CLL Fund Recipients (Vancouver)

UBC and People

Living Lab: driving innovations for a sustainable tomorrow

The Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) Fund Competition for UBC Vancouver Campus was launched in 2020. Since then we have supported a diverse range of projects, responding to the priority areas of climate action, resilient systems, sustainable places and communities, and health and wellbeing. These projects showcase the potential for collaborations between faculty and staff.

Browse the links below to learn more about past CLL Competition Award recipients. If you are interested in developing a similar projects, please consider applying to the next CLL Fund Competition or reach out to us to discuss your ideas.

2023 Grand Challenge Funded Projects
BRDF Expansion

Bioenergy from Commercial-Municipal Organic Waste

This innovative project at UBC Vancouver explores the potential of utilizing aerobically treated organic waste from municipal-commercial waste programs as a sustainable biomass source for UBC's Bioenergy Research Demonstration Facility (BRDF). 
UBC Hub
Resilience Hubs for UBC Campus Communities: Multidisciplinary Research to Support Operational Planning

This visionary project at UBC Vancouver focuses on enhancing campus resilience in response to climate hazards, aligning with the Campus Vision 2050 Plan. It will develop a resilience hub framework to strengthen community connections and emergency support, and create a disaster risk reduction roadmap to improve UBC’s operational response to climate emergencies.
UBCO Aerial

Smart Fire Detection Systems to Improve Wildfire Resilience of UBCO Campus

This pioneering project at UBC Okanagan is set to develop advanced, integrated fire-detection systems using multi-sensor networks for early wildfire detection and hotspots risk assessment. 
2022 Funded Projects
Mind in Motion Front
Mind In Motion: Developing an exercise referral pathway for students seeking help for depression
The pilot supplements UBC’s mental health services for students by providing more accessible stress management and coping programs through exercise.
Garden
Indigenous Campus Living Laboratory at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden
The Indigenous Campus Living Lab (ICLL) project aims to investigate how Indigenous land-based practices can influence UBC campus health and wellness environments and provide opportunities for ethical dialogue and mobilization of perspectives on Indigenous Health and Wellbeing.
Robot
Leak detection for UBC buildings using autonomous robots
The project deploys automated robots to improve energy performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. The robot is designed to navigate tight spaces, generate 3D point clouds, and detect leaks in HVAC systems using onboard sensors and machine learning algorithms.
Tent
Creating an inclusive, climate and COVID-resilient outdoor learning space @ UBC
The project aims to construct a pavilion that will serve as a place for gathering, communal learning, and inclusion for all future students. The project will also provide a new model for flexible, outdoor, liminal spaces for learning on the UBC campus.
Exploring the Intersection of Urban Trees, Microbes, and Insects: The CTMAIN Project at UBC Investigates the Impact of Tree Selection on Biodiversity and Develops New Methods for Assessing Microbial and Insect Communities.
Campus Trees, Microbes and Insects (CTMAIN): A database for understanding how tree traits mitigate climate change and enhance biodiversity
The project aims to investigate the impact of urban tree selection on local insect and microbial communities by studying different UBC campus sites and creating a database of tree traits and plant communities’ information. The project will help improve understanding of how to balance planting trees for climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
The MycoToilet project’s objective is to develop and conduct a field test of a working prototype at the UBC Botanical Garden. The on-ground demonstration of the working prototype will generate valuable data regarding the use and effectiveness of the toilet in a real-world setting and creates an opportunity reduce operational dependency on biocides and other toxic chemicals at UBC
MycoToilet: Demonstration of a Mycelium-Based Composting Toilet Sustainable Places & Communities
This project aims to develop and field test a working prototype of the MycoToilet. This composting toilet uses mycelium biocomposites to convert human waste into valuable soil products in minimal time, with the potential to revolutionize distributed point-source waste treatment in remote locations.
2021 funded projects
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The UBC E-Kitchen
An ‘E-Kitchen’ for the repair and reuse of electronics, to support the transition to a circular economy and reduce impacts on climate and environment.
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Designing Student-family Housing for Wellbeing
Design charrettes will allow residents to contribute to the design process for redevelopment at Acadia Park, home to more than 1,800 student-family residents.
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Nutrients, Energy, and Water Resource Recovery Research (NEWateR3) Facility
The NEWateR3 project will install a state-of-the art facility at UBC to advance the development of sustainable technologies that recover valuable products from wastewater, such as carbon, nutrients, and water.
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Digital Detection for On-campus Insects
Tracking insects at UBC campus is taking a leap forward by employing high-tech, automated tools.
2020 Funded projects
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Building a Carbon Capture and Conversion Ecosystem
This project aims to advance the strategic priority area of Climate Action through education and research focused on GHG emissions reductions.
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(Re)imagining Indigenous-centred UBC Campus Recreation
This project sets out to answer the question: how do we create sustainable, culturally-safe and inclusive Indigenous-centred place-based campus recreation?
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5G Data-Driven Natural Asset Management and Integration
The 5G Natural Asset Management and Integration project uses UBC campus to pilot the deployment of smart technologies for the management and planning of natural assets (e.g. trees, ecosystems), in support of healthier, climate resilient and sustainable communities.
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Community Food Hub
The Community Food Hub project aims to promote food security on campus by using a student-driven, research-led approach prioritizing community needs to provide support services and programs on the Vancouver campus.