More than 13 years ago, health researchers at UBC Okanagan came up with a plan to help people age well.

Since then, the campus has joined the Age-Friendly University Global Network and has established an Aging In Place Research Cluster. And now, UBCO is set for a month of activities to support its annual Embrace Aging Month, which begins March 1.

UBC Okanagan has always been an engaging and inclusive campus, says Dr. Eric Li, Professor in the Faculty of Management and Interim Director of the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention.

“Aging is a natural part of life and is something we should all aim to do in a healthy way,” says Dr. Li. “But our bodies and our minds are complex. Embrace Aging Month helps people enjoy the journey and live every day to its fullest.”

Embrace Aging Month is organized by the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention in partnership with Interior Health. The month includes a series of events to celebrate and raise awareness about positive aging in the Okanagan Valley. The sessions are for people of all ages and focus on a variety of topics related to healthy aging and ways to enhance the quality of life among older adults.

“Our population is aging at an unprecedented rate, and by 2050 it’s expected there will be more than two billion people over the age of 60 across the globe. We need to keep this population healthy and independent for as long as possible,” says Dr. Li.

During the month, in-person events include the Memory Café on March 2, sessions and activities on hearing loss, estate planning, fraud prevention, weekly walks, bridge or line dancing lessons, and opportunities to try e-biking or Tai Chi. Webinars cover vaccines, fall and injury prevention and cooking.

Service Canada and Revenue Canada are running sessions on the Canadian Dental Plan, the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and benefits for people with disabilities.

Embrace Aging Month includes many events that share information and help improve the quality of life among older adults, their families and caregivers, says Dr. Li.

“March brings into focus the importance of supporting older adults in our communities,” he adds. “We’re providing a month full of events and activities with helpful information and the latest research that is relevant to anyone at any age.”

For a full list of activities and registration links, visit: www.okanaganembraceaging.com

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From an early age, we are taught to fear fire without understanding the essential role it plays in supporting ecological resilience.

The new $8M Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program, co-developed by UBC’s Okanagan campus and the Weston Family Foundation, will address a critical gap in Canada’s ability to use and scale prescribed fire as a land management and ecological restoration tool.

Canada’s diverse ecosystems have evolved over thousands of years to rely on fire to support biodiversity, ecological health and resilience. Over time, changes to land management practices, including the widespread suppression and exclusion of fire, have left these ecosystems out of balance. As vegetation builds up, it acts like kindling, allowing fires to become more intense and harder to control, contributing to increasingly devastating and severe wildfires across Canada.

Prescribed fire is a safe, planned, and proven land management tool used to enhance the health of our ecosystems, support biodiversity and reduce wildfire severity and risk. Despite its demonstrated benefits, the value of prescribed fire is not widely recognized or understood. As a result, it is vastly underused in Canada and is widely constrained by the limited availability of training, mentorship and opportunities to gain operational experience in the field.

“The compounding effects of climate change and extreme wildfire events call for more proactive, planned and land-driven management tools to support healthy, wildfire resilient landscapes,” says Garfield Mitchell, Chair of the Weston Family Foundation. “This program directly addresses the skills and training gap that has been long overlooked to strengthen our capacity for widespread and responsible use of prescribed fire in Canada.”

The Prescribed Fire Training Program will educate and train practitioners across Canada through regional hubs, tailoring prescribed fire training to meet the needs of Canada’s diverse and varied landscapes, and delivering significant community safety and ecological benefits nationwide.

There are five regional hubs: Western, Northern, Central, Eastern and Atlantic Canada. These  hubs will ensure approaches reflect local ecosystems, governance structures and operational realities. The program further emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration and evidence-informed practice, while respecting and supporting Indigenous-led fire stewardship and cultural fire practices.

“Canada’s ability to expand the use of prescribed fire has been constrained by a lack of coordinated training and clear pathways to operational experience,” says Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais, Assistant Professor in UBCO’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science and the director of the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program. “This program provides the leadership and structure needed to establish national standards, deliver regionally grounded training and build the capacity required to apply prescribed fire safely, responsibly and at scale.”

