UBC Okanagan’s Campus as a Living Lab program is driving innovation with new research projects that strengthen student connections and improve indoor air quality. These initiatives transform the campus into a real-world testing ground for healthier, more sustainable living.

Two new projects funded by UBC Okanagan’s Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) program are helping tackle real-world challenges—strengthening first-year student connections and investigating indoor air quality  to improve environmental health.

CLL transforms the campus into a testing ground where researchers partner with campus operations staff to develop innovative solutions to identified on-campus challenges. This year’s projects were selected from a number of impressive submissions, and highlight UBC Okanagan’s commitment to fostering both student well-being and a healthier campus environment.

Helping students build connections

Starting university can be overwhelming, and many first-year students struggle with loneliness and social isolation.

To help ease this transition, Dr. Lauren Human (Associate Professor of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Steve Brodrick (Associate Director, Residence Life) and Dr. Melissa Fedderson (Manager, Campus Wellness and Education) are launching a research-driven initiative to examine how students can build meaningful relationships early in their university experience.

“Strong social connections are vital for health, well-being and overall success,” says Dr. Human, Faculty Lead for the project. “With this initiative, we aim to foster a greater sense of belonging among first-year students on campus while deepening our understanding of how social and psychological well-being influence a more positive transition into university, higher achievement and greater student retention.”

While initiatives to enhance social connection are already popular on campus, this project will be the first to study their effectiveness in fostering friendships and enhancing student well-being. The findings could help shape future programming to strengthen social connections and student success at UBCO.

Tracking airborne microplastics to improve indoor air quality

How much plastic is in the air we breathe?

That’s the question Dr. Michael Noonan (Assistant Professor of Biology, Faculty of Science), Dr. Daniel Rosa (Lab Technician and Health and Safety Associate) and Dr. Laura Grieneisen (Assistant Professor of Biology, Faculty of Science) are working to answer.

Microplastics—tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in size—are a growing environmental concern. These particles come from sources such as degraded plastic waste, synthetic textiles and microbeads in personal care products. Once airborne, they can circulate in indoor spaces, raising potential health risks.

“Our goal is to better understand how airborne microplastics move through indoor spaces on campus,” says Dr. Noonan, the project’s Faculty Lead. “By measuring microplastic concentrations in air vents across classrooms, offices and labs, we can identify baseline levels and potential hotspots of exposure.”

In addition, the research team will analyze the microbial communities that attach to these microplastic particles, a phenomenon known as the Trojan horse effect. To do this, the team will use metagenomic sequencing, a method that sequences and analyzes all genetic material in a sample containing diverse microorganisms. By sampling a variety of campus environments, from high-traffic areas to specialized spaces like wet labs, they hope to gain insights into both microplastic exposure and associated health risks.

This project seeks to improve campus sustainability and health by generating data to inform policy, enhance air quality, and reduce plastic pollution, with potential to influence broader environmental initiatives.

Funded by UBCO’s Office of Research and Innovation, the Campus as a Living Lab program is now in its third year. While the research projects the program supports help to address on-campus challenges, they are also designed to be applicable to the broader region and world.

“I’m once again thrilled to see our researchers and staff partnering on such innovative work,” says CLL project lead, Dr. Miranda Hart. “The results from these efforts will almost immediately have positive effects on our campus and can be used to help improve lives, and the environments, in our wider community.”

Stay tuned for updates as these exciting CLL projects progress and begin to shape a stronger and more sustainable future at UBC Okanagan.

About Campus as a Living Lab

UBC Okanagan’s Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) transforms the university into a dynamic testing ground where bold ideas become real-world solutions. By uniting world-class researchers with campus operations staff, CLL drives innovative research projects that have impact in one of four priority areas—climate action, resilient systems, sustainable places and communities, and health and wellbeing. Through collaboration, knowledge exchange and hands-on experimentation, CLL turns ambition into action, creating scalable solutions that enhance UBC’s campus and  inspire change beyond its borders.

UBC Okanagan researchers Dr. Leanne ten Brinke, Dr. Emily Murphy, Dr. Shahria Alam and Dr. Mohammad Arjmand have been recognized with prestigious Killam Awards for their groundbreaking contributions to psychology, digital humanities and engineering. Their research is shaping the future of trust, cultural memory, sustainable materials and nanotechnology.

