UNIVERSITY NEWS

SFU STUDENTS HONOUR THE VICTIMS OF THE 1989 ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE ATTACK

Content warning: mass shooting, gun violence, violence against women

As the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women approaches, SFU's Women in Engineering (WiE) club is educating the community and honouring the victims of the École Polytechnique engineering school shooting.

Learn more about WiE's work to support women engineers today and tomorrow, how various SFU groups are collaborating to commemorate the lives lost and how you can get involved.

LEARN MORE

IMPROVING PPE PROTECTION AND REUSABILITY

Researchers from SFU and the University of Victoria have discovered a method—using only visible light—to treat and safely sterilize non-woven polypropylene-fabrics, the material used to fabricate personal protective equipment (PPE). This breakthrough may decrease the environmental impact of single-use equipment and ensure that healthcare workers have access to safe and sterile PPE despite supply chain disruptions.

CELEBRATING DIVERSE STUDENT WRITING

Seeking ways to continue recognizing the diversity of student writing, SFU Library’s Student Learning Commons (SLC) restructured the 2021 undergraduate writing contest to be more inclusive. This year, the contest includes a first-year submission category and a Plurilingual Prize and is now open for submissions.

“The possibility for richer, more complex, more nuanced, and more equitable writing is opened up,” says Julia Lane, SLC writing services coordinator.

LEARN MORE

HEALTHY AGING IN WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV

A lot has changed since the outset of the AIDS epidemic 40 years ago, and people with HIV are living longer, healthier lives. Health Sciences professor Angela Kaida studies the cellular, clinical and social factors that can help women living with HIV continue to age well.

SFU PROFESSOR INFORMS HEALTH AND PUBLIC POLICY

SFU Public Policy associate professor and research scientist with the BC Centre on Substance Use at Providence Health Care, Kora DeBeck is working to improve health among vulnerable populations who use drugs. Explore her research and its impact on street youth in Vancouver.

RESOURCES + OPERATIONAL UPDATES

HOW TO SUPPORT STUDENTS DURING FINAL EXAMS

The end of the semester can be a stressful time. Please consider extending extra kindness towards those who may be struggling. We also recommend familiarizing yourself with this list of SFU resources—including mental health supports, academic supports and more—and sharing them with students who might need them.

VIEW RESOURCES

CREATING FLEXIBLE CLASSROOMS HELPS STUDENTS ENGAGE

Students may face a variety of challenges that impact their health, well-being and stress levels. Learn how embracing flexibility in your course design—for example, by giving students more choices, allowing resubmissions and more—can improve students' ability to engage in the classroom.

TAKE ACTION

SPOTLIGHT YOUR RESEARCH AND EXPERTISE WITH THE MEDIA

SFU’s Communications & Marketing team is always on the lookout for experts who can comment to the media about trending topics, new research, SFU-inspired innovation and making a difference with community engagement. If you have an idea or topic, contact us at mediarelations@sfu.ca. For past examples, check out our media releases and issues & experts pitches.

For December, we are looking for:

New research and stories
Fall and COVID-19 (how to talk to young children about vaccines, Omicron variant, staying positive in the ongoing pandemic, borders and travel, business impacts, privacy, new treatments, inequity, hard conversations, vaccination rates, booster shots, layoffs, etc.)
Flu season and vaccines
Sustainable holidays, supply chains and gift buying, holiday gatherings, seasonal depression, etc.
Canadian interest rates and inflation
Floodplains in B.C.

DECEMBER 7-8: UNIVERSITY WEST ROAD CLOSURE

University Drive West between West Campus Road and the West Parkade entrance lane on the Burnaby campus will be temporarily closed to all vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian traffic from 7:00 am Tuesday, December 7 to 6:00 pm Wednesday, December 8. This is to remove the Residence Phase 2 tower crane. Please watch for equipment, construction vehicles, signs and crew.

FEATURE EVENT

February 23-25 | Hosted by SFU Centre for Educational Excellence

STRENGTHEN YOUR TEACHING SKILLS

The Instructional Skills Workshop is an internationally-recognized forum for faculty, staff and graduate students in instructional roles who wish to enhance their teaching skills. Through intensive-yet-practical exercises, this in-person workshop strengthens novice to expert instructors' skills. Applications are due by Friday, January 7.

APPLY TODAY

PROPERTY, HOME & PRECARITY

December 6

From street sweeps to housing justice, join senior SFU students for an evening of presentations and discussions that unpack the connections between property and vulnerability.

INTERESTED IN PART-TIME GRADUATE STUDIES?

December 8

Join the open house and discover Graduate Liberal Studies (GLS) at SFU. The only program of its kind in Canada, GLS is a master of arts program designed for working individuals to explore the ideas and values that shape our culture.