Professor Perry Adebar named Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering
Tuesday, June 13, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Perry Adebar has been named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Election to the CAE, one of the highest professional honours accorded an engineer, is based on a nominee’s “distinguished achievements and career-long service to the engineering profession.” Fellows are nominated and elected by […]
Professor Mahdi Taiebat gives keynote presentation at 8th Colombian Conference on Earthquake Engineering
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Mahdi Taiebat was invited by the University del Norte and the Colombian Association of Earthquake Engineering to deliver a keynote presentation at the 8th Colombian Conference on Earthquake Engineering, held in Barranquilla, Colombia, from May 31 to June 2. His presentation was titled “Elasto-plastic constitutive modeling […]
EERF earthquake simulation highlights need for upgrades to older buildings
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin The Vancouver Sun covered a recent simulation in the EERF, that was designed to show how a retrofitted school building would perform in a 9.0 subduction earthquake. The simulation highlighted the need for the retrofitting and upgrading of older buildings. Read the full story here.
Honorary Civil Engineering Professor recognized by American Concrete Institute
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin Koji Sakai, a UBC Civil Engineering honorary professor, has received Honorary Membership in the American Concrete Institute for his “lifetime achievements and contributions to the global concrete community, including his highly successful efforts to launch a global and collaborative dialogue on the environmental considerations related to the design […]
UBC Concrete Canoe, UBC Steel Bridge post outstanding results at ASCE Regional Student Conference
Thursday, May 4, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin UBC Concrete Canoe and UBC Steel Bridge have both returned from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Pacific Northwest Regional Student Conference at Boise State University with excellent results. The concrete canoe competition saw fifteen universities face off in an exciting student team challenge: to design, […]
Dr. Jörg Imberger inspires with EFM special guest lecture
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin Dr. Jörg Imberger, a world-renowned expert in environmental fluid mechanics, visited UBC-Vancouver on April 18 to give a special guest lecture on the management of threatened lakes. The lecture was co-hosted by Civil professor Greg Lawrence, APSC Dean Marc Parlange, and professor Rich Wildman of Quest University. […]
Professor Terje Haukaas receives UBC’s highest teaching honour
Friday, April 21, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin Civil engineering professor Terje Haukaas has been selected to receive the 2016/2017 Killam Teaching Prize. Professor Haukaas teaches courses mainly on structural analysis and structural safety, which include a large, core undergraduate course and a number of in-demand electives at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His excellence […]
Concrete Canoe embarks on 2017 competition season
Wednesday, April 19, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin After addressing some unique challenges presented by this year’s design requirements, the UBC Concrete Canoe team is set to embark on the 2017 competition season. First, the team will be represented at the American Society for Civil Engineering (ASCE) Pacific Northwest 2017 Student Conference, happening at Boise […]
Prof. Bérubé’s water treatment system uses bacteria to purify water
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin A UBC Civil Engineering-developed system that uses bacteria to turn non-potable water into drinking water will be tested next week in West Vancouver prior to being installed in remote communities in Canada and beyond. The system consists of tanks of fibre membranes that catch and hold contaminants—dirt, […]
Professor Don Mavinic named Fellow of Engineers Canada
Friday, March 31, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin Pictured left to right: APEGBC President Bob Stewart, P.Eng., Professor Don Mavinic, and APEGBC CEO and Registrar Ann English, P.Eng. Photo credit: Andrea Sunderland. Professor Don Mavinic was recently named a Fellow of Engineers Canada. The fellowships honour individuals who have given “noteworthy service to the engineering […]
Profs. Bérubé, Banthia’s IC-IMPACTS work featured in “Troubled Waters” series
Friday, March 24, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin The work being done by Professors Pierre Bérubé, Nemy Banthia, and other researchers with IC-IMPACTS is highlighted in “Troubled Waters,” a new five-part series in The Province. The series follows researchers to sites in India and Northern BC, where issues of drinking water contamination are gravely impacting local communities. […]
UBC Civil Engineering ranked top in Canada for 2017
Thursday, March 16, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin For the third year in a row, QS World University Rankings has ranked UBC Civil Engineering as the top civil engineering department in Canada. Regarded as one of the three most influential and widely observed university measures, the rankings by British company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) are based […]
2017 Minerva Canada James Ham Safe Design Competition
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Civil undergrads: do you have an idea for an innovation to solve a workplace safety problem? Minerva Canada is holding a competition to challenge engineering students to improve the design of an existing device, process, or system; envision a new design that reduces hazards; or create a […]
New Zealand quake reminder of BC’s emergency preparedness needs