Four UBC Okanagan researchers have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to research as part of UBC’s 2024 Faculty Research Awards. Announced today, the annual awards highlight research excellence across disciplines and include prestigious Killam Awards and Fellowships. UBC’s Faculty Research Awards Committee selected a total of 25 faculty members from UBC this year, with the four UBCO scholars earning recognition for their groundbreaking work in psychology, digital humanities and engineering.

Pursuing the Truth: Dr. Leanne ten Brinke

As a recipient of the Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship, an award designed to support and recognize exceptional early career researchers, Dr. Leanne ten Brinke, a psychologist in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, is focused on one of the most fundamental aspects of human interaction—trust. Her research delves into the paradox of trust, exploring why people often struggle to accurately determine whom to trust. By studying deception, nonverbal behaviour, psychopathy and the influence of power and leadership, her work has implications for everything from law enforcement to corporate leadership.

Preserving Cultural Memory: Dr. Emily Murphy

Dr. Emily Murphy, from the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, has been awarded the Killam Research Fellowship, which supports scholars of exceptional ability working on projects of broad significance and widespread interest. Dr. Murphy’s work explores how cultural memory is shaped through literature, digital media and the arts. Specializing in early 20th-century women’s literature and digital humanities, she examines the evolving relationship between historical and contemporary storytelling as well as the impact of digital platforms on modern reading habits.

Engineering a Sustainable Future: Dr. Shahria Alam and Dr. Mohammad Arjmand

Two UBC Okanagan engineering professors whose work is shaping the future of sustainable materials and advanced nanotechnology were awarded prizes, as well.

Dr. Shahria Alam, whose research focuses on reusing construction waste and understanding the environmental and health impacts of microplastics, received the Killam Research Prize, which recognizes outstanding research making a significant impact. His work aims to develop innovative engineering solutions that reduce environmental harm while improving the durability and resilience of infrastructure materials in the pursuit of more sustainable construction practices.

Dr. Mohammad Arjmand, an expert in nanomaterials, was awarded the Charles A. McDowell Award for Excellence in Research, one of UBC’s most prestigious research prizes. Named in honour of Professor Emeritus Charles A. McDowell, the award recognizes demonstrated excellence in pure or applied scientific research by a young faculty member. Dr. Arjmand works at the forefront of polymer nanocomposites—developing materials with enhanced electrical, magnetic and thermal properties—and also explores solutions to reduce plastic waste. His research has applications in electromagnetic shielding, wastewater treatment and corrosion resistance—key areas in the advancement of smart materials and sustainable engineering.

Each year the Faculty Research Awards help highlight the depth and breadth of research taking place at UBC. The four Okanagan researchers recognized today are making lasting impacts in their fields, pushing boundaries and reaffirming UBCO’s role in shaping the future of knowledge and innovation.

Congratulations to all the 2024 Faculty Research Award recipients for their achievements and contributions to research excellence.

See all 2024 Faculty Research Award recipients

UBC Okanagan launching Western Canada’s first airborne sensing lab with $1.35M in PacifiCan funding.

UBC Okanagan is set to establish an advanced airborne sensing lab thanks to $1.35 million in funding from the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan). Led by the UBC STAR (Survive and Thrive Applied Research) initiative, the future lab in the sky will provide B.C. businesses with access to advanced remote sensing capabilities for diverse applications, from environmental monitoring to technological development and more.  

With this investment, UBC STAR is equipping a small aircraft with infrared, radar and hyperspectral imaging technology. The airborne lab will gather high-resolution data about the earth’s surface without direct contact, helping local companies test and refine new technologies, accelerate existing projects and gain a competitive edge in the global sensor data market. 

Empowering local businesses and innovation 

UBC STAR’s Airborne Sensing Lab is projected to contribute significantly to the region’s economic growth, creating high-value job opportunities and supporting more than 10 small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, the lab will serve as a hub for collaboration between academic researchers and industry professionals, driving new advancements in sensor technology and data analytics. 

“This is a very exciting partnership between UBC research capabilities and leading Okanagan companies,” said Dr. Keith Culver, Director of UBC STAR. “We are delighted to bring the world real innovation from the Okanagan, solving problems here at home while creating export opportunities contributing to the region’s economic growth and resilience.” 

Building on UBC STAR’s success, this initiative will help expand UBC Okanagan’s research in fields such as precision agriculture and forestry. It also aligns with efforts to provide Indigenous communities with enhanced environmental monitoring tools to help support sustainable land and marine resource management. 