As the frequency and severity of wildfires increase, the safe and responsible use of prescribed fire can counter adverse effects on communities and the environment by reducing risk and keeping our landscapes healthy and resilient.

Learn more about the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program at: rxfire.ca

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Is it a scratch behind the ears while staring into those puppy dog eyes, or is it a gentle pat on the back and a wagging tail that makes spending time with a therapy dog so comforting?

New research from UBC Okanagan suggests that when it comes to boosting wellbeing, it does not matter which part of a therapy dog students interact with—just that they do.

The study was led by Dr. John-Tyler Binfet, Professor in the Okanagan School of Education and Director of the Building Academic Retention Through K-9s (B.A.R.K.) program. Co-authored by B.A.R.K. coordinator Freya Green and student researchers Rebecca Godard, Mikaela Dahlman and Zahra Basiri, the study looked at whether students felt any different when they touched a therapy dog’s head, mid-section or tail-end.

“This research builds upon a previous study that explored wellbeing outcomes associated with touch versus no touch during therapy dog interactions,” says Dr. Binfet. “However, it really began with a graduate student asking a simple question: does it matter what part of the dog students interact with? Questions like this show the strength of our close-knit campus community, where students help shape research conversations explore new ideas.”

The study involved 198 students who volunteered to take part in brief, structured therapy dog sessions. Each participant was randomly matched with one of three therapy dog–handler teams and was asked to focus on petting a specific section of the dog’s head, middle or tail-end.

Each session lasted 10 minutes and participants were encouraged to pet the dog as much as possible. To keep sessions consistent, researchers set the same distance between the handler, participant and dog, and had students sit on floor markers, equally spaced apart.

It turns out that simply patting and interacting with the therapy dog made a difference.

In all three groups, students said they felt better and less stressed after spending time with the therapy dogs. While interaction with the dog’s head showed a slightly stronger benefit, the overall finding was that all forms of touch contributed positively to participants’ emotional wellbeing.

“As students deal with academic and personal stress, easy-to-access wellbeing supports are more important than ever,” says Dr. Binfet. “Programs like B.A.R.K. help create moments of care, connection and calm.”

The study was published in Human-Animal Interactions, an open-access interdisciplinary journal dedicated to the field of interactions between humans and animals.

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As Valentine’s Day approaches, many people are hoping this will be the year they find their true love. But as Yurina Noguchi showed the world, maybe true love can be found in the AI landscape?

She made headlines as she married her AI companion, Klaus in December. At the ceremony, she clutched a bouquet, wore a white gown, and smiled at the cameras and at a digital image of Klaus on her phone.

Will this relationship last? Is this the way to the perfect relationship? Has Noguchi found her “happily ever after”? UBC Okanagan experts weigh in on this new trend.

Dr. John-Tyler Binfet, Professor in UBC Okanagan’s School of Education, studies kindness in youth and human interactions with dogs. He says it’s not uncommon for people to extend their affection to non-humans.

“Increasingly, we see humans broaden the definition of family to include pets and we shouldn’t discount the significant role that dogs in particular play in enriching human lives and keeping loneliness at bay. Especially around Valentine’s Day. You only need to peruse the plethora of options for Valentine’s Day gifts for pets to find clear evidence of the role they play on such days of significance.”

Dr. Greg Garrard, Professor in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, says finding love with inanimate objects is nothing new. For example, in Greek mythology, Pygmalion carved a perfect woman from ivory and Aphrodite granted his prayer to vivify the statue, whom he named Galatea and married. E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story The Sandman ends tragically as Nathanael’s infatuation with the automaton Olimpia drives him to plunge from a church spire. In Blade Runner, Deckard’s elopement with the replicant Rachael signals his rejection of cyborg emotional inferiority.

