Jongho Lee elected to Journal of Membrane Science editorial board
Assistant Professor Jongho Lee has been selected to join the Journal of Membrane Science Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB). Among hundreds of candidates from across the globe, Dr. Lee was chosen as one of three from North America and the only scholar from Canada. The Journal of Membrane Science is the preeminent journal in the field of membrane science and technology. Membranes are thin sheets that allow for separating desired chemicals or materials out of their mixture with other unwanted compounds. They have a pivotal role in water/wastewater treatment, chemical production, and medical applications. A prolific scholar in this field, Dr. Lee has an […]
UBC Civil Engineering professor brings innovative teaching
The Department of Civil Engineering is pleased to welcome Dr. Tamara Etmannski as Assistant Professor of Teaching within the environmental engineering specialization. As the Academic Director of the Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) degree programs and Co-Director of the Joint UBC/UNBC Environmental Engineering undergraduate degree, Dr. Etmannski is a familiar name in the Faculty of Applied Science and has come to be known for her unique and innovative approach to teaching. Believing that the role of the instructor is not simply to be a giver of knowledge, but rather a facilitator for the student, Dr. Etmannski is an advocate for experimentation in the classroom. She encourages […]
Fourth-year student receives two Pipeline Engineering awards
Jezarah Ebel was always destined for a bright future in engineering. After excelling in math and physics in high school, choosing to study Civil Engineering at UBC was a no-brainer. Driven by a newfound interest in project management, she decided to further specialize in pipeline engineering. This year, Jezarah is one of three students (along with recent Integrated Engineering graduate Rene Rao and Materials Engineering MASc student Kaiya Yamada) to receive the International Pipeline Conference (IPC) Foundation Award. She is also the sole recipient of the Young Pipeliners Association of Canada (YPAC) Prize. The IPC Awards, totaling $5,000 annually, recognize outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in the […]
In Memoriam: Dr. William Kaye (Bill) Oldham
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. William Kaye Oldham (Bill to his friends and colleagues.) Bill died peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 6th at his home in Merville, B.C.—just a few miles from where he was born. Born in Cumberland on Vancouver Island, BC on May 27, 1936, Bill graduated with a BASc in Civil Engineering from UBC and completed his graduate studies at the University of Texas-Austin. After spending a few years working at Stanley & Associates in Edmonton, Bill joined the UBC Department of Civil Engineering as a faculty member in 1968. “Like several […]
Professors Li and Yang receive province’s top awards for engineers
We are excited to announce that two faculty members in our Department received the 2020 President’s Awards from Engineers and Geoscientists BC. The awards are the province’s top awards for professional engineers and geoscientists and recognize those with outstanding achievement in professional, technical, and community contributions. Professor Loretta Li received the R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award, while Professor Tony Yang earned the Meritorious Achievement Award. “These awards demonstrate how UBC Civil Engineering faculty members continue to make exceptional contributions through their groundbreaking research and their dedication to excellence in teaching and innovation,” said Department Head Bernard Laval. “On behalf of our Department, my warmest […]
Years after Mount Polley disaster, study reveals ongoing problems
Six years ago – on August 4, 2014 – the Mount Polley mine spill released 24 million cubic metres of waste. The spill flowed into Hazeltine Creek, Quesnel Lake, and other waterways in the Likely, B.C. area and is by far the largest mine waste spill in Canadian history. In the years that followed, tests by B.C. officials have revealed that the water quality met provincial guidelines, while geochemical studies of mine tailings at the bottom of Quesnel Lake have demonstrated it is not releasing metals into the water. However, a new study suggests that the problem isn’t over yet. The new […]
Pamela Wolf hired as Assistant Professor of Teaching
We are pleased to announce that Pamela Wolf (previously Rogalski) has been hired as Assistant Professor of Teaching with the UBC Department of Civil Engineering. Pamela joined UBC School of Applied Science as a Faculty Lecturer in 2013 and has developed and delivered numerous technical communication courses to students in Civil Engineering, Material Engineering, and Engineering Physics. Among Pamela’s most significant contributions at UBC Civil is her steadfast dedication to cultivating communication, leadership and other soft skills in engineering students—a direct response to what she sees as a real cultural shift in the engineering industry. “There is now an expectation of […]
