The meandering course of Shoshone Creek in Dixie Valley, Nevada, is one of the key watercourses considered in the study, as it displays well-developed meanders in the absence of vegetation. Photo Credit: Dr. Alessandro Ielpi

Scientists have long believed that rivers form bends with the help of plants that stabilize and anchor their banks.

This theory is rooted in the evidence that rivers became more winding or “sinuous” around 425 million years ago—about the same time that land plants first evolved.

But research recently published in Science is putting a new twist on that theory. UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Alessandro Ielpi co-authored the paper with Michael Hasson, a Stanford University doctoral student. Dr. Ielpi, Associate Professor of Geomorphology and the newly-appointed Forest Renewal BC Watershed Enhancement Research Chair in UBCO’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, is a long-term collaborator with the Stanford Earth and Planetary Research Group.

Here, Dr. Ielpi explains why this new study is making researchers rethink their long-held beliefs.

What makes this research significant?

Most of the world’s population lives in river lowlands, many of which are occupied by meandering rivers. The more we understand how plants influence these rivers, the better we can plan for life in regions facing deforestation, wildfires and climate change—factors that affect vegetation along river banks and riparian corridors. These kinds of adaptations can save us from costly damages or even loss of life in response to floods.

What are the key discoveries in this new research?

Many geoscientists believe that the evolution of plants caused major changes in how rivers behave. In particular, ancient river rocks suggest that rivers became more winding around the time land plants first appeared.

This led scientists to believe that the rise of vegetation caused rivers to start meandering, owing to stabilization of their banks by roots. But recent studies of modern, active meandering rivers in desert areas challenge this notion, showing that well-cemented banks alone can sustain meandering. In this study, we suggest that while vegetation isn’t needed for meanders to form, it does affect how their shape and direction change over time.

What rivers did you study for this work?

We studied more than 4,400 river bends from 49 rivers around the world to get clear results across different climates and ecological regions. This includes rivers in desert environments almost entirely barren of any type of vegetation year-round, such as the Great Basin in the western USA and the Altiplano-Puna Plateau of South America. For comparison, we also looked at rivers in vegetated regions, including Alaska, the eastern USA and Oceania.

How was this determined?

By analyzing satellite images of active rivers, we found that vegetation along the banks changes the direction in which meanders grow, favouring outward growth instead of downstream-ward growth of meanders. This also helps explain why it has been difficult to identify meandering river deposits that are physically older than the rise of vegetation on Earth.

To learn more about this research, visit: sustainability.stanford.edu/news/rise-plant-life-changed-how-rivers-move-study-shows

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New federal funding continues to support the partnership between UBCO and the First Nations Emergency Services Society, where the two work together with AI models to help predict hotspots. FNESS photo.

A partnership between UBC Okanagan and the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) to develop new technologies supporting Indigenous fire stewardship received a funding boost yesterday.

The federal government is contributing more than $2.3 million to support the partnership, part of Natural Resources Canada’s Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program, which provided $41.7 million for 20 projects across Canada—all with the common goal of protecting Canadians from the increased threat of wildfire.

“Protecting the safety, health and economic wellbeing of communities across Canada is a top priority as we face the ongoing threat of wildfires,” says The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

“Our government is leading efforts to strengthen wildfire management and reduce wildfire risks in Canada,” he adds. “Today’s announcement will allow us to prepare for future challenges by advancing wildfire knowledge, accelerating risk and mitigation strategies and supporting Indigenous fire stewardship to build resilience and protect Canadian families and homes.”

The funding will support Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais, Assistant Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, and his continued work with the FNESS.

“By weaving Indigenous knowledge and values with new fire-risk sensor technology and predictive models, this project will help mitigate the risk of severe wildfire to Indigenous, economic and natural resource values, and contribute to the restoration of cultural and prescribed fire practices on traditional territories,” says Dr. Bourbonnais.

This includes deploying 150 fire-risk sensors in collaboration with First Nations communities in British Columbia. Data from the sensors will then be used in AI predictive models developed by UBCO researchers to forecast wildfire risk and potential fire behaviour.

