The 2025 REACH Award winners have been announced! The REACH Awards “honour the extraordinary teachers and researchers who lead the way in dynamic learning and make a meaningful impact at UVic“.
Dr. Yang Shi – Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Yang Shi has been a professor at UVic for 17 years. His research currently focuses on “networked and distributed systems, model predictive control (MPC), cyber-physical systems (CPS), robotics and mechatronics, navigation and control of autonomous systems (AUV and UAV) and energy system applications.” Dr. Shi’s work has lead to advances in the “control performance of uncrewed vehicles”, and “transformed modern society through his pioneering integration of technology and engineering principles.” To read some of Dr. Shi’s work, check out his UVicSpace profile.
Dr. Magdalena Bazalova-Carter – Physics and Astronomy
Dr. Magdalena Bazalova-Carter is an associate professor of Medical Physics at the University of Victoria. She’s the founder of the X-ray Cancer Imaging and Therapy Experimental (XCITE) Lab, and Dr. Bazalova-Carter is being recognized for her work to “improve cancer detection[…], improv[e] outcomes of cancer radiation treatments[…], and decrease the cost of radiation therapy by designing an economical radiotherapy source capable of treatments of a broad range of cancers.” You can read more of Dr. Bazalova-Carter’ work on UVicSpace.
Dr. Dennis Hore – Chemistry
Dr. Dennis Hore is a “professor in the Department of Chemistry, cross-appointed in Computer Science, a collaborating Scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, and an Affiliate Researcher at Island Health.” Dr. Hore has written many papers about the complexities of the unregulated opioid supply, algae adhesion onto silicone, and many more, which can be found on UVicSpace.
Dr. Darcy Lindberg – Law
Dr. Darcy Lindberg is an associate professor in the Department of Law at the University of Victoria, with research centering on “nêhiyaw law, ecological governance through Indigenous legal orders, gender and Indigenous ceremonies, comparative approaches in nêhiyaw and Canadian constitutionalism, and Indigenous treaty making generally.” He is also the Associate Director of the Indigenous Law Research Unit. His works can be found on UVicSpace.
Dr. Greg Owens – Biology
Dr. Owens is a evolutionary biologist at the University of Victoria. He runs the Gregory L. Owens Lab, which does research on sunflowers, kelp, and rockfish, including identifying the “genes that allow some species of rockfish to live over 200 years.” He has also done important work on kelp restoration across the BC coast. You can read Dr. Owens’ work on UVicSpace.
Dr. Sophie Norris – Geography
Dr. Sophie Norris, who established UVic’s Geomorphology and Chronology Research Lab, is an assistant professor of Geography. Her research program has been “supported by NSERC, CFI, and NRCan grants and has led to 14 scientific publications“, three of which can be read on UVicSpace.
