Group News
Article Awarded Environmental Science: Atmospheres issue cover art
December 2025
Bertram Group Collaborates in UBC-Seaspan Research on Biofuels’ Impacts on Climate and Health
November 2025
As part of UBC’s collaboration with Seaspan, the Bertram Group is contributing their expertise to study the effects of marine biofuels on air quality and climate.
Inside the UBC Mobile Aerosol Characterization facility trailer, Dr. Julia Zaks operates the aerosol mass spectrometer. This machine can interpret information about the chemical composition of the particles to predict the effect these particles have on the climate.
“These tiny particles contribute significantly to poor air quality, cause adverse health effects, and contribute to climate change.” Dr. Zaks, explains. “We need to quantify how many of these particles are emitted from marine vessels and analyze their size and chemical composition to better predict their impact on air quality, human health, and the climate. To do this, we’ll combine the knowledge we learn from the chemistry of the particles with the knowledge of atmospheric chemistry.”
Read the full story about the UBC–Seaspan collaboration here.
Roadside Science: The Bertram Group Takes HR-ToF-AMS to Tsawwassen
Congratulations Sepehr and Teresa!
September/October 2025
Congratulations to Sepehr for winning the poster award at the Graduate Student Imagine Day Poster Session (UBC Chemistry) and Teresa for winning first prize at the 2025 3-minute Postdoc Slam organized by the UBC Postdoc Association.
Nine UBC Faculty Members Elected to the Royal Society of Canada
September 2025
A total of nine UBC faculty members have been announced by the Royal Society of Canada as new Fellows and as Members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.
Congratulations Allan!
September 2025
Allan was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in recognition for the group’s work on atmospheric aerosols.
Read more Royal Society of Canada, Class of 2025
ECCC – Air Quality Research Division (AQRD) Seminar Series
June 2025
Allan presents “Rethinking Organic Aerosol Properties: Evidence for Phase Separation, Crystallinity, and Extreme Viscosity Variations” as an invited speaker for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)’s AQRD Seminar series.
The seminar recording can be viewed using the password: AQRDseminar2025
Dr. Sumit Kumar Mishra Visits UBC
May 2025
We are pleased to have hosted Dr. Sumit Kumar Mishra from the CSIR – National Physical Laboratory for his Raman Research Fellowship Award. We wish him all the best in his future research!
Allan presents “Viscosity and Phase State of Biomass Burning Organic Aerosol” as an invited speaker for the CIC’s Environmental Division (EN) Virtual Seminar series.
April 2025
The Chemical Institute of Canada’s Environmental Division (EN) Virtual Seminar series brings together members in the field of environmental sciences and engineering to cover the latest developments in a wide range of topics in environmental chemistry, including in the atmospheric, terrestrial, freshwater, marine and Arctic environments. This one-hour seminar is hosted once a month.
Allan’s Angels fly over the wall!
March 2025
This year’s Storm the Wall performance was met with cheers from their adorning fans!
The Bertram group slaying and shredding the slopes at Grouse Mountain!
February 2025