Mapping of values and infrastructure integrated with the established fire risk will support the development of integrated fire management frameworks centred on the needs of the community, explains Matt Nelson, FNESS Integrated Fire Management Supervisor.

“This support from Natural Resources Canada is a game-changer. This funding allows UBCO and FNESS to work collaboratively with First Nations communities on holistic fire mitigation,” he says. “By combining Indigenous knowledge with new technology, we’re helping to predict wildfire risk while respecting and integrating traditional fire practices. This initiative is about empowering communities to protect their land and their people.”

The funding will support the UBCO-FNESS project through to 2028.

Yesterday, along with the Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program, the government also announced an additional $3.9 million in grants for 10 Indigenous-led projects.

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A satellite image representing remote sensing technology. UBCO’s new segmentation method helps researchers detect wildfire sparks and other small-scale changes in satellite data.

A group of UBC Okanagan students has helped create technology that could improve how doctors and scientists detect everything from tumours to wildfires. 

Working under the guidance of Associate Professor Xiaoping Shi from UBCO’s Department of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, the students designed and tested a system called an adaptive multiple change point energy-based model segmentation (MEBS). 

This method uses advanced mathematics to pick out important details in complex or noisy images, the kind that often confuse existing detection methods. 

“This project gave us a chance to work on something that can make a real difference,” says Jiatao Zhong, a UBCO master’s student and lead author of the study. “It’s exciting to know that what we built could help doctors spot illnesses sooner and help scientists track wildfires more effectively.” 

The work, recently published in Scientific Reports, shows that MEBS can help health professionals find signs of disease in medical scans, assist plant scientists in tracking cell growth and give wildfire monitors a faster way to identify hotspots from space. 

“Our students played a big role in building and refining this model, and they had a chance to apply it to real-world problems,” says Dr. Shi. “The skills they gained in programming, data analysis and applied mathematics will give them an edge in their future careers.” 

The team’s research showed success across several key areas: 

• In medical scans by detecting tumours and fluid buildup in X-rays and mammograms with greater clarity than standard tools. 

• In wildfire monitoring by picking out small but critical sparks in satellite images, which can lead to faster response times. 

• In biological research by helping scientists count and track cells in plant studies, important for agriculture and growth research.  

Dr. Yuejiao Fu collaborated with Dr. Shi on the paper while the student team—Zhong, Shiyin Du, Canruo Shen, Yiting Chen, Medha Naidu and Min Gao—worked on tasks ranging from coding and testing to running experiments on medical and satellite images.  

Together, they demonstrated that MEBS can do what many existing tools cannot: automatically adapt when an image does not follow typical patterns, improving accuracy without extra manual work. 

Most image tools use fixed rules that don’t always work in the real world. Medical scans and satellite images are often noisy or inconsistent.  

MEBS stands out because it adapts to the image itself—detecting subtle shifts and dividing complex visuals into useful sections. This leads to more accurate results for doctors, scientists and wildfire monitors alike. 

The project was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and UBC Okanagan’s Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation. 

Breast tumour detection in a mammogram using UBCO’s adaptive image segmentation method. The MEBS model outperformed other tools in identifying subtle, multi-region tumours.

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UBCO master’s student Hongyuan Zhang and Dr. Isaac Li prepare decoy DNA samples as part of their latest research, work that explores the visualization and manipulation of nanoscale interactions within living systems.

Researchers at UBC Okanagan have made two major discoveries that are set to revolutionize how scientists observe and measure molecular forces within living cells.

Published recently in two leading scientific journals—Advanced Science and Angewandte Chemie—these discoveries significantly advance the field of molecular mechanobiology. These breakthroughs offer unprecedented precision and durability in force imaging, explains Dr. Isaac Li, Associate Professor of Chemistry with the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science.

Led by Dr. Li, Canada Research Chair in Single-Molecule Biophysics and Mechanobiology, the research team created qtPAINT—a groundbreaking imaging technology.

qtPAINT is the first imaging method that can measure molecular forces with nanometre-level spatial precision and minute-scale time resolution. It works by combining DNA-based molecular tension probes with advanced microscopy, giving researchers a clearer view of how tiny mechanical forces behave inside living cells in real time.

