Earth Day 2023 – SFU experts available

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.

The following SFU experts are available to speak on topics from energy harvesting to climate policy and sustainable consumption:

AVAILABLE SFU EXPERTS

ZAFAR ADEEL, professor of professional practice, School of Sustainable Energy Engineering
zafar_adeel@sfu.ca
Expertise: Water security, climate change adaptation, safe drinking water, water-energy-food nexus, integrated water resources management, water-health nexus, desertification, flooding and the economic impacts.
Zafar can also speak on the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AR6 synthesis report, the allocation of significant funds for a Canadian Water Agency in the federal budget, and Canada’s engagement at the recently concluded UN Water Conference 2023. 

ALEX BOSTON, executive director, Renewable Cities, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue 
a_boston@sfu.ca
Expertise: Innovative housing and transportation solutions that cost effectively bridge the chasm between affordability, GHG reductions and resilience to climate change; working with local, provincial and federal governments on innovative financial and regulatory tools to strengthen value for dollar on public spending.

ANDRÉS CISNEROS-MONTEMAYOR, assistant professor, School of Resource & Environmental Management 
a_cisneros@sfu.ca
Expertise: Ocean and coastal social-ecological systems, ocean equity in sustainable development strategies, including the first global estimates of the economic value of marine ecotourism, capacity to establish an equitable and sustainable Blue Economy

BIRUTE GALDIKAS, professor, archaeology 
(Prof. is currently away but does have limited availability; please contact melissa_shaw@sfu.ca to see about arranging an interview)
Expertise: World authority on orangutans, habitat conservation and challenges facing the species including climate change, has spent more than 50 years in the field. Recently named one of six finalists for the world’s leading award for animal conservation, the Indianapolis Prize, to be announced in May.

ANDY HIRA, interim department chair; professor, Department of Political Science
anil_hira@sfu.ca
Expertise: Energy policy, science and technology policy, international development, natural resource policy, corporate social responsibility, economic policy and climate change.
Prof. Hira can also speak on SFU’s Clean Energy Research Group (CERG) research, including recent papers on geothermal power and LNG.

NAOMI KROGMAN, dean, Faculty of Environment
naomi_krogman@sfu.ca
Expertise: The future of sustainability scholarship in higher education, sustainable consumption, and how to incorporate vulnerable peoples into sustainability planning including this upcoming citizen science event to complete a local marine life inventory and microplastic assessment.

VINCENZO PECUNIA, professor, Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE)
vincenzo_pecunia@sfu.ca
Expertise: Energy harvesting, next-generation solar cells, sustainable semiconductors and electronics; leads an international team in research to guide global efforts to convert waste energy into clean power

AVIVA PHILIPP-MULLER, assistant professor, marketing, Beedie School of Business
aviva_philipp-muller@sfu.ca
Expertise: Sustainable consumption, ethical purchasing and anti-science attitudes

MERRAN SMITH, founder, Clean Energy Canada 
Contact: Keri McNamara, senior communications specialist 
keri@cleanenergycanada.org
Expertise: Clean energy, clean energy jobs, the energy transition, electric vehicles, clean transportation, clean industry, carbon pricing and other climate policy

TAMMARA SOMA, assistant professor, Resource & Environmental Management 
tammara_soma@sfu.ca
Expertise: Food system planning, community-based research, waste management and the circular economy. 

MARK ZACHARIAS, executive director, Clean Energy Canada
Contact: KeriMcNamara, senior communications specialist
keri@cleanenergycanada.org
Expertise: Clean energy, clean energy jobs, the energy transition, electric vehicles, clean transportation, clean industry, carbon pricing and other climate policy

CONTACT

MELISSA SHAW, SFU  Communications & Marketing 
236.880.3297 | melissa_shaw@sfu.ca

Simon Fraser University
Communications & Marketing |  SFU Media Experts Directory
778.782.3210

ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Who We Are
As Canada’s engaged university, SFU works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today’s problems. With campuses in British Columbia’s three largest cities—Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey—SFU has eight faculties that deliver 364 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 180,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.