Strengthening B.C.’s tech and innovation ecosystem 

“British Columbia is home to incredible talent and innovation, and this investment will help local businesses take their technologies to the next level,” said the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for PacifiCan. “By supporting the development of the first airborne sensing lab in Western Canada, we’re giving B.C. companies the tools they need to expand into global markets, strengthen the local tech sector, and create new opportunities for collaboration with Indigenous communities. This is a great example of how industry and academia can work together to drive economic growth and sustainability.” 

Funded through PacifiCan’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems program, this venture reinforces UBC Okanagan’s role as a leader in applied research and industry partnerships, advancing sustainable growth and technological innovation in B.C. 

Co-directors of the Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIIC), Tim Stainton (left) and Rachelle Hole (right), along with Jo-Anne Gauthier (centre), a member of the CIIC Provincial Advisory Board, proudly accept the Renata Shearer Award on behalf of the institute.

The Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIIC)—UBCO’s research institute focused on promoting social justice, equality and wellbeing of all citizens—has received the esteemed Renata Shearer Award.

Presented by the Vancouver Branch of the United Nations Association at an in-person event December 6, the annual award celebrates individuals and organizations making significant contributions to advancing human rights, dignity and justice in British Columbia. In announcing the award, the United Nations Association in Canada, Vancouver Branch, commended CIIC for their exceptional work.

“This well-deserved recognition is a testament to [CIIC’s] unwavering dedication to advocating for, and advancing the rights and inclusion of, persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The tireless efforts have not only set a standard of excellence but also align seamlessly with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 10, which emphasizes reducing inequalities and promoting social, economic and political inclusion for all.”

As Canada’s only university-based research centre focused exclusively on social policy and full inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, CIIC has long been at the forefront of advocacy and research. Its work not only advances the rights of marginalized communities but also services as a powerful catalyst for societal change.

“The transformative impact of CIIC’s work resonates deeply, inspiring others to champion the values of equity, dignity and respect,” said UN person.  “This commitment strengthens the foundation of a society that values the contributions of all individuals, regardless of ability, and moves us closer to achieving a more inclusive and equitable world.”

For CIIC co-director Tim Stainton, the recognition carries profound significance.

“The CIIC grounds much of its work in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” he says. “To be recognized by the United Nations Association of Canada is a wonderful confirmation of our work and focus. More importantly, it helps the issue come to a broader public.”

Distinguished by its collaborative approach, CIIC prioritizes partnerships with individuals with disabilities, their families, advocacy organizations and policymakers, says Stainton.

“We work in partnership to ensure our work has direct and meaningful real-world impact. We strive to take our research ideas from the community and, as much as possible, let them set our agenda and co-create with them to help ensure our work is meaningful and relevant to those with lived experience.”

Renata Shearer was a tireless advocate for equality and human rights. The award that bears her name serves as a lasting tribute to her legacy of promoting dignity and social justice for all. In addition to honouring its recipients, it helps celebrate International Human Rights Day, which takes place each year on December 10 and commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

UBCO-led teams investigating everything from diabetes prevention and remission to better sleep health, pregnancy loss and digital health literacy were awarded funding through Michael Smith Health Research BC’s Convening and Collaborating (C2) and Reach competitions.

The C2 program promotes knowledge exchange and meaningful collaboration by supporting researchers, trainees and research users in co-developing research that can have direct impacts on people, including patients, health practitioners and policy makers. The Reach program supports teams of researchers and research users to disseminate research evidence with those who can directly benefit from it in order to impact health and care in BC.

Across both university campuses, a total of twenty-six teams led by UBC researchers received funding through the Convening & Collaborating (C2) program and 17 teams led by UBC researchers received funding through the Reach program.

Designed to help bridge the gap between evidence and impact, the competitions funded ninety-one health research teams across BC who are working on solutions to pressing health challenges.