“Tiny molecular forces drive many important functions in the body like fighting infections, healing wounds and cancer progression,” explains Dr. Seongho Kim, lead author of the qtPAINT study. “Before qtPAINT, researchers could see where these forces were happening, but we couldn’t measure how strong they were or how they changed over time.”

After the success of qtPAINT, Dr. Li’s team tackled a long-standing challenge that limited the use of DNA-based tension probes: their rapid degradation by natural enzymes called DNases.

Dr. Li explains that the tension probes help scientists watch and measure these tiny mechanical forces taking place within cells in real time, revealing how they communicate and behave.

The team’s second paper introduces a simple yet powerful solution called “decoy DNA,” where extra strands of harmless DNA are added to experiments to act as sacrificial targets for DNases. This approach significantly extends the lifespan of functional tension probes from just a few hours to more than 24 hours, or even several days.

This approach greatly improves the stability and accuracy of cellular force measurements, says Hongyuan Zhang, lead author of the decoy DNA study.

“Rather than using complex and costly chemical modifications, our approach is more like distracting predators with these decoys,” says Zhang. This protects our DNA probes and significantly improves the quality and duration of our measurements.”

Together, these two breakthroughs place UBCO researchers at the forefront of molecular force imaging and give scientists powerful and affordable tools to explore the mechanics of life.

“Longer-lasting, quantitative force imaging gives researchers the ability to delve deeper into complex biological systems, potentially driving new breakthroughs in cancer research, immunology and regenerative medicine,” adds Dr. Li.

His lab specializes in single-molecule biophysics and mechanobiology, developing advanced methods to visualize and manipulate molecular forces within living cells. The research includes designing mechanosensitive DNA nanostructures—tiny DNA-based tools that respond to physical forces—to control how cells move and sense their environment, as well as developing high-throughput biophysical assays for use in drug screening and diagnostics.

The lab takes an interdisciplinary approach—combining cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics, nanotechnology and bioengineering—to create a unique platform for transformative scientific discoveries.

“Our goal has always been to develop effective and accessible tools,” says Dr. Li. “These studies reflect our ongoing effort to develop technologies that support meaningful discoveries across many areas of science.”

Dr. Li’s research is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Research Chair program and Michael Smith Health Research BC. His research reflects UBCO’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking research that delivers meaningful real-world outcomes.

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Dr Gino DiLabio and doctoral student Hossein Khalilian discuss their research paper about how quantum Coulombic interactions can manage and prevent unwanted cell damage from free radicals. The image created for this research made the cover of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

A new study, published by a team of UBC Okanagan chemistry researchers, is creating a major rethink of how enzymes work. And how a quantum phenomenon helps an important enzyme control essential yet dangerous molecules.

Enzymes, also known as biocatalysts, are the tiny machines behind every process in living things, explains study co-author Hossein Khalilian, a doctoral student in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science’s Department of Chemistry. Enzymes make molecules that are crucial to life, while also breaking down molecules that are bad or unnecessary for us.

Radical enzymes represent an important class of biocatalysts that generate extremely unstable molecules—called free radicals—to enable a wide range of biochemical reactions. Free radicals are often negatively viewed, explains Khalilian. Uncontrolled ones contribute to serious conditions like cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. Yet, these molecules are essential for many biological functions and the body produces them as part of normal cellular functions.

The research, featured on the front cover of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, reveals that nature has developed a clever way to control these free radicals—using little-known quantum Coulombic interactions to manage them and prevent unwanted damage.

The researchers focused on an enzyme called viperin, which plays a role in the body’s immune response by producing and controlling highly reactive radicals that Khalilian describes as chemical loose cannons.

“While radicals can be useful, they can also cause serious damage if they’re not carefully controlled,” he says. “We’ve known for some time that viperin uses radicals to perform its function. But we didn’t expect to find quantum mechanical effects play such an important role in keeping that radical in check.”

Khalilian, who studies enzymes using computer modelling, explains that viperin is an antiviral enzyme activated as part of the immune response to many viruses. While running computer simulations to investigate viperin’s behaviour, he discovered that it uses a range of strategies, including previously unknown quantum Coulombic interactions, to get the radicals under control.

