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Decisions about climate, resources, and environmental risk increasingly shape every profession. Yet many UBC students graduate without learning how the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, land, and life are interconnected.

A new undergraduate certificate in Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences aims to change that. EOAS Lecturer Louise Longridge and Professor of Teaching Stuart Sutherland have launched the certificate to expose a broader range of UBC students to the Earth and environmental science topics that shape our world. 

Certificates are similar in concept to a minor, but, importantly, the credits earned through a certificate can also apply towards a student’s primary degree. The program focuses on earth system change, with upper-level course requirements (9 credits total) across three core areas: the geosphere, the atmosphere and hydrosphere, and the biosphere. 

I spoke with the codirectors to learn more about why they decided to form the program and what it has to offer students. 

Why did you decide to form this certificate?

Stuart: It started with something that I considered for a long time - within our department we’re preaching to the choir. Students who are enrolled in our courses are already interested in the environment, environment change, earth history, mass extinctions, and so on.

What we felt was missing was a certificate that students from other disciplines could complete that would appear on their degree and on their CV. This would show that, even if they’re not specializing in EOAS or environmental science, they’ve meaningfully engaged with these ideas. 

We wanted to acknowledge that understanding the times we’re living in, and being able to interpret them through the lens of the past, is really important for so many careers. Law, politics, education, really every industry is touched by these issues.

What do you think students don’t realise about studying earth system science?

Louise: I find that as I move through life, I keep returning to concepts I learned about our planet as an undergraduate. Learning about our planet is an opportunity to learn something that you might apply every day. It might really change your worldview in terms of the way you live on the earth and maybe what you want to do with that time. 

As I’m looking out the window right now, blinded by the sun, I’m thinking about how extraordinary this planet is. I don’t think I’d have that level of appreciation without those impactful undergraduate courses.

Stuart: I think for the students, this is about being part of the leading edge of understanding the Earth as a system. What's important for them to know is that they aren’t just going to learn isolated facts about dinosaurs, whales, or clouds - this knowledge, as Louise is directly relevant to their career and to the entire planet as we move forward. 

Louise: We don’t want to catastrophize, but the truth is that everybody is already being affected by climate change in some way. Pretending otherwise isn’t a long-term solution. Instead, we want students to feel empowered by what they learn in the certificate.

Right now, I often hear from undergraduates who feel overwhelmed or discouraged about the future, saying things like, “I can't even look at that. It’s too depressing.” Instead, they’ll leave the certificate with knowledge they can carry forward and use productively. Knowledge is how you get agency. The more you understand, the more capable you are of creating positive change.

Stuart: It's empowering students to make informed decisions and evaluate data critically without drama, fear, or without someone else telling them what conclusions to draw.

Who is the certificate designed for?

Louise: The certificate is intentionally broad to work for students that are not already in Earth or Environmental Science programs. Because of that, it’s honestly beneficial for almost anyone. 

Many of the courses don’t have science prerequisites at all For my course, EOSC 326, it’s helpful to have some biology, either from high school or first year, although it doesn’t matter which biology course. Also, most of the courses can be taken any time from second year onward, so students don’t need to wait until later in their degree.

We hope to reach, for example, the second-year arts student who struggled with science in high school and may have written it off. You don’t need to be “a science person”, you just need curiosity about the planet.

What else would you like to say about the certificate to that first year arts student? 

Stuart: A lot of the courses in the certificate were originally designed for arts students. I can speak to my course specifically, EOS 310, and there's no heavy math or equation solving involved. The emphasis is on analysis, interpretation, and critical thinking.

Louise: I would want them to know that it doesn't have to be complicated. I think a lot of people picture imagine unfamiliar terminology, or get worried about being unable to read a chart. But these courses are led by people who are very passionate about what they do, and happy to work with students who are struggling. There are lots of resources available, and help is always there if they need it. Essentially, I’d tell them learning more about the Earth and how it works as a system will likely enrich their life. If they’re interested, just go for it!

(Prepared by Dr. Ali Ameli) Climate variability doesn't affect all watersheds equally—and new research reveals that the difference lies beneath the surface. A study published in Water Resources Research by Mahbod Taherian (Master of Applied Science student in Geological Engineering) and Dr. Ali Ameli (Assistant Professor) at the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences shows that year-to-year variations in Fall rainfall fundamentally alter how subsequent snowmelt moves through a watershed—whether it flows quickly to streams, seeps down to recharge groundwater, or returns to the atmosphere through plants. 

But the magnitude of this climate-induced shift depends critically on what lies underground. Watersheds with patchy subsurface structure—alternating zones of easy and restricted water flow—route snowmelt very differently depending on how wet the previous Fall was. In contrast, watersheds with uniform underground structure partition snowmelt consistently year after year, regardless of climate conditions in the Fall season prior to snow season. The findings suggest that predicting how water supply and flood risk will respond to climate change requires looking beyond surface characteristics to the hidden architecture below—a factor largely overlooked in current climate change impact assessment studies.

