Four exceptional Simon Fraser University scholars have been named to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) Canada's highest academic honour.
Computing science professor Jiangchuan Liu is SFU's newest RSC Fellow, while public policy professor Kora DeBeck, health sciences professor TJ (Travis) Salway, and resource and environmental management professor Tammara Soma become members of the society's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.
"We are a leading research university because of the work that our faculty members do to advance innovation, engage in global challenges and make a difference for communities," says SFU president and vice-chancellor Joy Johnson, who was elected to the RSC in 2019. "Congratulations to SFU's newest inductees into the Royal Society of Canada, and thank you for the amazing impact you have on SFU and the world."
Established in 1882 as Canada's national academy, the society promotes research and learning in the arts, humanities and sciences. The society awards fellowships to peer-elected and distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions in these fields. The society's mandate is to build a better future for Canada and the world.
The College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists recognizes emerging intellectual leaders who have demonstrated high achievement during their early careers.
"Congratulations to the new RSC members on this well-deserved recognition," says Dugan O'Neil, SFU vice-president of research and innovation. "These four inspiring SFU scholars are leaders in their disciplines, creating social change through engagement and collaboration. SFU's growing number of RSC scholars exemplifies the university's commitment to teaching and research excellence, innovation, sustainability and knowledge mobilization."
SFU's new 2025 Royal Society of Canada Fellow
Professor Jiangchuan Liu's research interests span internet architecture and protocols; multimedia content, distribution, and processing; wireless mobile networking; cloud computing and big data networking; and online gaming and social networking. An expert in his field and a mentor to emerging scientists, Liu consistently ranks among SFU's top contributors in Scopus' field-weighted citation impact. His collaborative, interdisciplinary research actively engages the broader scientific community.
SFU's new College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists members
Professor Kora DeBeck's research addresses the urgent issue of unregulated drug toxicity, now the leading cause of unnatural death in British Columbia. In collaboration with people with lived expertise in substance use, she leads the At-Risk Youth Study, a first-of-its-kind longitudinal cohort that generates evidence to improve policy and practice. Through cross-sector scientific and community engagement, she advocates for evidence-based drug policy reform as a pathway to harm prevention and health promotion.
Professor TJ Salway works to improve the health and wellbeing of 2S/LGBTQ+ populations by addressing health disparities and leading inclusive solutions. He created MindMapBC, a tool for finding gender-affirming care, and co-developed guidelines for respective and sensitive research with Two-Spirit individuals. Well known for his advocacy, Salway played a key role in strengthening Canada's anti-conversion therapy legislation and continues to monitor policy effectiveness while educating the public on these critical issues. He is also the recipient of the 2022 CUFA BC Early In Career Award and a 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award from SFU.
Professor Tammara Soma is a food system scholar and practitioner who integrates sustainability, climate resilience, and equity into land use planning and policy. She is internationally known for her efforts in food system planning, advancing food waste prevention policies, and her work on the societal implications of agricultural technologies. Soma is the co-founder and director of the Food Systems Lab at SFU, and seeks to decolonise curriculum and food pedagogy while providing hands-on, community-based learning opportunities. She is the recipient of the 2023 Emerging Community-Engaged Researcher Award and the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award from SFU. Read the full story here.
Read the full announcement from the Royal Society of Canada.
To suggest a candidate for the 2026 Royal Society of Canada nominations, please contact Institutional Strategic Awards at awards@sfu.ca.
The Government of Canada's Research Support Fund (RSF) supports with funding for Institutional Strategic Awards (ISA) staff. These positions help SFU researchers increase success, reduce administrative burden, and make it possible for the university and SFU faculty to successfully compete for the most significant and prestigious grants, prizes and awards available.