The Coulombic interaction is an electrostatic force between positive and negative charges, like the force that creates static electricity. The simulations reveal that the quantum version of these interactions is a key strategy employed by nature in radical enzymes to control the free radicals they use.

“This was something unexpected,” says Khalilian. “The radical was being gently held in place by Coulombic interactions to perform only the desired reaction. Like a magnetic tug, these forces are enough to stabilize the radical just long enough for the enzyme to do its job.”

Normally, he says, radicals like to move around or react with other things quickly, but in this case, something was keeping it still.

“These interactions are hard to see, and easy to overlook,” says Khalilian. “But it turns out it’s crucial. Without it, the radical would be too unstable to manage. It’s exciting because this is the first time quantum interactions have been shown to be this important in an enzyme. It gives us a new lens to look at biochemical reactions.”

This study provides evidence that the quantum Coulombic effect is likely a universal yet underappreciated feature of radical enzymes. The discovery could lead to new ways to design drugs, enzymes and catalysts.

The work doesn’t stop there, as principal investigator Dr. Gino DiLabio says ongoing studies are exploring whether this effect applies to other radical enzymes. If confirmed, it could reshape the traditional understanding of catalysis and boost advancements in biotechnology.

“Many modern medicines rely on reactions involving radicals,” Dr. DiLabio adds. “If we understand how nature controls them, we can also do it—perhaps more safely or effectively.”

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Dr. Emmanuel Osei has developed a way to 3D print tissue that resembles a living lung. This work could change how lung disease is studied and improve health options for those living with the illness.

UBC Okanagan researchers have developed a 3D bio-printed model that closely mimics the complexity of natural lung tissue, an innovation that could transform how scientists study lung disease and develop new treatments.

Dr. Emmanuel Osei, Assistant Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, says the model produces tissue that closely resembles the complexity of a human lung, enabling improved testing of respiratory diseases and drug development.

“To conduct our research and the testing that’s required—where we’re studying the mechanisms of complex lung diseases to eventually find new drug targets—we need to be able to make models that are comparable to human tissues.”

The research team used a bioink composed of light-sensitive polymer-modified gelatin and a polymer called polyethylene glycol diacrylate to 3D print a hydrogel that includes multiple cell types and channels to recreate vessels, mimicking the structure of a human airway.

Once printed, the hydrogel performs much like the complex mechanical properties of lung tissue, improving how researchers study cellular responses to stimuli.

“Our goal was to create a more physiologically relevant in vitro model of the human airway,” says Dr. Osei, who also works with UBC’s Centre for Heart Lung Innovation. “By integrating vascular components, we can better simulate the lung environment, which is crucial for studying diseases and testing therapeutics.”

Dr. Osei explains that when someone has lung cancer, a surgeon—with the patient’s consent—can remove the cancerous section along with some normal lung tissue and provide these samples to researchers.

“However, a researcher has no control over how much tissue they will receive,” he explains. “They might get a small piece of tissue, which they bring to the lab and add various chemicals for testing. Now, with 3D bioprinting, we can isolate cells from these donated tissues and potentially recreate additional tissue and test samples to conduct research in our labs and not rely on or wait for contributed tissues.”

Dr. Osei says many forms of lung disease currently have no cure, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. Being able to establish models that allow for testing is a significant advancement in respiratory disease research and drug development.

Published in Biotechnology and Bioengineering in collaboration with Mitacs and supported by Providence Health Care, the study is a step toward assessing aspects of lung diseases such as scarring and inflammation, and may lead to future cures for various illnesses.

The paper detailed tests, including exposing the bio-printed 3D model to cigarette smoke extract, allowing the researchers to observe increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines, or markers of inflammatory responses to nicotine in lung tissue.

“The fact that we’ve been able to create the model, then use particular triggers like cigarette smoke, to demonstrate how the model will react and mimic aspects of lung disease is a significant advancement in studying complex mechanisms of lung disease that will aid in studying how we treat them,” says Dr. Osei.

