FCAT welcomes Canada 150 Research Chair in New Media Wendy Chun

By Tessa Perkins Deneault

The SFU Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology (FCAT) welcomed Canada 150 Research Chair Wendy Hui Kyong Chun at a reception on Jan. 17, 2019.

Chun joins FCAT’s School of Communication as the Canada 150 Research Chair in New Media. She will lead the university’s Digital Democracies Group.

Inspired by her interdisciplinary background in engineering and English literature, Chun’s research focuses on breaking down barriers to solve the most pressing issues of our time. As she said during her remarks at the reception, the Internet doesn’t have to be polarizing and adversarial. Her research group will work to build connections across disciplines and combat hostile online interactions, fake news, and echo chambers.

Chun says she is happy to return home to Canada after spending 25 years in the U.S. She hopes the Digital Democracies Group will provide opportunities for graduate students to gain Canadian experience so they don’t have to leave the country to advance their careers.

Chun is one of 24 Canada 150 Research Chairs, and one of two at SFU. For more information about professor Chun, click here.

View more photos from the welcome reception.