UBC SPPH unveils revamped occupational and environmental health lab

The School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has unveiled its newly renovated Occupational and Environmental Health Teaching and Research Lab. The renovated lab, which opened in September 2023, is a joint teaching and research space for the Master of Science (MSc) students and faculty in the Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) division. The lab renovation was funded by a $1M award from the 2023 UBC Learning Space Improvement Program.

First opened in 1992, the lab has been a vital hub for MSc OEH classes related to field work or applied practice, as well as a center for groundbreaking research.

UBC President David Strangway (L) is joined by (L-R) the founding Program Director Prof. Susan Kennedy, Student Dr. Lydia Ma, Dean John Grace (Grad Studies), Mr. James Dorsey (Workers’ Compensation Board, now known as WorkSafeBC) at the opening of the MSc (OEH) program in 1992.

The first two OEH cohorts entering in 1992 and 1993 (that included future profs Hugh Davies and Karen Bartlett)

The renovation project, which lasted four months over the summer of 2023, was driven by the goal of aligning the aging learning space with current teaching needs, optimizing space utilization and ergonomics, and addressing pending health and safety issues.

The old lab, while functional, presented challenges such as noise, chemical hazards, and limited flexibility in teaching configurations. To overcome these challenges and provide a safer learning environment, the faculty and staff in the OEH division worked together to improve the learning space through the renovation.

One of the last classes in the old lab. Image was taken in April 2023.

The new lab separates teaching and wet lab areas with glass walls and doors, ensuring a safer and quieter learning environment while remaining connected to the wet lab. Image was taken by Connie Wu in October 2023 at Dr. Karen Bartlett’s lab session.

The newly renovated lab features a modern layout that has significantly improved space utilization, ergonomics, and accessibility. It separates teaching and wet lab areas with glass walls and doors, ensuring a safer and quieter learning environment while remaining connected to the wet lab. The large cabinet-style seating of the old lab has been replaced by movable benches which can be arranged to suit different uses.

The newly renovated lab features a modern layout that has significantly improved space utilization, ergonomics, and accessibility. Image was taken by Connie Wu in October 2023 at Dr. Karen Bartlett’s lab session.

According to SPPH professor Hugh Davies, the renovation has been transformational from an instructor’s point of view, allowing for greater flexibility in teaching styles and activities.

“Previously all students had to cluster around the front desk to hear the professor or watch a demonstration. Now we can reorganize mobile benches to suit different activities and teaching styles,” says Davies.

Dr. Hugh Davies engaging with students during his weekly lab session as part of the course SPPH 562: Chemical and Biological Hazard Measurement. Image was taken by Connie Wu in February 2024

The grand opening of the renovated lab was held in November 2023, bringing together students, faculty, staff and alumni to celebrate the new space. The event featured a welcome by Head of OEH Division and Director of MSc OEH program Christopher McLeod, followed by remarks from Director pro tem of SPPH Aslam Anis, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Mieke Koehoorn, and Head of OEH Teaching and Research Lab Hugh Davies.

Students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered to celebrate the new space.

View more photos from the event

Looking ahead, the lab will continue to be a hub for research and teaching in occupational and environmental health. The school is currently developing plans to introduce new non-credit courses in Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) in late 2024, utilizing the lab as a key resource for creating new learning materials and enhancing multi-access teaching, thereby increasing accessibility to remote students.

The MSc OEH program of the School of Population and Public Health provides the skills and knowledge to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control chemical, physical and biological hazards in workplace and community environments. Hands-on experience in the lab and in the field helps our students pursue careers in research, occupational and environmental hygiene, policy analysis, health and safety, and more.