Learn how engineering sets you up to shape the world

Shaping the future

By Dr. James Olson, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science

Throughout history, engineers have shaped the future, making what was once only imagined become real, and delivering positive impacts to people, communities and the planet.

The advances of the last 50 years alone are mind boggling: the mass production of life-saving drugs and vaccines, self-driving cars, low-carbon and zero-carbon ways to produce energy, international air travel (and travel beyond earth) and the instant connectivity of the Internet.

Dr. James Olson

Engineering has made this possible. Engineers are creators who work at the intersection of science and technology to imagine, design and develop solutions that transform our world. At the very core of engineering is design thinking: a creative, collaborative process of identifying problems, defining their parameters and generating solutions. It’s a process that drives how engineers shape our built environment and society.

The defining challenges of our time – the need for clean energy, responsible resource use, climate change, health and social equity, ethical AI – require passionate, creative, knowledge people to develop innovative solutions.

At UBC Engineering, we are embracing the challenge. The Faculty of Applied Science Strategic Plan outlines how we are transforming the world through solutions for people, cities and communities, and the planet.

Faculty of Applied Science Strategic Plan

Building on this vision, our students and faculty are active at every scale – addressing challenges from individual needs to global issues, and advancing innovations from the molecular level to massive infrastructure projects.

Many of our faculty are world-recognized leaders in their fields who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

They are collaborating with top companies, non-profit organizations, other academic researchers, and government organization on engineering research that matters and that is contributing to healthier and stronger communities. They are advancing sustainable carbon fibre solutions, improving the disaster resilience of our cities, harnessing AI to predict biological outcomes, and advancing the circular economy.

Our faculty are entrepreneurs, with their research resulting in hundreds of issued patents as well as the creation of spinoff companies active in areas from water treatment technologies to target forever chemicals, a platform that will support the development of microbial solutions to make mining more efficient, and using carbon capture to produce sustainable aviation fuel.

For you as a UBC Engineering student, the scale and scope of the research underway by your professors is reflected in our program offerings: at our campus in Vancouver you can choose from 14 different engineering programs that intersect with every aspect of science and society.

There’s a program here for you, no matter what your interests.

The value of being part of a research-intensive university is seen in other ways, too. You won’t just be learning from professors who are internationally recognized for their pioneering breakthroughs – you could also work alongside them. Many UBC Engineering students pursue undergraduate research opportunities where they conduct research in state-of-the-art labs and facilities under the supervision of faculty and graduate students.

Our students also benefit from the strong local, national and international networks and research partnerships our faculty are part of. Our partners know what UBC Engineering and its students can do. That’s why they are so eager to sponsor capstone projects, hire our co-op students, and put our graduates at the top of a shortlist when making hiring decisions.

capstone projects co-op students

It’s not just our faculty who are shaping the future – our students are, too. They’re doing that in their capstone projects, as well as through their participation in design teams. UBC has more student-led engineering design teams than any other university in Canada. Students come together to work on complex, interdisciplinary projects where they gain hands-on technical skills and essential experience in collaboration, leadership, overcoming adversity and so much more. This is a great way for our students – in addition to their co-op experiences and capstone projects – to really see firsthand the profound impact they can have as an engineer in our world.

engineering design teams

It is not surprising that UBC Engineering is globally recognized as one of the top engineering schools in Canada – and the world.

The latest Q5 World University Rankings placed us 31^st in the world, with UBC’s civil and structural engineering program ranking first in Canada (25^th in the world) and mineral and mining engineering ninth in the world.

I firmly believe that nothing gives you more agency than an engineering degree. I’ve seen this in my own life as well as in the experience of both of my children, who studied engineering at UBC and are now making important contributions in their careers. Engineering offers a unique framework for understanding and shaping the world – one that is creative yet methodical, forward-thinking and collaborative. It’s a degree that sets you up to create a better future.