UBC Environmental Engineering Students Win First Place at International WEFTEC Design Competition
A team of five Environmental Engineering students from UBC has won first place at the 2025 Student Design Competition during the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in Chicago, Illinois. Team StormWise Innovations, made up of Jaden Gauw, Jaden Mah, Kajal Mishra, Cindy Chow and Megan Slot, represented both The University of British Columbia and Canada after earning first place earlier this year at the British Columbia Water and Wastewater Association (BCWWA) Student Design Competition (Water Environment Category). The team was led by Dr. Zeina Baalbaki, a Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering. The WEFTEC Student Design Competition […]
UBC Civil Engineering Graduate Students Receive Wall Research Awards
Three UBC Civil Engineering students received 2025 Wall Awards for research in flood forecasting, sustainable stormwater management, and 3D concrete printing.
UBC Civil Engineering welcomes Dr. Riwaj Dhakal as Assistant Professor in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Riwaj (Ribu) Dhakal has joined the Department of Civil Engineering as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Dhakal brings expertise in Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering, with a research focus on soil liquefaction, seismic foundation behavior, and advanced site characterization. He received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering with first-class honours from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) in 2018 and completed his PhD in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering in 2022 through a joint program with the University of Canterbury and the University of California, Berkeley. His doctoral research advanced methodologies for assessing liquefaction and its impacts on infrastructure, […]
In Memoriam: Dr. William Caselton
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. William Caselton, Associate Professor Emeritus in Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Caselton was a respected member of the Department, recognized for his expertise in hydrotechnical engineering. His research advanced the application of optimization techniques and statistics in water resources planning and operation, the statistical design of hydrologic data gathering networks, and the optimization of scheduling for repetitive construction activities. These contributions strengthened the way water systems are studied and managed, leaving a lasting impact on the discipline. Throughout his career, Dr. Caselton was deeply committed […]
UBC Civil Engineering Researchers Awarded Federal Funding for Projects Addressing Critical Infrastructure and Climate Priorities
On July 9, 2025, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) announced the results of its 2025 Discovery Grant competition. As part of a broader $9.7 million investment in UBC Applied Science research, five Civil Engineering faculty members received a combined total of over $1.3 million in funding. The awarded projects are: The NSERC Discovery Grants program provides long-term operating support for Canadian researchers, enabling them to pursue ongoing programs of research and contribute to advancements in science and engineering. For the full Faculty of Applied Science announcement, visit apsc.ubc.ca
UBC Civil Engineering welcomes Dr. Nimish Pujara as Associate Professor in Coastal Transport Research
His research connects wave dynamics to pollution, ecosystems, and resilience.
Exploring Risk at the Intersection of Civil and Nuclear
“Having end goals in mind made my decisions more intentional, shaping the courses I chose, the skills I focused on, and the opportunities I pursued” Simon Willcox Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science Grad year: 2025 Program: Civil Engineering Campus: Vancouver Why did you choose Civil Engineering, and what drew you to risk analysis I initially chose civil engineering with the intention of specializing in structural engineering and later pursuing a master’s in architecture to design custom homes. Over time, I grew interested in nuclear energy and its potential to provide limitless clean energy. This led me to explore seismic and catastrophic […]
UBC Civil Engineering Staff Member Publishes Illustrated History of Vancouver’s Chinatown
What started as a quiet moment of reflection during the pandemic has become a powerful tribute to one of Vancouver’s most storied neighbourhoods. Donna Seto, Manager of Research and Strategic Initiatives in UBC Civil Engineering, has released Chinatown Vancouver: An Illustrated History, a 260-page book that brings together art, memory, and historical research to tell the story of Vancouver’s Chinatown through the lens of its architecture and community. In June 2021, Seto took to the streets of Chinatown with her camera, revisiting a neighbourhood she knew well from her childhood. With the area quieter than usual due to the pandemic and […]
Designing a Human-Centered Intersection for UBC’s West Gateway
Sam Abasalti, Eric Jung, Jessi Nguyen, Khoa Nguyen, Jerry Sethi, Julia Sydorova Degree: Bachelor of Applied Sciene Program: Civil Engineering Campus: Vancouver Our Project The University of British Columbia is located within a forested area, accessible by remnants of 1960s–70s double-lane highways. One of these, Chancellor Boulevard, connects to East Mall and Northwest Marine Drive. As nearby land use evolved, new neighbourhoods emerged and brought increased use of active transportation modes such as walking, cycling, rolling, and micromobility. However, the current intersection is unsafe and outdated, lacking the infrastructure needed to support these users. This winning project aims to redesign the intersection […]
Exploring Wind Energy and Earthquake Resilience: UBC Civil Engineering Joins Geering Up for a Day of Hands-On Learning
Dr. Mona Amer led a Geering Up event on wind energy and earthquake resilience with turbine design and shake table tests.
