Environment & Climate Resilience
The increasing human footprint on ecosystems and the ever-growing need for critical resource management amid climate change and geopolitical shifts are the hallmarks of our time. In anticipation of, and response to, these defining features, our Faculty continues to develop research and knowledge extension programs centered around geo- & eco-systems with focuses on wildfire, freshwater systems, wildlife and biodiversity, critical minerals, and place-based environmental stewardship in close partnership with Indigenous communities. In addition, scholarly activities in the chemistry, biology, and physics of natural and designed materials and processes will inform innovation in renewable energy and clean technologies for a green transition.
“Wildlife conservation is not just about protecting certain species, but about looking after ecological processes and relationships” – Dr. Clayton Lamb
Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais uses satellite technology to enhance wildfire sensors, for real-time data transmission, especially in remote areas.
UBC Okanagan’s Fipke Laboratory for Trace Element Research (FiLTER) offers state of the art trace element analysis, isotopic characterization and electron microscopy crucial to the discovery and sustainable extraction of critical minerals.