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July 10, 2006
Education, volcanoes and Surrey spotlights—Issues, Experts & Ideas
Imaginative education takes flight
Some like it hot
The changing face of faith
Surrey spotlights
Imaginative education takes flight
With six continents on its bandwagon, The Imaginative Education Research Group (IERG) is taking off worldwide—from Argentina, to Greece, to Russia.
Founded within the faculty of education at SFU by Kieran Egan, a national award-winning professor, the group is transforming conventional approaches to schooling by emphasizing the cultivation of imagination. IERG has made a name for itself developing new techniques to reinvigorate teaching English as a Second Language in a cash-strapped education system.
SFU education professor Mark Fettes is pioneering a research project in northern B.C. aimed at improving the educational outcomes of Aboriginal communities. Egan and Fettes will be among several international scholars sharing their research findings at the 4th International Conference on Imagination and Education at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites in Vancouver, July 12 to 15.
In his keynote address, Howard Gardner, professor of cognition and education from Harvard University, will talk about how imagination develops, how it intersects with cultural models and how imagination triggers creative endeavors. For conference info: http://www.ierg.net/confs/index.php?cf=1
Ruby Ng, 604.291.4203, rubyng@sfu.ca
Some like it hot
Some might really envy SFU earth scientist Glyn Williams-Jones’ line of work for the exotic places that it takes him; but to enjoy it, you have to like it hot.
Upcoming fieldwork will take the volcanologist to Indonesia to study the geochemical and geophysical makeup of a number of volcanoes, including Merapi and Kawah Ijen. He has just returned from Galapagos, Ecuador, the site of a major volcanic eruption in October 2005. He is also on a team taking the pulse of Mount Baker in Washington state, which has been smoking in recent years.
Williams-Jones is among several scientists examining the telltale signs of previous and impending eruptions — gravity, deformation and gas buildup within a volcano.
Glyn William-Jones, 604.291.3306, glynwj@sfu.ca
The changing face of faith
Don Grayston, a retired SFU humanities professor and Anglican minister, can comment on the Anglican Church’s steps towards naming female bishops and opposition to the move. Last month, Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected as the first female presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church. Grayston says we’ve heard these voices before. “They are the same groups opposing the ordination of gay bishops or the offering of same-sex blessing — a clear indication that the problem is not gender or sexuality, but modernity."
Don Grayston: 604-709-0883; donald.grayston@gmail.com
Spotlight on Surrey: SFU Surrey will celebrate the opening of its new campus September 8-9. Issues, Experts and Ideas will highlight the campus’ faculty and research leading up to the celebrations. Keep an eye on this webpage http://www.sfu.ca/surrey/opening/ for updates.
Geography prof. tackles poverty in Surrey
Sean Markey, a geography professor at SFU Surrey, doesn’t just teach about poverty and other community issues; he’s actively trying to change things for the better. Markey is SFU’s representative with Vibrant Surrey, a community action group whose goal is to encourage efforts to reduce poverty in Surrey.
The group has two projects underway: Seeing is Believing is a program for corporate executives and other community leaders to study local community conditions and identify ways their organizations can engage with the community. The Surrey Social Purchasing Portal encourages businesses to use local suppliers who hire within the community.
Sean Markey, 604.268.7608, sean_markey@sfu.ca
How do we stop terrorists before they strike?
A recent flurry of alleged terrorist plots in Canada and the United States leaves people wondering how terrorist acts can be prevented before they happen. SFU professors Brian Fisher and John Dill at the school of interactive arts and technology have been working with the United States Department of Homeland Security, to help build better tools for intelligence analysis, to stop terrorists before they strike.
John Dill, 604-268-7555, dill@sfu.ca
Brian Fisher, 604-268-7554, bfisher@sfu.ca
The changing nature of child’s play
School's out and the kids are looking for something to do. And more and more children are opting to stay inside and play with video games and interactive toys, even on those lazy, hazy days of summer. Alissa Antle of SFU's school of interactive arts and technology, is an expert on child-centred design for interactive technologies.