2024 CONVENING AND COLLABORATING PROGRAM – UBC Okanagan-led teams

A path to success: Convening service providers and patients to understand diabetes prevention care referral pathways and co-develop a research agenda for the interior of BC
Recipient: Mary Jung (School of Health and Exercise Sciences, UBCO)
Co-Lead: Renee Young (Interior Health Authority)
Research Location: University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus

Promoting sleep health for families in British Columbia foster and kinship care
Recipient: Elizabeth Keys (School of Nursing, UBCO)
Co-Lead: Jelena Komanchuk (University of British Columbia)
Research Location: University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus

Setting Direction for Advancing Digital Health Literacy Training Support to Optimize Older Adults’ Technology Use in Chronic Cardiovascular Disease Self-Care
Recipient: Kathy Rush (School of Nursing, UBCO)
Co-Lead: Linda Fawcus (Gluu Society)
Research Location: University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus

Reproductive Aging and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Establishing A Research Advisory Board
Recipient: Mohamed Mohamed (Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, UBCO)
Co-Lead: Emma Gardner (Butterfly Run Vancouver)
Research Location: BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre Women’s Health Research Institute

Setting Direction for Advancing Digital Health Literacy Training Support to Optimize Older Adults’ Technology Use in Chronic Cardiovascular Disease Self-Care
Recipient: Kathy Rush (School of Nursing, UBCO)
Co-Lead: Linda Fawcus (Gluu Society)
Research Location: University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus

2024 REACH PROGRAM – UBC Okanagan-led team

From Social Media Advertisement to Type 2 Diabetes Remission: Harnessing Innovative Social Media Strategies to Make Remission Possible in British Columbia
Recipient: Jonathan Little (School of Health and Exercise Sciences, UBCO)
Co-Lead: Damien Gillis (Slingshot Communications)
Research Location: University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus
Partner(s): Pacific Public Health Foundation

READ THE FULL MSHRBC ANNOUNCEMENT

CFI funding supported creation of new interdisciplinary space

The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS) officially opened a new, state-of-the-art research space today.  Housed in the Innovation Annex, part of UBC Okanagan’s Innovation Precinct, the new facility is the result of three separate Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) awards to FCCS researchers Dr. Emily Christina Murphy, Dr. Miles Thorogood and Dr. Megan Smith.

Aimed at fostering cutting-edge interdisciplinary work, the research hub combines three separate creative labs and studios—ReMedia Infrastructure for Research and Creation, the Sonic Production, Intelligence, Research, and Applications Lab (SPIRAL), and the Critical Future Studio/Lab—making it a unique space for creativity and collaboration.

The hub, which the faculty describes as unique in Canada, was made possible through the three researchers combining their individual CFI awards, each of which included funding for a performance space, in order to enable the creation of the shared facility that features three studios, an audio control room and a larger performance space.

Dr. Emily Christina Murphy, Director of ReMedia Infrastructure for Research and Creation, highlighted the collaborative vision behind the project. “It became clear that we had some interesting overlapping research needs and could come together to create a single state-of-the-art facility,” she said.

The CFI awards, which support universities in acquiring advanced research infrastructure, were further bolstered by matching funds from the provincial government through the BC Knowledge Development Fund.

“This space has really opened up everything,” says Dr. Thorogood, who leads the Sonic Production, Intelligence, Research, and Applications Lab (SPIRAL). His lab now boasts top-tier audio production equipment, including 36 speakers for experimenting with immersive sound experiences. Dr. Thorogood’s Creative AI research focuses on developing tools to automate tasks in sound design, potentially transforming the audio landscape of large-scale multiplayer video games by generating dynamic soundscapes in real time.

Meanwhile, Dr. Murphy’s ReMedia delves into cultural memory and the ways technology shapes our understanding of the past and present. Her research, which will now include recreating historical performances in the new shared space, has been further enhanced by the CFI funding, enabling her to acquire wearables and advanced computing tools to analyze data from social media and other sources.

Dr. Smith, the third researcher in the collaboration and Director of the new Master of Design program, leads the Critical Future Studio/Lab. Her work integrates art, computer science and engineering to create immersive AR and VR environments. In collaboration with the RCMP, she has developed VR controllers for cadet training that mirror the weight and feel of real-world equipment, enhancing the realism of training exercises. Another project, “Walking in the Cold,” explores climate change through VR, using CFI-funded infrared heaters and blowers to simulate environmental shifts.

With the facility now operational, all three researchers are excited about the potential for new collaborative opportunities.

“I’m most excited about seeing how new synergies can occur in the space, and with this new community,” says Dr. Smith. “I think the space itself is going to yield some incredible work.”

The shared research hub is set to be a major driver of innovation, advancing creative research and opening new doors for interdisciplinary collaboration at UBC Okanagan.

