SCARP Research

UBC: Inspiring people, ideas and actions for a better world 

UBC’s mission is pursuing excellence in research, learning and engagement to foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British Columbia, Canada and the world.  

UBC is a research leader in several areas.

The QS World University Rankings has determined UBC:

  • Ranks among the top universities in the world
  • Ranks third in the world for its overall impact on sustainability:
    fourth for our environmental impact, and second in the world for our social impact.

UBC is one of the top research-intensive universities in the world and a recognized leader in research and scholarship at the graduate and postdoctoral level across an enormous range of both disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, with nearly 900 postdoctoral fellows and over 10,000 graduate students on the UBC-Vancouver campus. In 2018-19, UBC earned more than 669 million in research funding, with record number of 9,544 projects supported. 

Some of how we’ve made a difference:

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Among institutional efforts to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), out of over 1,400 institutions, UBC places: 
  • 1st in the world re: innovation and industry partnerships 
  • 6th in the world re: reducing inequality 
  • 7th re: climate action 
1st in the world in industry, innovation, and infrastructure

Connections between universities and industry are crucial to bringing inventions to life. For the second year in a row, UBC has tied for first place in the world for impact in industry, innovation and infrastructure. This ranking recognizes the university’s patents, research income and the 245 companies spun off from UBC research (as of March 31, 2022).

6th in the world in reducing inequality

UBC ranks sixth in the world for taking action toward reducing inequalities. This SDG universities’ research on social inequalities, their policies on discrimination and their commitment to recruiting staff and students from underrepresented groups.

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4th in the world for sustainability

UBC ranks fourth in the world for its ability to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges.

7th in the world in climate action

UBC ranks seventh in the world for taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. This ranking recognizes UBC’s early commitment to carbon neutrality and ongoing extensive response to the climate emergency.

 

More UBC rankings:

  • 11th re: conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development 
  • 19th re: sustainable consumption and production patterns 
  • 23rd re: inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities 
  •  13th overall 
2022 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings), 2022

SCARP's research principles

Through education and research, SCARP is committed to generating and transforming knowledge into action, by planning in partnership, with the aim of improving the well-being of communities, and the quality of the built and natural environments.

SCARP faculty and students undertake innovative research every year, challenging research conventions to share transformative insight. 

Universities today are becoming increasingly conscious of the responsibility to their local communities and the wider public in the education they provide and the knowledge generated. SCARP understands planning insights to be an act of partnership with experts and community alike.  

Our research strategy:
  • Develop mechanisms to support and encourage innovation in knowledge generation, especially in engaged scholarship and the achievement of research impact 
  • Support the creation of a lively intellectual environment, including a program of seminars and events 
  • Nurture the planning scholars of the future 
  • Support the implementation of the PhD Program Review 
  • Build connections within the School’s research community (faculty, researchers and PhD students) and beyond 
  • Provide links to research initiatives in UBC, Applied Science, the Tri-Councils, Foundations and other governmental and non-governmental agencies
Learn more:

SCARP faculty research

SCARP student research

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