2024 winners and nominees of the Distinquished Academics Awards
Meet the winners and learn how their work is making an impact in the non-academic world, demostrating the vitality of university-based research and scholarly activity.
The Distinguished Academics Awards promote the value of university research in advancing the public good. Nominees hail from various institutions and disciplines, often working in very different domains—yet they’re united by a passion for meaningful research that fuels our economy, democracy, and intellectual life.
WINNERS
Early in Career Award
Dr. Sean Irwin
Royal Roads University
Dr. Sean Irwin is the recipient of the Early in Career Award. Dr. Irwin is Associate Professor in the School of Business at Royal Roads University. Dr. Irwin receives this award in recognition of his work on international and community development and his continuous efforts in improving the health, livelihoods, and wellbeing of some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities. Dr. Irwin’s research on sustainable social and economic development in the Global South and working with communities to develop food systems in South America, and water, sanitation, and hygiene in health care facilities in low-income countries in Africa. Dr. Irwin is principal investigator on a funded project on improving conditions of health care facilities in Malawi and he’s the co-principal investigator on the funded project “Fish for Life” in Bolivia.
Dr Sean Irwin on how his research supports EDI in post-secondary education
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:38 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin talks about the most important message his students should take away from his class
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin gives final word of thanks
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin Full Length Interview
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:24 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin Interview Trailer
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:26 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on his research interests
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on the Fish For Life project in Bolivia
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on project STREAMS and his work with Malawian communities to develop water, sanita...
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on importance of engaging in research that's in the interest of the public
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:41 pm
Dr Sean Irwin on how his research supports EDI in post-secondary education
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:38 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin talks about the most important message his students should take away from his class
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin gives final word of thanks
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin Full Length Interview
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:24 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin Interview Trailer
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:26 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on his research interests
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on the Fish For Life project in Bolivia
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on project STREAMS and his work with Malawian communities to develop water, sanita...
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on importance of engaging in research that's in the interest of the public
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:41 pm
Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit
Simon Fraser University
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit is the recipient of the Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award. Dr. Parent is Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Indigenous Education & Governance in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. She receives this award in recognition of her project “Raising Nisga’a Language, Sovereignty, and Land-Based Education Through Traditional Carving knowledge,” which successfully established an international precedent for the rematriation of the Ni’isjoohl memorial totem pole from Scotland. This project produced ground-breaking outcomes that are expanding the paradigm of Indigenous methodologies, Indigenous governance, decolonizing museum practices, enhancing partnerships for decolonization and reconciliation, and sharing research knowledge.
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit Interview Trailer
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:31 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit on her research interests
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:56 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit on the rematriation of the Wilps Ni-ishjoohl memorial pole
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:56 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit on how the Nisga’a concept of the Common Bowl informs her research...
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:56 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit on the importance of community based research
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:56 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit on how her work supports EDI in post-secondary education
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:56 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit on how work encourages better access to post-secondary education
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:56 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit on the most important message students should take away from her class
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:55 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit gives final word of thanks
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:56 pm
Dr. Amy Parent, Noxs Ts’aawit Full Length Interview
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:25 pm
Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award
Dr. Francis Juanes
University of Victoria
Dr. Francis Juanes is the recipient of the Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award. Dr. Juanes is the Liber Ero Professor of Fisheries in the Department of Biology at the University of Victoria. He receives this award in recognition of his life’s work conducting fundamental and innovative research in fisheries ecology. Dr. Juanes has transformed the way that scientists model fish population dynamics and he has pioneered research in soundscape ecology, establishing bioacoustics as a novel approach to ecosystem health. One of the primary contributions Dr. Juanes has made to the community is inspiring new generations of leaders and policymakers in the field of fisheries ecology.
Dr. Francis Juanes Interview Trailer
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:26 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on his research interests
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:57 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on his research efforts to challenge the most significant issues facing aquati...
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:24 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on creating a Canadian specific acoustic catalog of ocean soundscapes
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:23 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on his research on microplastic consumption in humans...
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:57 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on the importance of engaging in research that is in the interest of the public
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:20 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on the most important message his students should take away from their study...
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:22 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on how his work advances the calls to action in the 2015 TRC Report
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:18 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on how his work supports EDI in post-secondary education
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:16 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes on how his work impacts people living in British Columbia
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:07 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes gives final word of thanks
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:22 pm
Dr. Francis Juanes Full Length Interview
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 7:26 pm
Dr. Sean Irwin on importance of engaging in research that's in the interest of the public
CUFA BC May 29, 2024 6:41 pm