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Spotlight
The Clean Energy Revolution

The good news is we have most of the technological solutions for transitioning to low-carbon sources of energy. The biggest challenges to adopting them more widely and rapidly are social and political — from funding and investment, to international cooperation, to inspiring mass support for ambitious policies.

Simon Donner in a pink collared shirt, touching his chin with his finger, against a blurred grassy background.
Net zero: Go big or go home
A UBC climate scientist notes progress on emissions – but says we must be far bolder.
Spotlight Archive
Arts
Samantha Quan giving her acceptance speech with the cast and team of her Oscar-winning film behind her
How many of these Asian Canadian trailblazers do you know?
Hint: They’re all connected to UBC!
Athletics
Two hockey players compete on the ice
A homegrown player is worth an extra $4.8M annually to an NHL team
There’s more at stake than simply keeping the fans happy.
Business
Freighter on water in front of mountains
What’s next for Canada in the tariff landscape?
A UBC lecturer explains how shifting dynamics could affect Canadian businesses.
Campus
Two students pretend to box with boxing gloves
Meet 3 of UBC’s oldest surviving clubs
Here’s to the thespians, the mountaineers, and the journalists.
Careers
Mixed media image showing a hand holding a graduation cap, a stack of books, and other graphic elements
What advice do you wish you’d gotten when you started your first job?
Support new UBC graduates by sharing your career stories and advice by May 25, 2025.
Community
Parents with two girls in black and white photo
A dying wish, forgotten boxes, and a lost Holocaust archive rediscovered
A UBC Creative Writing professor uncovers his family’s hidden wartime history.
Environment
Shelves and dresser below "Seed Lending Library" sign
UBC’s Seed Lending Libraries grow community and sustainability
A seed lending library is an innovative concept that’s sprouting up around the world.
Give UBC
Portrait of Mohammed Al-Seragi
From East Vancouver to biochemistry breakthroughs
“It was life-changing — not just for me but for my family.”
Health
View of sleeping pod at Japanese capsule hotel
What’s a healthy amount of sleep? It differs from one country to another
New research challenges the belief that everyone needs the same amount of sleep.
Humanities
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.

Life
An illustration of a fist shattering the USA Supreme Court Building.
The “Strongmen” who are breaking democracies
Autocrats can have dark personality traits and perform poorly. Why do people vote for them?
Science
Group of people wearing hardhats in front of scaffolding structure
Next-gen technology helps high-rises ride out earthquakes
A new UBC system enables buildings to absorb earthquake energy, instead of resisting it.
Technology
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Level up with AI hacks to advance your career
You can harness the power of AI in more ways than you think.
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

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

The Dene lawyer devoted to securing self‑determination for First Nations.

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

Rohma Khurram Nawaz with her dog Saiya on a snowy day
Fort Smith, Canada
UBCO alum Rohma Khurram Nawaz shares the beauty of northern living in this My Town feature.
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.

Gif of prof headshots — with 3 to 4 headshots per slide
The profs who changed us

Here’s to the UBC mentors we’ll never forget.

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 portrait of Meeru Dhalwala with curly black hair and her chin propped in her hand.
Meeru Dhalwala

Senses alive, kitchen thrives.

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?
6 Min
A collection of headshots of the six interviewees, with a white 'Q.' in the bottom right corner.
What developments in the transition to clean energy make you most optimistic?
6 Min
UBC professors
Should we be excited or worried about the rise of AI?
6 Min
Photos of all six interviewees
Should Canada dispense with its tipping culture?
6 Min
a photo collage of different headshots
Can (and should) we remove animals from our food system?
7 Min
Headshots of Carey Doberstein, Dallas Hunt, Oludolapo Makinde, Rick Hansen, Oral Robinson and Heather Campbell.
How do we make our cities more equitable and inclusive?
6 Min
Wide angle view of mountains, with a person standing on a grassy knoll in the foreground
How to get to net zero
6 Min
A portion of the Canada and China flags, overlapping each other.
The future of Canada-China relations
6 Min

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A Publication of UBC University of British Colombia