative solutions as a civil engineer and the extremely high regard with which he is held by his peers throughout North America.”

In addition to serving as a full professor for UBCO’s School of Engineering, Dr. Alam is the technical lead of UBCO’s Green Infrastructure Cluster and holds the Tier-1 Principal’s Research Chair in Resilient and Green Infrastructure. He is also the founding director of the Green Construction Research & Training Center (GCRTC), a joint initiative between UBCO and Okanagan College, dedicated to advancing sustainable construction and reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry.

Recently, he was appointed as the acting Director of the Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute at UBC, where he continues to drive innovative research in sustainable materials.

“This work is vital to Canada and the world because it addresses critical challenges in building resilient, sustainable infrastructure—foundations essential for economic stability, environmental stewardship and societal wellbeing,” said Dr. Alam. “As climate change, urbanization and resource constraints increasingly impact communities globally, developing innovative approaches to resilient and green infrastructure has never been more urgent.

Collaboration has long been a cornerstone of Dr. Alam’s approach. He works extensively with researchers across disciplines, spanning many countries, including those from Canada, the United States, Japan, Italy, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, China, India and Bangladesh.

He’s also known for his dedication to his students and to training the next generation of civil engineers.

As the director of the Applied Lab for Advanced Materials and Structures at UBCO, Dr. Alam and team are currently training more than 30 postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

“Training highly qualified personnel is one of the most rewarding and essential aspects of my career,” says Dr. Alam. “Teaching, supervising and mentoring are far more than academic responsibilities—they are my contributions to the future of civil engineering, resilient infrastructure and the world.”

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Dr. Isaac Li, along with students David Bakker and Micah Yang, prepare an experiment as they work to understand counter-intuitive biological interaction—like catch bonds—and how cells physically interact with each other.

In a first-of-its-kind breakthrough, a team of UBC Okanagan researchers has developed an artificial adhesion system that closely mimics natural biological interactions.

Dr. Isaac Li and his team in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science study biophysics at the single-molecule and single-cell levels. Their research focuses on understanding how cells physically interact with each other and their environment, with the ultimate goal of developing innovative tools for disease diagnosis and therapy.

Two of Dr. Li’s doctoral students, Micah Yang and David Bakker, have engineered a new molecule that could transform how cells adhere to and communicate with one another.

Micah Yang, the study’s lead author, explains that all cells have a natural “stickiness” that enables them to communicate, join together and form tissues. Unlike everyday glues, which tend to release more easily under increasing force, many cellular adhesive interactions behave oppositely—the harder you pull, the stronger they hold. This counterintuitive self-strengthening stickiness, known as a catch bond, is crucial for facilitating essential biological functions and keeping you in one piece.

Yang’s innovation involves a pair of DNA molecules designed to replicate this catch bond behaviour.

Dubbed the “fish hook” for its distinctive structure, this DNA-based system consists of two components: the fish and the hook. Using complementary DNA base-pair interactions, the system functions like a fish biting a hook, forming a catch bond. The bond’s behaviour can be precisely fine-tuned by modifying the DNA sequences of the fish and the hook, enabling control over its strength under varying forces.

“Catch bonds play critical roles in systems like T-cell receptors and bacterial adhesions, which are key to immune responses, tissue integrity and mechano-sensing—a cell’s ability to detect and respond to physical forces,” says Yang. “Nature has perfected these interactions over millions of years, but replicating their dynamic properties synthetically has been a major challenge—until now.

The study, recently published in Nature Communications, highlights the advantages of this novel DNA-based system.

“The tunability of this system is a significant advancement over previous artificial catch bonds,” says Yang. “The ability to precisely control the bond’s force-dependent behaviour makes it an ideal tool for studying biological interactions and developing innovative materials.”

Potential applications of the fish-hook bond are vast, says Yang.

In materials science, the design could inspire the creation of responsive materials that become stronger under stress, making them ideal for wearable technologies or aerospace applications where durability is critical.

In medicine, this approach could improve drug delivery systems or tissue scaffolds by enabling them to interact with cells in a force-sensitive manner, mimicking natural biological processes.

While the development of artificial adhesion bonds is still in its early days, Yang sees it as an exciting step in biomimetic engineering—an approach that seeks to replicate the efficiency and adaptability of natural systems. This work opens up new possibilities for designing materials that mimic or enhance natural biological processes.

“By mimicking biological interactions like catch bond, scientists are not only learning more about how these systems work in nature, but they are paving the way for new technologies that are capable of enhancing human life.”

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Dr. Deanna Gibson’s research in gut microbiome research is paving the path for a new class of therapeutics that can harness beneficial bacteria to treat inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and mood disorders.

Groundbreaking technology created by a UBC Okanagan biology professor is leading the development of new medicine that can help improve gut health.