“Today, as chatbots increasingly simulate personality with uncanny skill, films and novels dramatize romantic relationships with artificial beings: Her, Ex Machina, Machines Like Me and Alita: Battle Angel are just a few examples. We’ve always bestowed love beyond our species—on gods, dogs, robots and now AI companions. However, the question remains—can a beloved controlled by a corporation ever truly be ours?”

Dr. Wendy H. Wong, Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Sciences, says the news of someone marrying an AI companion is no longer surprising. Dr. Wong is also the co-lead of UBCO’sDigital Transparency Research Excellence Cluster.

“It is truly remarkable that we live in a time where people can find connection with automated companions. What this shows us is the power of platform developers whose algorithms can predict and fulfill our emotional needs, and how this functionality can stand in for human-to-human connections for some. But it’s what we can expect. There are so many AI-powered companions out there that are designed to engage their users. Platforms are intended to attract and engross users as they collect data to be used for that person, and future users.”

Dr. Michael Woodworth, Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, studies psychopathy, deception detection and computer-mediated communication. While happiness is truly subjective, he notes that many of the components believed to make most humans happy are actually present within AI companionship.

“AI can provide infinite unconditional positive regard, availability that rivals 7-Eleven and is excellent at active listening. While AI has admittedly been accused of being sycophantic, who doesn’t like an extra dollop or two of flattery? Recent research also suggests AI can appear to be incredibly empathetic, where it seems to be both understanding and reciprocating feelings. Honestly, who wouldn’t rush to sign up for a relationship where there are zero arguments, disagreements or frankly drama of any type?

“However, hooking up with AI is too big a leap for many humans. There are the obvious shortcomings around communication, and the substantive challenges around more ‘intimate interactions’ that will leave some cold. Nonetheless, some individuals are now using AI as a practice ground before jumping back into a serious relationship. And 80 per cent of Gen Zers reported in a 2025 study that they would consider marrying an AI partner, which is somewhat surprising. Happy V-AI-lentines to all.”

Dr. Ying Zhu, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Management and Academic Advisor on Artificial Intelligence for UBC Okanagan, says the idea of marrying an AI companion can resonate with many because humans deeply crave emotional connections, yet fear the pain of rejection or hurt those human relationships can bring.

“AI offers a safe kind of ‘love’ that is always kind, always available and never judgmental. These companions feel comforting, especially for those who feel lonely or have been wounded by past relationships. However, true love requires two real people who can genuinely see and understand each other, grow together through life’s surprises, and freely choose to care even when they have their own feelings and needs.

“This is something AI cannot provide because it has no real consciousness, emotions or independent needs. Over time, relying only on AI for love means missing out on the tough parts that make human relationships so deep and fulfilling. Instead of settling for one-sided comfort, we should use AI as a tool to nurture relationships, such as asking for suggestions on how to help a loved one who is upset or sad. Everything worthwhile in life comes with challenges. That is exactly why true love, packed with risks, unpredictability and obstacles, holds such deep value and meaning for us. To live it, we need to bravely enter real-world relationships and welcome the hard parts. Because working through them is what truly makes us human.”