UBC Okanagan has a track record of securing CFI funding for both large-scale research infrastructure and individual research spaces. The new facility follows in the footsteps of successful projects like the Centre for Health Behaviour Change and the Reading, Language, and Mathematics (ReaLM) Lab.

“Knowledge dissemination, making connections, and research about communities and within communities is at the heart of everything we do at ICER.”

Dr. Christine Schreyer, Director, Institute for Community Engaged Research (ICER).

Dr. Christine Schreyer has devoted both her academic and professional life to community-based research.

Beginning with her Master’s research in partnership with the Chapleau Cree First Nation, and continuing with her PhD research with the Taku River Tlingit and Loon River Cree First Nations, Dr. Schreyer, an Associate Professor in Anthropology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, has been conducting community research as a settler ally scholar for more than 25 years.

It’s work she hopes to continue in conjunction with other UBC research experts in her new role as Director of the Institute for Community Engaged Research (ICER), a longstanding research institute at UBC Okanagan and an interdisciplinary hub for community-engaged and community-based research.

Having taken on the role this summer, Dr. Schreyer plans to build on the great work happening at the institute, developing strategic partnerships and connections throughout British Columbia and around the globe.

Though the role may be new, Dr. Schreyer is already intimately familiar with ICER.

“I’m lucky because, in a way, I’m able to hit the ground running,” she says. “Having supported the institute as interim director in the past, and having worked with ICER since its inception nine years ago, I’m in a unique position within our established team to jump in quickly and keep the momentum going.”

Pulling from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds, including anthropology, gender studies, Indigenous studies, economics, education, health studies, human geography, nursing, social work and sociology, the main goal of ICER is to facilitate connections for both research industry projects and communities seeking support through research.

As an example, Dr. Schreyer’s continued research with Papa New Guinea’s Kala speaking communities, work she’s executed with ICER team member and fellow Anthropologist, Dr. John Wagner, has resulted in the development of the language’s writing system, consisting of written characters and the first published dictionary, which was published through ICER Press. To facilitate her work with Kala communities and others, Dr. Schreyer has successfully engaged funding support through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Geographic Genographic Legacy fund, totaling approximately $3.7M.

Looking to the future of ICER, Dr. Schreyer is excited for what’s to come and the upcoming projects the team is planning to undertake. She looks forward to continuing to make ICER a connecting point for researchers looking to do work within communities and working collaboratively within UBC by engaging with institutes and working across both the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses.

As part of that engagement, the ICER team will be launching a podcast in the coming months, featuring tips and best practices for researchers focused on community-based engagement.

“Knowledge dissemination, making connections, and research about communities and within communities is at the heart of everything we do at ICER,” says Dr. Schreyer. “In 2022 we completed a strategic plan where we took feedback from our memberships—we’ll be looking at building a path forward based on this feedback and also continuing to grow the profile and reputation of ICER within UBC and beyond.”

The ICER team is also considering how a symposium might to fit into the institute’s strategy, specifically a symposium on best practices of community-engaged research.

“I’m interested in the idea of putting together a grant that brings people doing community-engaged research together, from all areas of the world, and gives them an opportunity to talk about how they’re doing it,” says Dr. Schreyer. “Learning and growing together in our unique community research with a larger global perspective.”

A 2024 recipient of the Killam Teaching Prize, an award for teaching excellence and innovation, Dr. Schreyer plans to pull from her experiences in teaching and mentoring to help inform her work as director of ICER.

She says she is grateful to those who came before her.

“I can’t take this position without recognizing the leadership before me, and also the amazing support of our institute coordinator, Joanne Carey, who’s been with ICER from the very beginning.”

Connect with Dr. Christine Schreyer and the ICER team if you’re interested in learning more about knowledge mobilization or community engaged research. The ICER team is well positioned to facilitate research partnerships and help you get started with your community-based research project.

ABOUT ICER:

ICER is a hub for building relationships, collaboration, and effective knowledge creation and exchange through research clusters operating across disciplinary and institutional boundaries. ICER operates fluidly in response to and in recognition of changing social issues and facilitates the participation of community members, organizations, students, and academics as co-researchers.

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UBC OKANAGAN RESEARCH INSTITUTES:

UBC Okanagan is home to six research institutes, setting the highest standards in interdisciplinary research: Analytics in Medical Science (AiMS) Institute, Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIIC), Institute for Community Engaged Research (ICER), Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention (IHLCDP), Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI), and the Okanagan Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience and Ecosystems Services (BRAES).