UBC Civil professor to develop wastewater testing for COVID-19
Update: July 9, 2020, The team’s research, titled “ Expanding the wastewater-based epidemiology toolkit for monitoring COVID-19 community transmission in Canada,” has received the NSERC Alliance COVID-19 grant for one year. NSERC is providing up to $15 million in total support to stimulate collaborations between university academic researchers and the public and not-for-profit sectors, and industry to address pandemic-related research and technical challenges. Ryan Ziels, an Assistant Professor of environmental engineering in the UBC Department of Civil Engineering, and Natalie Prystajecky at the BC Center for Disease and Control (BCCDC) and UBC Faculty of Medicine, are developing a method for detecting and […]
Alex Bigazzi promoted to associate professor with tenure
Dr. Alex Bigazzi, a faculty member in the UBC Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Community and Regional Planning, has received tenure and been promoted to Associate Professor. Tenureship recognizes exceptional faculty members for their distinguished scholarship, dedication to teaching and mentorship, and exemplary service to the University in helping achieve its vision as a globally influential institution. In so doing, Dr. Bigazzi is “helping create an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, promotes the values of a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research,” said UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Santa J. Ono in a statement. Dr. Bigazzi’s research […]
Dr. Nemy Banthia’s revolutionary new pavement product
A Canadian-engineered pavement technology that has withstood five South Asian monsoon seasons with flying colours holds significant promises for revolutionizing road and building infrastructure in Canada and all over the world. Pioneered by the Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence IC-IMPACTS , which is headed by UBC Department of Civil Engineering professor Dr. Nemy Banthia, this pavement material’s financial, functional, and sustainable advantages have begun to help modernize India’s infrastructure. Compared with traditional concrete, this material’s unique inclusion of fibres that allow for the pavement to be very thin makes it cheaper to produce. It is also more durable, and with 60% […]
Dr. Tarek Sayed on crosswalk safety used in report investigation
Back in 2016, the city conducted a pilot project at two crosswalks, which added side-mounted lights to existing overhead flashing lights. At the end of this study it was “found that driver compliance rates increased 100 percent when [vehicles were] sixty metres away from the crosswalk when the lower level lights were used with the overhead lights.” However, instead of presenting this report to upgrade the additional 170 pedestrian crosswalks with no side lights, it was never made public. In 2018, two separate incidents of young children killed while using crosswalks with only overhead lights occurred. In repose to these tragedies, […]
Dr. Bigazzi: Vancouver’s car sharing landscape is safe and healthy
Dr. Alex Bigazzi, an assistant professor in UBC’s Department of Civil Engineering, was recently interviewed by the Vancouver Sun on changes to Vancouver’s car-sharing services. Vancouver had four popular services: Evo, car2go, Modo and ZipCar. However, as of February 29th, car2go was pulled out of Vancouver and all of North America citing the “volatile state of the global mobility landscape.” This car-sharing service was incredibly popular in Vancouver with 1,200 cars and 20,000 members. Although it would seem that car2go’s departure would create a huge hole in the market, Dr. Bigazzi states that “Vancouver’s car-sharing landscape, which [now] includes Evo, Modo, and Zipcar, […]
Dr. Jongho Lee featured in magazine for novel desalination process
Dr. Jongho Lee, an assistant professor in UBC’s Department of Civil Engineering, recently published his new study on a clean alternative to clearing up flood water in Science Advances Magazine. The researcher was inspired by how mangrove trees, which like other trees, employ a water transport system that can evaporate moisture from their leaves. This process further produces tension in their water-conducting tissues that helps to draw water into their roots. In developing a synthetic system using a polymer membrane, the researchers demonstrated through evaporation “a huge negative pressure was generated to drive water flow through a semi-permeable, reverse-osmosis membrane, thereby desalinating […]
Dr. Donald Mavinic Appointed to the Order of Canada
Donald Mavinic, a professor emeritus in UBC’s Department of Civil Engineering and an internationally recognized expert in water treatment, has been appointed to the Order of Canada “[f]or his contributions to environmental engineering science and technology in Canada.” One of the country’s highest honours, the Order aims to recognize people “whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities.” Mavinic joined the UBC Applied Science faculty in 1973 and has led numerous advances in the field of wastewater management over the course of his career. These include the development of a system that transforms […]
