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SFU Issues and Experts: terrorism, crime, legal abuse and sex
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July 11, 2005
Issue: What's next on the terrorists' horizon?
It's a question that political leaders worldwide are fretting over, following what is regarded as the latest terrorist attack on the western world. History professor Andre Gerolymatos is an expert on the Middle East, international relations, security and defense issues. He says the latest bombings in London give rise to many new concerns, including the likelihood that London, England and Vancouver, BC, the hosts of upcoming Olympics, will be the target of future terrorist attacks.
Issue: Assessing the economic toll of terrorism
While political leaders wait to see what move terrorists might make next, financial analysts are assessing the potential economic fallout of the London bombings. James Dean, an international economist, is available to share his view that “in short, this latest terrorist attack could trigger an unraveling of a vast global spending/savings imbalance between the West and the East.”
Issue: Punishing the young for crimes of violence
Now that Kelly Ellard has been sentenced to life in prison for the murderer of 14-year-old Reena Virk on Vancouver Island, the severity of her sentence is sparking debate. Rob Gordon, a criminologist, can reflect on how the justice system deals with youth crimes of violence. Gerald Walton, a research grants facilitator in education, is doing his doctorate on homophobic bullying. He is concerned that the public may interpret Ellard's sentence as meaning that zero tolerance is the best and only way to go in dealing with various forms of bullying.
Issue: The power of the law gone awry
Recent stories about the conviction of a judge on sex charges and the arrest of a government lawyer in connection with other sexual assault charges raise questions about the vulnerability of the legal system. To what extent can those in charge of enforcing the law --lawyers and judges for example -- use it to manipulate the law and abuse people going through the legal system? Neil Boyd, a criminologist, can offer some thought on this controversial question.
Idea: Making education imaginative
The 3rd International Conference on Imagination and Education: engaging the imagination in teaching and learning will delve into how Kieran Egan's philosophy of imaginative learning applies across all disciplines. The founder of SFU's Imaginative Education Research Group (IERG) and an education professor, Egan has developed a unique array of courses and teaching strategies. They are based on his theory that students learn best when subject matter triggers their emotions by engaging their imagination. Max Wyman, a leading cultural commentator and the keynote speaker at this year's IERG conference, will discuss why our survival as a society rests on our ability to learn and educate imaginatively. For more information about the conference, July 13-16 at the Coast Plaza Hotel, and to arrange interviews with presenters, contact Teresa Martin.
Idea: How men and women differ
Great strides have been made in the last century to politically and economically equalize the sexes. But the debate rages on about their biological and socialized differences. In her presentation Beyond pink and blue: Biological perspectives on gender development, Sheri Berenbaum will discuss research on biological contributions to sex differences. Berenbaum is a psychology professor at Pennsylvania State University. She seeks to identify which aspects of those behaviours that differ along sexual lines are caused by various cultural norms, and which are rooted in anatomical and physiological differences in male and female brains. The cultural norms include socialization patterns, rewards and modeling behaviours in infants and young children. In her upcoming colloquium, Berenbaum will discuss her own and others' research on the “nature-nurture” controversy. The presentation takes place Monday, July 11, 2:30 pm, RCB 5202, Burnaby campus
It's a question that political leaders worldwide are fretting over, following what is regarded as the latest terrorist attack on the western world. History professor Andre Gerolymatos is an expert on the Middle East, international relations, security and defense issues. He says the latest bombings in London give rise to many new concerns, including the likelihood that London, England and Vancouver, BC, the hosts of upcoming Olympics, will be the target of future terrorist attacks.
- Andre Gerolymatos, 604.291.5597, agerolym@sfu.ca
Issue: Assessing the economic toll of terrorism
While political leaders wait to see what move terrorists might make next, financial analysts are assessing the potential economic fallout of the London bombings. James Dean, an international economist, is available to share his view that “in short, this latest terrorist attack could trigger an unraveling of a vast global spending/savings imbalance between the West and the East.”
- James Dean, 604.291.3788, jdean@sfu.ca
Issue: Punishing the young for crimes of violence
Now that Kelly Ellard has been sentenced to life in prison for the murderer of 14-year-old Reena Virk on Vancouver Island, the severity of her sentence is sparking debate. Rob Gordon, a criminologist, can reflect on how the justice system deals with youth crimes of violence. Gerald Walton, a research grants facilitator in education, is doing his doctorate on homophobic bullying. He is concerned that the public may interpret Ellard's sentence as meaning that zero tolerance is the best and only way to go in dealing with various forms of bullying.
- Rob Gordon, 604.418.6640 (cell),rgordon@sfu.caGerald Walton, 604.268.6923, gwalton@sfu.ca
Issue: The power of the law gone awry
Recent stories about the conviction of a judge on sex charges and the arrest of a government lawyer in connection with other sexual assault charges raise questions about the vulnerability of the legal system. To what extent can those in charge of enforcing the law --lawyers and judges for example -- use it to manipulate the law and abuse people going through the legal system? Neil Boyd, a criminologist, can offer some thought on this controversial question.
- Neil Boyd, 604.291.3324, 604.947.9569, neil_boyd@sfu.ca
Idea: Making education imaginative
The 3rd International Conference on Imagination and Education: engaging the imagination in teaching and learning will delve into how Kieran Egan's philosophy of imaginative learning applies across all disciplines. The founder of SFU's Imaginative Education Research Group (IERG) and an education professor, Egan has developed a unique array of courses and teaching strategies. They are based on his theory that students learn best when subject matter triggers their emotions by engaging their imagination. Max Wyman, a leading cultural commentator and the keynote speaker at this year's IERG conference, will discuss why our survival as a society rests on our ability to learn and educate imaginatively. For more information about the conference, July 13-16 at the Coast Plaza Hotel, and to arrange interviews with presenters, contact Teresa Martin.
- Teresa Martin, 604.291.4479, tmartin@sfu.ca
Idea: How men and women differ
Great strides have been made in the last century to politically and economically equalize the sexes. But the debate rages on about their biological and socialized differences. In her presentation Beyond pink and blue: Biological perspectives on gender development, Sheri Berenbaum will discuss research on biological contributions to sex differences. Berenbaum is a psychology professor at Pennsylvania State University. She seeks to identify which aspects of those behaviours that differ along sexual lines are caused by various cultural norms, and which are rooted in anatomical and physiological differences in male and female brains. The cultural norms include socialization patterns, rewards and modeling behaviours in infants and young children. In her upcoming colloquium, Berenbaum will discuss her own and others' research on the “nature-nurture” controversy. The presentation takes place Monday, July 11, 2:30 pm, RCB 5202, Burnaby campus
- Barry Beyerstein, 604.291.3743, barry_beyerstein@sfu.ca