UBC BioProducts Institute

UBC BioProducts Institute The BioProducts Institute is changing the way our society collaborates with nature for a sustainable and renewable future.

Bringing together state of the art research and resources in a unique innovative ecosystem, our aim is to unlock the power of nature to make a positive impact on all sectors from transportation to building to healthcare. Bringing together state of the art research and resources in a unique innovative ecosystem, our aim is to unlock the power of nature to make a positive impact on all sectors from

transportation to building to healthcare.​

The BioProducts Institute (BPI) is an innovative ecosystem of high-impact fundamental and applied researchers working on solutions to today’s climate and environmental challenges. The Institute brings together inter- and multi-disciplinary researchers comprised of scientists, engineers, and market and policy experts to unlock the full potential of materials, chemicals and fuels produced in nature. Based on the guiding principles of circularity, sustainability and renewability, BPI seeks to reduce society’s footprint and tackle rampant environmental challenges such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste. Our research themes center around biocatalytic transformation & engineering of biomass, bio-nanoparticle enabled materials, bio-based polymers & carbon materials, and biorefinery & biofuels systems. By conducting research, we are able to transform our findings into bioproducts that will serve as catalysts to launch Canada's bioeconomy. With increasing demands for low carbon fuel, plastic alternatives and degradable materials, the BioProducts Institute looks forward to being a world leader in the green economy sector.

🌊 Tracking pollution in the Dr. Johan Foster and Dr. Mona Rahmani are collaborating with Ocean Diagnostics to better ...
09/03/2026

🌊 Tracking pollution in the

Dr. Johan Foster and Dr. Mona Rahmani are collaborating with Ocean Diagnostics to better understand how microplastics move and accumulate in the Fraser River and Strait of Georgia.

Combining field sampling with numerical modelling, the research aims to identify pollution sources and hotspots and help guide more effective monitoring, regulation and remediation efforts.💧

The work is part of a broader project involving Ocean Diagnostics and the National Research Council of Canada.🌍

👉Read more in ECO Magazine: https://ecomagazine.com/news/research/ubc-and-ocean-diagnostics-track-microplastic-pollution-in-the-fraser-river/

(Photo credit: Ocean Diagnostics)


University of British Columbia UBC Applied Science UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Industrial Applications of are opening new possibilities for sustainable ! 🌿🔬 Join the featuring Dr. Frank Kvieto...
08/31/2026

Industrial Applications of are opening new possibilities for sustainable ! 🌿🔬

Join the featuring Dr. Frank Kvietok, Senior Director of Innovation at Lignetics Inc., hosted by Dr. Emily Cranston. Explore advances in , high-performance and media, and innovative solutions. Learn how industry–academic is accelerating sustainable innovation and discover opportunities to connect with our research community. 🤝

📅 Date: Tuesday September 1, 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📍 Location: CHBE #202, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
🔗 RSVP: https://bpi.ubc.ca/events/Kvietok

University of British Columbia UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC

Congratulations to Dr. Yale Zhu on being named one of Pulp & Paper Canada’s 2026 Top 10 Under 40 and on ’s recent featu...
08/20/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Yale Zhu on being named one of Pulp & Paper Canada’s 2026 Top 10 Under 40 and on ’s recent features in Canada’s National Observer and CBC News, as well as CBC Radio’s On the Coast!🎉

As CTO of DicinFoam, Yale is leading the scale-up of -fibre technology he co-developed as a postdoc working with Dr. Feng Jiang at .🌲

DicinFoam grew from a with the Wet’suwet’en through its business arm, Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership, led by President and CEO Reg Ogen. The Nation supplied materials for the research, helped secure funding and now leads the -owned of the technology—creating value from - and insect-damaged wood and other forest residues.♻️

The new pilot plant can produce up to 100 tonnes of foam annually for protective and .