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Intermittent fasting has become a popular diet trend. But new research from a collaboration between UBC Okanagan and the University of Calgary has determined it can also have health benefits for people living with Crohn’s disease who are overweight. Dr. Natasha Haskey is a registered dietitian and clinical researcher within the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science’s Department of Biology. She recently co-authored a study examining how overweight people with Crohn’s fared when they fasted for 16 hours a day but consumed their usual diet during the remaining eight hours of that day. It was the first randomized controlled trial to examine intermittent fasting for people with Crohn’s, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. “We wanted to see whether eating within a set time window each day could help this particular group of people,” explains Dr. Haskey. “We were curious whether this way of eating could improve symptoms, reduce visceral fat, which is fat around the organs, lower inflammation and support a healthier gut. And our preliminary research suggests it does.” Crohn’s disease is often complicated by excess visceral fat, which is linked to increased inflammation, reduced response to biologic therapies and higher rates of surgical complications. Despite this, lifestyle strategies that specifically address the accumulation of body fat and metabolic dysfunction have been understudied for people with Crohn’s. Dr. Maitreyi Raman, a gastroenterologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary, is the principal investigator and co-author of the study. “Crohn’s disease reflects a chronic imbalance in the body’s immune responses,” says Dr. Raman. “We’re beginning to see how metabolic health, gut microbes and immune pathways interact—and how eating patterns may help restore that balance.” The study, published recently in Gastroenterology, shows promising results, adds Dr. Raman. The participants who tried intermittent fasting noticed a significant decrease in their body mass index, while those who did not fast, maintained or increased their body mass. Notably, these changes occurred while both groups consumed the same number of daily calories and similar foods. Those who fasted also reported a reduction in their symptoms—a 40 per cent drop in stool frequency and a 50 per cent reduction in abdominal discomfort. “The people who fasted lost weight and visceral fat, showed signs not only in clinical disease improvement but also reduced inflammation,” says Dr. Raman. “Importantly, these changes occurred without making any dietary changes. The only change they made was when they ate.” In addition to feeling better, people in the intermittent fasting group showed important improvements in their metabolism. Proteins released from fat tissue—which help control metabolism, appetite, and heart and immune health—shifted in a healthier direction. In a subgroup, deep visceral fat also went down, while it actually increased in those who did not fast. “These findings suggest that intermittent fasting group might help reduce symptoms, support weight loss and improve overall health in people with Crohn’s,” says Dr. Haskey. “Intermittent fasting won’t replace medication, and it’s not a cure, but it may be a useful, low-cost and accessible tool for those who are overweight and living with Crohn’s disease, along with other treatments. More research is needed, but the results look promising.” The study was supported by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation through a Litwin IBD Pioneers Grant and the Inflammation, Microbiome, and Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal and Neuropsychiatric Effects Chronic Disease Network. The post Time-restricted eating shows promise for overweight people living with Crohn’s appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

A UBC Okanagan-led research project has given a group of international scientists their clearest view yet of the Milky Way’s magnetic field, revealing that it is far more complex than previously believed.

Dr. Alex Hill, Assistant Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science at UBCO, specializes in radio astronomy. Working at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO), near Penticton, his team used data from the DRAO 15-metre telescope to complete the first broadband map of Faraday rotation, a phenomenon that scientists use to track magnetic fields across the northern sky.

The dataset, known as Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory GMIMS of the northern sky (DRAGONS) and led by former UBCO postdoctoral researcher Dr. Anna Ordog, captures polarized radio emissions across a wide range of frequencies, allowing astronomers to see magnetic structures that were previously invisible. This research is part of a larger initiative called the Global Magneto-Ionic Medium Survey (GMIMS), initiated by Dr. Tom Landecker, an astronomer at DRAO and adjunct professor at both UBCO and the University of Calgary.

“With our new dataset, we can look at the polarized emissions from within the galaxy itself, and we see that the magnetic field has a lot of structure to it,” Dr. Ordog explains. “DRAGONS is the first to show this level of complexity on such large spatial scales and across the entire northern sky.”

The work builds on a theoretical insight first proposed in 1966, which showed that polarized radio waves observed at many frequencies enable measurements of the three-dimensional structure of the Milky Way’s magnetic field. At the time, the technology needed to observe this effect across wide frequency ranges did not exist. Modern broadband telescopes, including the DRAO 15m telescope, have made this research possible.

The project was the first scientific use of the 15m telescope, which DRAO originally built as a prototype antenna for the SKA—a large radio telescope currently under construction in Southern Africa and Western Australia. Dr. Ordog led the setup for the DRAGONS project, supported by five students from UBCO and the University of Calgary, along with the expertise of DRAO engineers and technologists.

“The 15m is the ideal instrument for this all-sky survey of large-scale magnetized structures—it can scan rapidly, effectively ‘painting’ a map of the polarized sky in just six months,” she says. “Having the 15m so close to UBCO allowed students to contribute to hands-on testing in preparation for the survey.”

UBCO students analyzed “first light” signals from the instrument, developed algorithms to identify human-made radio interference and assessed the survey data quality.

