The Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) is a four-week academic program offered by various Faculties at the University of British Columbia, Canada for students from participating universities. The program provides the opportunity to take two academic courses while learning about Canadian practices and culture.
Course Package - Global Challenges and the Environment:
Tackling Global Challenges with Modern Chemistry
Sustainability. Renewable energy. Nanomaterials. Clean water. Antibiotic resistance. This course explores upcoming challenges in modern society – and presents the impacts, analysis and potential solutions that modern investigators in the field of chemistry are actively studying. Students will be presented with case studies to explore the important problems facing our society.
Environmental Chemistry of the Oceans and Atmosphere
Picture Earth from Space—the Earth is a blue and white speckled gem. The blue of the sea. The white of the clouds in the Air. The environmental chemistry of the oceans and/or the atmosphere will be presented to help students understand the chemical composition and reaction processes of the air and the seas. Case studies may involve the chemical processes associated with atmospheric interactions with solar radiation, the stratospheric ozone layer, photochemical smog and/or complexation analysis, corrosion treatment and microbial transformations within natural waters. Knowledge of introductory level University chemistry is an important asset for students interested in this course.
Experience & Activities:
Both the Vancouver Summer Program and the Department of Chemistry will be hosting a number of social activities where you will get a chance to experience Canadian culture (ie. through museum visits and visiting local social events), and meet other international students around the world and local UBC students.
