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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
Ksenia Bushmeneva's headshot overlayed on a technology-themed background, showcasing statistics and bar graphs.
2025 TD Economic Outlook Forum
Amid global uncertainty, what's next for Canada's economy? A TD economist looks ahead.
Campus
Asian man stands in garden in front of stone ornament
Nitobe Memorial Garden: A garden that bridges worlds
Curator Ryo Sugiyama tends a living bridge between Japan and Canada.
Careers
Two students in an academic setting photographed through the frame of a window, appearing to be in active discussion.
Cultivate mindsets for mentorship
Discover how to build trust, foster growth in others, and strengthen your leadership abilities.
Community
Hero Image
Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha
Where does journalism go from here?
UBC’s Kamal Al-Solaylee unpacks the state of modern media and its role in healthy democracies.
Environment
Smoke billowing from a wildfire with water in the foreground and mountains in the background
Using technology to get ahead of wildfires
UBCO researchers are using predictive tools to help communities respond quicker to wildfires.
Give UBC
Portrait of Angeli Li outdoors
Easing the burden on loved ones
Angela Li is part of the equation for UBC women in math.
Health
Four men and one woman sit and stand on stage
Is modern masculinity facing a crisis—or undergoing an evolution?
Four experts explored whether masculinity is collapsing or adapting in our changing world.
Humanities
Curtains illuminated by glow through a window
Ghosts, aliens, and Sasquatch: What Canadians believe in
Belief in the paranormal is alive and well in Canada—though not as strong as you might think.
Life
Female student eating ramen in front of a laptop and surrounded by piles of schoolwork
Tell us about your most creative—or unhinged—savings hack as a student
How far did you go to save a buck? Share your story and it could be featured in UBC Magazine!
Science
Profile of coyote
RIP Kip: What cherished campus coyote’s death tells us about his life
The coyote with one bad leg became an unofficial mascot on UBC’s Vancouver campus. 
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 Highlights

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.

Scuba diver floats near measuring tape over sea stars on rock
Solving the decade-long mystery of what was killing sea stars in the Pacific
In 2013, a mysterious epidemic swept across the Pacific Coast of North America.
5 Min
Smoke billowing from a wildfire with water in the foreground and mountains in the background
Using technology to get ahead of wildfires
UBCO researchers are using predictive tools to help communities respond quicker to wildfires.
David Bidwell
4 Min
Profile of coyote
RIP Kip: What cherished campus coyote’s death tells us about his life
The coyote with one bad leg became an unofficial mascot on UBC’s Vancouver campus.
Matthew Ramsey, MJ'05
4 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 logo The 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

Man and woman stand at top of stairwell
Delivering AI’s promise of better health care
Brett Goldhawk
6 Min
Headshot of Naomi Klein on the right with repeating images of her book on the left
Naomi Klein: Facing the mirror world of digital doppelgangers
View of sleeping pod at Japanese capsule hotel
What’s a healthy amount of sleep? It differs from one country to another
Erik Rolfsen, BA’92
2 Min
Curtains illuminated by glow through a window
Ghosts, aliens, and Sasquatch: What Canadians believe in
Erik Rolfsen, BA’92
4 Min
Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha
Where does journalism go from here?
Modern outhouse with ramp in forest
UBC launches world’s first mushroom-powered waterless toilet
Lou Corpuz-Bosshart
3 Min
Overhead shot of colourful rangoli and lighted diyas
Dive into the light and joy of Diwali
Three members of UBC’s South Asian community reflect on the meaning and significance of Diwali.
7 Min
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.
Anna Moorhouse
4 Min
See All

Podcasts

Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha
Where does journalism go from here?
31 Min
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
See All

Give UBC

Portrait of Mohammed Al-Seragi
From East Vancouver to biochemistry breakthroughs
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