So much can happen in a year—a lot of learning, questions asked, partnerships made and innovative discoveries. In 2025 we dug deeper, shared knowledge and built new pathways together.
While there were many impactful moments and milestones this past year, we’ve gathered a few of the top stories from 2025 that highlight the incredible work happening across the University of Victoria (UVic) community.
Calculating the benefits of drinking less
Kicking off 2025 with big impact—and just in time for “Dry January”, researchers from UVic’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research launched an online tool to calculate the impacts of drinking on our health.
Read the story: Know before you drink: New site helps calculate the benefits of drinking less
Variations of healthy sleep
By studying sleep data and health outcomes, UVic researchers from the School of Nursing and department of psychology found ideal sleep time can vary significantly across cultures.
Read the story: Healthy sleep varies widely by country, study finds
Inaugural Indigenous Land Steward
Caring for the most vital Indigenous ecosystems on the UVic campus, Loreisa Lepine shares her knowledge through land-based learning as the first Indigenous Land Steward at UVic.
Read the story: A Place of Medicine: a day with UVic’s inaugural Indigenous Land Steward Loreisa Lepine
Psychedelics and healing traumatic brain injuries
The UVic Concussion Lab is making significant research progress on advancing healing therapies for concussion and traumatic brain injuries. One study found healing potential in two psychedelic compounds, while another research study incorporates a 3D game.
Read the story: Psychedelics may offer healing for concussion, traumatic brain injuries
Read the story: The ‘everyone problem’: How the UVic Concussion Lab is advancing research on traumatic brain injuries
Searching for zombie worms
While they didn’t find the deep-ocean creatures they were looking for, researchers with Ocean Networks Canada may have uncovered long-term effects of climate change.
Read the story: Where are the zombie worms?
A major breakthrough in electron microscopy
A team of researchers developed a novel imaging technique that could reshape how scientists study materials at the atomic scale, without the previously prohibitive cost, space or personnel requirements.
Read the story: New technique boosts electron microscope’s clarity
Documenting climate change stories
With support from a $2.5-million grant, a new initiative looks to expand the narrative on climate change by documenting 1,000 first-person experiences of climate change survivors.
Read the story: Climate professor receives $2.5 million grant to document stories globally
Clean energy futures
Through a new partnership with the UVic-led Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) initiative, Cumberland, BC. is exploring how historic coal mining infrastructure could be transformed for clean energy.
Read the story: Clean energy found in old coal mines
Impacts of drift logs on intertidal ecosystems
A study by UVic researchers found evidence of the extensive damage free-floating logs have on intertidal species as they wash ashore. From barnacles to shorebirds, the growing number of drift logs are causing a domino-effect of destruction.
Read the story: Drift logs destroying intertidal ecosystems: research
The new home for Indigenous Law
The newly constructed Indigenous Law Wing was designed for more than just classrooms. The Coast Salish-inspired building is a place for teaching, learning, practicing and sharing Indigenous legal knowledge and traditions in a space centring Indigenous voices.
Read the story: Building new pathways for Indigenous Law