Rodriguez looks to steer the university’s newest building by focusing on relationships, collaboration and trust

Natalie Rodriguez, Director, Interdisciplinarity and Operations x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn.

Described by her peers as a research rebel, Natalie Rodriguez has an extensive background leading interdisciplinary programs and large-scale research initiatives. It’s a skillset that is integral to her position as Director of Interdisciplinarity and Operations x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn.

As UBC Okanagan’s newest building, set to open in 2026, x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn will become an interdisciplinary hub for students, faculty and staff to collaborate and innovate across the boundaries of social sciences, natural sciences, humanities and creative and professional disciplines. In her role, Rodriguez is responsible for fostering the building’s interdisciplinary culture. Working with x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn Academic Co-leads, Dr. Karis Shearer and Dr. Peter Simpson, she oversees the implementation of the project’s priorities, goals and objectives, manages the building’s occupancy and space usage, facilitates research support mechanisms and promotes interdisciplinary research activities to ensure transformative results.

Rodriguez believes that creating a collaborative working environment built on trust is key to the project’s success.

“True interdisciplinarity extends beyond adding people with diverse expertise to the building. It requires intentionality in building relationships and fostering a sense of community which can only be accomplished by moving at the speed of trust. As we move towards the opening of the building, I’ll be focusing on co-designing programming that will center on building these relationships, along with encouraging sharing of ideas and diverse perspectives in crafting the vision for x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn.”

Rodriguez was a CBC Future 40 Award winner in 2020, nominated to WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in 2021 and awarded the Allergen NCE Michelle Harkness Mentorship Excellence Award in 2023.

Her work has been supported by a diverse portfolio of funders including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Wellcome Open Trust, Health Data Research UK, Open Philanthropy, Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR).

Prior to UBC, Rodriguez held positions as the Director of Operations, Diversity & Inclusion of THRiVE Discovery Lab, Operations Director of the Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC), and Co-Director of the International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium.

Her impressive academic background includes both a BEd and BMus from the University of Winnipeg, an MBA from the University of Manitoba, and multiple professional certifications from both Harvard and Cornell including operations management, change leadership, and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a certified EDI specialist.

Dr. Shearer and Dr. Simpson are excited about what’s to come for x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn and the impact Rodriguez will make in her role.

“We could not be luckier to have Natalie directing operations and interdisciplinarity in x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn,” says Dr. Shearer. “The kind of interdisciplinary training she brings in the fine arts, education, and business, along with her leadership experience in health research is outstanding. She embodies both the technical and creative background needed to lead this unique strategic initiative.”

Please reach out to Natalie Rodriguez to learn more about x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn goals and initiatives.

About x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn:

x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn is designed bring together scholars and students in a new and innovative way. x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn will be uniquely organized into neighbourhoods shared by teams of interdisciplinary researchers from across UBC Okanagan’s entire research spectrum. The building will support these teams as they research and help solve complex societal challenges from multiple perspectives, leveraging the expertise already assembled on campus and helping recruit new talent to meet the promise of an engaged university.

VISIT THE WEBSITE

From improving human health to investigating climate adaptation, research teams will tackle some of society’s most challenging problems

Artist’s rendering: UBC Okanagan’s x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn, set to open in 2026.

Solutions to some of society’s most important issues will be investigated when nine interdisciplinary research teams move into x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn, UBC Okanagan’s newest building.

Set to open in March 2026, the building will be a unique, four-story space dedicated to bringing together researchers, scholars, students and the community. It will be UBCO’s biggest platform for interdisciplinary research.

The nine interdisciplinary teams will investigate topics from immunotherapies and climate adaptation to communication and language connected to social and mental health. Teams were selected after a review process that saw applicants showcase the potential impact of their research, the importance of an interdisciplinary approach and how the new, innovative space would be used.

“There’s a wonderful cross-pollination of experts on every team,” says x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn Director of Interdisciplinarity and Operations, Natalie Rodriguez. “We prioritized teams that reflected the building’s values and ethos, and fostered the spirit of collaboration, of wanting to conduct research differently.”

An Academic Advisory Committee with representation from each of UBCO’s faculties evaluated applications, as did the building’s Academic Co-leads from the offices of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation and the Provost and Vice-President Academic.

