Kyra Philbert

Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies doctoral student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I am a curious person, very much in the “curiosity-killed-the-cat” line of inquiry. One of my earliest memories is touching a hot iron, very deliberately, after my mom explicitly told me not to. I recall patiently waiting until my mother was focused on a different task. Now with her distracted attention, I could test her theory on thermodynamics. Was this iron actually “hot”? What is “hot” anyways? Who are you to tell me what “hot” is? So, I stuck my two-year-old fingers onto that scorching home appliance and before one could say, experiential learning, oh baby! I got burnt! Even though it hurt (and probably why I can remember), I recall being sooooo deeply satisfied. Sure, my mom was right about “hot” but would she be right about everything? I needed to know and more importantly, I needed to know for myself. And I’ve been on that quest for knowledge ever since.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

My choice was slow, deliberate, and took many years of quiet contemplation. I came to SFU for the program, the people, the performance studies, and the parties.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

My research is about the concept of touch within Canadian nursing. My program is interdisciplinary, so I can explore this topic in all sorts of different ways. I’m very excited!

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Touch, Performance, Epistemology

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

I love learning and challenging myself in new situations; every course, RA-ship, TA-ship and school experience creates a new opportunity for academic and professional development. I’m open and curious to see how my experiences at SFU grow and shape me.

Contact Kyra:kyra_philbert@sfu.ca

Additional Links

• My Personal Website