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Chair of the Sterling Committee

Professor
UNESCO Chair in Bio-cultural Diversity and Education

Dr. David Zandvliet is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Vancouver, Canada) and Director of the Institute for Environmental Learning. 

“I joined the Sterling Awards committee by invitation from the previous chair. We both shared an interest in controversy as an effective strategy to engage students more deeply with environmental and sustainability issues. This initial interest then evolved in a general interest in how controversies develop and sustain themselves over time.�

Professor

School of Criminology

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

“As a past Sterling Prize recipient, I know personally how meaningful it is to have work recognized that challenges conventional thinking and raises difficult, sometimes uncomfortable questions. I joined the committee because academic freedom and personal courage matter deeply to me. I believe they are especially important in contemporary Canadian academia, where scholars need the freedom to question prevailing assumptions, express dissenting views, and pursue evidence even when their findings are unpopular. Doing so can carry personal and professional costs, which makes recognition and support particularly valuable. What I have enjoyed most is learning about people whose work demonstrates this courage and discussing their contributions with colleagues who bring different perspectives. Serving on the committee is an opportunity to help sustain a university culture in which independent thought is valued and people feel supported in speaking openly.�

Professor of Anthropology

Sociology & Anthropology

I decided to join the steering prize committee because I so believe in this award, especially in these times of polarization and fear of deviating from the path of general acceptance. I think it’s especially important for us to support people that take these risky positions and do so based on a strong set of ethical determination. 

We need to find these kinds of people and celebrate them so that we can also show others that they too can be brave. I’ve really enjoyed this opportunity to connect with my colleagues across many different faculties, especially through conversations about what cases best meet the Sterling criteria. 

Dean, Faculty of Environment

Resource & Environmental Management

I was drawn to the Sterling Prize committee because of my belief in the importance of universities as spaces that challenge conventional thinking and resist forces in our society that would favour compliance over critical inquiry. I valued the opportunity to engage with fellow committee members - faculty, staff, and students from across the university, and found our thoughtful discussions about the nature of controversy and the influence of controversial ideas both informative and inspiring.

Assistant Professor

Faculty of Education

Dr. Barbosa de Moura's research interests focus primarily on the ways that historical, philosophical and sociological approaches to science can be used to foster justice-centred science education in K-12 and teacher education contexts.

Why you chose to join the Sterling Prize Committee

“I am deeply interested in the pedagogical use of the history of science and its controversies in teaching natural sciences, so I found that getting to know some current controversial work would be exciting; at the same time, I thought that my expertise with historical scientific controversies would be useful to identify one — in sum, a perfect fit for my interests and expertise!�

What you have enjoyed most about being a committee member and what the experience has meant to you

“I found the discussions intellectually stimulating. This prize represents SFU's motto well as an engaged university that promotes innovation. It has been a pleasure to help select candidates with daring research approaches that challenge the status quo, promote the dignity of human and more-than-human life, and uphold SFU's core values.�

Manager, Outreach & Engagement

I was drawn to the Sterling Prize Committee because it provided an opportunity to get to know how each faculty perceives and responds to the need for research that asks uncomfortable questions and confronts dogma - not for the sake of these things but to produce better, clearer knowledge, despite the potential risks. I was able to serve as both a student and staff representative, and was treated in every way as an equal member, though I learned a great deal "on the fly". Every year the nominees ask us to consider what we want Â鶹ÊÓƵto stand for, and what speaking truth to power looks like in academia around the world, and that's an exciting discussion to be part of.

Manager, Operations and Administrative Services School of Medicine

Why I chose to join the Sterling Prize Committee

I first learned about this exciting award while working in the Provost’s Office at SFU. I have always felt that challenging conventional thinking and embracing controversy are, in many ways, at the very heart of academic inquiry. Yet, taking such a stance often comes with considerable personal and professional risks. What makes the Sterling Prize so special to me is that it is a rare award that celebrates the courage to take those risks — to passionately advocate for one's convictions, speak truth to power, and challenge the status quo, all grounded in scholarly knowledge, rigorous inquiry, and lived experience.

What I have enjoyed most about being a committee member and what the experience has meant to me

What I have enjoyed most is learning about the remarkable individuals who have the courage to stand behind their ideas, even when doing so invites criticism or controversy. I find it deeply inspiring to witness how intellectual passion, academic integrity, and a commitment to meaningful change can come together. Being part of a committee that recognizes and celebrates this kind of courage has been both intellectually enriching and personally meaningful. To me, the Sterling Prize is a beautiful reminder that academia is not only about advancing knowledge, but also about having the courage to question, challenge, and advocate for what matters.