Professional Communication Professor releases new groundbreaking book

In a world where political polarization and climate change denialism are on the rise, the role of communication scholarship becomes paramount, serving as a guiding force in understanding the complex issues that shape our societal narratives. With key insights into these areas, Professional Communication Professor Dr. Sibo Chen is leading the charge in critical communication scholarship. With a keen eye for environmental and political discourse, Dr. Chen's journey through academia has recently culminated in the release of his groundbreaking book, Energy Politics and Discourse in Canada: Probing Progressive Extractivism.

Energy Politics and Discourse in Canada

Stemming from his dissertation research, his groundbreaking book offers a meticulous exploration of the discourse surrounding Canadian fuel extractivism. Energy Politics and Discourse in Canada delves into the economic, political, and ideological struggles underpinning British Columbia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. 

This seminal work explores the controversies surrounding British Columbia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, unveiling the nuances of progressive extractivism and challenging prevailing narratives surrounding environmental policies and economic growth. The book examines the ongoing debates surrounding this contentious issue by dissecting the discourse coalitions formed by both supporters and opponents.

“The book identifies progressive extractivism as an increasingly popular policy/discursive paradigm adopted by fossil fuel advocates to legitimize unconventional fossil fuels in an era of intensifying climate crisis,” stated Dr. Chen. “However, the inherent weaknesses of this paradigm, such as increased regulatory costs and limited Indigenous support, enable political resistance. This resistance comes from an Indigenous–environmental–progressive coalition, whose critiques of Canadian extractivism focuses on its declining economic basis.”

The path to communication scholar

With two Master's degrees and a Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University, Dr. Chen's academic pursuits, anchored in critical communication scholarship, have earned him a reputation as a thought leader. Starting his teaching career at The Creative School in 2019, Dr. Chen's areas of expertise span the expansive realm of public communication of climate and energy policy, risk and crisis communication, transcultural political economy, and critical discourse analysis. 

Beyond the confines of the classroom, where he teaches courses including CMN288: Communication and Social Media and CMN402: Theorizing Communication, he currently serves as an Executive Board Member of the International Environmental Communication Association and the Canadian Communication Association. From 2019 to 2023, he co-chaired the Emerging Scholars Network at the International Association for Media and Communication Research. He led the network's mission to amplify the voices of early-career scholars, particularly those from the Global South.

Dr. Chen is also the Program Director for the Master of Professional Communication program at The Creative School, where he oversees the successful planning and execution of program delivery and advises his students on all academic matters. He also serves as one of the faculty leads for The Creative School's internationalization efforts. Since Fall 2020, his courses have welcomed students from Beijing Foreign Studies University (China), Parul University (India), Panjab University (India), and University of the Arts London (UK).

Future aspirations and sage advice

Looking ahead, Dr. Chen is immersed in writing his second book, building upon his first's foundation. This project will focus on the promotional side of public discourse surrounding the Alberta oil sands. Additionally, he’ll be collaborating with the Angus Reid Institute on a survey assessing public perceptions of the Canadian energy system. He also plans on performing a global survey on the impact of AI on the news industry.

When asked what’s most important for students and academics alike, Dr. Chen underscored the importance of developing in-depth reasoning. In a world bombarded with short-form social media content, he emphasizes engaging with various forms of long-form reading. Recognizing the challenge posed by fragmentary time in the age of social media, he advocates for sustained attention as a crucial skill for in-depth reasoning.

With the publication of his debut book and tenured experience as a communication scholar, Dr. Chen aspires for his research to extend beyond academic circles, aiming to amplify its public impact. He envisions contributing to policy-making and fostering constructive conversations, recognizing evidence-based narratives' vital role in shaping public discourse.

Interested in learning more about Dr. Chen and his work? Learn more about his debut book (external link)  and read his latest publications (external link) .

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