Across the department, EOAS researchers made their mark in 2025. Here is a brief highlight of some of the great research out of the department. Congratulations on all of the impactful work, we can’t wait to see what folks uncover in 2026!

March - Sharper images of Earth’s interior using neural networks

New research by Anran Xu and Lindsey Heagy shows that using neural networks in geophysical imaging can reduce common artefacts and improve how subsurface structures are mapped from field data. By training the neural network during inversion rather than beforehand, the method better recovers key features like fault boundaries, offering a promising advance for seismic surveying.

June – Microbial indicators of copper deposits

An entirely EOAS study led by student Bianca lulianella Phillips shows that surface microbes living on rocks above buried copper sulphide deposits can act as reliable indicators of where those copper resources are hidden underground. By linking specific microbial communities to underlying ore, the work offers a biological tool to guide more efficient and less invasive mineral exploration.

Read the UBC EOAS article here: Microbial DNA offers clues to where copper is buried

July - Mapping water tables with machine learning

An EOAS team developed high-resolution machine learning models that predict how deep the water table sits across large parts of the United States and Canada. Lead author Joe Janssen trained their models on millions of real and proxy observations, the researchers produced detailed maps that help improve our understanding of groundwater distribution — a key factor for ecosystems, drinking water resources, and land planning.

August – Asteroid Bennu and the origins of the solar system

New analysis from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission shows that asteroid Bennu contains an unexpected mix of rocks, water-altered minerals, and organic material, offering rare clues about how planets first came together. EOAS researchers Dominique Weis, Marghaleray Amini, and Vivian Lai were part of the international team behind this discovery.

Read the UBC EOAS article here: Asteroid Bennu holds clues to the origin of our solar system

August – The mystery of Sea Star Wasting solved

Researchers, led by EOAS and Hakai Institute scientist Melanie Prentice, identified the cause of sea star wasting disease, the devastating marine epidemic that has killed billions of sea stars along the Pacific coast since 2013. They found that a pathogenic Vibrio bacterium triggers the rapid tissue decay characteristic of the disease, resolving a decade-long mystery and opening new paths for monitoring and recovery.

Read the UBC EOAS article here: "Disease detectives" solve decade-long mystery of sea star wasting disease

August – Oyster die-off culprit identified

Research led by EOAS scientist Kevin Zhong has identified Pacific oyster nidovirus 1 (PONV1) as a key driver of recent oyster die-offs on the BC coast, linking the virus to widespread mortality in farmed and wild oyster populations. The study clarifies the biological cause of major losses in an ecologically and economically important species.

Read the UBC news article here: New mega RNA virus may hold the key to mass oyster die-offs.

September – Linking atmospheric patterns to extreme heat

An EOAS study shows that large bends in the jet stream play a key role in driving extreme hot and cold events across the Northern Hemisphere, with potential to be altered further due to climate change. By comparing different ways of measuring these atmospheric patterns, Elliot Roocroft, Rachel White, and Valentina Radić identified which indicators best capture when and where temperature extremes are most likely to occur, helping improve how scientists interpret and predict extreme weather.

October – Earthquake risk in southern BC

An EOAS study led by student Raul Mendoza investigated earthquake risk in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia by modelling seismic hazard scenarios for a set of active faults in southern BC. Their results highlight which faults — including the Fraser fault and Alouette Lake fault near Vancouver — could produce significant shaking and should be priorities for further study and risk planning. This work advances understanding of local earthquake threats and supports better preparedness for communities.

November – Lithium deposits in BC

Led by EOAS researcher Catriona Breasley, this study shows that the chemistry of minerals found at the surface can point to lithium-rich rocks buried deep underground near Revelstoke. By linking easily measured rock properties to hidden lithium deposits, the work provides a new way to support critical mineral exploration in British Columbia.

Read the UBC science article here: Will B.C. get a charge from lithium?

December – Improving how we model oil spills

EOAS researcher Raisha Lovindeer and her coauthors developed a new way to model how oil spills move through marine ecosystems, tracking contaminants from seawater into plankton, fish, and higher predators. By linking oil exposure to both immediate and long-term biological effects, the work improves our ability to assess ecosystem-wide impacts of spills and support better response and recovery planning.

We are excited to share that Dr. Hal Bradbury, Assistant Professor in Chemical Oceanography in the department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS), has been awarded support from the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) by the Government of B.C. The BCKDF goes towards the development of research infrastructure, with the goal of fostering innovation at B.C.’s research institutions. The $400,000 in funding will contribute to the development of a stable isotope laboratory at EOAS for the purpose of carbon cycle and climate change research.

