Resource and Environmental management professor Tammara Soma recieves the 2023 Social Media Newsmaker of the Year Award
During a year of heightened global unrest and disparity, well-informed and dependable news is more vital than ever. Reporters and the public can count on Simon Fraser University faculty to share their insights, research and expertise and help people understand global issues and the challenges surrounding us.
SFU’s 2023 Newsmaker award recipients are chosen for their dedication to informing discourse across media and online communities regarding various topics; from commentary on ongoing global conflicts and critical discussions on the profound social justice implications of food systems and waste management, to relevant expertise on trending topics that made headlines across the globe.
Global humanities professor James Horncastle is awarded the 2023 Media Newsmaker of the Year for his timely media commentary on current conflicts. Resource and environmental management professor Tammara Soma recieves the 2023 Social Media Newsmaker of the Year award for her dedication to online dialogue on critical issues related to food systems. And marketing professor Aviva Philip-Muller is named the 2023 Emerging Thought Leader (ETL) Newsmaker of the Year for her continued media engagement since completing the ETL program last year.
Tammara Soma
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Environment – 2023 SFU Social Media Newsmaker of the Year
A trailblazer in Canadian food systems education, Tammara Soma is SFU’s 2023 Social Media Newsmaker of the Year for her commitment to online dialogue surrounding critical issues on food systems and waste management.
In recent years, Soma has become a well-known voice on social media for engaging with her followers about themes related to food systems and promoting discussions and events that delve deeper. She uses her virtual presence to share new research and perspectives with a growing audience.
A co-founder of SFU’s Food Systems Lab, Soma’s influence is exemplified in last year’s CBC feature documentary, Food is my Teacher, a project she co-developed and co-directed alongside Canadian filmmaker Brandy Yanchyk. In the film, Soma travels across B.C. and Alberta to meet with diverse communities, learn about their cultural relationships with food and illustrate the transformative power of food, which Soma considers a “means for healing” and a “source of medicine and love.”
After the launch of the documentary, Soma continued to use her social media platforms to engage with people about food systems, security and equity.
"Never in my dreams as a planner did I envision that I would be a documentary filmmaker, and that the film would be a way that I mobilize my research and passion for food,” says Soma. “Food is My Teacher would not be possible without the mentorship offered by Brandy Yanchyk, the support of the Faculty of Environment, and from CBC.”
“Now, the world can learn more about the amazing work we do at SFU and celebrate the diverse cultural and faith leaders who are working to demonstrate the healing power of food. In polarizing times, I hope to show the power of harnessing social media for good.”