“Our model is complex, but due to the reproducibility and optimal nature of bio-printing, it can be adapted to include additional cell types or patient-derived cells, making it a powerful tool for personalized medicine and disease modelling.”

Dr. Osei notes that moving forward with this work puts his research team in a unique position to collaborate with colleagues such as UBC’s Immunobiology Eminence Research Excellence Cluster, biotechnology companies and those with an interest in advancing bioartificial models.

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Melanie Dickie, Mihai Covaser and Samantha Krieg are UBCO’s top award winners.

It’s graduation at UBC Okanagan and students are being celebrated by faculty, staff and their families.

With the pomp and circumstance, the piper, the proud families, celebrations and packed audiences, come a number of awards presented to students and faculty during the two days. For the students, the awards are based on academic merit—simply being the best they can be.

Governor General Gold Medal for Academic Excellence

A chance encounter at a conference with Associate Professor Adam Ford brought Dr. Melanie Dickie to UBC Okanagan, continuing on a path that would eventually be a gold medal journey.

“It was a bit of serendipity, a bit of curiosity and a lot of shared values when I first met Dr. Ford in 2019. It was one of those classic hallway conversations—brief but energizing—where you realize someone else is thinking about the same big questions you are. We were both interested in how science can move the needle in real-world decision making.”

Dr. Dickie, who received her doctorate in biology after conducting years of research with UBCO’s Wildlife Restoration Ecology Lab, is UBCO’s 2025 winner of the Governor General Gold Medal for Academic Excellence. The gold medal is awarded annually to the student with the highest academic standing graduating from a master’s or doctoral program.

Originally working with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Dr. Dickie had become familiar with Dr. Ford’s work through social media, where their professional interests overlapped in land use, conservation policy and the role of Indigenous leadership in ecological stewardship.

But after that chance conversation, she made the leap to UBCO to tackle “applied, gritty, make-a-difference kind of science.”

“It wasn’t just that the research fit, it was that the lab culture encouraged asking hard questions, working collaboratively and staying rooted in real-world effects,” she adds. “My time at UBCO has been transformational. Working with Dr. Ford and the lab has sharpened my thinking, expanded my skill set and pushed me to a new level as a researcher. It’s been one of those rare experiences where my gut feeling that something is ‘the right fit’ actually turns out to be true.”

Dr. Dickie, who was named a UBCO researcher of the year in 2023, is now back at the monitoring institute but has fond memories—including making Taylor Swift friendship bracelets with fellow researchers while camping—of hard work, driven research, lengthy Zoom calls and lasting friendships that add to the special honour of earning the gold medal. Her ongoing research will continue to cross paths with the Wildlife Restoration Ecology Lab and she will remain connected to the team.

“My time at UBCO helped me grow, and that’s changed how I approach my work—and how our team works together. I’m excited to be continuing to collaborate with Dr. Ford. We’re still focused on what first brought us together: using strong ecological theory to inform applied research that directly supports transparent, data-driven decisions—especially in landscapes where people and wildlife intersect every day.”

Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation

For many, Mihai Covaser is a prime example of the value of always putting the emphasis on what we can do, rather than what we cannot do.

Covaser, who graduated from UBCO yesterday with a Bachelor of Arts double major in Philosophy, Political Science and Economics, and French, is a top student and recognized leader in BC and Canada. Born in Bucharest, his family moved to Canada when he was young, eventually relocating to West Kelowna. Covaser graduated from Kelowna Secondary School in 2021 as class valedictorian with a dual dogwood diploma in French immersion.

When it came time for post-secondary studies, Covaser’s community involvement and career goals encouraged him to stay in the Okanagan.

“I chose UBCO in part to stay in my hometown and continue my community work, but I was also attracted to the philosophy, political science and economics program,” he explains. “It’s unique in its interdisciplinary approach and seemed perfectly situated to prepare me for my career goals in law.”

It’s also where Covaser continued to thrive. When he graduated yesterday, he was presented with the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation. The medal is offered annually to a graduating student who demonstrates academic merit and contribution to the life of the university and their community.

