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Spotlight
The Future of Democracy

Political observers have noted an ongoing global decline in democracy over the past two decades. And now, the world’s most powerful nation is led by a president who is openly challenging the democratic ideals on which it was built. What are the roots of this backsliding, and how can democracy be strengthened for the 21st century?

Photo of people protesting and holding up signs. One sign says: "Accountability."
Democracy: Down, but not out

Despite the backsliding, public support for democracy remains strong.

Spotlight Archive
Arts
Test
How UBC’s Old Auditorium survived to celebrate 100 years
Once nearly lost, this beloved concert hall lives on as a hub of community and culture.
Athletics
UBC students paddling in canoe for Day of the Longboat
Test your knowledge of UBC athletics
Put your brains (but not your brawn) to the test!
Business
A crowd of protesters outside the building where Jimmy Kimmel Live is filmed
Businesses have a moral responsibility to stand up to autocrats
Why the business community can—and must—help stem the rising tide of authoritarianism.
Campus
Students clad in sweatpants, leotards, t-shirts, and tights stand in a circle and stretch with their arms over their heads
Guess the decade: UBC edition
Test your knowledge of student life—and fashion—from 1915 to 1999.
Careers
Two businessmen laugh and walk in business district
UBC micro-credentials have macro impact for a changing workforce
These programs provide solutions for professionals seeking to quickly gain skills.
Community
Books and paraphernalia in a display case
UBC Library launches exhibition celebrating 100 Years of UBC at Point Grey
This free display features artifacts from every decade of UBC’s history at Point Grey.
Environment
Modern outhouse with ramp in forest
UBC launches world’s first mushroom-powered waterless toilet
This prototype turns human waste into nutrient-rich compost—and doesn’t need plumbing.
Give UBC
Hugo Mota Santos seated on a deck with water and trees in the background
In his 30s with a baby on the way, Hugo found his calling
“Even 30...40 years from now, I will remember this award and the importance it had in my life.”
Health
Three women sit on rainbow-coloured steps
UBC Okanagan study finds sex education fails 2SLGBTQIA+ students
Yet they show higher sexual health literacy than other students.
Humanities
Pinocchio doll in front of a red background
Why spotting a liar can be harder than you think
Facial expressions and speech patterns linked to lying may not reveal the whole truth.
Life
Two men hold hands and jump for joy on hilltop
Allard Law grad takes home the top prize on the Amazing Race Canada
Jonathon Braun (JD'15) has always loved games.
Science
Artistic impression of a black hole in space
“Loudest” black hole ever detected, 10 years after Nobel-winning discovery 
An international team with UBC researchers observed a collision between two black holes.
Technology
Man and woman stand at top of stairwell
Delivering AI’s promise of better health care
In health care, time isn’t just valuable—it saves lives.
afterwords

alumni UBC’s afterwords is a digital conversation series that shares the stories of some of UBC Okanagan’s extraordinary alumni.

Upper-body shot of Allisha Heidt standing by the front counter in her store
Allisha Heidt
Meet a UBCO alum and entrepreneur whose business is helping to save the planet.
Changemakers

UBC grads defining the future

An image of Sophia Yang standing in front of a crowd with her arms up, wearing a lanyard, black top, and quilted red, green, and white top.
Threading change

The future of fashion is youth-led.

Class Acts

News from your old classmates

Collective Wisdom

One pressing question. Multiple expert perspectives.

Headshots of the six experts, with a white capital letter Q juxtaposed on top
How should democracies adapt for the 21st century?

One pressing question, multiple expert perspectives.

In Memoriam

Lives and legacies

My Town

Insider travel tips from alumni around the world

Hannah Edwards at Tokyo Station at night, with skyscrapers in backdrop
Tokyo, Japan
UBC alum Hannah Edward shares insider tips for exploring Japan’s vibrant and bustling capital.
Opinion
Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris during her concession speech for the 2024 presidential election, with American flags in the background
Hope in precarious times
As democracy in America faces its greatest test, this is the hope that I’m holding on to.
President’s Highlight

Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon reflects on the people and places shaping UBC

The Gordon B. Shrum Building on University Boulevard
From stem cells to robots
A look inside the new home of UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering.
Readers Write

Stories, advice, and snapshots of life from UBC Magazine readers.

