The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university.
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university.
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university.
A world class centre for teaching, learning and research, UBC is a place where innovative ideas are nurtured in a globally connected research community, with unparalleled opportunities to learn and discover in unique ways.
Surrounded by the beauty of the West Coast, UBC’s location inspires a pioneering mentality: openness to fresh, bold new ways of thinking. More than 400 hectares in size, the stunning campus is surrounded by forest on three sides, an ocean on the fourth, with a breathtaking view of the mountains. The campus has been located on this site for most of its 100 year history; a location that is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) People.
A national leader in areas as diverse as community service learning, sustainability and research commercialization, UBC is globally aware and globally respected – attracting over $658 million per year in research funding through 8900+ projects and grants.
Take a virtual tour of the UBC Vancouver campus here.
A world class centre for teaching, learning and research, UBC is a place where innovative ideas are nurtured in a globally connected research community, with unparalleled opportunities to learn and discover in unique ways.
Surrounded by the beauty of the West Coast, UBC’s location inspires a pioneering mentality: openness to fresh, bold new ways of thinking. More than 400 hectares in size, the stunning campus is surrounded by forest on three sides, an ocean on the fourth, with a breathtaking view of the mountains. The campus has been located on this site for most of its 100 year history; a location that is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) People.
A national leader in areas as diverse as community service learning, sustainability and research commercialization, UBC is globally aware and globally respected – attracting over $658 million per year in research funding through 8900+ projects and grants.
Take a virtual tour of the UBC Vancouver campus here.
Shad2022 runs from July 3 to July 29. We kindly request that you arrive after 12 p.m. and no later than 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 3. The earlier you arrive, the more time you will have to familiarize yourself with the campus, the program team and the other participants.
For those arriving by air, Shad UBC is offering an airport pick-up service. Details, including price of this service, will be shared in the near future.
For those being dropped off, please do so at our Residence building. More details regarding the residence building and location will be shared at a later date.
A Map of UBC can be found here.
We ask that you share with us your travel plans as they become finalized. An online form will be emailed directly to you in the coming months, asking you to share with us your flight/travel details.
Note that you are responsible for your own travel arrangements and cost to and from campus.
Shads and the campus team will be living in a residence building, occupying two floors of a multi-story building.
Each room will have a bed, desk and chair, closet, dresser with drawers, mirror and a window that opens. Bedding will be supplied by the residence (pillow, pillowcase, blanket and two sheets) and if you prefer a second pillow, you should bring one from home.
Be sure to bring your own towels, soap/shampoo and other toiletries.
You will be living in residence on the university campus, and because we will be using a limited number of rooms there may be other paying guests using the residence accommodations as well.
You have the responsibility for keeping your property safe. You will be given a keycard to the building as well as a key to your room – which you must keep with you at all times. You are responsible for keeping your room door locked.
Most of our meals will be eaten on campus. Keep in mind that it is a university, so the food may not be like your home-cooked meals. There will be a variety of food that accommodates most tastes.
Please ensure you let us know of any dietary requirements or allergies if you have not done so already.
You will be given residence keys for which you will be responsible. More information will be shared by your program director.
We recommend that you bring some pocket money with you for transportation to and from the airport, laundry, and purchasing souvenirs. There are no additional mandatory expenses.
There are bank ATMs available on campus should you need to withdraw additional funds.
You have an option to bring a laptop, tablet, or another personal computing device for research, word processing, and other tasks related to the program. Wi-Fi access is available in residence and elsewhere on campus. Shad team members will assist you with Wi-Fi setup upon arrival. The University and Shad Canada do not take any responsibility for lost/damaged/stolen valuables or property.
There will be pay-per-use washers and dryers available. Laundry detergent is available on campus. If you have any allergies to certain types of detergent, please bring your own.
While there are no irons in the rooms, if needed, an iron can be borrowed for use.
Program Director
She completed her Bachelor of Commerce from UBC’S Sauder School of Business and lives to enable others to set and achieve big, hairy, and audacious goals. In her role as a PD, she aims to empower Shads to realize their capacity to create lasting legacies in their communities. She comes alive from the energy and magic of seeing youth show-up courageously for themselves and others to build an inclusive community. Jess is a Shad alumni and this will be her 9th consecutive summer leading Shad UBC. She’s been a TEDx Speaker and has over 8 years of experience in designing, leading and facilitating leadership and personal development programming for students and professionals across the country. Jess is a wrestling coach for a competitive and elite youth wrestling academy and has coached multiple national champions and Canadian world team members. Mental training, breaking through mental barriers and building resilience through positive mental health are all areas that Jess focuses on with her athletes and clients she works with.
