51ÉçÇøºÚÁÏ

 is an associate professor of economics in the School of Public Policy and Urban Studies Program at 51ÉçÇøºÚÁÏ. Prior to joining 51ÉçÇøºÚÁÏin 2020, he was a faculty member in the Department of Economics, Philosophy, and Political Science at the University of British Columbia (Okanagan Campus).

Mohsen’s research interests are varied, spanning applied/empirical economics, labour economics, and economic inequality (especially labour market inequalities and discrimination experienced by women, immigrants, and racial minorities). More recently, he has also been interested in examining different aspects of the mainstream economics, including views among economists and economics students, and the role of ideological bias in shaping these views. He is currently involved in a related large-scale research project in collaboration with  from the University of Cambridge and funded by SSHRC. He is also a co-investigator on a multidisciplinary academic-community SSHRC partnership grant to collaboratively generate and mobilize new knowledge about precarity in and beyond employment in British Columbia (BC) to address its impacts and advance policy solutions.

Despite varied research interests, one identifiable theme in Mohsen’s work is understanding and challenging the mechanisms and processes that hinder plurality and produce inequality, injustice, exclusion, and marginalization.

Dr. Aftab Erfan (she/her) is Executive Director of 51ÉçÇøºÚÁÏCentre for Dialogue and Associate Member at 51ÉçÇøºÚÁÏSchool of Public Policy.

Previously, she served as the City of Vancouver’s inaugural Chief Equity Officer, and Director of Dialogue and Conflict Engagement at UBC. She holds a PhD in planning from UBC, a Masters in planning from McGill University, and a BSc in environmental sciences from UBC. Aftab has extensive experience as a process designer and facilitator, specializing in hosting dialogues on contentious issues with warmth and creativity. Her experience spans 15 years and five continents. She holds numerous honours, including BC500 most influential business leaders in BC (Business in Vancouver), Research for a Better Life: The Storytellers Challenge (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), and Best Published Paper Award Shortlist (Association of European Schools of Planning).