Social Impact Lab
Introduction
Social Impact Lab (SIL) offers a platform for students and community to collaboratively analyze the root causes of complex social and environmental issues and identify strategies for purposeful impact.
By participating in Social Impact Labs, you will:
- Collaborate and network with community organizations, community members, students from interdisciplinary backgrounds to identify the strengths of multiple perspectives when working towards social change
- Analyze complexity and pressing issues through a systems thinking lens
- Generate ideas and solutions to address intricate community issues, foster creativity, and gain practical problem-solving skills.
- Enhance teamwork and interpersonal skills through group projects, cohort-based activities, and collaboration with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Benefits for students
Social Impact Labs offer free, accessible opportunities for students to collaborate with and learn from community experts, fostering the creation of innovative and sustainable community-led solutions. Our approach empowers students to challenge existing systems and engage in analysis, and action on critical issues affecting communities in British Columbia. This unique environment allows students to expand their learning beyond the classroom and respond directly to community-identified needs through active participation and collective impacts projects. Check out “current projects” on this page for information on how to get involved.
Benefits for community partners
Social Impact Labs create avenues for community experts to ideate and work alongside students to take action on local issues. Community-held knowledge and priorities are the foundational components which allow this program to analyze issues and foster impactful solutions through one-day events, panel discussions, dialogue sessions and more. Each Social Impact Lab is designed to culminate in a collective impact project. Check out “How do community partners get involved?” on this page for more information on how to get involved.
Academic year 2024/25
How do community partners get involved?
Interested in working with multi-disciplinary, passionate students on community-based engagement projects? Fill out the form below to get started.
Past projects
Want to learn more about previous Social Impact Labs? Check out the project library below.
If you have questions
For more information regarding the Social Impact Lab, to book an advising appointment or brainstorming session, please email community.learning@ubc.ca.