Vancouver campus projects

UBC and People

Using our campus as a vibrant and dynamic learning laboratory

The Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) Fund Competition at UBC Vancouver 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. 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.

A living lab story map for UBC Vancouver

Explore Campus as a Living Lab projects at UBC Vancouver. Use the interactive Story Map below to discover selected active living lab project sites that you can explore virtually or visit in person. You can also browse links to learn more about projects funded through previous UBC Vancouver CLL Fund Competitions.

UBC CLL Story Map

Discover UBC Vancouver’s living lab projects in action

Take a virtual or self-guided tour of selected living lab project sites across the UBC Vancouver campus.
2025 Funded Projects
aerial photo of UBC botanical garden
Chemical Atlas of Native BC Plant Species (CAN-BC)
This interdisciplinary project explores the chemical potential of native BC plants, generating open-access data to drive biodiversity-based innovation and support climate-resilient, plant-derived solutions.
Biodiversity monitoring equipment installation
Cooling and Conservation: Managing Campus Green Spaces for Biodiversity and Climate Change
This project studies how urban green spaces cool environments and support biodiversity, generating data-driven guidance for designing climate-resilient, wildlife-friendly landscapes across campus and beyond.
Visible leaf spotting on campus vegetation documented as part of plant health monitoring research
CURE: Campus Unified Research on Ecosystem's 'Good and Bad' Viruses
This living lab project at UBC Vancouver investigates the hidden viral communities affecting campus green spaces, ornamental landscapes, and agri-food systems, which will generate practical tools and knowledge to support healthier, more resilient urban ecosystems on campus and beyond.
UBC Fibre Garden
Fabric of Campus Fibre Garden
This innovative and community-focused project at UBC Vancouver focuses on creating a living lab fibre garden that will produce local textiles while creating a vibrant public space on campus.
background blurry and researcher holding a set of tubes
Future-Proof Labs: Elevating Sustainability in UBC Teaching Spaces
This innovative project will transform undergraduate teaching laboratories into living labs to reduce single-use laboratory plastics (SULP) and advance sustainable practices.
Student GenAI Discussion
Modeling Changes in Student AI-Engagement Profiles
This project explores how UBC students are using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in their academic work, and how factors such as motivation, belonging, identity, and support shape that use.
researchers in a lab
Smart Distributed Power Management for a Sustainable and Resilient Campus
This project explores responsive, building-level energy use to improve efficiency and resilience, supporting smarter power management and reducing campus carbon emissions over time.
BIA POD (Outside Concept) — Credit: Perkins&Will
Transforming UBC Food Systems & Built Environments - Building Integrated Agriculture (BIA)
This pioneering living lab project at UBC Vancouver explores how Building-Integrated Agriculture can transform campus buildings and food operations into hubs for hyperlocal, low-carbon food production.
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?
Drone shot
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.