While at UBCO, Covaser created the Help Teach podcast, which he continues to produce and host, and worked as a language and writing tutor as well as a student ambassador. In addition, Covaser is an ambassador and director at the Rick Hansen Foundation—planning events that highlight accessibility and inclusion and guiding the organization—while also playing in a band and getting exceedingly high grades.

Not only is Covaser UBCO’s 2025 winner of a Lieutenant Governor’s medal, but he is also the recipient of the $10,000 Pushor Mitchell LLP Gold Leadership Prize. Available to graduating students in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Science and Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, this donor-funded award recognizes students who have excelled academically and shown leadership while completing their degrees.

The award will come in handy when he moves to McGill University to begin the bilingual Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor program, where he will earn two degrees upon completion; the first degree in common law, the other in civil law.

“I have gained a deep curiosity for constitutional law and legal theory throughout my undergraduate studies,” he says. “While I haven’t chosen a specific field of law yet, I’m most interested in constitutional law and government work, entertainment law, human rights law and the functioning of the Canadian judiciary.”

Along with the medal and Pushor Mitchell recognition, he has also been presented with the Walley Lightbody Award in Law, the Amal Alhuwayshil Award in Campus Engagement and Leadership as well as the Petraroia Langford LLP Award in Legal Studies. He also received the University of British Columbia Okanagan Medal in Arts, which is awarded to the head of the graduating class with a BA degree.

Dr. Gordon Springate Sr. Award in Engineering

There was a time in her life when Samantha Krieg, who struggled in high school, didn’t think the world of academia was in the cards.

Now, the newly minted civil engineering graduate is not only one of UBCO’s top award winners, but she’s about to embark on her doctoral studies in structural engineering at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

“After researching countless career paths, everything from interior design to urban planning to food science, I landed on engineering,” she says. “What made me fall in love with it is finding creative solutions to real-world problems to help people and the environment.”

Krieg transferred to UBCO from Montreal’s Concordia University four years ago. Coming from a university of more than 40,000 students, Krieg appreciated UBCO’s smaller class sizes, and this helped her find opportunities for engagement in extracurricular activities and undergraduate research.

Part of this undergraduate research included work in Dr. Lisa Tobber’s Advanced Structural Simulation and Experimental Testing Group—a team that focuses on the social, environmental and economic factors behind today’s engineering problems. Krieg has a strong interest in climate change, a passion for sustainability and wants to research how the environmental impacts of large buildings can be reduced.

Krieg is the 2025 recipient of the Dr. Gordon Springate Sr. Award in Engineering. Named for electrical engineer and educator Dr. Gordon Springate Sr., this donor-funded award is presented annually to a School of Engineering graduate who has demonstrated a material contribution to their community outside of their program.

“I struggled in high school and always felt like I was not the person to succeed in STEM,” she says. “Throughout university, I have found confidence in my passion—using engineering to battle climate change while uplifting the people who need it most. This award will help me boldly pursue that passion.”

Krieg will continue this passion while she works on her doctorate in New Zealand analyzing trade-offs between embodied carbon reductions and earthquake resilience for concrete buildings.

“My interest in climate change mitigation, social equity and their intersection with the built environment drives me to become a structural engineer focusing on sustainable, earthquake-resilient buildings,” she adds. But my experiences as a woman in engineering and a student with a disability inspire me to empower others.”

Heads of Graduating Class

University of BC Medal in Arts: Mihai Covaser
University of BC Medal in Education: tum Marchand
University of BC Medal in Engineering: Conor Manahan
University of BC Medal in Fine Arts: Cady Gau
University of BC Medal in Human Kinetics: Simoné Kruger
University of BC Medal in Management: Shelby Frederick
University of BC Medal in Media: Juan Ablan
University of BC Medal in Nsyilxcn Language: Skye Fay
University of BC Medal in NłeɁkepmx Language: Sunshine O’Donovan
University of BC Medal in Nursing: Mackenzie Themens
University of BC Medal in Science: Zahra Kagda

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It’s been 20 years of caps tossed and applause as UBCO celebrates the class of 2025.