Where Civil Engineering Meets Public Health: A Closer Look at Tire Wear Pollution
This Q&A features one of the winners of the 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition, a university-wide challenge that invites graduate students to present their research in just three minutes—using only one slide and no jargon. The goal? To make complex research accessible, engaging, and inspiring to a broad audience. In this spotlight, you’ll hear from Katie Moloney, a UBC Civil Engineering graduate student whose research is shedding light on an emerging and often overlooked source of pollution: tire wear particles. Her work explores how this invisible pollutant travels through urban air, transforms chemically, and may impact lung health—bridging environmental engineering […]
From Reaction to Prevention: Reimagining Road Safety Through Data
This Q&A features one of the winners of the 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition, a university-wide challenge that asks graduate students to present their complex research in just three minutes—using only one slide and no jargon. The goal? To make research accessible, engaging, and inspiring to a broad audience. In this spotlight, you’ll hear from a UBC Civil Engineering graduate student whose award-winning research is helping reshape how we approach traffic safety—moving from reactive responses to proactive, data-driven solutions that aim to save lives. Tarek Ghoul PhD student Research Area: Transportation Engineering Campus: Vancouver Can you share a brief summary […]
UBC Research Tackles Toxic Tire Chemical to Protect Aquatic Life
A research initiative led by Dr. Rachel Scholes from UBC Civil Engineering and funded by the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) is addressing the environmental impact of 6PPDQ, a toxic chemical produced from tire wear that poses a significant threat to sensitive aquatic species. To better understand the spread and concentration of 6PPDQ in urban environments, over 100 water samples were collected from Metro Vancouver streams. This data has played a key role in shaping British Columbia’s new provincial water quality guideline for 6PPDQ, providing a regulatory framework to monitor and limit this pollutant in freshwater ecosystems. Recognizing […]
In Memoriam: Dr. Donald Leigh Anderson
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Donald Leigh Anderson. He passed peacefully on Friday, January 17th, surrounded by loved ones in Vancouver, British Columbia. Don was born on June 20, 1934, in the small community of Scandia, Alberta. Don received his BSc degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta in 1956. He then worked as a design engineer and field engineer in Edmonton from 1956-1960. He received his MS in Civil Engineering in 1962 from the University of Illinois and his PhD in Engineering Mechanics from Stanford University in 1965. He worked as […]
Dr. Alexander Bigazzi Wins Wall Legacy Award for Inclusive, Sustainable Transport Design
This initiative focuses on creating transportation infrastructure that equitably attracts users to sustainable travel modes
UBC Civil Insights on Vancouver Seismic Risk Report
A new report from the City of Vancouver and Natural Resources Canada has outlined how a 7.2-magnitude earthquake could impact Vancouver, and it highlights six neighborhoods in high-risk areas. In the report, Vancouver’s West End, Yaletown, the Downtown Eastside, Kitsilano, Fairview, and Mount Pleasant have the highest risk of damage from a large earthquake. Seismic experts at UBC Civil Engineering have provided valuable insights on the recent City of Vancouver Council Report on Seismic Risk, highlighting the urgent need for strategies to strengthen vulnerable buildings and infrastructure against earthquake damage. Billions in damage, thousands of injuries: Report maps out Vancouver earthquake […]
New funding for CoLab PhD research on extreme weather
A new funding initiative at UBC is bringing together expertise from multiple disciplines to tackle one of the most pressing problems of our time: managing the impact of extreme weather conditions, such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall. With $53,000 in annual renewable funding, the Collaborative PhD Program is aimed at training students across diverse fields to develop innovative solutions to climate-related challenges while fostering cross-disciplinary knowledge and collaboration. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, the need for innovative solutions is greater than ever. This funding will support research focused on stormwater management and heatwave mitigation, specifically through the […]
UBC Civil Engineering unveils new hallway mural in CEME
The Civil and Mechanical Engineering Building is not quite how students left it at the end of the last academic term. Over the summer, the white walls that lined the hallway leading down the Civil Engineering laboratories were transformed into a colorful mural by local Musqueam artist, Debra Sparrow, and her team. Titled “The Thunderbird Welcomes Back the Orca”, the art piece depicts the Thunderbird returning to the traditional Musqueam territories that UBC is located on, crossing paths with the Orca Pod. Several of Debra Sparrow’s murals can be found throughout Vancouver, and her work is also featured in the APSC […]