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Issues & Experts Archive > Political, medical destiny, computers and sex: Issues & Experts
Political, medical destiny, computers and sex: Issues & Experts
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May 25, 2005
Issue: The impending tale of two or more ridings…It remains to be seen how the final vote will shake down in last week's provincial election. The governing Liberals and the rejuvenated NDP opposition are still celebrating their respective victories. But a vote recount on May 30 in at least two ridings could result in a significant twist of political fortunes. SFU business administration and political marketing experts Gary Mauser and Lindsay Meredith can talk about the potential fallout if the recounts result in more votes for either the Liberals or the NDP. “I think these close races show how important every vote is,” says Mauser.
Issue: Deciding one's own religious and medical destiny…Medical ethicists and religious leaders are likely wondering how a recent provincial government decision will affect future conflicts between medical advice and religious values. The BC Ministry of Children and Family Development recently reversed its original denial of a Jehovah's Witness teen's right to seek funding for cancer treatment that avoids blood transfusions. SFU criminologist Rob Gordon is a legal expert on right-to-life and euthanasia issues; SFU adjunct professor Tom Koch is an expert on health ethics. The two can comment on the possible impact of the provincial government's decision.
Idea: Hole in the Wall computing…”Holes in the wall” are computers embedded into walls in public places. In 1999, Sugata Mitra, a scientist working in the areas of cognitive science, information science and educational technology, placed 108 “hole in the wall” computers throughout rural India and Cambodia. His investigation of whether children can learn to use these public computers on their own demonstrated that such access significantly affects children's social, behavioural, analytical and linguistic skills. Mitra will share his results at a presentation on Monday, May 30. Mitra, chief scientist with NIIT, a global IT and business process management services provider, will present his findings from 4:30-5:30 pm at SFU Vancouver's Harbour Centre. Advance registration is required. For more information contact Andrea Joseph.
- Gary Mauser, 604.936.9141, gary_mauser@sfu.caLindsay Meredith, 604.291.3653, lindsay_meredith@sfu.ca
Issue: Deciding one's own religious and medical destiny…Medical ethicists and religious leaders are likely wondering how a recent provincial government decision will affect future conflicts between medical advice and religious values. The BC Ministry of Children and Family Development recently reversed its original denial of a Jehovah's Witness teen's right to seek funding for cancer treatment that avoids blood transfusions. SFU criminologist Rob Gordon is a legal expert on right-to-life and euthanasia issues; SFU adjunct professor Tom Koch is an expert on health ethics. The two can comment on the possible impact of the provincial government's decision.
- Rob Gordon, 604.291.4305, robert_gordon@sfu.caTom Koch, 604.714.0348, 604.842.0348, tokoch@attglobal.net
Idea: Hole in the Wall computing…”Holes in the wall” are computers embedded into walls in public places. In 1999, Sugata Mitra, a scientist working in the areas of cognitive science, information science and educational technology, placed 108 “hole in the wall” computers throughout rural India and Cambodia. His investigation of whether children can learn to use these public computers on their own demonstrated that such access significantly affects children's social, behavioural, analytical and linguistic skills. Mitra will share his results at a presentation on Monday, May 30. Mitra, chief scientist with NIIT, a global IT and business process management services provider, will present his findings from 4:30-5:30 pm at SFU Vancouver's Harbour Centre. Advance registration is required. For more information contact Andrea Joseph.
- Andrea Joseph, 604.291.4900, andrea@sfu.ca
Idea: Sex and books on the beach…Summer's around the corner and publishers are pushing their so-called beach reads: entertaining stories that don't strain the intellect. So what makes a good beach read? The answer depends on your gender says Stephen Ogden who teaches a highly popular English course examining the perennially popular genres of so-called chick-lit and lad-lit. Ogden can explain the distinguishing characteristics of the two genres and offer light-hearted commentary on what such books say about the difference between Mars and Venus.
- Stephen Ogden, 604.250.9432, ogden@sfu.ca