Thursday, November 17, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Pique Magazine quoted Professor Carlos Ventura after a devastating earthquake in New Zealand served as a reminder for emergency preparedness in B.C. In a 2015 report, officials said approximately 10,000 people in the Lower Mainland could die if a shallow earthquake struck directly underneath Vancouver. “This is […]
Professor Mavinic honoured with 2016 WEF Fellowship
Thursday, November 10, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Don Mavinic has been named a 2016 Fellow of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). WEF is a technical and educational organization dedicated to improving the quality of water, and boasts a membership of 33,000 water professionals and 75 affiliated Member Associations around the world (including the […]
BC earthquake threatens Vancouver buildings
Monday, October 31, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin The Province highlighted the earthquake risk of many older Vancouver buildings. Carlos Ventura, the director of UBC’s earthquake engineering reserch facility, was interviewed for the story. The entire community needs to make a commitment to implementing seismic upgrades of at-risk buildings, Ventura said. He added that unreinforced […]
Civil Class of ’61 celebrates 55-year reunion
Tuesday, October 18, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin The Civil Engineering BASc Class of 1961 got together to celebrate in Vancouver on October 15, 55 years after they graduated. Eleven members of the class (which originally had 37 members) were able to attend the reunion, and were joined by current Department Head Perry Adebar. The […]
Meet the New Civil Club President!
Friday, September 30, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin The Civil Club is off to a great start for 2016-2017, and this year’s President, Erica Mason, is looking ahead to a year of growth for the organization. Erica, a seasoned student leader, has been involved with the Civil Club since second year, serving in a range […]
UBC Expert Spotlight: Prof. Nemy Banthia, on new smart road technology connecting rural communities
Thursday, September 29, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin A rural village in India has a better connection to the world, thanks to an innovative UBC-developed road design that resists heavy rains, intense heat and poor drainage, according to professor Nemy Banthia, who led the project. Read a Q&A with Prof. Banthia, discussing the project.
CSCE Student Chapter celebrates International Steel Day
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin The UBC Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) Student Chapter toured two Vancouver steel manufacturing facilities to celebrate International Steel Day on September 16. Pacific Bolt Manufacturing Ltd. and George Third & Son both opened the doors of their shops to help students understand the benefits and […]
Prof. Emeritus Foschi on the risks of oil tankers in Vancouver
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Emeritus Ricardo Foschi was quoted in the Globe and Mail for a story on oil tankers in Vancouver. Prof. Foschi examined the risk analysis Trans Mountain submitted and questioned the idea that the “return period” for any spill from project-related tankers would be one in 237 […]
Vancouver Summer Program: second year a success
Friday, September 16, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin For the second year in a row, UBC Civil Engineering welcomed an international group of university students for four weeks of learning and exploration at UBC-Vancouver as part of the Vancouver Summer Program. The program, designed to give students from UBC partner universities the opportunity to study […]
New Civil students experience design, construction, and seismic testing on 2016 Imagine Day
Friday, September 16, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin UBC Civil Engineering welcomed 142 second year students to the Civil Engineering Program on Imagine Day. The new Civil students enjoyed a full-day program that began with introductions to Department leaders and a review of the Undergraduate Handbook, followed by Mission ImposCIVIL – a scavenger hunt designed […]
Wanted: new Civil Student Groups! Applications for departmental affiliation welcome. Deadline September 15
Tuesday, August 30, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin New and returning Civil undergrad students are encouraged to join a Civil Student Group. With half a dozen Civil-specific competition teams and student chapters running, there’s bound to be something for everyone! Learn more about Civil Student Groups. Students who have an idea for a new Civil Student […]
UBC Civil Engineering welcomes student visitors from Dominican Republic
Friday, August 19, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Thirty-six university students from the Dominican Republic spent the month of July at UBC-Vancouver this summer, immersed in advanced training for earthquake engineers. The Training Program for Earthquake Engineers from the Dominican Republic, hosted at UBC by Professor Carlos Ventura, gave the students the opportunity to learn […]
Prof. Adebar speaks with Roundhouse Radio about vulnerability of some new condo buildings in Vancouver
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor and Head of Civil Engineering Perry Adebar spoke to Roundhouse Radio about how new condos may be uninhabitable after a major earthquake. “The most serious threat after a significant earthquake is that a large part of our city won’t be habitable,” said Prof. Adebar, noting that […]
Civil in the news: Prof. Adebar on the risks of irregularly designed condo buildings
Friday, August 12, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Perry Adebar spoke with The Globe and Mail about the risks of irregularly designed condo buildings when it comes to earthquakes: “The more exciting and interesting your building is, the more likely you won’t be able to use it after a significant earthquake.”