“Our successful teams are aligned with x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn core values of collaboration, relationality, respect, cultural sensitivity, transparency and innovation,” says Academic Co-lead and Associate Provost, Academic Affairs and Strategy, Peter Simpson. “These nine teams will form the heart of the x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn community.”

Altogether, the teams comprise nearly 120 late-, mid- and early-career researchers. In addition to the interdisciplinarity within the teams, further breaking of barriers between disciplines will be encouraged by the physical locations of research teams in the building.

In a carefully planned neighbourhood building process, teams will be located near other teams who, while they may be conducting entirely different research, may be able to benefit each other in unexpected ways.

“We’ve selected teams with members from across the entire research spectrum, from arts and humanities to STEM, and we have prioritized Indigenous ways of knowing and community practice,” says Academic Co-lead and Associate Vice Principal, Research and Innovation, Karis Shearer. “Planning the building’s research neighbourhoods provides opportunities for further collaboration and sharing of ideas. We’ve seen a real interest among teams to learn from each other.”

The design of the building has been guided by collaboration, interdisciplinarity and Indigeneity. UBC Okanagan remains committed to truth and reconciliation and, through ongoing partnership with the Syilx Okanagan Nation, x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn – an Nsyilxcn name meaning for the purpose of new innovation in a place where people work together to enlighten and inform each other – will be home to Interior Salish language fluency programs and the Centre for Contemporary Interior Salishan Studies.

Rodriguez, who began her role as director in the spring, says the building is also set to serve as an incubator where small successes have the chance to springboard to larger funding opportunities, and where long-term projects can engage with international research partners, network with other interdisciplinary centres around the world and, together, have positive impact on a global scale.

When it comes to the building’s research potential, her hopes for the future are high.

“This initiative has the chance to fundamentally change the way we conduct research, to change what we value as metrics of success,” she says. “We’re looking to better engage with communities and partners, to conduct research that matters to them and to be a model for developing a system that supports true interdisciplinarity.”

While collaboration among research teams, and building programming, is already underway, Rodriguez says she’s looking forward to the building’s completion.

“I’m eager to come together in the space as a community, to make the people and teams more aware of each other, and to live by the spirit of what it means to be in x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn,” she says. “Putting many disciplines in one building doesn’t mean you’ll have automatic collaboration, but my role as Director of Operations and Interdisciplinarity is to give them the best possible chance at success. I can’t wait to see where this goes.”

UBC Okanagan faculty recognized for leading BC’s health research

2024 Michael Smith Health Research BC recipients, Carla Hilario and Natasha Haskey.

Michael Smith Health Research BC has recognized two UBC Okanagan researchers through the Scholar and Health Professional Investigator programs that make up their 2024 Health Research BC Awards.

Dr. Carla Hilario, an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development is a Scholar award recipient. The Scholar competition supports early career health researchers, helping them form their own research teams, train the next generation of scientists and develop world-leading research programs.

Her research addresses the structural and social determinants of young people’s mental health, with an aim to develop information about the broader social factors and forces that shape youth mental health.

“This research will generate needed information about youth mental health, racial discrimination and other social factors that can inform changes in practice and policy, to improve mental health outcomes for diverse youth,” says Dr. Hilario. “This Scholar Award will enable me to significantly advance and expand this important work, while also connecting me to a community of scholars in BC.”

Her program focusses on bridging knowledge gaps in what diverse youth identify as facilitators and barriers to accessible, safe and inclusive mental health services and systems.

Dr. Natasha Haskey is a Health Professional-Investigator award recipient. The Health Professional-Investigator competition supports health professionals actively involved in patient care to build research programs.

A researcher in the biology department of the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, Dr. Haskey focusses on precision nutrition, providing diet recommendations specifically tailored to individuals with Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

“I’m so honored to receive this award. It is truly an exciting next chapter for me. Embracing the latest technological advancements, I seek to standardize nutrition approaches to IBD management, ensuring a comprehensive and state-of-the-art strategy for patient care,” she says.

Dr. Haskey’s research project aims to bridge the gap in understanding how diet can treat inflammation and symptoms, leading to better disease management, improved nutritional health, and reduced symptoms.

Both Dr. Hilario and Dr. Haskey will receive $90,000 a year for five years, for a total of $450,000 each.

Michael Smith Health Research BC is British Columbia’s health research agency. They have funded 23 new Scholars and 14 Health Professional-Investigators (HP-I), through the 2024 competitions.

Across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, 27 UBC researchers were funded through the 2024 competition.

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