Dr. Carlos Molina Hutt Awarded The Shah Prize by the EERI
Congratulations to Dr. Carlos Molina Hutt, who has been awared the 2019 EERI Shah Family Innovation Prize by the Earthquake Engineering Research Insititute! The Shah Prize is awarded annually to young professionals and academics for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit in the field of earthquake risk mitigation and management. In the press release by the EERI, they stated “(c)onsidering the breadth and excellence of Carlos’s leadership, research and engineering practice, it was clear to the prize committee that he is on a trajectory to be an outstanding leader in the field of earthquake risk mitigation in the coming decades.” Carlos will receive the award […]
Annual Orientation Welcomes New Civil Engineering Majors
On September 3rd, 2019, the Department welcomed new Civil Engineering majors with its annual undergraduate student orientation. The orientation consisted of a scavenger hunt and popsicle stick model bridge-building competition. This Fall, we welcome over 120 new majors into the Bachelors in Civil Engineering program. The new students started off their first day with an introduction and welcome by the Department Head, Dr. Bernard Laval. The introduction was followed by details of the academic program, services for students, and clubs and community involvement. Following the orientation, the students participated in a scavenger hunt, which is designed to familiarize the students with the […]
UBC Civil Welcomes International Students for Summer Program
During July 13- August 13, 2019, the Department of Civil Engineering hosted dozens of international undergraduate students for the annual Vancouver Summer Program. The Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) is a four-week academic program offered by various Faculties at the University of British Columbia, Canada for students from cooperating universities. The program provides the opportunity to take two academic courses while learning about Canadian practices and culture. This year, the Department of Civil Engineering offered courses in two concentrations: Structural Materials and Advanced Concrete Structures. The courses included field visits, laboratory experiments, as well as, computer modeling. The program this year hosted 41 undergraduate students, between […]
Civil Engineering Welcomes New Department & Associate Heads
On July 1st, 2019, the Department of Civil Engineering welcomed Dr. Bernard Laval as the new Department Head. Laval has demonstrated outstanding leadership and administrative skills since joining Department of Civil Engineering in 2002, serving as the Co-director of the UNBC/UBC Environmental Engineering Program and Associate Head of Undergraduate Students. He has also shown a strong commitment to supporting student clubs, promoting and recognizing student achievements, enhancing the quality and diversity of the department’s student body and otherwise ensuring that students have a positive experience at the Faculty. In addition to his service to the Department and Faculty, Dr. Laval has received a […]
IC-IMPACTS Signs Agreement with First Nation Community
On Thursday, May 1, 2019 IC-IMPACTS was invited to the Chawathil First Nations community in Hope, B.C. on Thursday, May 2, 2019 for a groundbreaking ceremony to set up an infrastructure technology demonstration project. IC-IMPACTS advanced self-repairing pavement technology will soon be deployed and the community will see the installation of new pavements using fiber reinforced concrete. The pavement will be composed of concrete incorporating scrap tire fibers, cellulose fibres, and other recycled material. The deployment is part of an ongoing research project spearheaded by UBC Civil Professor, Dr. Nemy Banthia, who is the IC-IMPACTS CEO and Scientific Director and theme […]
2019 Civil Undergraduate Teaching Award Recipients
After a vote by the undergraduate student body, we are pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Civil Undergraduate Teaching Awards: Undergraduate Teaching Award Winner 2nd year Student Appreciation Award Dr. Gregory A. Lawrence 3rd year Student Appreciation Award Dr. Bernard Laval 4th year Student Appreciation Award Dr. Yahya Nazhat Exceptional Commitment to Students Pamela Rogalski, P.Eng Each award recognizes a professor who has demonstrated a commitment to fairness, communication, and quality teaching to students in his or her courses this past academic year. Furthermore, the Exceptional Commitment to Students Award was voted for by students across all years and it focussed on the professor’s […]
UBC Civil Staff and Faculty Team Competes in Vancouver Sun Run
