Issues and Experts 2023

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), a program designed to make schools in British Columbia more inclusive, continues to be under threat by some groups and spark ongoing debate and protests across the province. The debate over SOGI is just one aspect of a wider discussion in Canada and the U.S. over the issues LGBTQIA2S+ youth are experiencing, their rights and how to support them. Simon Fraser University has put together a list of available experts who can speak about SOGI in various languages to provide accurate information to help parents, LGBTQIA2S+ youth and their peers gain a better understanding of these topics through the media.

Coming at a critical time when heat records are being set and nations are struggling to stick to their climate commitments, world leaders and experts will gather in the United Arab Emirates for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. A delegation of experts from Simon Fraser University will be attending COP28 in person and are ready to speak to media. And other SFU experts are also available to speak on various aspects of climate change impacting the future of our planet and unique programs at the university – including a new ecological chaplain to help students with climate-related anxiety.

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) and this year focuses on recognizing those people who go unseen.

As students embark next week on a new academic year, faculty at Simon Fraser University are available to share their expertise on various related topics:

Local celebrations are being held by Ukrainian communities in Vancouver and across Canada to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day on Thursday, August 24 as the war continues in their homeland.

British Columbia and various regions across the country continue to experience a summer of drought, wildfires—and heatwaves. An El Niño climate pattern combined with the ongoing effects of climate change has also led to marine heatwaves and extreme temperatures around the globe.

Metro Vancouver moves to Stage 2 water restrictions as of Friday (August 4) in response to severe drought conditions and the ongoing hot and dry summer, which is also contributing to a record-breaking wildfire season across the province and country.

Elon Musk has announced that his controversially-acquired social media platform Twitter will re-brand as ‘X’. The change began with the replacement of the blue bird icon, and is expected to be implemented across the platform in the coming weeks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is taking a closer look at aspartame, a widely-used artificial sweetener found in various products including diet sodas and sugar-free gum.

Talks remain stalled between the employer and the union after over 7,000 port workers in B.C. walked off the job on Sunday.

SFU School of Communication professor Peter Chow-White can address the implications of Meta’s announcement that it will soon block Canadians from accessing and sharing news on Facebook and Instagram.

Simon Fraser University health sciences assistant professor Travis Salway’s research on issues impacting 2SLGBTQ+ communities has not only raised awareness but has also led to positive change. The newly-named recipient of an Early-Career Researcher Trailblazer Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH), Salway can speak to ongoing topics such as the harmful practice of conversion therapy, the impacts of U.S. states banning transgender health care for youth and in Canada, the New Brunswick policy changes regarding youth gender identity.

Amid growing interest in the challenges and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts are gathering for the annual Canadian Conference on Artificial Intelligence (CANAI) this week in Montreal (June 5-9).

World Oceans Day, marked by the United Nations on June 8, raises global awareness of the need to use our oceans’ resources sustainably, to protect their populations and conserve their resources for future generations. The following SFU experts are available on various topics related to our oceans.

Warnings and advisories have been issued by the B.C. River Forecast Centre for communities in the B.C. Interior that are at risk of or are already experiencing flooding.

With the coronation of King Charles III is set to take place Saturday, May 6 at Westminster Abbey, Simon Fraser University experts are available to discuss the historic event as well as Canada’s ongoing connection to the monarchy.

Earth Day (April 22) is celebrated annually by more than one billion people. This year’s theme “Invest in our Planet” emphasizes the importance of engaging governments, institutions, businesses and citizens in maintaining a healthy environment.

Today (April 14th) marks the 7th anniversary of B.C. declaring a public health emergency over the toxic drug crisis. Experts from Simon Fraser University are available to provide insight on the following:

The federal government is set to unveil its 2023 budget on Tuesday, March 28. The budget comes after an economically unsteady year that saw many Canadians endure surging interest rates and rising levels of inflation and household debt. The following SFU experts are available to comment on issues related to budget priorities:

World Water Day (March 22) celebrates water and raises awareness about the two billion people globally who live without access to safe water. This year's focus is on accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. In a United Nations report on drinking-water published last March, emerging contaminates of public concern include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and microplastics. SFU experts are available to speak on a range of issues related to safe water access and the impacts of pollutants and climate change on safe water supplies.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its latest report and Simon Fraser University experts are available to comment on the findings and actions required to address the climate crisis.

March 8th is International Women’s Day, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while acknowledging that progress needs to continue on the existing issues facing women around the world. SFU experts are available to speak to the various issues and the ongoing work to create a more fair and just society for all.

The B.C. government will unveil its 2023 provincial budget today. Experts with Simon Fraser University are available to discuss various budget-related topics such as affordability, housing and health care.

Reading a partner’s facial expressions may seem straightforward, but a new study finds we may be overestimating our ability to remember negative facial expressions, and hindsight bias —the ability to convince ourselves when looking back that we knew something all along—may be to blame.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with premiers today in Ottawa in an attempt to finalize a health-care funding agreement with provinces. Provinces have been lobbying the federal government to increase its share of health-care funding for months as both sides have debated and challenged each other to improve health-care outcomes more efficiently.

Thousands are feared dead after a major 7.8-magnitude earthquake and a series of aftershocks struck Turkey and Syria. Simon Fraser University experts are available to speak to media about this event, continued risk of aftershocks, recovery efforts, earthquakes in general and also British Columbia’s vulnerability and preparedness to earthquakes.

Starting today, British Columbia begins a three-year pilot project that decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of drugs such as opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. Health Canada granted the province an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize people who use drugs. SFU experts are available to comment on the decriminalization and its impacts.

Experts from Simon Fraser University are available to comment on current winter conditions following a devastating avalanche in southeastern B.C.