Dr. Bradbury’s isotope geochemistry research focuses on the marine sedimentary environment. The project supported by the BCKDF will couple research into the climate of the past with research into critical mineral deposit formation. Studying the sensitivity of Earth’s climate to changes in greenhouse gas concentrations as well as the minerals integral to the clean-energy transition sets this project apart - it may increase both our understanding of future climate change and our ability to combat it. 

In receiving this award Dr. Bradbury joins 71 UBC award holders who the province hopes can help institutions attract gifted researchers and collaborate with industry. Congratulations Hal! 

Learn more about Dr. Bradbury’s research in this interview:

Read the full PMSA article here: Collaboration Between Canadian and Chilean University Consortiums Strives to Understand and Protect the Ocean 

Canadian and Chilean marine science organizations have formalized a new partnership to strengthen collaborative ocean research and education across the Pacific Rim and polar regions. The agreement, signed on November 25, 2025, brings together the Pacific Marine Science Alliance (PMSA), a consortium of five western Canadian universities including UBC, and the newly forming Chilean National Consortium of Ocean Science, led by the Océanos Institute at the University of Concepción and comprising ten research institutions across Chile. 

Canada and Chile together account for more than one-fifth of the world’s coastline and play leading roles in Arctic and Antarctic research. Despite their distance, the two countries have strikingly similar Pacific coastal environments and face many of the same ocean challenges, related to climate change, ocean acidification, fisheries resource management, and coastal hazards. Coordinating research across hemispheres creates new opportunities to understand how large-scale ocean processes shape regional ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. 

For UBC researchers, the agreement builds on more than a decade of Canada–Chile collaboration led by Dr. Philippe Tortell, a professor in Biological Oceanography at EOAS, whose work spans the eastern Pacific and polar regions. These collaborations have supported joint field programs, graduate student exchanges, and international training in ocean observation, biogeochemistry, and data science. Programs such as PRODIGY (Pacific Rim Ocean Data Mobilization and Technology) have provided many EOAS students with interdisciplinary and cross-cultural experience alongside Chilean colleagues. 

“This agreement marks a significant step forward in building a large-scale ocean research program across the Pacific Rim,” said Tortell. “Canada and Chile share many ocean challenges, and with that, a responsibility to provide global leadership in the protection and sustainable development of ocean resources.” 

The agreement signing followed a research visit to Chile by a Canadian delegation representing PMSA, including EOAS faculty Philippe Tortell, Rich Pawlowicz and Michael Bostock, along with UBC Dean of Science Mark MacLachlan. Hosted by the University of Concepción, the Catholic University of Chile, and the Catholic University of Valparaíso, the visit focused on identifying opportunities for coordinated research programs, shared infrastructure, and expanded student mobility, with plans to begin these efforts in 2026. 

The PMSA–Océanos agreement was signed alongside a Memorandum of Understanding between NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and Chile’s national research agency, ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo), creating a broader framework for Canadian-Chilean research collaboration. Representatives from both countries’ science ministries, funding agencies, and diplomatic missions attended the signing ceremony. 

Together, these agreements mark a major milestone for Pacific Rim ocean science under the UN Ocean Decade, positioning UBC and its partners within a growing international network dedicated to advancing ocean knowledge and stewardship at a global scale. 

EOAS hosted American science-comedian Ben Miller on November 5th for a whirlwind, 24-hour visit. Miller has performed in Victoria and Toronto before (and even in Benmiller, Ontario), but this was his first chance to visit Vancouver and meet the EOAS community. The city greeted him with steady rain, warm crowds, and excellent sushi squeezed in just before his flight home. 

Miller started his visit with lunch on campus with four EOAS graduate students. The group discussed his path from engineering to full-time comedy, his approach to science communication, and the process of shaping complex scientific ideas into accessible, humorous material. Students were particularly interested in how he balances scientific accuracy with storytelling, and how he handles challenging audiences—an experience familiar to any researcher presenting their work.

After lunch, Miller spent a few hours exploring campus and particularly enjoyed the Museum of Anthropology before heading to the Earth Sciences Building for the evening performance. The show sold out, with extra hopefuls gathered in the lobby in case there were any no-shows. EOAS professor Brett Gilley opened the event before Miller took the stage for his one-hour set, Volcano.

Volcano is Miller’s second full-length science-comedy show, developed after he served as the Artist in Residence at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in 2023—the first stand-up comedian ever selected for that role. During his residency, he learned about the science, history, and cultural significance of Hawai’i’s volcanoes, and transformed those experiences into a show that blends accurate geoscience with approachable comedy. The EOAS audience responded accordingly with “explosive” laughter throughout the performance.

Ben Miller’s Volcano show uses humour to make complex geoscience accessible, and EOAS was thrilled to host an evening that celebrated both scientific curiosity and the value of creative communication. We want to make this an annual event. If you have earth-science inspired comedians that you would love to see grace the halls of ESB next year, please reach out to the EOAS communications team via socialmedia@eoas.ubc.ca.