UBCO’s leading researchers cover a wide range of topics
From smart building materials, to innovative public art, to improved palliative care, UBC Okanagan’s Researchers of the Year are developing new ways to improve their communities.
UBC’s Okanagan campus announced the Researcher of the Year awards would be awarded to three faculty members. — associate professor Shahria Alam in natural sciences and engineering; associate professor Nancy Holmes in social sciences and humanities; and professor Barbara Pesut in health.
“I’m thrilled to be highlighting the world-class work of our researchers,” said Philip Barker, viceprincipal, research. “Professors Alam, Holmes and Pesut are making an enormous impact here in the Okanagan and globally, and UBC is delighted to recognize their important contributions.”
Student researcher awards were also presented to MA student David Lacho and PhD student Ryan Hoiland.
“Our campus is home to some incredible talent, in our faculty and in our students,” adds Barker. “The work they’re doing today is creating important new knowledge in their disciplines and will have a lasting impact.”
Engineering professor Alam develops smarter, safer and greener construction materials and structural systems. His work has led to important advances in the construction of sustainable infrastructure, particularly in seismically active regions.
“Prof. Alam’s research perfectly exemplifies the core values of our school, which are to improve the social well-being of our community, province, country and planet,” said Rehan Sadiq, associate dean of the School of Engineering at UBC Okanagan. “His work is helping to build safer structures around the world and I’m excited to see where his research goes next.”
Holmes’ research focuses, in part, on developing community-driven eco-art projects.
The Border Free Bees Project is Holmes’ most recent work and invites hundreds of people, organizations and businesses in Kelowna to learn about native bees and to commit to creating and preserving habitat for them in backyards and public lands. This project was the recipient of the 2017 Pollinator Advocate Award for Canada.
“Professor Holmes brings a profound depth of knowledge of literature and poetry to her eco-art projects,” said Sharon Thesen, professor emeritus of creative writing in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.
Holmes is working with the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and numerous community partners on Broder Free Bees, which encourages residents to be bee friendly ambassadors this summer.
Holmes and UBC are hosting a bee ambassador information night, to help people create pollen trails to benefit the bee population, on April 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the downtown Kelowna Branch of the Okanagan Regional Library at 1380 Ellis St.
Pesut, professor of nursing in the Faculty of Health and Social Development is part of a research team at UBC’s Okanagan campus focused on improving palliative care.
Working with patients and families in rural communities to better understand their experiences and needs, her work is helping to build rural capacity for end-of-life care by working with hospice palliative care societies from throughout the B.C. interior and across Canada.
“As Canada Research Chair in Health, Ethics and Diversity, professor Pesut is one of the foremost experts in palliative care in Canada and internationally,” said Marie Tarrant, director of the School of Nursing at UBCO. “She is developing innovative and meaningful programs to improve end-of-life care for underserved populations.”
Pesut’s current research looks at the role of nurses and nurse practitioners in medical assistance in dying.
“Canada is the first country to allow nurse practitioners to provide medically assisted dying,” explained Pesut. “Nurse practitioners are highly skilled professionals who can play a key role in access to MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) … Research suggests that MAiD, like all deaths, is a significant event which impacts in various ways all those who are involved, from physicians to nurses alike. It is important that we get this right.”