This week more than 2,600 students will graduate from UBC Okanagan—the largest graduating class the Okanagan campus has celebrated since opening its doors in 2005.

“Graduation is always exciting, but here at UBC Okanagan, where we’re a close-knit community, it’s truly special,” says Dr. Lesley Cormack, Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. “Our exceptional programs, research opportunities for students, and commitment to student success help foster an inclusive and empowering environment. The heartfelt cheers at graduation come from the fact that everyone genuinely knows and cares for each other.”

It’s been two decades of milestones and growth for UBCO. When the campus opened its doors in 2005, there were 3,500 students. Today, there are nearly 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in 137 programs. The campus itself has also grown significantly over the past 20 years, with the addition of new lecture theatres, student residences and cutting-edge research facilities.

UBC’s graduation traditions began in Vancouver in 1916. While many continue at UBC Okanagan, the campus has added its own flair, including a bagpiper-led procession and cap tossing—which ended up being revived in Vancouver after President Benoit-Antoine Bacon experienced it while presiding over UBCO’s 2024 ceremonies.

“A UBC grad ceremony is special regardless of which campus it takes place on,” says Dr. Cormack. “However, it is especially rewarding to celebrate with traditions that are unique to UBC Okanagan and our history as a campus.”

Graduation 2025 begins Thursday morning with students in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies donning gowns and mortarboards to mark a major milestone in their lives. Ceremonies continue Friday with students graduating in the Faculty of Health and Social Development, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Management, and the School of Engineering.

A significant milestone this year is the first cohort of five students who will receive their Bachelor of Nłeʔkepmx Language Fluency degrees. In direct alignment with UBC’s commitment to reconciliation, the BNLEK to creates new speakers in communities whose languages are critically threatened.

This year will also mark the third cohort of Bachelor of Nsyilxcn Language Fluency graduates. Dr. Cormack says the university is honoured to play a role in language preservation and there are plans for more language programs to be introduced in the future.

“Language and culture are deeply intertwined,” she says. “Preserving and revitalizing the precious Indigenous languages of British Columbia is essential to reconciliation and reversing the harms of past attempts to erase Indigenous cultures. I’m incredibly proud of our inaugural BNLEK graduates for their perseverance and deeply grateful to the dedicated faculty, staff and community partners who bring this program to life.”

A look back at UBC Okanagan’s milestones during the past 20 years can be found here: ok.ubc.ca/20-year-anniversary

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Dr. Stephen McNeil was named one of Canada’s Top 10 and presented with the 2025 3M National Teaching Fellowship Monday.

UBC Okanagan’s Dr. W. Stephen McNeil is now officially one of Canada’s top educators, earning a 2025 3M National Teaching Fellowship on Monday. 

Presented to only 10 educators each year, the fellowship is considered one of the country’s highest honours for post-secondary instructors, recognizing their exceptional contributions to educational leadership, teaching excellence and educational innovation. 

Dr. McNeil, Associate Professor of Chemistry, says the classroom is just the beginning of a student’s university learning experience. He strives to help students develop transferable skills to help them become meaningful global citizens, regardless of their future careers. 

“Science teachers like to believe we’re training the next generation of scientists, but in terms of student numbers and an overall contribution to society, this is far from our principal task,” explains Dr. McNeil.  

“More importantly, we’re training people how to think like scientists, and how to interpret ideas and data in their daily lives. I’ve come to realize that my role as an educator is to prepare scientifically literate citizens as well as capable scientists. This has enormous impact on what I choose to teach, and how I choose to teach it.” 

A founding member of UBC Okanagan’s faculty, Dr. McNeil joined the Department of Chemistry in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science (previously the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences) in 2005 when the campus first opened its doors. Since then, he has fostered a strong reputation for educational innovation and has advanced his inclusive teaching style grounded in learner-centred approaches. 

“It’s a great honour to be named a 3M National Teaching Fellow,” says Dr. McNeil. “This recognition reflects the incredible support I’ve received from my colleagues, my students and the UBC Okanagan community. I’m deeply committed to creating engaging, inclusive and meaningful learning experiences, and I’m grateful that my work has been recognized in this way.” 

