The Faculty launched a new Five-Year Strategic Plan setting its vision and direction for 2023 – 2027.

The family of the late Savitri Ahuja, an alumnus of 91��ɫ's Faculty of Education, created an award in her name to celebrate her passion, dedication, and legacy to break down barriers in education.

The Faculty launched a new video series 'Leaders Supporting Future Leaders in Education' to showcase the Faculty's bold leadership in education which helps create more just communities.

Professor Carl James was honoured during the 2023 Spring Convocation with a Distinguished Research Professorship.

Professor Sue Winton was appointed 91��ɫ Research Chair in Policy Analysis for Democracy.

The Faculty of Education commemorated its 50th Anniversary Year celebrating five decades of extraordinary education and leadership.

 

Walmart Foundation donated USD $750,000 to 91��ɫ to support a groundbreaking research project led by prof Carl James, the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora.

 

91��ɫ and the Faculty of Education welcomed Minister Kamal Khera to campus to announce a $1.5 million federal contribution towards the Jean Augustine Chair in Education Community and Diaspora.

On May 18, the Faculty of Education and the Division of Advancement at 91��ɫ collaborated to host the first Education Alumni Network Mixer.

 

This past April, alumna, Korina Thomas-Reynolds and Kate Haiyun Mossop, were recognized as #91��ɫU’s Top 30 Alumni Under 30.

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Four 91��ɫ researchers are among the latest recipients of Connection Grants from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). 

Richard Saunders, Johanne Jean-Pierre and Yvonne Su from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, and S. Nombuso Dlamini from the Faculty of Education, were awarded the funding for various knowledge mobilization activities related to their different research projects.  

The grants fund activities like research events, workshops and community outreach, and are intended to spark new connections between academic and non-academic partners, and collaboration between the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. 

Saunders’ project, “Resource Nationalism and African Mining Policy Innovation: Mobilizing New Research and Engaging Key Stakeholders,” received $49,991. Saunders and his team will organize several outreach activities, including policy workshops on mining reform in Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, an international research conference at 91��ɫ, and a policy seminar in Ottawa for government officials, African diplomats and non-governmental organizations. Saunders, along with undergraduate and graduate students, will also produce policy briefs on mining sector reforms for distribution across multiple African and Canadian platforms. 

Jean-Pierre’s project, “Symposium: Designing a flourishing future and researching with Black communities in Canada,” received $13,934. The grant supports a conference to be held at 91��ɫ on Nov. 20, bringing together French- and English-speaking Black interdisciplinary scholars to discuss how to conduct research with Black Canadian communities ethically and effectively. Findings from the conference will be shared in a research brief and two open-access, peer-reviewed articles to improve research methods for social scientists and health scholars who engage with Black and other historically excluded populations.   

Su’s project, “Stories of Change: Listening to Global South Perspectives on Climate-Induced Migration,” received $49,945. The SSHRC funding will support a 10-episode educational podcast that will highlight Su and her colleagues’ research, while also focusing on the voices and stories of marginalized people and groups most impacted by climate change – displaced people and migrants, Indigenous communities and grassroots organizations in the Global South. Launch events for the podcast will also be held in Toronto, Nairobi and Berlin.  

Dlamini’s project, “Exploring Connections between Black Youth Civic Participation & Identity,” received $40,636. The project, which also includes 91��ɫ’s Godfred Boateng and Tannaz Zargarian from the University of Fraser Valley, will involve a workshop and two webinars on the access and management of data on the contributions of Black people to Canada. The events will highlight existing and new Canadian research on Black youth civic participation and bring together scholars, youth and community service workers. A hands-on “DIY toolkit” on data access, collection, analysis and management will also be developed for students and service worker participants.  

The four 91��ɫ researchers were among the 64 awardees across the country to receive the latest round of Connection Grants from the SSHRC totalling $1,910,441.  

Article originally published in the October 2023 issue of of , a special edition of YFile showcasing research and innovation at 91��ɫ.

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The research projects advance knowledge in areas ranging from water remediation, management of infectious disease through technological innovation, the effects of climate change on ecosystems and human populations, visual neuroscience, and understanding the pathway from colonial genocide to building just relationships.

91��ɫ will fund ground-breaking research through the Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Clusters (CIRC) program, which aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, global research excellence and world-class training opportunities.  Now in its second year, the program supports critical research that can advance 91��ɫ’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

“As the world continues to address urgent global challenges such as climate change, global health crises and political polarization, and their impact on people and the planet, it is critical now more than ever for 91��ɫ to support novel interdisciplinary research collaborations that drive innovative solutions to these grand challenges,” says 91��ɫ President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. “91��ɫ is home to some of the brightest researchers in the world, and I am inspired by the talent, drive, and commitment of our researchers to making the world a better place. I offer you my congratulations in these exemplary research endeavours.”

“91��ɫ is pleased to invest in interdisciplinary research clusters that will continue to amplify 91��ɫ’s world class research excellence,” says Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI) Amir Asif. “The CIRC program brings together talented researchers from across disciplines and faculties, supporting research that will help address complex global issues identified in the UN SDGs, and driving positive change in our local and global communities.”

