Human Geography Student Guneet Kaur Receives SFU Centre for Dialogue Award for Undergraduate Research

April 27, 2026

Guneet Kaur, a Human Geography major, was recently honoured with the Research that Advances Democracy Award from the SFU Centre for Dialogue at the SFU Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Kaur received the award for her research poster, “Public City and Private City: Rethinking the Right to the City,” which explored how public spaces in Vancouver, while often seen as inclusive, are shaped by power, planning, and socioeconomic forces, resulting in uneven experiences of belonging.

The award recognizes undergraduate research that aligns with the Centre’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and democratic public life and includes a certificate and a $50 cash prize. Kaur has also received an invitation to further share her research through a Zoom discussion and to participate in an upcoming Centre for Dialogue blog feature.

Cora Dickson and Dr. Alice Lee at the SFU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Photo courtesy of Alice Lee.

Kaur presented her research alongside fellow human geography student Cora Dickson, whose research explored how campus third spaces shape students’ social interaction and sense of belonging, emphasizing the role of peer connection, time on campus, and intentional design.

Both projects raise important questions about who truly feels they belong in shared spaces and encourages more critical reflection on how those spaces are created and experienced. Kaur and Dickson’s supervisor, Dr. Alice Lee, shared how impressed she was by the depth and insight of the student presentations.

We are proud to see our students contributing thoughtful and meaningful perspectives to conversations about public space, democracy and belonging.

Great work Guneet and Cora!

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Department of Geography

Human Geography Student Guneet Kaur Receives SFU Centre for Dialogue Award for Undergraduate Research

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