This award marks the first time an instructor from UBC Okanagan has received a 3M National Teaching Fellowship, building on the many impressive accolades Dr. McNeil has received over the course of his career. These past recognitions include the Open Education Resources Excellence and Impact Award (2024), the West Coast Teaching Excellence Award (2023), the Chemical Institute of Canada Award for Chemistry Education (2019), the Killam Teaching Prize (2018) and the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation (2009).  

He was also named a UBCO Teaching Fellow for 2024–25 and continues to play a leading role in supporting and growing UBC Okanagan’s teaching and learning culture.  

“This award is a well-deserved recognition of the passion and dedication to teaching that Dr. McNeil has continuously brought to UBC Okanagan since its earliest days,” says Dr. Rehan Sadiq, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, at UBC’s Okanagan campus. “His willingness to embrace innovation and try new approaches has led to truly transformative learning experiences that have supported students in his classroom and across our campus, helping to shape the learning environment we are so proud of today.” 

With this award, Dr. McNeil joins a distinguished group of Canadian educators who are celebrated for teaching excellence and educational leadership. The 3M National Teaching Fellows will be formally recognized at the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 2025 National Conference this June in Saskatoon. 

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Dr. Isaac Li, along with students David Bakker and Micah Yang, prepare an experiment as they work to understand counter-intuitive biological interaction—like catch bonds—and how cells physically interact with each other.

In a first-of-its-kind breakthrough, a team of UBC Okanagan researchers has developed an artificial adhesion system that closely mimics natural biological interactions.

Dr. Isaac Li and his team in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science study biophysics at the single-molecule and single-cell levels. Their research focuses on understanding how cells physically interact with each other and their environment, with the ultimate goal of developing innovative tools for disease diagnosis and therapy.

Two of Dr. Li’s doctoral students, Micah Yang and David Bakker, have engineered a new molecule that could transform how cells adhere to and communicate with one another.

Micah Yang, the study’s lead author, explains that all cells have a natural “stickiness” that enables them to communicate, join together and form tissues. Unlike everyday glues, which tend to release more easily under increasing force, many cellular adhesive interactions behave oppositely—the harder you pull, the stronger they hold. This counterintuitive self-strengthening stickiness, known as a catch bond, is crucial for facilitating essential biological functions and keeping you in one piece.

Yang’s innovation involves a pair of DNA molecules designed to replicate this catch bond behaviour.

Dubbed the “fish hook” for its distinctive structure, this DNA-based system consists of two components: the fish and the hook. Using complementary DNA base-pair interactions, the system functions like a fish biting a hook, forming a catch bond. The bond’s behaviour can be precisely fine-tuned by modifying the DNA sequences of the fish and the hook, enabling control over its strength under varying forces.

“Catch bonds play critical roles in systems like T-cell receptors and bacterial adhesions, which are key to immune responses, tissue integrity and mechano-sensing—a cell’s ability to detect and respond to physical forces,” says Yang. “Nature has perfected these interactions over millions of years, but replicating their dynamic properties synthetically has been a major challenge—until now.

The study, recently published in Nature Communications, highlights the advantages of this novel DNA-based system.

“The tunability of this system is a significant advancement over previous artificial catch bonds,” says Yang. “The ability to precisely control the bond’s force-dependent behaviour makes it an ideal tool for studying biological interactions and developing innovative materials.”

Potential applications of the fish-hook bond are vast, says Yang.

In materials science, the design could inspire the creation of responsive materials that become stronger under stress, making them ideal for wearable technologies or aerospace applications where durability is critical.

In medicine, this approach could improve drug delivery systems or tissue scaffolds by enabling them to interact with cells in a force-sensitive manner, mimicking natural biological processes.

While the development of artificial adhesion bonds is still in its early days, Yang sees it as an exciting step in biomimetic engineering—an approach that seeks to replicate the efficiency and adaptability of natural systems. This work opens up new possibilities for designing materials that mimic or enhance natural biological processes.

“By mimicking biological interactions like catch bond, scientists are not only learning more about how these systems work in nature, but they are paving the way for new technologies that are capable of enhancing human life.”

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