Congrats to the Department of Civil Engineering Sun Run Team for completing the 2019 Vancouver Sun Run! This years CIVIL Sun Run Team included (left to right): Professor Bernard Laval, Professor Terje Haukaas, Diego Pastor Bartoli, Professor Alex Bigazzi, Jade Koide, Professor Carlos Molina Hutt, Shannon Remillong, Chris Gorczynski, and Daniela Hajdukovic (not pictured) Despite some team members having to run through an unprecedented hail storm, the CIVIL Team, which included both staff and faculty, all completed the run within 1 hour 17 minutes. The Vancouver Sun Run is Canada’s largest 10K road race. Run through a beautiful scenic course that […]
Celebrating the 3rd Annual UBC Design & Innovation Day
Celebrating its 3rd consecutive year, the UBC Design & Innovation Day on April 4th showcased UBC Engineering students’ capstone projects, design initiatives, and research activities throughout the academic term. Capstone design projects are a major component of the UBC Engineering curriculum where undergraduate students have the opportunity to design a product or service, and solve an open-ended problem within their chosen discipline. Forming groups of four to six team members, students were responsible for overseeing everything from idea generation to product deployment to prototype building and finally, to presenting their overarching findings and key solutions. The Design & Innovation Day began with outstanding hands-on demonstrations and interactive […]
Dr. Sheryl Staub-French Discusses Gender Gap in BC Engineering
Recent data from Statistics Canada indicates that despite the shortage in skilled engineers in British Columbia, the percentage of female students enrolled in post-secondary engineering programs (55.7%) continues to lag behind other programs such as health (72.7%) and law/social sciences (66.4%). In industry, women make up 12% of engineering jobs in BC and 20% of engineers-in-training (recently graduated category). UBC Civil Engineering Professor and Dean’s adviser on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Dr. Sheryl Staub-French, along with Dr. Kathy Tarnai-Lokhorst, President of Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC), were recently featured in an article published in Business Vancouver. Both Dr. Staub-French and Dr. Tarnai-Lokhorst note that […]
Prof. Banthia wins award for excellence in technology & innovation
We are pleased to announce Dr. Nemkumar (Nemy) Banthia’s recent achievement in being honored with a Distinguished Alumnus Award 2018-19 for Technology Innovation Excellence (“TIE”). The award, presented by the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (“VNIT”) and NVIT Nagpur Alumni Association, recognizes leaders contributing a minimum of 25 years of service in their designated professional field, change-makers who have introduced ground-breaking technologies and innovations, and alumnus who have made social impacts on local, regional, national, and international levels. Dr. Banthia is a cherished alma mater of the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology and praised Faculty Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of […]
Seismic risk study & resilience plan with Professor Carlos Ventura
UBC takes great pride to ensure that all students, staff and faculty are safe and well-prepared in the event of an earthquake in British Columbia. One of the largest earthquakes to strike the coast of BC was on June 23, 1946 with a magnitude estimated at 7.3. More recently on October 27, 2012, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Haida Gwaii region resulting in trigger warnings across north-central BC. The Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF) of UBC, a premier seismic testing laboratory, has been the forefront in conducting research, developing innovative teaching methods, and developing community outreach initiatives that actively reduce or mitigate […]
Professor Emeritus to be awarded George W. Housner Medal
Congratulations to Dr. Liam Finn, Professor Emeritus at UBC, who will be presented with the George W. Housner Medal in 2019! The award will be presented do Dr. Finn on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at the EERI Honour Ceremony and Annual Business Meeting in Vancouver British Columbia. The George W. Housner Medal of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute is awarded to recognize members of the Institute and others who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to public earthquake safety through the development and application of earthquake hazard reduction practices and policies. This award is not established to recognize major engineering or scientific […]
Congratulations To Harald Schrempp On His Retirement
Congratulations to Harald Schrempp, Manager of Civil Labs & Workshops, who has retired from UBC Civil Engineering after 33 years with the department! Harald Schrempp joined the Department in September 1985 as an Engineering Technician 4. In July 1998, he was promoted to Workshop Supervisor (Eng. Technician 5), and in January 2014, he was promoted to Manager, Workshop and Laboratories, which is an M&P position. Harald has spent exactly one-third of a century – 33 years and 4 months – as a member of the Department of Civil Engineering. Best Wishes from all of us at the Department of Civil Engineering!