The study, recently published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, tracks how polarized radio waves twist as they travel through the galaxy, revealing the strength, structure and direction of magnetic fields along the line of sight. This survey shows that more than half the sky contains complex magnetic structures rather than simple, uniform fields.

Dr. Landecker says the biggest surprise for the researchers was just how much of the sky is what is known as “Faraday complex”.

“With our new dataset, we can look at the polarized emission from within the galaxy itself, and we can see that the magnetic field has much more structure to it than we could detect with earlier observation methods,” says Dr. Landecker, who is also the leader of a larger effort to map magnetic fields in three dimensions and an astronomer emeritus at DRAO.

“DRAGONS is like a compass, telling us how matter and magnetic fields in the galaxy are organized and how the magnetic field interacts with bubbles created by supernova explosions, spiral arms and other parts of the galaxy in ways that have never been possible before.”

Magnetic fields shape how stars are formed and how galaxies evolve, explains Dr. Hill.

“For decades, we could only measure the Milky Way’s magnetic field in a very averaged, simplified way,” says Dr. Hill. “But its magnetic field is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding how the universe and everything in it operates and came into being.”

Already, the DRAGONS data have been used in a study of the mysterious large-scale reversal in the galactic magnetic field. This latest study was led by University of Calgary doctoral student Rebecca Booth and published in an accompanying paper in The Astrophysical Journal this week. This is a good example of how the dataset will provide opportunities for continued research in this field, says Dr. Ordog.

“DRAGONS is part of a new generation of radio surveys that allow scientists to map the Milky Way’s three-dimensional magnetic field structure in the space between the stars,” she adds. “It is an important Canadian contribution to the global astronomical community.”

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A UBC research team has revealed substantial, ongoing inequities in how sex and gender are represented in exercise physiology—both in who is studied and who is conducting that research.

The analysis shows that exercise physiology continues to focus mainly on male bodies and voices, despite long-standing calls for greater equity. It also shows that these patterns are more pronounced in exercise physiology than in most other areas of health research.

Dr. Meaghan MacNutt, an assistant professor of teaching in UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences, is lead author on the review, which was published recently in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. She and colleagues from UBC’s Faculty of Medicine examined more than 600 recent research articles published in six leading exercise physiology journals.

They found that nearly half of the studies included only male participants, while fewer than one in ten focused exclusively on females. Women were also significantly underrepresented as researchers, making up only 27 per cent of total authors and 16 per cent of those in senior roles.

“There are far fewer women in exercise physiology than in other biomedical or health sciences,” says Dr. MacNutt. “Our numbers are closer to what we see in disciplines with very well-known gender gaps, like physics or computer science.”

The research team says these gaps are more than just an issue of fairness—they also undermine the science by limiting whose bodies we understand and whose ideas shape that understanding.

“When findings based primarily on males are generalized to females, important sex-based differences in physiology, diagnosis and treatment can be overlooked. In exercise science, this contributes to an incomplete understanding of how women respond to physical activity—affecting everything from disease prevention to injury rehabilitation and athletic performance.”

The study also assessed how well researchers followed the Sex and Gender Equity in Research Guidelines, an international framework designed to improve equity and accuracy in research and reporting practices. Most exercise physiology articles adhered to fewer than one-third of the guidelines, and more than half used inaccurate or unclear language when referring to sex and gender.

Dr. MacNutt points out that many articles contained clues about how these inequities are produced and sustained, including biased language, unexamined assumptions and weak or absent justifications for excluding female participants. These patterns suggest that exercise researchers still see men as the standard representation for human physiology. The study also found that this bias is just as common in women authors as men.

“Women researchers aren’t perfect,” states Dr. MacNutt. “We all have work to do. But evidence indicates that women researchers are helping to move the discipline forward in important ways—by including more female participants in their studies, collaborating more often with other women and communicating more clearly about sex and gender.”

Unfortunately, the paper found no evidence that an increase in the number of women in exercise physiology is on the horizon.