Civil in the news: Speed limit increases should be reversed, says Prof. Sayed in Vancouver Sun op-ed
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Tarek Sayed and five other UBC professors wrote an op-ed for the Vancouver Sun about the need to reverse speed limit increases in BC.
Professor Don Mavinic named WEF Fellow
Thursday, July 21, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Don Mavinic has been named a Fellow of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). WEF is a technical and educational organization dedicated to improving the quality of water, boasting a membership of 33,000 water professionals and 75 affiliated Member Associations around the world (including the BC Water […]
Civil in the news: Civil Engineering spinoff company Ostara poised for growth
Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Ostara, the clean-technology startup that began as a research project led by Professor Don Mavinic, was featured in the Vancouver Sun. The article quotes adjunct professor Troy Vassos, who said that Ostara’s technology has “the ability to generate (phosphorous) crystals perhaps more economically than competitors.”
Civil in the news: Prof. Bigazzi on the upward trend in driving in the U.S.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Alex Bigazzi discusses the upward trend in U.S. driving with the Vancouver Sun, in an article about the recent increase in the volume of U.S. visitors to B.C.
Professor Thomas Froese receives CSCE 2016 Walter Shanly Award
Monday, July 11, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Prof. Froese pictured (right) at CSCE 2016 Awards Gala, with CSCE President Tony Bégin. Professor Thomas Froese has received the 2016 Walter Shanly Award from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE). This award is the pre-eminent award of CSCE’s construction division, given in recognition of outstanding […]
Civil in the news: Loretta Li’s Whistler corrosion study
Monday, July 11, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Loretta Li discusses her new investigation on corrosion in the Whistler water distribution system, to be undertaken with the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd., with Pique Newsmagazine.
New Civil grad course coming winter 2016 – Transportation Emissions and Air Quality
Wednesday, June 22, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin UBC Civil Engineering is pleased to announce the launch of a new graduate-level course, Transportation Emissions and Air Quality, starting in term 2 of the Winter 2016/2017 academic year. The transport sector is a huge contributor to local and global air pollution. This new course will address […]
Watch: Engineers Canada profiles 2016 Gold Medal Award recipient Prof. Don Mavinic
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin On May 26 at the Engineers Canada Awards Gala in Charlottetown, Professor Don Mavinic was honoured by the engineering profession alongside several of Canada’s most outstanding engineers. Watch the Engineers Canada profile of Professor Mavinic, the 2016 Gold Medal recipient (six minute video):
Prof. Don Mavinic’s 2016 Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award highlighted in House of Commons
Monday, May 16, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Don Mavinic’s 2016 Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award was highlighted by Jonathan Wilkinson, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, in the House of Commons last week. Professor Mavinic has been selected for the award due to his exceptional achievements in the Canadian engineering community; work-related achievements, […]
Civil in the news: Prof. Don Mavinic on modern wastewater treatment challenges
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Don Mavinic is quoted in a recent opinion piece for the Times Colonist, by Jonathan Wilkinson, MP for North Vancouver and parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Mr. Wilkinson discusses the implementation of effective sewage treatment in the Capital Regional District in […]
Civil in the news: Prof. Alex Bigazzi on urban cyclists’ exposure to toxicants
Friday, May 6, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Alex Bigazzi discusses urban cyclists’ exposure to toxicants while cycling on busy streets, and the advantage of choosing lower-traffic routes.
