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Iraq, defence, workforce, virtual museums - Issues and Experts
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January 31, 2005
Democracy at what price in Iraq?…Iraqis are celebrating the weekend election, the country's first democratic vote in 50 years, calling it a victory for voters. The following SFU experts can provide post-election analysis:
The debate over missile defence…While the issue of Canada joining the US missile defence plan heats up, SFU political scientist Douglas Ross, who is working on a book on missile defence and the history of NORAD, says in general there is much less at risk on missile defence for several reasons. They include the US budget being stretched to the breaking point by its domestic policies on tax cuts and social security reform, further failures in the launcher testing program for the new booster rockets, and the development of successful software for space tracking and cueing satellites being behind schedule. Meanwhile, how big the bill will be when the US decides it wants a comprehensive anti-cruise missile capability along its northern approaches, requiring new aircraft and costly continuous surveillance, remains one of Ottawa's bigest concerns.
A new kind of generation gap...What if your new boss was young enough to be your kid? That's the premise of In Good Company, a new movie that shines a spotlight on an increasingly relevant issue in the North American workforce: the ability of markedly different generations to work productively alongside each other. Career consultant and SFU graduate Kathi Irvine says managers don't often think about the fact that they may have "as many as four different generations--Silents, Boomers, Gen-Xers and Millennials--working on their team, and that each generation has its own specific values and motivators. Overlook those differences for too long, and you end up with huge morale and productivity issues." SFU director of media and public relations Kathryn Aberle is an example of a team leader who works with all four generations. She can speak about the challenges and adaptations she's made--including job-shares, flex-days, and mentoring programs--to recruit and retain high-calibre employees.
History buffs turn to virtual exhibits…Visitors to one of the largest US history archives, located in the state of Wisconsin, are fewer and farther between these days - 40 per cent fewer, thanks in large part to the development of online databases and exhibits being created by many museums, archives and libraries catering to web surfers. SFU's museum of archaeology and ethnology recently unveiled its own virtual exhibition entitled A Journey To A New Land www.sfu.museum/journey/ which presents current theories about the peopling of the New World and archaeological research in an interactive format for viewers of any age group. SFU associate communication professor Richard Smith can look at the trend from both the users and site developers' perspectives.
- Andre Gerolymatos, history: military strategy, security issues in Iraq and the region, impact on western alliance, the future of war, role of Iran, Turkey and Syria: 604.291.5597; andre_gerolymatos@sfu.ca
Alex Moens, political science: international security and military issues, American politics, 604.291.4361, 604.858.0917; alexander_moens@sfu.ca
Douglas Ross, political science: the Iraqi election, American 'exit strategy' in Iraq and the risks of premature withdrawal from the region, 604.291.4782/5183, 604.737.8049 (h); douglas_ross@sfu.ca
Michael Fellman, history: US politics/history, 604.261.8243; michael_fellman@sfu.ca
The debate over missile defence…While the issue of Canada joining the US missile defence plan heats up, SFU political scientist Douglas Ross, who is working on a book on missile defence and the history of NORAD, says in general there is much less at risk on missile defence for several reasons. They include the US budget being stretched to the breaking point by its domestic policies on tax cuts and social security reform, further failures in the launcher testing program for the new booster rockets, and the development of successful software for space tracking and cueing satellites being behind schedule. Meanwhile, how big the bill will be when the US decides it wants a comprehensive anti-cruise missile capability along its northern approaches, requiring new aircraft and costly continuous surveillance, remains one of Ottawa's bigest concerns.
- Douglas Ross, 604.291.4782/5183; douglas_ross@sfu.ca
A new kind of generation gap...What if your new boss was young enough to be your kid? That's the premise of In Good Company, a new movie that shines a spotlight on an increasingly relevant issue in the North American workforce: the ability of markedly different generations to work productively alongside each other. Career consultant and SFU graduate Kathi Irvine says managers don't often think about the fact that they may have "as many as four different generations--Silents, Boomers, Gen-Xers and Millennials--working on their team, and that each generation has its own specific values and motivators. Overlook those differences for too long, and you end up with huge morale and productivity issues." SFU director of media and public relations Kathryn Aberle is an example of a team leader who works with all four generations. She can speak about the challenges and adaptations she's made--including job-shares, flex-days, and mentoring programs--to recruit and retain high-calibre employees.
- Kathi Irvine, 604.762.0472, kirvine@dccnet.comKathryn Aberle, 604.291.3929,aberle@sfu.ca
History buffs turn to virtual exhibits…Visitors to one of the largest US history archives, located in the state of Wisconsin, are fewer and farther between these days - 40 per cent fewer, thanks in large part to the development of online databases and exhibits being created by many museums, archives and libraries catering to web surfers. SFU's museum of archaeology and ethnology recently unveiled its own virtual exhibition entitled A Journey To A New Land www.sfu.museum/journey/ which presents current theories about the peopling of the New World and archaeological research in an interactive format for viewers of any age group. SFU associate communication professor Richard Smith can look at the trend from both the users and site developers' perspectives.
- Richard Smith, 604.291.5116; smith@sfu.caBarbara Winter, museum curator, 604.291.3325; barbara_winter@sfu.ca