UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 10 | June 14, 2001

UBC second in research grants

Only University of Toronto researchers earn more

UBC investigators have secured $23.5 million over five years in federal research support for 195 science and engineering projects, earning them second place among Canadian universities for funding garnered in the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) annual grants competition.

A total of $346 million was granted to more than 2,500 Canadian university researchers.

Top spot went to the University of Toronto which gained more than $31 million for 245 projects. The University of Alberta ranked third with $23.4 million granted to support 187 projects.

UBC is also second among Canadian universities for funding earned in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) annual grants competition. Earlier this year, UBC researchers earned $6.2 million from SSHRC.

"UBC researchers are very competitive at the national and international level," says Indira Samarasekera, vice-president, Research. "And UBC innovation helps fuel economic growth with research jobs, spin-off companies and a high-tech infrastructure that will benefit research and development in this province for the long term."

Many recipients are junior researchers who are demonstrating their capacity for significant future contributions, she adds.

UBC researchers in disciplines ranging from audiology to zoology were funded by NSERC for equipment such as ultra-low temperature freezers, for basic science projects and field studies.

Oldrich Hungr, an associate professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences who joined the Faculty of Science five years ago, develops methods to evaluate landslide hazards.

An expert in landslide dynamics, Hungr investigates the stability of slopes to determine the level of risk for buildings, roads and environmentally sensitive areas. One evaluation method involves computer modeling to help predict the distance and speed at which a landslide will travel.

His work helps to inform planners regarding risk and aids government and private industry in assessing the effectiveness of protective features, such as rock fall fences and earth barriers or berms.

The funding will help Hungr, who directs UBC's interdisciplinary Geological Engineering program, to train five or six graduate students.

UBC researchers conduct upwards of 4,000 projects annually and attract more than $165 million in funding annually.

A complete listing of NSERC grant recipients may be found at www.nserc.ca. SSHRC grant recipients may be found a www.sshrc.ca.