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The Rise Of Wooden Skyscrapers: Advocating the zoning of CLT-based skyscrapers in British Columbia
No full textSkyscrapers worldwide predominantly rely on steel-reinforced concrete, presenting challenges such as a carbon-intensive manufacturing process. However, there is a material which addresses many of these problems, not currently being used to its fullest capability. Cross Laminated Timber, or CLT is a refined form of wood much lighter than reinforced concrete yet comparable in strength. The purpose of this paper is to advocate the construction of wooden skyscrapers above 12 stories in British Columbia because of the structural, affordability and environmental benefits they provide to urban environments. This paper will outline why CLT-construction is a viable solution to many of the problems cities face today along with addressing flammability and environmental arguments commonly cited with large scale timber construction
Security and Climate Change: Challenges and Issues
Get PDFOn January 18, 2024, Dr. Simon Dalby presented Security and Climate Change: Challenges and Issues. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver Executives. The key points discussed were the complex relationship between climate change and conflict, the ability of climate change to redefine global security strategies, and the importance of implementing long-term initiatives before more significant amounts of resources are needed to address immediate climate crises.
Received: 01-29-2024
Revised: 02-04-202
Digital Interactive Agents for SFU Counselling Services
Get PDFIn response to the increasing need for accessible mental health resources, particularly among Generation Z individuals, this research investigates how digital interactive agents (i.e., chatbots, voice agents, and conversational avatars) can facilitate the access and use of counselling services, with a specific focus on improving the student experience of the existing Simon Fraser University (SFU) Health & Counselling website.
Our main research questions were: “What are the undergraduate students’ issues in accessing SFU Counselling Services, including: receiving mental health counselling, scheduling an appointment, and obtaining self-help resources and information on counselling services?" “In what way the digital interactive agents can be helpful in completing the tasks?”
To answer these questions, a literature review on the use of digital interactive agents in mental health support was conducted, which revealed common factors that influence the use of interactive agents: anthropomorphism (ability of digital agents to mimic human behaviours), input or output modalities (i.e., text, voice, video) and functionality (i.e., user control, privacy, personalization). Using the data gathered from these previous steps, an online survey was created to ask students’ perception on the importance of these factors in the context of SFU Counselling Services.
61 SFU students replied to online surveys and 2 participated in interviews. Findings revealed a preference for face-to-face counseling sessions and a recognition of the potential benefits of digital interactive agents for difficult administrative tasks, such as booking an appointment and accessing to relevant information. However, concerns exist regarding their inability to provide emotional support and addressing emotional distress.
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Ö. Nilay Yalçin, School of Interactive Arts & Technology, Simon Fraser Universit
Utilization of recommended falling strategies in mountain biking
No full textFriendship consistently correlates with happiness, and prioritizing one’s friendships has been associated with numerous components of health and well-being (Demir, Cuisinier, & Khoury, 2015; Lu et al., 2021; Taniguchi, 2014). However, people often lose touch with individuals they once called friends (Avalos, 2023; Bowker, White, & Weingarten, 2023). If people are given a chance to reach out to an old friend, do they? What would they say? To examine this question, 410 participants recruited as part of a larger study were asked to think of an old friend or person they care about with whom they had lost touch, and write a “reaching out” message to them. Participants were then given one minute to send their message to their old friend. Approximately one third of participants did so. Wondering if it is possible to predict which notes would be sent, we had six trained undergraduate students code the 410 messages along 14 content-related dimensions (e.g. did the author mention missing their friend, did the author apologize for losing touch). Contrary to most of our pre-registered hypotheses, only two dimensions significantly predicted whether the message was sent: messages in which the author acknowledged they had not spoken to their old friend in a while, and messages in which the author suggested vague future contact with their old friend. Although few coding dimensions predicted which messages were sent, it does seem that taking responsibility (both for losing touch and for initiating future contact) may be a predictor of messages being sent
Investigation of the role of ‘mobilities of care’ in city transportation planning and practice.
No full textIs city transportation design a two-way street? City designs shape how residents interact with the built environment. In the transportation space, designs translate into decisions such as catching buses to reach classes, using rideshare services to commute to work, or cycling to social gatherings. Built environments less supportive of active travel may result in parents driving their children to events, and school buses predominantly serving the neighborhood's school-going children. Therefore, built environments undoubtedly impact the daily routines of city residents. However, how do the needs of city residents influence city planning? The term "mobilities of care" recently coined by Ines Sanchez de Madariaga encompasses the daily travel associated with caregiving. This includes non-paid care provided to other individuals, such as picking up and dropping off children to/from school or helping a friend with grocery. Mobilities of care are care-related, and integral to our daily lives, as care is a fundamental component of human existence. Yet, a question remains: are care-related trips a consideration in cities’ transportation plans? And are caregiver needs sufficiently considered?
