The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is currently participating in a project aimed at exploring, documenting and promoting experiential learning (EL), both within our own faculty as well as the Faculty of Environment.  The project is being led by Jennifer McRae and Deanna Rogers with the support of the Vice President Academic’s Office, and both the FASS and FENV’s Dean’s Offices. Please take a few minutes to fill out the brief survey here. Your participation will help us assess the current status of experiential learning in the FASS, as well as to promote any work you may already be doing.

Jordan Gutierrez, pictured with runner up Jack Qiao, is a fourth-year economics student and winner of this year’s Simon Fraser University’s Student Entrepreneur of the Year (SEY) award. Gutierrez created Librerialeo.com in 2008 and the site is now Latin America’s biggest online medical bookstore. By year’s end, sales are expected to exceed $1.2 million. Read all about Jordan and his amazing success in a feature article in The Province here .

Simon Fraser University associate professor Liz Elliott has been awarded the Ron Wiebe Restorative Justice Award by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) for her work as “a driving force” behind the country’s restorative justice movement. In a release, the CSC said, “Ms. Elliott earned the award by demonstrating her passion and dedication for restorative justice, while relentlessly building awareness and knowledge.” Restorative justice is an approach to dealing with criminal acts that places emphasis on the wrong done to a person and to the community, and on restoring those relationships. Read more about Liz Elliot’s work and SFU’s Centre for Restorative Justice here.

The multidisciplinary Adaptation to Climate Change Team’s latest report, Climate Change Adaptation and the Low Carbon Economy, recommends the creation of a National Centre for Sustainable Energy Solutions. The centre would lead the nation in the transition to clean energy as well as fund research and pilot projects that promote Canada’s transition to clean energy and a low-carbon economy. The report and its 21 recommendations were co-authored by Bruce Sampson, former Chair of the International Center for Sustainable Cities, and Linsay Martens, a graduate of SFU's School of Public Policy. Learn more about ACT and read the report here.

Simon Fraser University is seeking partners to help create a Centre for Persian Language and Studies. The proposed Centre will give SFU the opportunity to develop programs that will help British Columbians learn more about the vibrant heritage, culture, and language of Iranian-Canadians. New language courses will also give students the opportunity to learn Persian, the language of their parents and ancestors. Find out how you can help here. 

SFU's Cognitive Science Director, Steve DiPaola, had his research featured nationally on the Discovery Channel. His work scientifically analyzes how Rembrandt and other painters control the gaze of the viewer as you look at their portraits. Watch the full clip here.

This December, the Human Security Report Project at the SFU School for International Studies released the Human Security Report 2009/2010: The Causes of Peace and the Shrinking Costs of War. The report warns that, “the impact of the economic crisis on developing countries may mean that the recent increase in conflict numbers will continue and the future could resemble the Cold War years which saw conflict numbers triple over four decades”. Dr. Andrew Mack, Project Director, argues that despite the increase in conflicts, there are points of optimism. Read the report and learn more here.

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