Dr. Deanna Gibson, with UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, leads a research lab that investigates the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and human health.

Dr. Gibson is a leading authority in gut microbiome research and is also a driving force behind Melius MicroBiomics, a biotech company focused on harnessing the power of the gut microbiome for improved health.

Now, her entrepreneurial spirit and deep expertise are propelling the company to the forefront of the field by developing innovative therapies for various health conditions, explains Rob Emlyn, CEO and Co-Founder of Melius MicroBiomics.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with UBC, a global leader in scientific innovation,” Emlyn says. “This agreement will significantly advance our Genetically Engineered Microbial Medicine (GEMM) platform, and bring us closer to developing transformative treatments for patients in need.”

Dr. Lael Parrott, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science Dean pro tem, says this partnership is a good example of how research conducted at UBCO can make a real-world impact. She credits Dr. Gibson’s innovation and enterprise to improve human health by leveraging the power of the human microbiome.

“Dr. Gibson’s work has contributed to the understanding of how these trillions of microbes influence digestion, immunity, brain function and chronic diseases,” adds Dr. Parrott. “Her passion for unravelling the mysteries of the gut microbiome and her commitment to improving human health demonstrate she is a forward-thinking innovator.”

GEMM is a novel class of therapeutics that harness the natural powers of beneficial bacteria to treat a range of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and mood disorders. By incorporating the licensed platform technology into bacteria, Melius MicroBiomics aims to enhance the efficacy and competitiveness of these engineered bacteria within both the human and animal care industries.

“The technology provides an innovative opportunity to use our gut microbiome as a tool in helping to treat chronic inflammatory conditions,” says Dr. Gibson, who is also Chief Scientific Officer and a Co-Founder of Melius Microbiomics.

Melius MicroBiomics is a Vancouver-based biotechnology company with a research lab in Kelowna that is dedicated to discovering and developing innovative microbiome-based therapies.

The company is committed to translating cutting-edge microbiome research into impactful therapies, says J.P. Heale, Managing Director of Innovation UBC, adding the GEMM products represent a promising approach that can address complex diseases with unmet medical needs.

“At UBC, we are committed to building collaborations and spinoff companies that can advance groundbreaking research to generate meaningful impacts in areas such as global health,” says Heale. “Through this agreement, we are excited to see how this UBC research discovery could make a significant contribution to the development of therapies that have the potential to address complex diseases and improve patient and veterinary outcomes.”

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The public is encouraged to attend a forum this week that will discuss future inter-community transportation options in the Okanagan including a proposed passenger light rail system.

What: Future of inter-community transportation, introduction to proposed light rail system
Who: UBC Okanagan, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, the Okanagan Transit Alliance and Dr. Holger Busche, former Energy and Transport Policy Advisor to Germany’s Green Party
When: Thursday, Nov. 21, doors open at 5 pm
Where: Trinity Church, Refinery Building, 1905 Springfield Rd.,

The topics of traffic flow, congestion, transit and tourism will be the intersection of an upcoming forum set to examine the results of a recent Okanagan Valley survey about the future of transportation in this region.

The event, organized by UBC Okanagan’s SMARTer Growth Research Lab, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and the Okanagan Transit Alliance (OTA) will highlight the findings of a transportation survey that concluded this past summer.

Survey participants—including residents, businesses and visitors—were asked about their transportation habits and preferences for new or future options, and then asked to evaluate five potential transportation solutions that included personal vehicles, local transit, electric commuter rail, ridesharing and vehicle rentals.

The survey was conducted with support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, TOTA, OTA and UBCO. The survey highlights will be shared before keynote speaker Dr. Holger Busche—former Energy and Transport Policy Advisor to Germany’s Green Party—discusses the future of hydrogen-battery-fueled passenger trains.

“Survey results confirm that more than 60 per cent of respondents want options for improved inter-community transportation that are safer and more affordable than driving,” says Dr. Gordon Lovegrove, School of Engineering Associate Professor and Principal Investigator for the SMARTer Growth Research Lab. “And tram-train passenger light rail was the preferred option. This is a real, proven technology that has run for more than 40 years in Germany. So, why not in the Okanagan Valley where we can bolster tourism and reduce congestion?”

People in attendance will learn about research examining a valley-wide light rail system and can provide input on future steps, governance, funding and a pilot project location.

“We’re excited to welcome residents to this important forum and opportunity to discuss the future of transportation in the region,” adds Dr. Lovegrove. “We’d like people to come, be informed and have their say on how transportation that connects our communities can be delivered in a more equitable, greener, safer and affordable way than just driving ourselves.”

The forum, taking place at Trinity Church’s Refinery Building, 1905 Springfield Road, is free but pre-registration is encouraged. To learn more about the event and register, visit: events.ok.ubc.ca/event/inter-community-transportation-forum

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