Best Wishes to Professor Eric Hall On His Retirement
Congratulations to Professor Dr. Eric Hall, who has retired from UBC Civil Engineering after 26 years with the department! Dr. Hall obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Biochemistry from McMaster University in 1972 and 1974. He then pursued studies in the Water Research Group at McMaster, where he received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 1981. In 1979, he joined Environment Canada’s Wastewater Technology Centre, where he worked as a senior process engineer and a part-time Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at McMaster University. In 1992, he came to the Department of Civil Engineering at UBC as Senior NSERC/COFI Industrial […]
UBC Civil Prof. Featured as Keynote Speaker at STEM Conference
On Sept. 16 2018, UBC Civil Professor Dr. Loretta Li was featured as one of the keynote speakers at this year’s STEM Career Conference, held at the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel. The conference is an annual event for high school and university students who excel at or are interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. The Annual STEM Career Conference for Youth brings industry leaders and successful professionals in various STEM fields to share their rich experience in professional careers that are related to STEM. Ths year keynote speakers shared insight, stories, perspectives, and experiences in different STEM careers, […]
2018 Civil Scavenger Hunt and Bridge Building Competition
On September 4th, 2018, the Department welcomed new Civil Engineering majors with its annual undergraduate student orientation. The orientation consisted of a scavenger hunt and popsicle stick model bridge-building competition, the latter being a new addition to the 2018 activities. This Fall, we welcome 121 new majors into the Bachelors in Civil Engineering program. The new students started off their first day with an introduction and welcome by the Department Head, Dr. Perry Adebar. The introduction was followed by details of the academic program, services for students, and clubs and community involvement. Following the orientation, the students participated in a scavenger hunt, […]
UBC Civil Hosts International Students for Summer Program
On July 14- August 14, 2018, the Department of Civil Engineering hosted dozens of international undergraduate students for the annual Vancouver Summer Program. The Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) is a four-week academic program offered by various Faculties at the University of British Columbia, Canada for students from cooperating universities. The program provides the opportunity to take two academic courses while learning about Canadian practices and culture. This year, the Department of Civil Engineering offered courses in two concentrations: Structural Materials and Advanced Concrete Structures. The courses included field visits, laboratory experiments, as well as, computer modeling. The program this year hosted 46 undergraduate students, between […]
UBC Study Examines Distracted Pedestrian Cellphone Use
(Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images) UBC Civil Engineering Professor Tarek Sayed‘s research on pedestrian cellphone use was featured this week in The New York Times and CBC News. In the UBC study, led by engineers, two cameras were mounted at pedestrian crossing intersections monitoring the movement of over 350 pedestrians over a two-day period. Observations from the study found that over a third of those who crossed the intersection were distracted by their phones while texting, reading, and talking. In turn, this distraction led to pedestrians crossing slower and moving unsteadily to the other side of the street. The study is a key factor in the development […]
IC-IMPACTS Conference connects Canada-India infrastructure
IC-IMPACTS (the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability) marked the completion of its first five years by bringing together researchers to discuss their progress on infrastructure, water and health challenges. Special guests at the two-day research conference included India’s High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Vikas Swarup, and the Consul General of India to Vancouver, Abhilasha Joshi. The Thursday panel session featured presentations by Civil Engineering faculty, Dr. Nemkumar Banthia and Dr. Pierre Bérubé. IC-IMPACTS projects focus on several research areas: low-carbon materials strengthening infrastructure sensors for structural, water, and health monitoring alternative power supplies water treatment systems rapid […]
UBC Team Wins Two Awards at 2018 Seismic Design Competition
Last week, nearly 350 students participated in the 15th Annual EERI Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition (SDC) at the 11th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering (11NCEE) and 2018 EERI Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. The Seismic Design Competition (SDC) includes over 30 teams from universities across the US and around the world. Each team designed a complex tall building model made from balsa wood that was tested on a shaking table. Student teams were judged on their design presentation, summary poster, the model’s architectural design, ability to fit within the design criteria and constraints, analytical prediction of their model performance, and the response of their model […]
