The University of British Columbia (UBC) and Teck Resources (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) announced the opening of the C$2.4 million ($1.8m) UBC-Teck Geological Field Station, an expanded and enriched earth sciences learning environment in Oliver, B.C.
Set in the same location as the original field station built in the 1950s, the new facility will build on its historical success with Teck’s C$1 million donation, and additional funding from 200 UBC alumni, donors and friends. Construction began in December 2019, with the new facility opening to students this Spring.
The new facility, which will include a 400 square-metre teaching and dining facility and new staff and student quarters, will be used by UBC geology, earth science and geological engineering students to gain critical field skills and serve as a valuable new resource for sustainability research and community groups across B.C.
The facility will continue to be an important cornerstone of the UBC geological sciences curriculum, facilitating annual learning opportunities for third- and fourth-year students who spend up to three weeks in the field, learning geological mapping techniques and how to live and work in a realistic camp setting.
The station will also continue to support the learning and development of geological engineering and forestry students as well as other departments including Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, and Geography. The revitalized station will also play a central role in major new educational initiatives, with a focus on inter-disciplinary experiential learning and the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and practices.