The aim of this project is to develop an interactive online textbook with open educational resources (OER) for teaching geomatics across UBC faculties. Existing OER geomatics textbooks are flat: they lack interactive examples, tools, and case studies that make cutting-edge geomatics so engaging.

Keywords: Interactive Education, Geomatics,  
Link to Resource: https://eml.ubc.ca/projects/oer-geomatics/

Textbook/Books/Reports
2022
OER Geomatics

In this paper, we share the story, consider the challenges and imagine the possibilities as we work to transform teacher education with sustainability in mind.

Keywords: Education, Place-Based Learning, Sustainability learning pathways
Link to Resource: https://cjee.lakeheadu.ca/article/view/1641

Journal Article
2020
Patrick AB Robertson, Robert VanWynsberghe, Bruce Ford

Part 1 of this paper presents four approaches UBC instructors used to insert sustainability content into different types of large, first year courses. In order to help instructors employ teaching methods that support sustainability learning, Part 2 of this paper summarizes a range of pedagogies that relate to sustainability and transformative education.

Keywords: Education, Case studies, Teaching Tools

Textbook/Books/Reports
2014
2013-2014 USI Teaching Fellows: Don Krug, Tara Ivanochko, Loch Brown, Naoko Ellis, David Tindall

This document provides additional information about each attribute with additional learning objectives, examples from UBC and beyond, as well as some potential assessment tools which could be used to help develop, and then assess students understanding of these key sustainability concepts.

Keywords: Education, Holism, Positive Change  

Textbook/Books/Reports
2013
USI Teaching and Learning Fellows: Gary Bradfield, Anneliese Schultz, Gregory Dake

The Just Food Educational Resource aims to provide teaching and learning resources for enhancing equity competencies of instructors and students using food systems as a platform for engagement.  

Keywords: Food Justice, Food Systems, Education
Link to Resource: https://justfood.landfood.ubc.ca/

Web-based Resources
Just Food UBC

This platform contains a number of biodiversity maps here on UBC's Vancouver campus.  Here, users can browse through spatial data to learn more about organisms and habitats found here on campus and make their own unique maps using the various layers from existing maps

Keywords: Biodiversity, Ecology, Conservation
Link to Resource: https://portal.gis.ubc.ca/arcgis/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=8...

Web-based Resources
2016
UBC Campus Biodiversity Data Hub

The case study walks the learner through an introduction to how climate change further exacerbates wildfire occurrence, alongside the myriad health impacts that stem from wildfire smoke exposure. Notable importance is given to the need to advocate for Indigenous Sovereignty and traditional ways of knowing around wildfire management

Keywords: Wildfires, Climate Change, Indigenous Sovereignty
Link to Resource: https://oer.open.ubc.ca/understanding-wildfires-a-case-study-for-british...

Textbook/Books/Reports
2022
Raluca Radu and Aubree A. McAtee

Phylo is a card game that makes use of the wonderful, complex, and inspiring things that inform the notion of biodiversity; and an exercise in crowd-sourcing, open access, and open game development.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Ecology, Interactive Education
Link to Resource: https://oer.open.ubc.ca/phylo-the-trading-card-game/

Course Activities & Assignments
2010
David Ng

Six videos cover topics of pollination, sustainable fisheries, invasive species, wildfire management, water resources and alternative energy production. These video prompted in-class activities provide an opportunity to bring to community voices and perspectives into the classroom while developing scientific thinking.

Keywords: Biofuels, Fisheries, Crop pollination
Link to Resource: https://oer.open.ubc.ca/asking-scientific-questions/

Course Activities & Assignments
Tara Ivanochko

This toolkit is designed for use by educators to empower students to think critically about the structural and socio-political inequities that affect them while centering climate change and mental health through embedded reflective exercises

Keywords: Climate Change, Plantery Health, Mental Health
Link to Resource: https://oer.open.ubc.ca/exploring-climate-change-and-mental-health/

Toolkit and Guides
2022
Natania Abebe

Many of these case studies focus on topics in sustainability, but they also include cases on other topics that benefit from an interdisciplinary approach.  