UBC CSCE Wins National CSCE Award
The UBC CSCE Student Chapter came first in a nation-wide selection of the best student chapters of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE), an organization that aims to unite civil engineering communities across Canada. Having won the same award in 2015, this is another year of great success for the Student Chapter. After thorough review and evaluation of 25 student chapters across Canada, the UBC CSCE was chosen to receive the President’s Best Student Chapter as the top CSCE Student Chapter in the 2017/2018 school year. Incoming president Arjun Prihar had the honour of accepting the prestigious award on behalf of the UBC CSCE […]
Civil Engineering’s Dr. Loretta Li Speaks at Young WISE Event
Growing up in a family of only daughters and attending an all-girls school run by nuns, Civil Engineering Professor Dr. Loretta Li never thought to differentiate activities between genders. A rarity in 1950s Hong Kong, her father emphasized the importance of education for girls, supporting his daughters’ academic aspirations despite bewilderment from extended family and friends. Professor Li has carried her father’s positive attitude forward, forging a professional career in engineering at a time when there were few women in the field. Last week, Dr. Li was able to share her experiences in Engineering with young women aspiring to enter STEM fields at […]
Professor Bernard Laval wins prestigious Killam Teaching Prize
Civil Engineering Professor Bernard Laval has been awarded a 2018 Killam Teaching Prize for the Faculty of Applied Science. Nominated by students, faculty and alumni, the Killam Teaching Prizes are the highest recognition of an exceptional teaching awarded to instructors by UBC. Dr. Laval’s commitment to graduate and undergraduate learning has been a positive impact on Civil Engineering students for many years. His continuous development of engaging teaching methods, integration of student feedback, and work outside of the classroom creating new educational opportunities have given students the tools they need to master the topics at hand and grow within their educational lives. With […]
UBC Concrete Canoe Team Excel at National Competition
UBC’s Concrete Canoe team recently competed at the Canadian National Concrete Canoe Competition (CNCCC) at Waterloo University in Ontario. This three-day event brought together civil engineering students from all over the country from May 10th – 12th. The UBC team has been preparing for the better part of the year, designing and testing their material, designing their hull, constructing their canoe, and practicing their paddling to go up against the best of their peers Canada-wide. With the cheeky tagline “yes, it floats,” UBC concrete canoe was up to the test. Preparing for Competition Concrete Canoe competitions require a huge amount of preparation. […]
Professor Mavinic on new approaches to wastewater management
UBC Civil Engineering Professor Emeritus Donald Mavinic spoke to the Star Vancouver about the need to update Canadian wastewater management standards. As the chair of a panel that spent six months reviewing water contaminants in Canadian cities, Mavinic discusses the need for treatment infrastructure to catch up with the new pollutants entering our water. The panel released their report and recommendations at the Blue Cities conference in Toronto early this May.
Spring 2018 Undergraduate Roundup
With the spring term coming to a close, the 2018 class of Civil Engineering students are celebrating their graduation and transition into the engineering world outside of UBC. Amidst the celebrations, graduates affirm their commitment to engineering ethics, recognize the contributions of students to the UBC community and explore the field of civil engineering around the globe. Iron Ring Ceremony & Civil Engineering Dinner The iron ring is famous to the engineering profession. Gracing the pinky of the working hand, the iron ring is a symbol of the ethical obligations inherent to the industry, and is given to engineering students upon […]
2018 Civil Undergraduate Teaching Award Recipients
Friday, April 20, 2018 | By Amelia Pitt-Brooke Pitt-Brooke After a vote by the undergraduate student body, the Civil Engineering Club has announced the recipients of this year’s Civil Undergraduate Teaching Awards: Undergraduate Teaching Award Winner 2nd year Student Appreciation Award Dr. Gregory A. Lawrence 3rd year Student Appreciation Award Dr. Noboru Yonemitsu 4th year Student Appreciation Award Dr. Reza Joghataie Exceptional Commitment to Students Dr. Bernard Laval Each award recognizes a professor who has demonstrated a commitment to fairness, communication, and quality teaching to students in his or her courses this past academic year. Furthermore, the Exceptional Commitment to Students Award was voted for by students across all […]
Steel Bridge Team Places 3rd at 2018 Regional Competition