Civil grad student receives UBC Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Monday, May 2, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin UBC Civil Engineering is delighted to announce that Civil graduate student Jörg Winter has been selected as a recipient of a 2015/2016 Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards are given in recognition of outstanding contributions by teaching assistants, which have led to a […]
Engage With Images: APSC Photo Contest!
Monday, April 18, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin UBC Applied Science is seeking original photos that bring ENGAGE 2020 (strategicplan.apsc.ubc.ca) to life. Show us what you love about Civil Engineering and help us highlight our people, research, learning and community. Share it with us, tell us why it’s special and be eligible to win! CASH […]
Prof. Don Mavinic to receive 2016 Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award
Thursday, April 7, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Don Mavinic has been selected by Engineers Canada to receive the 2016 Gold Medal Award. This award is given in recognition of exceptional achievements by outstanding engineers; work-related achievements, service to the profession, and service to the community are all taken into account. Professor Mavinic will […]
UBC Civil Engineering ranked top in Canada
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin QS World University Rankings has ranked UBC Civil Engineering No. 1 in Canada and 27th in the world for 2016. Regarded as one of the three most influential and widely observed university measures, the rankings by British company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) are based on four measures: QS’s […]
Civil in the news: Prof. Carlos Ventura on the risk of liquefaction at new St. Paul’s Hospital site
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin On The Coast highlighted concerns that the new site for St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver could liquefy during an earthquake. Carlos Ventura, director of UBC’s earthquake engineering research facility, told CBC that while the concern is real, technology and engineering have improved in the past few decades and […]
Civil Engineering Seismic Retrofit Program receives Champions of Earthquake Resilience award
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin The Applied Technology Council (ATC) and the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers selected the BC Schools Retrofit Program, developed by UBC Civil Engineering’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF) in conjunction with APEGBC, to receive a Champions of Earthquake Resilience Award in […]
Q&A with Prof. Sayed: Near misses key to reducing traffic accidents
Thursday, December 17, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin The numbers associated with traffic accidents worldwide are staggering: 1.3 million fatalities every year, and up to 50 million injuries. They’re also the leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds. But thanks to the work of UBC Civil Engineering professor Tarek Sayed, those numbers could go […]
Innovate 2015: Prof. Greg Lawrence’s presentation video now available
Thursday, December 10, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Greg Lawrence shared his research passion at Innovate 2015 this year, in a presentation inspired by the new Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) in Integrated Water Management. View his seven-minute presentation below. Learn more about Innovate 2015, and view presentations given by six other APSC faculty members, […]
Prof. Nemy Banthia Awarded for STEM leadership
Thursday, December 10, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Nemy Banthia was given the inaugural Drishti Foundation’s Award in Leadership in Science and Technology for “his contributions to developing international research programs aimed at global development.”
Prof. Susan Nesbit appointed Senior Fellow, UBC Sustainability Initiative
Friday, October 30, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Susan Nesbit has been appointed as Senior Teaching Fellow 2015-2016 of the UBC Sustainability Initiative. The UBC Sustainability Initiative was established in 2010 to carry out the University’s commitment to the integration of its operational and academic efforts in sustainability. Sustainability Fellowships are awarded to UBC […]
Earthquake Day
Thursday, October 29, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin UBC partnered with the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) and the City of Vancouver to bring Earthquake Day to downtown Vancouver on October 15. Held as part of the University’s Centennial celebrations, Earthquake Day was conceived as a free public event to coincide with ShakeOut BC Day, with […]
Q&A with Prof. Ventura: preparing for an earthquake in BC
Thursday, October 15, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin October 15 is officially ShakeOut BC Day, and more than 750,000 British Columbians are expected to participate in this year’s drill. In this Q&A, UBC earthquake safety expert Carlos Ventura talks about the nature of earthquakes and what’s being done to ensure that the buildings where we […]