x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn

A unique space where a diverse community of biophysical scientists, engineers, clinicians and trainees work together to create immunotherapies and diagnostics that are locally relevant and globally significant.

With a founding mission of gaining insight into the complexity of the immune system by creating transformative technologies that lead to medical interventions.

A place where people, ideas and technologies converge to learn from each other, be connected to the purpose of the x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn, and achieve breakthrough for human health.

Academic Lead: Isaac Li

Team Members: Robert Godin, Frederic Menard, Wesley Zandberg, Thuy Dang, Luca Piantanida, William Hughes, Jennifer Frattolin, Emmanuel Osei, Mark Rheault, Perry Howard, Mike Deyholos, Jonathan Holzman

Bringing together researchers from education, engineering, science and social sciences in a dynamic and inclusive environment. Focused on local climate mitigation and adaptation research defined by five pillars -transportation, building, environment, health and community.

Using innovative techniques such augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to build models. Data will inform behavioral, machine learning, agent-based simulation, policy analysis and community engagement.

Academic Co-Leads: Mahmudur Fatmi, Qian Chen, Mohammad Khalad Hasan

Team Members: Jahangir Hossain, Kasun Hewage, Shahria Alam, Suliman Gargoum, Amir Ardestani-Jaafari, Jon Corbett, Zheng Liu, Andrea Craig, Babak Tosarkani, Robert Campbell, Sumer Seiki, John Janmaat

Leading training and research that supports the recovery of ecosystems and communities that depend on healthy lands, water and air.

Bridging social and natural sciences, Western and Indigenous ways of knowing, academic and professional research and field laboratory studies.

Creating and transferring knowledge that increases understanding of how people negatively affect the environment and co-developing new pathways that support the recovery of nature.

Academic Co-Leads: Adam Ford, Jason Pither

Team Members: Lael Parrott, Miranda Hart, Michael Russello, Michael Noonan, Rebecca Tyson, Tal Avgar, Laura Grieneisen, Chase Mason

Bringing together an interdisciplinary team of research who share interests in communication and language as connected to social and mental health.

Combining expertise in linguistics of Indigenous languages, anthropology, and psychology with the aim to uncover how children and adults learn language, how people build rapport and connection through language, how guilty and innocent people use language and how language and communication contribute to well-being, effective social interactions, social connection and relationship development.

Academic Co-Leads: Diana Carter, John Lyon, Elena Nicoladis

Team Members: Monica Good, Lauren Human, Francis Langevin, Jessica Lougheed, Christine Schreyer, Leanne ten Brinke, Shannon Ward, Michael Woodworth

Addressing the contemporary challenges of climate change, ecological destruction and the legacies of colonialism including loss of linguistic diversity.

Focusing the diverse areas of Indigenous knowledge held by UBCO faculty and allied scholars. Articulation of the new IK IGS Theme, preparing the next generation of scholars to help address contemporary challenges, providing opportunities for connections for Indigenous graduates to link into and undertake degrees relevant to their communities.

Academic Leads: Shawn Wilson, Alanaise Ferguson

Team Members: Kerrie Charnley, Monica Good, Peter Hutchinson, Gabrielle Legault, Ben Ramirez, Lisa Tobber

A hub for data-based research and training activities with global reach, leveraging AiMS, BIRS, PIMS and RDC.

This research incubator with applications in health and environment will build new and sustained research collaboration opportunities; hosting groups of leading researchers in mathematical and data sciences, as well as capacity building through workshops and summer schools.

Academic Leads: W. John Braun, Andrew Jirasek

Team Members: Heinz Bauschke, Charmaine Dean, Rebecca Feldman, Kevin Hanna, Pourang Irani, Robert Deardon, Malabika Pramanik, Mohamed Shehata, Xiaoping Shi, Ozgur Yilmaz, Andrea Craig, Rebecca Tyson, John Thompson, Michael Noonan, Mark Lewis, Jeffrey Andrews, Gino DiLabio, Lengyi Han, Fatemeh Fard, Rebecca Feldman, Christina Haston, Irene Vrbik, Rasika Rajapakshe, Nathan Becker, Thor Bjarnason, Michelle Hilts, Alex Hill, Zheng Liu, Susan Murch

Building on existing relationships with Syilx, Secwépemc, NłeɁkepmx, Hawaiian, and Occitan partner organizations and communities to foster revitalization of endangered languages and cultural resurgence through land-based eco-cultural practices. Partnering with the Indigenous Art Intensive, the En’owkin Centre, and ICER to create a more equitable, diverse and inclusive research and training environment while strengthening UBC Okanagan’s relationship to the Syilx Okanagan Nation and the Okanagan Nation Alliance, fulfilling UNC’s ISP and UBCO’s commitment to TRC.

Academic Co-Leads: Bill Cohen, Manulani Aluli Meyer, Virginie Magnat

Team Members: Tania Willard, Shawn Wilson, Karen Ragoonaden, Tracey Bonneau, Vicki Kelly, Evan Adams, Tina Fraser, Emma Bigé, Nathalie Gauthard, Konstantinos Thomaidis, Bryony Onuciul

Drawing on expertise from the humanities, arts, social sciences and sciences; focused on place-based, community-engaged, practice led approaches, as well as antiracist, feminist, anticolonial and inclusive frameworks to address “wicked problems” that have no easy scientific -technological solutions.

With a focus on pedagogical research, oriented in a spirit of collaboration and responsibility, including two new campus research training initiatives (IGS Sustainability and BSust).

Academic Co-Leads: Astrida Neimanis, Anita Girvan, Natalie Forssman

Team Members: Rebecca Tyson, Aleksandra Dulic, Greg Garrard, Denise Kenney, Nikhita Obeegado, Nathan Pelletier, Vikas Menghwani, Adeniyi Asiyanbi, Onyx Sloan Morgan, Tim Paulson

Conducting research in watershed communities to assess linkages and interactions among critical processes and values (i.e. timber, biodiversity, Indigenous values, aquatic functions and water) using an interdisciplinary approach.

Leveraging collaborations with local communities, First Nations, governments and others in advancing watershed ecosystem science and governance innovations that are fully inclusive of Indigenous rights, knowledge and values.

Academic Leads: Adam Wei, John Wagner

Team Members: Jeanette Armstrong, Lael Parrott, Sheena Spencer, Alyse Kiesser