University of Calgary Faculty of Science

Ben Pearman is a master's student in computer science from the Data Experience Lab who created the ThreeTopo app, which uses a 3D digital twin of a rock face to help rock climbers map out and plan their routes, which will help avoid injury.

Pearman used a drone to shoot photos of the 240-metre-tall climb known as Red Shirt on Mount Yamnuska and created a copy of that section of the rock face. He then developed spatial annotations that point out important features on the wall and added human-scale avatars to the digital version to help give climbers a sense of scale as they are looking at specific features.

“In the span of just a few weeks, seven of the people who downloaded the app then climbed Red Shirt,” says Pearman. “Unlike many of the climbers we surveyed who’d used traditional tools, none of the climbers using ThreeTopo got lost, and none of them got off route.”

With the technology and interactions demonstrated in this project, Pearman believes this kind of guidance will become the standard.

Story here: https://bit.ly/3Qs9sj0

Computer scientists use data to improve rock climbing in the Canadian Rockies https://bit.ly/3Qs9sj0

University of Calgary Faculty of Science

The forestry building at Barrier Lake Field Station is set to be transformed into a first-of-its-kind Indigenous interdisciplinary land-based research space with support from a Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leadership Fund grant.

The space will be purpose-built to integrate Indigenous language, cultural ceremony, land, place, and connect to research and research methodologies.

Renovations will begin in 2026, including building upgrades to add a designated space for Elders and Knowledge Keepers and two large gathering spaces.

Read the full story here:

Indigenous Interdisciplinary Land-based Research Space created in Kananaskis Country is first of its kind in Canada Project receives federal funding to ‘bring life back’ to Barrier Lake Field Station building

Congratulations to six University of Calgary researchers who have been appointed as new Canada Research Chairs as part of a $9.7-million federal investment to UCalgary announced by the Government of Canada on May 13.

The new Canada Research Chairs represent a diverse range of expertise and research priorities.

Dr. Erik Bakkeren, a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Molecular Genetics for Microbiome Editing is studying the human gut microbiome, and how to engineer specialty microbiomes for human health.

Dr. Viki Prasad, a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Quantum Chemistry on Quantum Computers is working to develop and improve computational chemistry, accelerating molecular discovery across all disciplines of chemistry.

Story here: https://bit.ly/4ouGEDb

Six UCalgary researchers named 2026-27 Parex Fellows. Fellowships have been awarded annually since 2019 when a generous $3.24-million endowment was established by alum Wayne Foo https://bit.ly/4apzr1d

University of Calgary Faculty of Science | University of Calgary's Cu***ng School of Medicine | Faculty of Nursing - University of Calgary | Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Calgary - UCVM | University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education

Embedded in Energy: Exploring UCalgary’s role in Alberta’s energy industry, from its history and impact to the opportunities ahead https://bit.ly/4vwhWEy

Schulich School of Engineering

Video game helps neurodivergent students succeed and thrive in post-secondary education https://bit.ly/4eqTBdD

University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education

The Faculty of Science is at the Global Energy Show Canada!

Visit the University of Calgary booth to learn about technologies developed right here at home that are making a big difference globally.

Way to go, Class of 2026! The road ahead is full of exciting possibilities, and all of us at the Faculty of Science can’t wait to see the incredible things you’ll go on to do. Congratulations and best wishes for all that’s next!