Researchers awarded BC Knowledge Development funding
Two projects lead by faculty from the Department of Mechanical Engineering have been awarded funding from the BC Knowledge Development Fund. The main investment in research infrastructure offered by the Province, “the BCKDF is pivotal to the development of vital research infrastructure, allowing institutions to attract a critical mass of researchers, skilled technicians, and research […]
Doctoral Student wins Prestigious Vanier Scholarship
Mechanical Engineering PhD student Rivkah Gardner-Frolick has won one of Canada’s top scholarships, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. This scholarship awards selected students across the country $50,000 per year for three years of doctoral studies, and is based off the students’ academic excellence, research potential and leadership. The award was created to “attract and retain […]
Media Mention: Dr. Walter Mérida on standards for renewable cities
VANCOUVER SUN: As much of the world switches over to electric transportation, the “What about this?” and “What about that?” questions are popping up from those people who are saying, “Not possible.” On the other side of that discussion is UBC Prof. Walter Mérida, who prefers to ask “What if?”, as in: “What if there […]
New paper solves the soft solid puncture problem
When Assistant Professor Mattia Bacca is trying to figure out a mechanical engineering problem, he inquires into how the natural world has already solved it. Bioinspired engineering is an approach that examines abilities plants and animals have evolved over millions of years, like the way a gecko can cling to a surface with the pads […]
Media Mention: Do we really need to mask up outdoors? Dr. Steven Rogak comments on the need to evaluate risk.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Despite emerging science that has changed what we know about how the coronavirus is transmitted, there’s been one constant over the past year: that outdoors is safer than indoors. But lately that message is getting murky, with Quebec recommending the wearing of masks outdoors, then rescinding the recommendation — kind of, and Ontario […]
UBC breaks ground on $23 million renewable energy hub
UBC NEWS: ‘Test bed’ showcases clean energy solutions – receives $5.6 million funding from Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. A new $23 million renewable energy hub will transform an entire city block at the University of British Columbia into a smart energy district, including the province’s first-ever hydrogen refuelling station for light […]
Canada’s first 5G drones fly over UBC
UBC NEWS: Drone test flight shows potential of 5G networks to support essential services and accelerate innovation. Canada’s first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights over a 5G network took place at UBC last week, showcasing some of the future potential applications of 5G-enabled autonomous flight. Two UAVs—standard quad models fitted out with a 5G signal […]
New Paper from MEMs Lab increases accuracy in measurement of eye movements
The Mechanical Engineering Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) Lab has published a new paper “A Fusion Algorithm for Saccade Eye Movement Enhancement with EOG and Lumped-element Models”. Working in the MEMS Lab as a PhD student under supervisors and co-authors Dr. Mu Chiao and Dr. Clarence de Silva, author Hiroshan Gunawardane has developed an algorithm which cleans […]
UBC experts team up to tackle air pollution with network of sensors
UBC NEWS: Air pollution is an urgent problem linked to as many as nine million deaths per year worldwide and 14,000 annually in Canada, primarily from related heart and lung diseases. A group of UBC experts are determined to mount a rapid response through research. The team, known as Rapid Air Improvement Network (RAIN), is […]
Media Mention: EGBC’s Innovation Magazine features mask research by Dr. Steven Rogak
INNOVATION: With the advent of multiple COVID-19 vaccines, things are definitely looking up. But experts warn that the wearing of masks will not end any time soon. Many of us prefer wearing reusable cloth masks over disposable medical masks, but which fabrics are the most effective? A Surrey Memorial Hospital anaesthesiologist and a UBC engineer […]