📰Read the Canada’s National Observer feature: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/08/20/news/first-nation-led-wood-foam-project
📰CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ubc-wood-foam-9.7312821
🎙️Yale's interview on CBC Radio's On The Coast with Gloria Macarenko
:https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46-on-the-coast/clip/16232242-wetsuweten-first-nation-ubc-turning-wood-scraps-biodegradable
🏆Yale’s Top 10 Under 40 profile: https://www.pulpandpapercanada.com/ppcs-top-10-under-40-yale-zhu/

Congratulations to Dr. Yale Zhu on being named one of Pulp & Paper Canada’s 2026 Top 10 Under 40—and on ’s recent cover...
08/20/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Yale Zhu on being named one of Pulp & Paper Canada’s 2026 Top 10 Under 40—and on ’s recent coverage by CBC News and CBC Radio’s On the Coast!🎉

As CTO of DicinFoam, Yale is leading the scale-up of -fibre technology he co-developed as a postdoc working with Dr. Feng Jiang at .🌲

DicinFoam grew from a with the Wet’suwet’en through its business arm, Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership, led by President and CEO Reg Ogen. The Nation supplied materials for the research, helped secure funding and now leads the -owned of the technology—creating value from - and insect-damaged wood and other forest residues.♻️

The new pilot plant can produce up to 100 tonnes of foam annually for protective and .

📰 Read the CBC News story: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ubc-wood-foam-9.7312821
🎙️ Listen to Yale's interview on CBC Radio's On The Coast with Gloria Macarenko
:https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46-on-the-coast/clip/16232242-wetsuweten-first-nation-ubc-turning-wood-scraps-biodegradable
🏆Read Yale’s Top 10 Under 40 profile:https://www.pulpandpapercanada.com/ppcs-top-10-under-40-yale-zhu/

How can —one of the most abundant polymers on Earth—be transformed into valuable fuels, chemicals and materials? 🌲Joi...
08/19/2026

How can —one of the most abundant polymers on Earth—be transformed into valuable fuels, chemicals and materials? 🌲

Join Dr. Anuj Kumar Chandel of USP - Universidade de São Paulo as he explores lignin , catalytic upgrading, biological and functional , with a focus on translating research into industrial applications. Hosted by Dr. Lindsay Eltis.♻️

📅 August 25 | 12–1 PM
📍 CHBE 202, UBC Vancouver
👉Learn more and register: https://bpi.ubc.ca/events/Chandel


University of British Columbia UBC Wood Science UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship

remains one of the most challenging areas in the transition toward a . Paper-based offer promise, but scaling them ...
08/12/2026

remains one of the most challenging areas in the transition toward a . Paper-based offer promise, but scaling them requires more than simply substituting one material for another.🌱

In a new op-ed, Scientific Director Dr. Orlando Rojas explores how BPI’s collaboration with Unilever is helping advance solutions that balance performance, recyclability, resource efficiency and end-of-life outcomes.♻️

👉Read the full article: https://bpi.ubc.ca/news/august-08-2026/Flexibles

University of British Columbia UBC Wood Science UBC Engineering Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems UBC Applied Science

08/11/2026

What if a injection could provide longer-lasting relief from ? 💉🔬

Akshai Bose, a PhD student in Prof. Dana Grecov’s group, is developing -based viscosupplements to improve , lubrication, and resistance to oxidative degradation. Using and , he investigates how these formulations flow, bear loads, and reduce friction—with the goal of extending their functional lifetime and improving mobility. 🦴♻️

His research is supported by ’s program—which is currently welcoming new applications.

Curious where your research could go next?
👉 Learn more:https://bpi.ubc.ca/news/july-07-2026/ATR2026

University of British Columbia Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC UBC Engineering

From residues to next-generation !🌲A new Innovation UBC feature spotlights researcher Dr. Feng Jiang’s work transfo...
08/10/2026

From residues to next-generation !🌲

A new Innovation UBC feature spotlights researcher Dr. Feng Jiang’s work transforming B.C. into , fibres and elastic —with applications ranging from to .♻️

The story also explores how with communities, industry and other institutions are helping move these innovations from the lab toward real-world impact.🌍

👉Read the full story: https://innovation.ubc.ca/stories/how-ubc-turns-wood-waste-sustainable


University of British Columbia UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship

🚀 Launch 2026 – Call for Innovations 🌱Are you an MSc/PhD student or postdoc at working on a technology? Take your ...
08/05/2026

🚀 Launch 2026 – Call for Innovations 🌱

Are you an MSc/PhD student or postdoc at working on a technology? Take your idea from lab to impact with the Accelerating Technology Readiness (ATR) Launch.

Why apply?
✅ Expert mentorship and industry guidance
✅ Access to specialized equipment and innovation networks
✅ Support to accelerate your journey
✅ Funding for eligible development activities (subject to confirmed funding)
✅ Open to innovations at all ( ) and free to apply

📅 Applications close September 18, 2026.

👉Learn more and apply: https://bpi.ubc.ca/news/july-07-2026/ATR2026


University of British Columbia UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems UBC Wood Science

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