This project aims to undertake a policy scan of how cities across Canada address the mobilities of care in their policy and planning activities. In addition to answering this question via a policy scan, it is imperative to explore what mobilities of care entail, identify who is affected by mobilities of care, and discuss how cities can be investigated regarding where and how cities may address mobilities of care in their policy and practice
A Review of Chronic Wasting Disease Management Strategies
No full textChronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a highly infectious, fatal prion disease affecting cervids (deer, elk, moose). CWD has rapidly spread through North America since its discovery in the ‘60’s and is expected to emerge in British Columbia (BC). CWD poses ecological, cultural, and socio-economic risks, making its management complex. To better understand the most strategic and potentially successful management options for BC, we performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature where we searched for the terms “CWD” or “chronic wasting disease” in combination with “management” across three databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed). After reviewing the titles and abstracts, we identified 264 relevant articles after two rounds of screening. The breakdown of papers discussing common topics are: 28.9% harvest/culling strategies, 25.7% human dimensions of management, 25.7% surveillance, and 10.2% environmental management. We used a One Health lens – which recognizes the interconnections between humans, animals, and the environment –to evaluate management strategies. We categorized management strategies into the One Health domains based on their primary focus; the majority of papers targeted animal strategies. Our key findings are 1) many managers consider integrating multiple strategies to manage CWD, 2) understanding local biology and landscape factors are important to identifying appropriate management measures, 3) stakeholder participation is crucial to management success, 4) mathematical models can be used to inform management by projecting potential outcomes, and 5) in many cases, management considerations have been theoretical, not applied in practice. These results reveal important considerations to strengthen CWD management strategies in BC.
Faculty Supervisor: Kaylee Byers, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser UniversityResearch Team Members: Sarah Robinson, Cait Nelson, Caeley Thacke
National Pharmacare: An Rx for Change?
Get PDFIn Canada, five national commissions have recommended national Pharmacare since its original contrivance in the 1960’s. Canada currently pays the third-highest costs for prescription medicine in the world, yet leaves one-fifth of Canadians struggling to pay for prescription medicine (Hoskins, E., 2019, p.7). In the current system, provincial and territorial governments carry the responsibility for funding and administering outpatient prescription drugs through a patchwork of both public and private insurance plans that vary considerably. Healthcare workers, politicians, pharmaceutical companies, and outspoken Canadians continue contentious debate both in favor and opposition of a national Pharmacare program. Despite potential financial challenges and implications associated with the introduction of a universal and single-payer Pharmacare program, the myriad of health and economic benefits and proposed budget solutions provide compelling support for the implementation of such a system
Fighting on Quicksand: How Corruption Weakens State Capacity in War
No full textThis paper explores whether corruption negatively affects the outcomes of interstate conflicts. Applying quantitative methods on about 200 years of data suggests that more corrupt countries are less likely to win interstate wars and more likely to suffer a higher ratio of combat losses in those wars. The rot of corruption thus likely affects one of the main duties of the state: public defense.
Received: 09-02-2024
Revised: 09-27-202
CANADA AND ECONOMIC SECURITY: THE WAY AHEAD
Get PDFIn August-September 2024, Global Affairs Canada held public consultations on “Potential New Measures to Advance and Defend Canada’s Economic Security Interests.” The inputs provided will help the Government of Canada update or develop approaches and measures that would advance Canada’s economic security interests. The following analysis and recommendations were submitted by the author in response to the call for expert views on the subject. The author argues that, in addition to public consultations, Canada still needs a strategic framework to think about national security, prosperity and economic security in a comprehensive, whole-of-governmet fashion and makes five specific recommendations. Canada should: 1. Develop, promulgate and implement a whole-of-government National Economic Security Strategy; 2. Undertake an in-depth intelligence-based all-source threat assessment of foreign economic threats to Canada, including an unclassified version for Canadians, prior to deciding on the measures to be taken in the National Economic Security Strategy to secure Canada’s economic security and prosperity; 3. Undertake a full cost analysis of the gains and losses to the Canadian economy and individual economic security from the applications of all the measures delineated in the National Economic Security Strategy; 4. Undertake an in-depth analysis of how allies and other states would respond to the implementation of a new National Economic Security Strategy (taking into account the best, worst and most likely outcomes) and develop options, to be included in the Strategy, to mitigate the risk of harmful outcomes; and 5. Consider developing a National Industrial Strategy and an International Trade Strategy alongside or as key components of the National Economic Security Strategy.
Received: 09-24-2024
Revised: 10-25-202