Students from British Columbia and around the world can now study for careers in the life sciences in the renovated and expanded Undergraduate Life Sciences Teaching Laboratories at UBC.
Undergraduate Life Sciences Teaching Laboratories. Photo: UBC Science
The $91.4-million project, officially opened today, increases capacity and provides life-sciences students — including learners from the Faculty of Medicine’s departments of cellular physiological sciences and biochemistry and molecular biology — with opportunities to learn in well-equipped and spacious teaching laboratories, modern classrooms and study areas with greater possibilities for collaboration and hands-on learning.
“This building supports the next generations of researchers finding ways to combat disease, protect agriculture and create innovative medicines,” said Melanie Mark, B.C.’s Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “We expect thousands of careers in science and technology in the next decade, and this state-of-the-art building will empower students to get the hands-on experience they need to thrive and build the best B.C.”
The multi-year life-sciences facilities overhaul at UBC’s Vancouver campus was made possible by joint federal-provincial funding through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund. The project received $32.5 million from the Government of Canada, $11.8 million from the Government of British Columbia and $47.1 million from UBC.
“When students learn in modern, cutting-edge laboratories, they get to explore practical problems in a supportive environment that prepares them for the job market,” said Bruce Ralston, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology. “The new Undergraduate Life Sciences Teaching Laboratories will help students lead in exciting fields of discovery and succeed in our growing life-sciences sector.”
“The newly renovated and expanded teaching laboratories will not only enrich the learning environment, it will also spur innovation and drive changes in the way we teach and learn.”
Dr. Deborah Money
The project demolished, renovated and expanded decades-old teaching spaces in the Biological Sciences Centre, north wings and Wesbrook and D.H. Copp buildings at UBC. It consolidates all undergraduate life and biological sciences on campus into one space, including botany, zoology, microbiology and immunology, physiological sciences, biochemistry and molecular biology, with physical space for faculty and over 2,600 students in UBC’s life-sciences programs.
Dr. Dermot Kelleher, Dean, UBC Faculty of Medicine, and Vice President, Health, UBC; Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology; and Dr. Deborah Money, Executive Vice Dean, UBC Faculty of Medicine.
“The newly renovated and expanded teaching laboratories will not only enrich the learning environment, it will also spur innovation and drive changes in the way we teach and learn,” said Dr. Deborah Money, Executive Vice Dean of UBC’s Faculty of Medicine.
The project renovated 5,490 square metres, renewed 5,348 square metres and added 9,069 square metres. It also improved the environmental performance of the facility to be consistent with CleanBC and is targeting LEED Gold standard certification.
Investments through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund are being used to modernize facilities at Canadian universities and colleges, as well as improve the energy efficiency of these facilities and reduce their impact on the environment.
The official opening of the new facility was celebrated with Joyce Murray, federal Minister of Digital Government; Melanie Mark, B.C.’s Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training; Bruce Ralston, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology; David Eby, MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey; Santa J. Ono, UBC president and vice-chancellor; Dr. Dermot Kelleher, dean of UBC’s faculty of medicine and vice president, health, at UBC; Dr. Deborah Money, executive vice dean of UBC’s faculty of medicine, and university students, faculty and staff.
Read the original release on news.gov.bc.ca.