Assistant Program Director
He is currently a Professor in, and Head of, the Department of Materials Engineering at UBC. His undergraduate teaching is focused on engineering design taught through project-based learning where groups of 3-5 students propose, design, build, and test multi-disciplinary projects. As one of the principal researchers in the Materials Processing Group, Daan’s research aims to develop insight into the industrial processes used to transform metals; in particular, casting processes to improve product quality and process productivity. This research often involves the development of mathematical models that capture the complex physical phenomena active in these processes and relies on laboratory experiments and/or plant trials to provide the data necessary for model development and validation. This research is industrially oriented and has led to collaborations with companies within Canada (Alcan International Ltd., Canadian Autoparts Toyota Inc., and Timminco Ltd) and abroad (Corus, Titanium Metals Corp and The Timken Co.)
Daan is a proud father of two teenage boys and he spends much of his free time cheering for them at their soccer matches and rowing regattas.
Assistant Program Director
He completed his Bachelor of Science, specializing in Medical Biochemistry, and is currently enrolled in a Master of Counselling program as he pursues a career in Counselling and Mental Performance Consulting. Alex has explored multiple professional settings, such as the BC Wildfire Service, Canadian National Volleyball Team, Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC, and the Vancouver School Board. Within these dynamic roles, he has connected with diverse populations and gained an appreciation for the leadership that resides in all of us. Since joining Shad UBC in 2019, Alex has felt honoured to join young leaders in their unique and transformation journeys. As an Assistant Program Director, he aims to support Shads in building an inclusive and welcoming community, enhancing our group learning and growth.
Program Manager
She is exploring careers in areas like student experience and event management, and wants to find opportunities that let her explore new areas and places to live. She believes that life is for exploring and finding new things that are energizing, whatever that looks like for you.
Hilary also loves to bake, testing out dessert recipes of all kinds (cakes, pastries, bread, and everything in between), knit, and spend time with her dogs.
Faculty Member
Prior to joining IGEN and MTRL, he served as the Lab Director for the Engineering Physics Project Lab in the Department of Physics and Astronomy for over 10 years, and as a course instructor in a range of courses for the UBC Sauder School of Business, Mining Engineering, and since 2015 as part of the first-year teaching team in Applied Science, with a focus on prototype design and fabrication with electrical, mechanical, and software components. Jon is a Shad alumni, University of Calgary 1994, and has been involved in running workshops and supporting Shad UBC for the past 10 years.
(Highly recommended, but not mandatory)
A diverse and inclusive community is an important value of the Shad program. You will meet students from across Canada, with different lived experiences and backgrounds. Some of you have experience with complex, high responsibility activities such as traveling or being away from home, while for others, this may be your first time being apart from family. Respect for all individuals is a requirement for a successful community.
Community must be preserved and protected in the Shad program. There are no exclusive relationships at Shad, whether for the purposes of romance, clique, gender, ethnicity, or any other reason. Relationships that exclude (or attempt to exclude) others will not be accepted. Intentionally excluding others is a form of bullying and could result in dismissal from the program. The month at Shad provides you the opportunity to make connections with a community of other exceptional students. We hope that this tight-knit community that forms at Shad will continue for many years after the program.
Shad is a supervised community. Every member of the program team is charged with the responsibility of ensuring your safety and protection. We take this responsibility seriously! This means that we will need to know approximately where you are and what you are doing at all times. This level of awareness ensures that in case of an emergency, we can account for your whereabouts quickly.
You are also a partner in ensuring your own safety and the safety of the Shad community. You are expected to ensure that your behaviour is always aligned with the Shad values.
Just because the community is supervised does not mean that you won’t have freedom to engage in a range of activities across the university campus. We take advantage of many of the various programs, departments, recreational facilities and spaces on campus to ensure that you enjoy an exciting university experience.
You can expect life at Shad to be busy, but don’t worry, we have downtime and recreational activities built into the program as well. Each day, you can expect a different combination of lectures, workshops, recreational and cultural activities, as well as unscheduled time that you can use to connect with your peers, work on your design project, and reflect on what you’ve learned and accomplished so far.
The ability to rapidly access relevant information can be key to innovation. There is no question that effective use of technology can be a useful tool. That said, the appropriate use of technology is essential for an effective learning/teaching/cooperative environment. There is etiquette for the use of technology. Rather than provide a long list of rules that will define acceptable use of technology, our technology policy is governed by the same core values as Shad.
