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Researchers-in-Residence 2022

Dara Culhane

TERM: MAY, 2022 - DECEMBER, 2022

Dr. Dara Culhane, Professor of Anthropology, received her B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology in 1985 and her Ph.D. in Anthropology in 1994 from Simon Fraser University. Her early work concentrated on historical and contemporary relations between Aboriginal peoples and the Canadian Nation State; politics of indigenous women's health; collaborative research methodologies; and urban studies.  Culhane’s current research focuses on Anthropology/Ethnography and Performance Studies, Gender and Sexuality, and Irish Studies.  Two works in progress are:  Encore! Travels With The Ghost of Margaret Sheehy, a memory-work life story, and Hear Me Looking At You! a dramatic storytelling performance.

Learn more: http://www.sfu.ca/sociology-anthropology/people/faculty/dara-culhane.html

Taco Niet

TERM: JANUARY, 2022 - AUGUST, 2022

Taco’s research deals with energy systems modelling, energy storage technologies, integration of renewable/variable technologies and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Dr. Niet focuses on addressing systemic challenges in the energy system including integration of variable renewables and working with emerging economies. Recent modelling work has addressed the nexus of climate, land, energy and water interactions in a combined modelling framework and Dr. Niet is working on expanding these nexus models to consider equity and climate justice. Dr. Niet has taught a wide range of courses, including those on instrumentation, systems design and modelling, control systems, strength of materials, and technology and society. Dr. Niet supervises graduate students in research areas related to systems modelling, focusing on building tools that help society and policy makers effectively address climate and other system impacts and trade-offs.

Narges Sefid, Graduate Student

Narges is a Ph.D. student of Sustainable Energy Engineering at SFU, working with Delta E Plus research group.  She holds a master's degree in Energy Systems Engineering from the University of Tehran and has four years of industrial experience in the Energy sector, working on energy efficiency standards and solar systems.  Her primary field of research is energy modeling, and she is enthusiastic about working in multidisciplinary areas such as social planning and data science.

Narges is currently working on community engagement, energy justice, and equity in collaboration with Prof. Taco Niet and Prof. Andreanne Doyon for the Community-Engaged Research initiative.

Tira Okamoto, Graduate Student

Tira Okamoto (she/her) is a Masters of Resource Management (Planning) student at Simon Fraser University, located on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, and Səl̓ílwətaɬ First Nations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in World Arts and Cultures from the University of California, Los Angeles. As a multiracial, white-presenting settler new to the Vancouver area, she brings knowledge from her previous work on sea level rise resilience and equitable community engagement within the unceded traditional territories of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, also known as San Francisco, California.

Tira's research interests include equitable climate adaptation, sea level rise, decolonization, just transition, and the multiplicities within justice and accountability. In addition to the Research Assistant role with Dr. Taco Niet and Dr. Andréanne Doyon on equity and justice within energy and climate modeling, she is currently a Research Assistant with the PICS-funded Living with Water: Coastal Adaptation project. Her research through Living with Water examines equitable coastal adaptation planning in False Creek with the City of Vancouver. Tira is also a Climate Resilience and Adaptation intern with SHIFT Collaborative.