SURREY – An Indo-Canadian student is among two Simon Fraser University students who have scored high with their idea to develop an elite training program encouraging young innovators—from high school to grad school—to solve health technology challenges.
Sujoy Ghosh Hajra and Careesa Liu pitched their Surrey Collaborative Outreach and Research Experience (SCORE) at the inaugural SFU Surrey—Central City Community Engagement competition—and received $5,000 from Central City’s property management company, Blackwood Partners, to help implement their idea.
The competition will be held annually from 2014-2018 to encourage community/student engagement through innovation.
The idea behind SCORE is to give young innovators opportunities for exposure to cutting edge, hands-on research experiences in medical technologies, scientific training, and mentorship from researchers, business leaders, and community thought-leaders.
Through collaborative teamwork the students engage with such community partners as the City of Surrey and industry supporters like MISL and Health Tech Connex. A pilot program this past summer laid the groundwork for expanding the idea and received endorsement from the city and other potential collaborators.
“The Central City neighbourhood is currently undergoing significant revitalization, led by Surrey’s Innovation Boulevard,” said Ghosh Hajra. “We hope to concurrently develop the future generation of highly qualified personnel to be leaders in these fields.”
Runner up to SCORE is a program called Media Minds, created by Enactus SFU. The program complements traditional ESL-style programs, using videography as a tool to help immigrant youth creatively learn English.
Other ideas shortlisted were Vivrancity, which aims to incorporate creativity into otherwise empty neighborhood spaces, and Transit Watch, targeting the creation of safer environments around transit areas.
As Canada’s engaged university, SFU is defined by its dynamic integration of innovative education, cutting-edge research and far-reaching community engagement.
