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Strengthening Democracy, Justice, Equity and Education
VPRI portfolio lead
Shelley Gair, Executive Director, Office of the Vice-President, Research
Faculty co-leads
Laurel Weldon, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Aftab Erfan, Executive Director, Centre for Dialogue
Priority
The polarization of our society, mis/disinformation, threats to democracy, population migration and changing patterns of convergence and conflict challenge the structures of societies and shape the ways we interact with each other. Researchers at SFU are deeply engaged in studies of data and media democracy, and in questions of equity and justice in relation to environmental, educational, health, economic and governmental systems. This includes the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality. Matters of social inclusion, identity, diversity and belonging are key drivers behind how individuals and groups perceive, connect with, and learn about society at large. Considerations related to justice, equity and social responsibility also shape the ways we engage with communities, value their contributions, and inform a commitment to fostering dialogue, relationship building, imagination, critical design, and transformative learning. Environmental Social Governance research provides opportunities to foster the implementation of these values by industry. Fostering community participation in research is both a vehicle for social change and a critical source of scholarship.
(SDGs 5, 8, 10, 16)
Project Goals
- Identify a program of support for internal community-building.
- Identify institutional barriers to collaboration and find ways to increase feelings of inclusion in the internal community.
- Develop an external (including international) research partnership strategy.