Media Releases 2023

An SFU professor is looking at the viability of storing large volumes of carbon dioxide in a soda pop-like solution thousands of metres below the streets of Metro Vancouver to help B.C. meet its net-zero emission goals.

There is an urgent need for mental health supports and interventions for youth in British Columbia, according to the results of a new report led by Simon Fraser University. The recently released report, which surveyed nearly 15,000 you in the province, found half of 15– to 17-year-olds indicated that their mental health was fair or poor and nearly 40 per cent screened positive for depression (38 per cent) and generalized anxiety (39 per cent).

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is welcoming three new faculty members who have been named as Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERCs).

Non-binary youth face immense barriers and discrimination preventing them from participating in team sports, according to a new study from Simon Fraser University.

In the fast-paced corporate world where stress can be an unwelcome colleague for many employees, SFU researchers have found that mindfulness can reduce workplace stress by helping to narrow employees’ views of work tasks as threats.

New research co-led by Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia shows that amplified global warming in the Canadian High Arctic drove a profound shift in the structure of a river network carved into a permafrost landscape in only 60 years.

SFU engineering science professor Mirza Faisal Beg is spearheading research that could help to redefine cancer treatment. Using artificial intelligence (AI) his breakthrough research enables imaging of the human body and organ measurements much faster than traditional methods, signaling a leap forward in harnessing AI for individually personalized healthcare solutions.

A team from Simon Fraser University's (SFU) Management of Technology (MOT) MBA program is playing a pivotal role in developing the world's first fully electric commercial aircraft by recently completing an industry consulting project with Harbour Air Seaplanes.

Students, staff and visitors at Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus now have a new way to quickly get around: e-bikes. Thirty Evolve E-Bikes are now available to ride on Burnaby Mountain 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The electric pedal-assist bikes can be found at nine designated parking zones strategically located across campus, including outside student residences to the west and adjacent the UniverCity neighbourhood to the east.

As B.C.’s toxic drug crisis continues, so does the debate on how to reduce harm and save lives. For Nicole Luongo, a systems change coordinator with the SFU-based Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC), that has meant supporting progressive drug policy approaches, despite criticism, while advocating for those stigmatized and marginalized for using drugs. For her ongoing work, Luongo is being recognized with the 2023 Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy.

Construction is set to begin on the Lower Mainland’s newest art museum, which will transform the cultural landscape at Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus. Opening in 2025, the Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum will offer a stunning 12,000 square foot space that will provide free exhibits and programming for SFU and neighbouring communities.

Researchers with the newly formed International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) have found scientific consensus that content labels and corrective information can help people identify and evaluate social media misinformation—but little consensus about strategies to mitigate its negative effects.

With a record-breaking wildfire season in full swing, wildfire scientist Sophie Wilkinson joins Simon Fraser University to launch a new lab addressing how increasingly volatile fire seasons are impacting communities and ecosystems.

Researchers have found that not eating enough of six key foods is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults. Their research—which analyzed study data on the diet behaviors of nearly 250,000 people from 80 countries—suggests a heart-healthy diet should include servings of fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish and whole-fat dairy.

Student living is reaching new heights at Simon Fraser University (SFU) with the opening of the new Courtyard Residence at Burnaby campus. The striking two-building residence provides students with breathtaking views from Burnaby Mountain, stunning outdoor areas, including a centrally-located exterior courtyard, swings, ping pong tables and open-air gathering spaces. It also features all the comforts and amenities required to meet student needs, including modern rooms, private shared washrooms, a house lounge and kitchen, 24/7 front desk support, a laundry room and multi-functional spaces.

Following the announcement that SFU has no place to play in NCAA football, the university heard the strong desire to find a way forward for football from student-athletes, alumni, and the football community. Acknowledging that there are many challenges to address and a commitment to try to find a solution together, SFU also announced in April that the university would appoint a special advisor to review options and search for a sustainable way forward. Bob Copeland, Senior Vice-President of McLaren Global Sport Solutions, has been selected as the Special Advisor to explore options for the future of football at SFU. Mr. Copeland has deep knowledge of university sport operating structures and has provided leadership in complex football consulting projects, including for U Sports and the Canadian Football League. His selection was reviewed with the SFU Football Alumni Society president prior to the appointment.

The City of Burnaby is providing $5 million towards the completion of the First Peoples’ Gathering House, a ceremonial space designed to celebrate Indigenous knowledge and culture, currently under construction at Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus.

Members of the media are invited to attend a special announcement regarding the First Peoples’ Gathering House on Earth Day (Saturday, April 22).

An interdisciplinary team from Simon Fraser University, the University of Victoria and partner organizations will use $1 million from the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions to study climate solutions for rural, remote and Indigenous communities in B.C.

New research led by SFU paleobotanist Rolf Mathewes provides clues about what plants existed in the Burnaby Mountain area 40 million years ago during the late Eocene, when the climate was much warmer than it is today. The results of their plant fossil analysis were recently published in the International Journal of Plant Sciences.

Researchers at Simon Fraser University are studying the genes of superbugs to aid the development of new and effective treatments for drug-resistant bacterial infections. Superbugs are characterized as infection-causing bacteria resistant to treatment with antibiotics.

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is announcing that SFU’s varsity football program will no longer continue as of today, April 4, 2023.  “Given Simon Fraser University’s long and proud football history, this is a difficult decision, and not one taken lightly,” said SFU President Joy Johnson. “I want to thank all the student-athletes and coaches, past and present, for being part of that history. However, the football landscape has changed significantly in recent years and we no longer believe we are providing an exceptional experience for student-athletes.”

The COVID-19 pandemic, which killed millions across the world, had a dire impact on the ability of their loved ones to grieve. A study by Simon Fraser University researchers published in the journal Illness, Crisis & Loss, calls for expanding pandemic grief support programs and increasing public awareness of the existing supports available to help lessen the emotional toll.

Simon Fraser University has unveiled a new space in Surrey’s innovation corridor that will advance the emerging fields of quantum computing and agricultural technology (agritech) and further research, innovation and entrepreneurship in B.C. The SFU Innovation Plaza, a newly-renovated space that is part of SFU’s Surrey campus, is home to the Quantum Algorithms Institute and the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation which are now open and operating. The space will facilitate collaborations between academia, government and industry, accelerate innovation and benefit students preparing for sought-after careers in these burgeoning fields.

Simon Fraser University will officially open the SFU Innovation Plaza, the newly renovated space at SFU’s Surrey campus on Monday, January 16 at 10:00 A.M. The renovation is funded by PacifiCan, the Government of Canada's economic development agency dedicated to British Columbia, and SFU. The new offices are also funded through the Province of B.C. through the Quantum Algorithms Institute, which shares the space with the new B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation, SFU’s Coast Capital Venture Connection and an office of the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program.    The event will be attended by federal, provincial and local government representatives, partners from academia and industry, and community and business leaders.