The Centre was formally created in 1993 by the University of British Columbia’s Board of Governors as an independent unit in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. It is primarily an interdisciplinary research centre which studies a diverse range of topics, including health care practices, business and professional procedures, new information technologies and environmental issues. The Centre works closely with most disciplines and interdisciplinary units on campus, including the Division of Biomedical Ethics, Health Care Faculties and Teaching Hospitals, the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration, the Westwater Research Centre, and the Sustainable Development Research Institute.

Mission and Objectives
The mission of the Centre is to bring moral philosophy into the public dodirectory by advancing research in applied ethics, supporting courses with a significant ethical component and acting as a community resource. The Centre provides opportunities for academics, practitioners, and others to engage in the systematic and rational reflection on significant moral issues of the day.