Keywords: Forestry, Social Justice, Conservation
Link to resource: https://cases.open.ubc.ca/case-studies/

Case Studies
Open Case Studies UBC

The purpose of this research is to better understand the breadth and depth of relationships and networks that coordinated actions across multiple sectors during extreme heat events (EHE) in South Vancouver and Marpole. Both neighbourhoods are disproportionately impacted and vulnerable to EHE. The social network analysis demonstrated that neighbourhood level networks of place-based organizations are the most effective in addressing EHE in a quick, coordinated and community-based manner.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver
Keywords: equity, diversity, inclusion, healthy city, climate resilience social sustainability

PDF
2023
Rajpreet Sidhu

Funder: Sitka/FERC, Partner: Sierra Club BC

2023
Jessica Groat

This project provides insights for the optimization of the City of Vancouver leaf collection seasonal program in anticipation of climate change effects on vegetation. It includes spatial suggestions and a phenology calendar relevant to adjusting Service Operations logistics according to the timing of deciduous trees’ foliage shedding. Analyzed information is based on the tree species abundance, canopy density, and species-specific information on physiological responses to climatic changes.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver & UBC
Keywords: biodiversity, waste management & recycling, urban forestry 

PDF
2023
Paulina Vazquez Quintana

This project studied 6 retrofit programs from British Columbia to present them as case studies to highlight their evaluation methods, success factors, energy savings, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction amounts. Based on these case studies, this project discussed the recommended evaluation methods and set of success factors that can represent the program's overall achievements. This study will help practitioners to design a successful retrofit program based on the study findings.

Partner: Community Energy Association
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: green buildings  

PDF
2023
Jannatul Ferdous

This project aims to establish a framework for the Indigenous-focused Climate and Energy Resilience Capacity-building programs within the Fraser Basin Council (FBC). This project introduces three Centre for Economic Research and Capacity Building (CERCB) programs with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and facilities the alignment of these programs through six UNDRIP parameters. These parameters are distilled from UNRP principles, a review of related literature, and input derived from interviews with Indigenous leaders, FBC staff, and stakeholders. The results of this project inform the proposal for a UNDRIP Compliance Measurement Toolkit for evaluation.

Partner: Fraser Basin Council Society
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy  

PDF
2023
Sopuruchi Christian

This project actively investigates the constraints that contractors face while implementing efficient residential retrofits. It analyzes and identifies these hurdles. Furthermore, it offers practical recommendations and solutions to alleviate these constraints, ultimately boosting the efficiency of residential retrofit projects. The research actively contributes valuable insights to the construction industry, enabling more successful and sustainable retrofit initiatives in the future.

Partner: Community Energy Association
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: green buildings, carbon reduction

pdf
2023
Zain Husain

False Creek, the jewel of Vancouver, is at a critical crossroads that necessitates strategic and comprehensive environmental stewardship. This project employed a multi-phase methodology to explore avenues for transitioning False Creek's marine ecosystem from a state of survival to thriving. The focus centred on deriving learnings from the efficacy of successful models/practices, as well as insights from a diverse range of stakeholders, including NGOs, government agencies, and local residents.

Partner & Funder: False Creek Friends Society
Keywords: ecological systems, leadership & behaviour change, sustainable development & green economy

PDF
2023
Yash Mehta

On a global scale, Indigenous peoples are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change, largely due to their close relationship to and reliance on traditional lands. This paper introduces nature based solutions (NbS) as they pertain to flood management across the Fraser Valley. Topics reviewed include: current state of flood infrastructure, regional flood strategies, nature-based solutions, organisations that support flood resiliency. The report includes a feasibilty map and a discussion of natural asset management and ways it can be Indigenized.

Partner: Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre (SRRMC)
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: ecological systems, water, flooding, Indigenous, biodiversity  

PDF
2023
Tirath Dave

This project aim was to assess frontline healthcare worker knowledge and readiness to participate in low-carbon, low-waste, high-quality sustainable practices at BC Cancer. A community assessment was conducted through a qualitative approach to quality improvement. The initiative resulted in recommendations for effectively engaging clinicians in sustainability practices such as the need to implement green policies, nurture a positive culture, involve patients, and encourage staff empowerment.

Partner: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
Funder: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
Keywords: clinical engagement, low-waste, low-carbon, sustainable practices

PDF
2023
Eunice Bawafaa

Pages