University of Calgary is a university for Calgary

Sometimes, dollars and cents are about more than dollars and cents. And UCalgary’s spending isn’t only spending. It’s spending with impact, like our Biosafety Level 3 lab, one of only a few in Canada and where researchers can join the fight against infectious diseases like Covid-19. In computing, we’re working with NASA to create a quantum internet to make communicating more secure and data storage better. We’re also helping take action on climate change, such as our sector-leading work in capturing methane, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases, from pipelines.

Great research universities help local economies grow and diversify, and UCalgary is no exception. Indeed, our innovation ecosystem is helping to commercialize exciting new ideas, including our Life Sciences Innovation Hub—home to 127,000 square feet of incubation space including 35,000 square feet of labs. It’s home to 23 active tenants that have access to infrastructure, expertise, and advice in how to turn the research ideas of today into the products and services of tomorrow. In 2019, it created more than 240 jobs in the local economy with more on their way.

When the world came to Calgary for the 1988 Winter Olympics, who could foretell that more than 35 years later, the facilities would keep attracting global events. Many of these, like the world long-track speedskating championship, were held in what are now UCalgary facilities. But we go far beyond events. We’re the top-ranked school in North America for sport science and are helping Calgary stay healthy. We are the only Canadian university funded by the NFL to raise awareness about concussions in young athletes and perform research in preventing them. Our first MOOC (mass open online course) was about concussions and attracted 8,500 people.

UCalgary is proud to be a city-builder through our community connections. Whether it’s helping animate the area around city hall to make it safer or welcoming 11,000 students to our campus every year for summer camp, we’re part of Calgary’s fabric. We’re also working with the city itself through our Urban Alliance to protect the environment and make wastewater processing more efficient. Our $36.8 million Advancing Canadian Wastewater Assets research hub is a unique, real-world facility integrated into the city’s Pine Creek treatment plant complete with 12 replicated streams that allow for real-time and real-life study.