The Applied Science Digital Design Studio (DDS) is officially open, bringing architecture and engineering students together to design the future.
From robot arms to 24/7 fabrication zones, this is where the next generation of innovators is coming together to solve complex challenges. Swipe to learn about our newest collaborative space on the UBC Vancouver campus ⏩
UBC has been recognized among the world’s top 30 institutions in all five broad subject areas of the QS @TopUnis World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
The Faculty of Applied Science is incredibly proud to share our notable global rankings, which include:
# 7 Mining Engineering
# 20 Civil Engineering (# 1 in 🇨🇦 for the 2nd year in a row)
# 22 Nursing
# 29 Engineering overall, with every one of our core disciplines placing within the Global Top 50.
Beyond the numbers, these results demonstrate the impact of our researchers and our commitment to creating an exceptional learning environment for our students. Congratulations, UBC!
Introducing the Gateway Health Building. 🩺
Designed to support world-class teaching and research at the UBC School of Nursing, the Gateway Health Building reflects how health care is taught and delivered today and how it will continue to evolve.
Expanded clinical skills labs give students more opportunities to think and act like a nurse before transitioning into clinical environments, with increased capacity allowing multiple cohorts to train at the same time. Dedicated skills labs also support Nurse Practitioner education, alongside flexible teaching spaces designed to accommodate a wide range of learning activities.
Bringing together Nursing, @UBCKin , Student Health Services, and components of UBC Health, the Gateway Health Building creates a shared environment that strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration and supports innovative approaches to health education and care at UBC.
Congratulations to the six UBC Faculty of Applied Science experts who have been named or reappointed as Canada Research Chairs! They are among the 14 other UBC chairs announced on May 13, 2026.
The Canada Research Chairs program supports research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences at Canadian postsecondary institutions. Up to $311 million is invested annually.
We recently had the honour of formally recognizing and celebrating the promotion of several outstanding colleagues to the rank of full professor within the Faculty of Applied Science.
Please join us in congratulating:
Dr. Guangrui (Maggie) Xia, Materials Engineering,
Dr. Gwynn Elfring, Mechanical Engineering,
Dr. Leanne Currie, School of Nursing,
Dr. Emily Jenkins, School of Nursing,
Professor Matthew Soules, School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture,
Professor Blair Satterfield, School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture,
Dr. Patrick Kirchen, Mechanical Engineering
and Dr. Gabriel Potvin, Chemical and Biological Engineering,
Their exceptional contributions to research, education and leadership continue to advance their fields and strengthen our academic community.
@JamesDeanAPSC and @UBCSauderSchool Dean Darren Dahl have formalized a new strategic partnership with UNHabitat.
This joint collaboration carries a significant symbolic legacy as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Habitat I, the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, held in Vancouver in 1976.
Through this partnership, we will commemorate the past, assess collective progress and reinforce @UniversityOfBC and UN-Habitat's leadership in shaping the future of sustainable urban development.
"Having worked with the United Nations in both New York and Kenya, I have seen firsthand how critical the bridge between academic research and global policy truly is. This partnership helps us ensure that our research on human settlements, including topics like displacement, shelter insecurity, disasters and climate, is directly translated into action for the world’s most vulnerable urban populations." - Michael Hooper, Associate Professor, @UBCSCARP
This #UBCGivingDay, Applied Science is championing three impactful and forward-thinking funds:
⚙️ @GeeringUp Engineering Outreach
🔨 @UBCSALA Design + Build
❤️🩹 @MensHealthUBC Research Program
Join us on April 8 to reduce barriers to STEM education, support innovative and cross-disciplinary student programs and fund meaningful research.
givingday.ubc.ca
Four Applied Science experts are among @UniversityofBC 's 2025 Faculty Research Award recipients.
@UBCOSOE 's Anas Chaaban and Mahmudur Fatmi, @ECEUBC 's Xiaoxiao Li and @SBME_UBC 's Carl de Boer were recognized for their research excellence and scholarly achievements. Please join us in congratulating everyone! 👏
Read more at apsc.ubc.ca/news or engineering.ok.ubc.ca/news.
UBC Applied Science was well-represented in Ottawa this week, joining @UBCPrez Benoit-Antoine Bacon for "UBC Day on the Hill", to showcase the real-world impact of #UBC research.
From critical minerals and life sciences to marine, advanced manufacturing and defence, @UBCEngineering researchers are driving many innovations that have the potential to strengthen Canada’s economy and security. 🇨🇦
Many thanks to faculty members Vicky Bungay, John Steen, Peter Zandstra, Rajeev Jaiman, Lukas Bichler, Adam Clare, postdoctoral researcher Jonathan Dennis and PhD student Beth Castle for being part of these vital conversations at the national level.
@ECEUBC Professor David Michelson and researchers connected to the UBC Radio Science Lab recently deployed a 200-mW transmitter aboard the vessel MV Ortelius to assess radio propagation from sites within the Antarctic Circle.
The results? Their beacon was heard 12,000 kilometres away using less power than a small LED bulb!
Students in ELEC 411 and the @UBCOrbit team will now have the opportunity to analyze and learn from this data.
UBC was one of only a few universities that had the opportunity to conduct research on this expedition. We are incredibly proud of this team and extend thanks to our collaborator, Adarsh Verghese, for sharing these photos.
Swipe to the end for a surprise! 🦭 🐧
22 million homes needed = one urgent challenge.
Canada’s housing crisis is being addressed right here at UBC. @UBCCivil researcher Dr. Tony Yang and @UBCSALA Professor John Bass are working with other researchers, government, industry and communities to speed up modular construction and design climate-resilient housing.
By mapping buildable land, testing faster and greener construction, and designing homes built for climate extremes, UBC projects could help unlock land for up to 50,000 new housing units, cut construction costs by as much as 60 per cent, and create jobs while reducing emissions.
The @UniversityofBC and TKMS have established a new partnership to advance maritime and arctic research, with a focus on dual-use technologies that support both national security and civilian applications.
As a core academic partner, alongside @WesternUniversity and @DalhousieU in the Canadian Defence and Dual-Use Innovation Ecosystem (CDDE), UBC joins a collaboration that brings together cutting-edge university research, industry partners, and international expertise to drive innovation and commercial applications in defence and dual-use solutions.
“This MOU with TKMS is an opportunity to scale the impact of forward-looking research in dual-use technologies within UBC Applied Science,” said Dr. Vicky Bungay, Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, UBC Applied Science.
“We look forward to being significant contributors to the innovative partnerships enabled by the CDDE.”
📸 Photo 3 from left: Marius Hölter, TKMS; Dr. Vicky Bungay, UBC Applied Science; Dr. Jeronimo Dzaack, TKMS.