Alissa Antle, 604-268-7438, alissa_antle@sfu.ca
Imaginative education takes flight
Some like it hot
The changing face of faith
Surrey spotlights
Imaginative education takes flight
With six continents on its bandwagon, The Imaginative Education Research Group (IERG) is taking off worldwide—from Argentina, to Greece, to Russia.
Founded within the faculty of education at SFU by Kieran Egan, a national award-winning professor, the group is transforming conventional approaches to schooling by emphasizing the cultivation of imagination. IERG has made a name for itself developing new techniques to reinvigorate teaching English as a Second Language in a cash-strapped education system.
SFU education professor Mark Fettes is pioneering a research project in northern B.C. aimed at improving the educational outcomes of Aboriginal communities. Egan and Fettes will be among several international scholars sharing their research findings at the 4th International Conference on Imagination and Education at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites in Vancouver, July 12 to 15.
In his keynote address, Howard Gardner, professor of cognition and education from Harvard University, will talk about how imagination develops, how it intersects with cultural models and how imagination triggers creative endeavors. For conference info: http://www.ierg.net/confs/index.php?cf=1
Ruby Ng, 604.291.4203, rubyng@sfu.ca
Some like it hot
Some might really envy SFU earth scientist Glyn Williams-Jones’ line of work for the exotic places that it takes him; but to enjoy it, you have to like it hot.
Upcoming fieldwork will take the volcanologist to Indonesia to study the geochemical and geophysical makeup of a number of volcanoes, including Merapi and Kawah Ijen. He has just returned from Galapagos, Ecuador, the site of a major volcanic eruption in October 2005. He is also on a team taking the pulse of Mount Baker in Washington state, which has been smoking in recent years.
Williams-Jones is among several scientists examining the telltale signs of previous and impending eruptions — gravity, deformation and gas buildup within a volcano.
Glyn William-Jones, 604.291.3306, glynwj@sfu.ca
The changing face of faith
Don Grayston, a retired SFU humanities professor and Anglican minister, can comment on the Anglican Church’s steps towards naming female bishops and opposition to the move. Last month, Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected as the first female presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church. Grayston says we’ve heard these voices before. “They are the same groups opposing the ordination of gay bishops or the offering of same-sex blessing — a clear indication that the problem is not gender or sexuality, but modernity."
Don Grayston: 604-709-0883; donald.grayston@gmail.com
Spotlight on Surrey: SFU Surrey will celebrate the opening of its new campus September 8-9. Issues, Experts and Ideas will highlight the campus’ faculty and research leading up to the celebrations. Keep an eye on this webpage http://www.sfu.ca/surrey/opening/ for updates.
Geography prof. tackles poverty in Surrey
Sean Markey, a geography professor at SFU Surrey, doesn’t just teach about poverty and other community issues; he’s actively trying to change things for the better. Markey is SFU’s representative with Vibrant Surrey, a community action group whose goal is to encourage efforts to reduce poverty in Surrey.
The group has two projects underway: Seeing is Believing is a program for corporate executives and other community leaders to study local community conditions and identify ways their organizations can engage with the community. The Surrey Social Purchasing Portal encourages businesses to use local suppliers who hire within the community.
Sean Markey, 604.268.7608, sean_markey@sfu.ca
How do we stop terrorists before they strike?
A recent flurry of alleged terrorist plots in Canada and the United States leaves people wondering how terrorist acts can be prevented before they happen. SFU professors Brian Fisher and John Dill at the school of interactive arts and technology have been working with the United States Department of Homeland Security, to help build better tools for intelligence analysis, to stop terrorists before they strike.
John Dill, 604-268-7555, dill@sfu.ca
Brian Fisher, 604-268-7554, bfisher@sfu.ca
The changing nature of child’s play
School's out and the kids are looking for something to do. And more and more children are opting to stay inside and play with video games and interactive toys, even on those lazy, hazy days of summer. Alissa Antle of SFU's school of interactive arts and technology, is an expert on child-centred design for interactive technologies.
Alissa Antle, 604-268-7438, alissa_antle@sfu.ca