Dr. MacNutt stresses the goal of this study is to raise awareness and encourage people to think about ways to improve the situation. She notes that some exercise physiologists—including researchers at UBC—are already working hard to address sex and gender gaps in the literature. However, there is still a long way to go.

“We hope this paper is a wake-up call—not just for exercise physiology researchers, but also for those in leadership positions at academic institutions, funding agencies and scientific journals. Shifts in individual researcher behaviour are essential, but they aren’t likely to happen without support and action at all levels.”

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UBC Okanagan researchers have advanced their work on developing a non-invasive, accessible way to reduce uncontrolled hand tremors.

In a newly published study, the team has demonstrated how a new wearable device may reduce involuntary hand tremors linked with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.

Hand tremors affect millions of people worldwide and can interfere with everyday activities such as eating, writing and personal care, explains Dr. Hadi Mohammadi, Professor in UBCO’s School of Engineering. Current treatments often involve medication or surgery, while existing wearable devices can be costly, bulky or cause unwanted side effects.

“Hand tremors are among the most prevalent neurodegenerative movement disorders, causing involuntary upper-limb fluctuations that significantly impair a person’s quality of life,” says Dr. Mohammadi. “Although not life-threatening, tremors can severely impair daily living and adversely impact psychological wellbeing.”

Since 2018, UBC Okanagan’s Heart Valve Performance Laboratory has been researching ways to reduce hand tremor attenuation using patient-centred, mechanically driven solutions. While medications and therapy provide limited relief, wearable devices that suppress tremors offer a promising non-invasive alternative, he says.

A typical hand tremor absorber works by counteracting the involuntary shaking with a mechanical or electronic device.

But Dr. Mohammadi’s research, published recently in the Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, takes a different approach. The lightweight, wearable brace works without the need for motors, batteries or invasive procedures—making it accessible to many people.

“Rather than actively driving motion, the device uses a passive omnidirectional vibration-absorbing mechanism tuned to the frequency range of the uncontrolled tremors,” he says. “When worn on the hand, the system dampens involuntary fluctuations while allowing voluntary movement to continue largely unhindered.”

Through a combination of computer modelling and experimental testing—using a full-scale mannequin arm with a simulator designed to replicate tremor patterns—the researchers saw a 79 per cent reduction in unidirectional tremors and a 73 per cent reduction in omnidirectional tremors.

“Our goal was to develop a solution that is effective, wearable and practical for everyday use,” says Dr. Dylan Goode, lab manager in the Heart Valve Performance Laboratory, which is led by Dr. Mohammadi. “By using a passive system, we can reduce tremors without adding complexity, power requirements or limiting natural movement.”

UBCO master’s student Manthan Shah completed his thesis on this technology and notes that the orthosis is lightweight, compact and ergonomically designed—addressing many of the comfort and usability limitations that have historically limited the adoption of wearable tremor suppression devices.

While the results are promising, Dr. Mohammadi says the next step is clinical testing with human participants to evaluate real-world performance, comfort and impact on daily function. If successful, the technology could offer a non-invasive, low-maintenance option for people living with tremor-related disorders, either as a standalone aid or as a complement to existing treatments.

“This work represents a meaningful step toward improving functional independence and quality of life for people living with hand tremors,” he adds. “We hope that this technology will soon be in the hands of patients in British Columbia and across Canada.”

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Who: Russell W. Belk, York University Distinguished Research Professor and Kraft Foods Canada Chair in Marketing at the Schulich School of Business
What: Psychological Possessions: what does it mean to own something in a digital world?
When: Friday, January 23, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Where: Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna

In these days of streaming, digital collections and subscription economies, does it make sense to actually own anything anymore?

That is the question up for discussion at an event Friday hosted by UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Management.

As part of its IdeaFest series, the faculty presents Dr. Russell Belk, York University Distinguished Research Professor and Kraft Foods Canada Chair in Marketing at the Schulich School of Business. Dr. Belk will talk about changing consumerism in our digital society.