UBC Concerts
Why these 17 concerts on campus will stay with alumni forever
Readers share their most memorable and magical (and sometimes rainy) concert memories.
Rewind

A glance into UBC’s past

A black and white photo of three people working on the Wally Wagon
The Wally Wagon

A sustainable car designed by UBC engineers in 1972 was years ahead of its time.

Short Fiction

Winning entries from our annual writing contest for UBC alumni 

An illustration of students in a classroom practicing calligraphy, while outside the window other people march beside red flags
2025 Winner: Magnificence
Winner of the 2025 alumni UBC Short Fiction Contest.
The Big Picture

More show, less tell

Photo of Robby the robot.
Robby the robot
The newest member of UBC’s Athletics & Recreation team is a line-painting robot.
The Last Word

Q&As featuring well-known individuals with a UBC connection

A photo of Susan Musgrave clutching a cat to her chest
Susan Musgrave

Wild heart, kind spirit.

Students clad in sweatpants, leotards, t-shirts, and tights stand in a circle and stretch with their arms over their heads
Guess the decade: UBC edition

How well do you recognize popular hairstyles and fashions throughout the 20th century? Test your knowledge of UBC student life—and style trends—from 1915 to 1999!

Kyna Airriess
A crowd of protesters outside the building where Jimmy Kimmel Live is filmed
Businesses have a moral responsibility to stand up to autocrats
Why the business community can—and must—help stem the rising tide of authoritarianism.
David Silver
5 Min
Man in lab coat in laboratory
UBC Okanagan researchers create 3D-printed living lung tissue
This innovation could transform how scientists study lung disease.
Patty Wellborn
3 Min
People dressed in black lying on the ground holding tombstone-shaped signs with "RIP" messages related to democracy

Spotlight

The Future of Democracy

Presenting Partners of FORWARD, the campaign for UBC
CBC logoThe Globe and Mail logo
Photo of people protesting and holding up signs. One sign says: "Accountability."
Democracy: Down, but not out
Richard Littlemore
11 Min
An illustration of a person standing gated in by screens and abstract patterns and colourful barcodes.
How to fight disinformation
Madeleine de Trenqualye, BA’07
9 Min
An illustration of two people standing on opposite sides of a rectangular infinity loop
How polarized are we really?
Bruce Grierson
9 Min
See All Articles
See All

Featured

Test
How UBC’s Old Auditorium survived to celebrate 100 years
Craig Takeuchi, BA’96, MFA’02
5 Min
Two men hold hands and jump for joy on hilltop
Allard Law grad takes home the top prize on the Amazing Race Canada
Heidi Wudrick
4 Min
Two women talk in front of laptop in office
How UBC helps students and grads navigate the shifting job landscape
Brian Helberg
4 Min
Five people in Indigenous outfits in front of wall with Indigenous artwork
How language revitalization boosts Indigenous health
Madeleine de Trenqualye, BA’07
3 Min
Standing in front of a United Nations sign, Jennifer Duncan wears a white blazer and skirt with rose designs and a gold trim.
Hunting, fishing… and lawyering
Roberta Staley
3 Min
UBC students paddling in canoe for Day of the Longboat
Test your knowledge of UBC athletics
Kyna Airriess
1 Min
UBC Beaty Biodiversity Centre expansion
UBC opens $45M Beaty Biodiversity Centre expansion
The extension enhances the university’s ability to address biodiversity loss.
Alex Walls
4 Min
An orange graphic of a person with a dial in their head against a blue background.
Seasonal change can affect people’s moods—and their moral values
Moral values are malleable and can sometimes change.
Ian Hohm and Mark Schaller
5 Min
See All

Podcasts

From Here Forward: Return to campus
Return to campus
29 Min
Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha
Would you recycle for a chance at $1,000?
25 Min
Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha
Here’s a stirring solution to drink spiking
25 Min
Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha
The invisible force behind your favourite movies and shows
29 Min
Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha
How concerned should we be about falling space junk?
38 Min
See All

Give UBC

Hugo Mota Santos seated on a deck with water and trees in the background
In his 30s with a baby on the way, Hugo found his calling
3 Min
Portrait of Angeli Li outdoors
Easing the burden on loved ones
1 Min
Portrait of James Seabrook and his family seated on a set of stairs
One of UBC Okanagan’s earliest grads is giving back—for a greener future
4 Min

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A Publication of UBC University of British Colombia