My Community and Outreach Activities:
- Board Member at Vancouver Green Party
- Board Member at Vancouver Urban Farming: I was involved in bringing awareness to the significance of urban farming and organized a Forum to connect the farmers to the city policy makers
- Facilitator at the SFU Science In Action program. We have hosted more than 10000 students during the last eight years
- Represented SFU at Science World at multiple events
- Active member of Outreach, Recruitment and Student Engagement Committee for SFU physics
- Judge, South Fraser Regional Science Fair
- Participated in Vancouver Homeless Count in 2019
My Story:
Being in Iran, Rasoul worked on his father’s farm as a young adult. His passion for science and technology led him to obtain a B.Sc. in civil engineering and physics and a master’s degree in theoretical physics at Isfahan University of Technology, one of Iran’s top 5 universities.
In 2007 a PhD scholarship at Simon Fraser University brought him to the Vancouver region to pursue his PhD in hydrogen fuel cell membranes. His PhD led him to collaborate with local high tech companies supported by the National Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada.
Fueled by a work ethic learned on his father’s farm, Rasoul is passionate about entrepreneurship. He created an entrepreneurship program in Science and Technology commercialization at SFU. During that program his startup company collaborated with Fraser Health Authority to build a predictive analytics tool for emergency rooms that improved the efficiency of health care delivery. At the same time, Rasoul continued to make an impact in his teaching and lab work at SFU where students noted his supportive approach as he helped them navigate the rigours of university physics courses and helped children and youth become engaged in science through SFU’s Science In Action outreach program.
Rasoul plays two Iranian instruments; Tan and Setar and he has performed music at several local events as a volunteer. He is also passionate about farming and has obtained a certificate in Small Scale Organic Farming from Richmond Farm School.
As the MLA for West-Vancouver Capilano, Rasoul will translate his skills as a scientist, a mentor and his diverse interests and above all his service-oriented work ethic into the kind of effective representation needed by constituents as British Columbia tackles the combined issues of COVID recovery, climate change, and supporting groups like seniors and children as we make a transition to a truly sustainable society.
I play two Iranian instruments; Tar and Setar and I performed music at several local events as a volunteer. I believe in the significance of giving back to the community. I have been involved in several outreach programs.