All use of technology — including cell phones, notebooks, tablets, translators and the like — must uphold the principles of excellence, responsibility and creativity. While you might be an exceptional multitasker, maintaining devoted attention to a task at hand is a hallmark of responsibility and maturity. When it comes to the use of technology, know what’s right, do what’s right and be respectful!
We have time set aside for recreational activities. These include cultural events, field trips and many opportunities to take in the beautiful scenery of the area.
Shad is most enriching when we have sufficient energy to be fully engaged in all program activities. After a long and busy day, everyone needs adequate rest. We also need to respect others and allow them to re-energize themselves by getting the rest they need. Please manage your energy levels appropriately and allow others to do the same by going to bed at the appropriate time.
Our values are what make Shad the incredible program that it is. At our Shad campus these values are vigorously embraced – just like they are at each of the other campuses across Canada. Being a Shad means accepting these values fully into everything you do! Adherence to these values determines how successful your Shad experience will be. They are sacred trusts.
We aspire to excellence in all we do.
We value diversity and open discussion.
We cherish the freedom to explore, create, and innovate.
We are committed to the respect, cooperation, and shared fun that builds a powerful, supportive community, while remaining mindful of the safety and well-being of that community.
Our behaviour is always governed by respect for others and the highest standards of ethical conduct.
What happens when a diverse group of high school students from across Canada come together in the spirit of science, technology and entrepreneurship? Shad Open Day is a day to put your campus and your accomplishments on display for the community.
On Thursday, July 28th, family, friends and community members are invited to join us for a day of demonstrations and exhibits. You will get the chance to showcase your team’s innovation and your own special talents for the extended community.
We understand that some of you will be traveling far from home to attend Shad and therefore it will be more difficult for your family members to make it for Open Day. Do not worry – there will be many of your fellow Shads in the same position and you will still enjoy the magic of Open Day!
The program ends on the morning of Friday, July 29. We are obliged to vacate our rooms by 11:00 a.m. that day.
We will provide bus transportation to the airport, departing the campus at 8:30 a.m. If you arrange an early morning flight, we can help you book a taxi to take you to the airport – you will be responsible for covering the taxi fare.
If your parents/guardians are picking you up by car, they should plan to do this before 11:00 a.m.
Please note that the Shad program concludes at 11:00 a.m. on July 29 and Shad will no longer be responsible for you after this time.
Mail a $100 Key Deposit Cheque, payable to “Shad UBC”. (Note cash or money orders will not be accepted. These cheques will only be cashed in the event that you lose your UBC residence key or damage residence facilities.) The Shad Program is financially responsible for lost keys, in addition to any damage/alterations to the residence property. As a result, we require you to provide a key deposit of $100. The deposit will be returned to you in full at the end of the program when you return your keys as long as you are not responsible for any documented damage to the property.
Mail cheque listed above by May 31st to:
Dr. Daan Maijerc/o Department of Materials
Engineering University of British Columbia
313 – 6350 Stores Road
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
You will receive an email communication from us, asking you to complete a number of online forms in the near future. This includes: medical information form, travel information, and Open Day registration for guests.
Shad UBC is not only interested in getting you to listen, it is also very interested in what you have to say.
During the course of the program, you will be asked to give a 7-minute presentation – which we call a Shad Speak – on a topic of your choice. Select something you are passionate about so that you will be comfortable sharing it with others. It could be a cause you have embraced, an issue you wish to shed light on, something you want to teach the community, or a story of your own experiences. The purpose and intent of Shad Speaks is to provide an opportunity for Shads to learn from each other and to celebrate diverse interests and experiences. Be authentic and be genuine!
Shad Speaks will be strictly timed to 7-minutes and the focus will be on you and your ideas. As such, presentations will be technology-free (i.e. no PowerPoint or access to a projector). Come to Shad with your Shad Speak prepared. We will be asking you to submit a 150-character abstract of your topic prior to the start of the program. An online form will be emailed to you with more information on how to submit this abstract.
Q: I have a special accommodation request. How do I submit my request and will you be able to help me?
A: You will need to inform us of the special accommodations that you require ahead of time. We will let you know what we can do to support you as best as possible. We want to help make sure your experience here is exceptional.
Q: Can I have visitors during Shad? Can my parents take me off campus for a non-emergency reason?
A: No. Visitors are only welcome to come to Shad on Open Day on Thursday, July 28.
Q: How can my parents contact me during Shad?
A: Your parents can contact you on your cell phone (although you may not be able to answer due to program activities).