“The focus of this event is on new forms of access that have evolved in recent years,” explains Dr. Annamma Joy, Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Management. “Rather than ownership, we’re looking not only at traditional forms such as renting and leasing, but forms that involve the sharing, streaming and expanded subscription economies.”

Dr. Joy notes that traditional ideas of ownership and possession are changing in today’s virtual society.

“If we can share consumer goods such as clothing, cars and homes as well as services such as rides, home food preparation and home medical care, we gain value without ownership and sometimes without possession,” she adds. “These new methods of consumerism create new ways of easy access and minimalism that are changing our lives in ways that may surprise us all.”

While at UBCO, Dr. Belk will also host a talk specifically for the Faculty of Management’s students, faculty and staff before the public event later that day. He is a respected scholar whose research explores the extended self, meanings of possessions, collecting, gift-giving, sharing, digital consumption and materialism.

This event is open to the public and is free of charge. It takes place Friday, January 23, at 5:30 pm at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna. For more information or to register, visit: events.ok.ubc.ca/event/psychological-possessions

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UBC Okanagan researchers have created a new two-layer membrane filtration system that can significantly reduce the amount of micro and nanoplastics that leak from landfills into local water basins.

Dr. Sumi Siddiqua, Professor at UBCO’s School of Engineering, and doctoral student Mahmoud Babalar, have published a study detailing how a double-layer membrane installed at landfills can act as a filter to keep tiny pollutants out of groundwater and surrounding ecosystems.

“Landfills are silent threats to our environment, acting as major reservoirs for emerging pollutants,” says Dr. Siddiqua. “Conventional drainage systems fail against microscopic contaminants, including nanoplastics and hazardous chemicals. This allows them to infiltrate groundwater.”

Landfills generate leachate, a contaminated liquid that forms when rainwater passes through waste, Dr. Siddiqua explains. Although most landfills are designed to contain this liquid, recent studies show leachate has become a major collection basin for microscopic plastic, which can escape into water systems.

“As plastic waste breaks down, these particles accumulate in landfill leachate,” explains Babalar. “Current systems handle liquid waste, but they were never designed to completely intercept plastic micro and nano particles.”

The two-layer membrane system featured in their study, published recently in the Journal of Environmental Management, proved to be the most effective when it comes to trapping these pollutants. The top layer uses chemical attraction and filtration to capture micro and nanoplastics. It is engineered to bind plastic particles efficiently, even in complex, organic-rich leachate. The lower layer establishes a protective barrier that repels the remaining plastic particles through electrostatic forces, reducing clogging, membrane fouling and maintaining steady performance over time.

“The two complementary layers work together to block tiny plastic particles under harsh landfill conditions,” he adds. “This combination of layers allows the membrane to filter plastics while liquid can still flow, which is a critical requirement for landfill safety.”

In repeated lab tests, the membrane removed nearly all microplastics and captured more than 98 per cent of nanoplastics. Babalar says that during the testing, the membrane performed well over multiple filtration cycles, and could be cleaned and reused thanks to a methodical backwashing system.

“The membrane is made from durable, chemically stable materials designed to withstand temperature changes, aggressive wastewater and long-term exposure,” he adds. “Its ability to be cleaned and reused reduces waste and supports more sustainable landfill operations.”

Beyond filtration, the researchers say the technology could serve as a foundation for next-generation landfill liners that combine structural protection with active pollution control. This discovery has significant potential to protect groundwater and surface water supplies, reduce the spread of pollutants and also support circular waste management and climate-resilient infrastructure.

The study marks an important step toward smarter landfill systems that not only contain waste but also actively prevent long-term environmental harm, says Dr. Siddiqua.

“Our unique dual-layer modified matrix membrane system is specifically engineered to handle highly contaminated, fouling-intensive raw leachate, positioning it as a foundational component of advanced waste containment,” she adds. “This innovative approach is essential for preventing the migration of pollutants into groundwater, and it represents a significant advancement in waste management and climate-resilient infrastructure.”

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