Civil Engineering Students Progress to ASCE Nationals in Illinois The UBC Steel Bridge team won 3rd place in last week’s regional competition held by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE). The 20 member team took their 17’ model bridge to the ASCE Pacific Northwest Conference in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to face off against 18 other teams and put their skills in bridge design and construction speed to the test. It was a heated competition, and the UBC 3rd place ranking was only 0.2% behind the second place team. Founded at UBC in 1999, the Steel Bridge team is a place where Engineering […]
IC-IMPACTS Deepens Canada-India Ties with Water Research
Clockwise left to right: Dr. Banthia meets with representatives from DBT and DST, the location of Varanasi on the Ganges river, the river rejuvination scoping workshop held in Varanasi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s riding). Organization led by UBC Civil Engineering Professor taps into National River Ganges Rejuvenation The Ganges River is a lifeline for over 500 million people in the Indian sub-continent and revered by over 1 billion people in India and 16 million in the Indian diaspora worldwide. Over a million of them are Canadians, residing largely in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. The river is the focus of a […]
Civil Engineering Alumni Celebrated with Medal of Distinction
Peter Taylor and Michael Jacobs to be honoured at 2018 Applied Science Celebration Peter Taylor and Michael Jacobs will be recognized on Thursday, April 12th for their contributions to civil engineering in BC and to the Department at UBC. Starting in 2015, the Dean’s Medal of Distinction was created to celebrate the 100 year history of the University of British Columbia, and the Faculty of Applied Science. Peter Taylor received a Master of Applied Science from UBC’s Department of Civil Engineering in 1962, and went on to complete a PhD at the University of Bristol. Since then, he has been active in […]
Dr. Nemy Banthia Interviewed about Florida Bridge Collapse
Civil Engineering professor Dr. Nemkumar (Nemy) Banthia was interviewed by Global National about the March 15th pedestrian bridge collapse in South Florida that killed six people, and the safety of Accelerated Bridge Construction techniques. Watch the interview here (starts at 2:44).
Civil Engineering Professor a BC Business 2018 STEM Star
Dr. Sheryl Staub-French recognized in the magazine’s list of influential women in STEM Civil Engineering Professor Sheryl Staub-French was recently acknowledged in BC Business Magazine’s B.C.’s Most Influential Women 2018: Stem Stars, a list that included six faculty members from UBC Applied Science, and several students and alumni. This year’s edition highlights influential women who are industry leaders and innovators in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), recognizing the gender gap that remains in these fields and the need for female representation. The list recognized Staub-French for her research at UBC, which includes directing the BIM TOPiCS Lab (Building Information Modelling from the perspectives of […]
Civil Engineering MASc Takes Second Place in 3MT@UBC
Rajat Jain, a civil engineering MASc student, claimed the second place prize in the 3MT@UBC competition. Tasked with the challenge of presenting their thesis research in a condensed but engaging three minute talk, competitors in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) came from a variety of departments across campus. On March 15th, these graduate students went head to head to see whose presentation skills resonated with an audience at Jack Poole Hall. While viewers got a taste of the innovative research happening across UBC and voted on a people’s choice title, a panel of judges selected the winners. Jain won a $500 prize and […]
Professor Staub-French named Dean’s Advisor on EDI
At last Sunday’s Academy Awards, Lee Unkrich, the director of the animated film Coco, concluded his acceptance speech by reminding viewers that “representation matters.” The story of a Mexican boy’s journey through the Land of the Dead, Coco features an almost all-Latino voice cast and was inspired by Mexico’s rich culture and traditions. Another hit film, Black Panther, is notable not only for being the first Marvel movie to feature a predominantly black cast and strong African cultural elements, but also for including characters and story points that may inspire young people — particularly young girls and women of colour — […]
Civil grad students take a on a “world’s challenge” at UBC
Civil Engineering Graduate Students won second place in the World’s Challenge Challenge at UBC for their work on a clean drinking water technology that could have applications in First Nations and small remote communities without access to potable water. The World’s Challenge Challenge is a competition hosted by the UBC Global Lounge encouraging students to form teams of three and tackle global issues. The interdisciplinary team of Civil MASc student Rajat Jain, Civil MEng student Jatin Maheshwary, and computer science student Karan Grover each took home a $1000 prize for their plan to commercialize the gravity-powered, bacteria-supported drinking water filtration system […]