Seven projects will receive $150,000 per year over three years:

Designing Sound Futures: Inclusive Design and Transdisciplinary STEAM Learning, led by Kurt Thumlert, Faculty of Education with Co-PI Andreas Kitzmann (LA&PS)
UN SDG 10: Reduced Inequality

Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Cluster for Detection and Remediation of Water Contaminants (CIRC-DRWC), led by Satinder Brar, Lassonde School of Engineering, with co-Principal Investigators (PIs) Pouya Rezai, Lassonde School of Engineering, James Orbinski, Faculty of Health, Sylvie Morin, Faculty of Science, and Ali Asgary, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS)
UN SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation

Catalyzing Collective Action at the Intersection of Global Health and the Arts, led by Caitlin Fisher, School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) with co-PI Steven Hoffman Faculty of Health, and Sharon Hayashi (AMPD)
UN SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

From Colonial Genocide to Just Relationships, led by Luann Good Gingrich (LA&PS) with co-PI Heidi Matthews, Osgoode Hall Law School
UN SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

Technologies for Identification and Control of Infectious Diseases (TICID), led by Sergey Krylov, Faculty of Science
UN SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

Geomatics for Analyzing Climate Change Effects on Ecosystems and Human Populations, led by Tarmo Remmel, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC)
UN SDG 13: Climate Action

Translating Brain Signals Across Scales, Species, Sex and Lifespan, led by Jeff Schall, Faculty of Science with co-PI Shayna Rosenbaum, Faculty of Health
UN SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

In addition, six other proposals that were highly ranked by external reviewers will each be awarded two-year funding of $100,000 per year for two years for a total of $200,000 each. These proposals include:

Biomedical Engineering Cluster (BEC), led by Alex Czekanski, Lassonde School of Engineering with co-PI Peter Backx, Faculty of Science
UN SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

Towards Inclusive and Accessible Data Visualizations and Analytics, led by Enamul Prince (LA&PS)
UN SDG 10: Reduced Inequality

Overcoming Epidemics: Transnational Black Communities’ Response, Recovery and Resilience, led by Mohamed Sesay (LA&PS) with co-PIs Sylvia Bawa (LA&PS) and Oghenowede Eyawo, Faculty of Health
UN SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

Research Cluster on Data Economy, aligned with UN SDG: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, led by Xiaohui Yu (LA&PS) with co-PIs Giuseppina D’Agostino, Osgoode Hall Law School, and Jennifer Pybus (LA&PS)
UN SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

*Social and Business Implications of Introducing Micro-mobility Vehicles (at 91��ɫ) Implications for Disruptive Technologies and Experiential Education, led by Andrew Maxwell, Lassonde School of Engineering with co-PIs Marina Freire-Gormaly, Lassonde School of Engineering, Pilar F Carbonell (LA&PS), Manos Papangelis, Lassonde School of Engineering and Jose Etcheverry, (EUC)
UN SDG 10: Reduced Inequality

*Towards Sustainable Extraction in the North, aligned with UN SDG: Responsible Consumption and Production, led by Laura McKinnon, Glendon College with co-PIs Kamelia Atefi-Monfared, Lassonde School of Engineering, Gabrielle Slowey (LA&PS), Zachary Spicer, (LA&PS)
UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

*Conditionally approved, subject to additional review.

“We would like to acknowledge the members of the internal Adjudication Committee: Professors Rosemary Coombe, David Hood, Jane Heffernan and Dan Zhang, who have helped the Office of the VPRI support research excellence in ways that are equitable, diverse and inclusive,” adds Asif.

More about the Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Clusters Program

The Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Clusters (CIRC) program funds research excellence for interdisciplinary projects, crossing the mandates of at least two of the three federal granting councils, with the core team of at least five researchers for each project including members from at least two faculties and at least one early career researcher.

Modelled to replicate the success of interdisciplinary research clusters, the initiative empowers clusters to achieve research excellence and secure large-scale funding through highly competitive national programs, such as the Canada Excellence Research Chair, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund and the New Frontiers in Research Fund – Transformation stream. The CIRC program will scale the development of research teams and clusters to position the University as a key node in national and international networks in strategic areas of interest, while enabling impactful contributions towards the University’s Strategic Research Plan, the University Academic Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

All proposals received were subjected to expert external peer review, with final decisions informed by an internal adjudication committee comprised of senior 91��ɫ researchers with additional representatives from the Office of the VPRI.

Article originally published in the January 6, 2023 issue of

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More than 40 research projects at 91��ɫ will receive a boost of $16 million in funding from the  (SSHRC), including close to $10 million in  for long-term research projects in anti-homelessness, global health, 2SLGBTQ+ poverty and Indigenous rights and reconciliation.

The funding was announced on June 16 by François-Philippe Champagne, the federal minister of innovation, science and industry, and is part of more than $175 million in SSHRC funding to support important research across Canada.

“91��ɫ has long been recognized as a leader in the humanities and social sciences, so we are gratified that SSHRC is recognizing and supporting the 91��ɫ researchers who have received funding through the Insight Grants and Partnership Development Grants, and for our graduate students who have also received support,” said Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of 91��ɫ. “We are particularly delighted for all four of our researchers who received Partnership Grants, which will sustain urgent efforts to combat poverty and homelessness and to strengthen our global public health regime and the self-determination of Indigenous communities.”

The four Partnership Grant recipients, each of whom has received close to $2.5 million in support of six- and seven-year projects, are: 

• Stephen Gaetz, professor in the Faculty of Education, received a second consecutive Partnership Grant to continue his work as president and CEO of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH) – an anti-homelessness research institute previously funded by the SSHRC in 2012. 
• Steven Hoffman, professor of Global Health, Law, and Political Science at the Faculty of Health and  and the Dahdaleh Distinguished Chair in Global Governance & Legal Epidemiology, and director of the Global Strategy Lab, will pursue research into a global framework for sustainable antimicrobial drug use and preventing the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria.  
• Nick Mulé, professor of gender and sexuality at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, will undertake a project called 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada: Improving Livelihood and Social Wellbeing. The initiative will address disproportionate vulnerability to poverty among Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus (2SLGBTQ+) people. 
• Dayna Scott, professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Environment & Urban Change, received funding for “Infrastructure Beyond Extractivism: Material Approaches to Restoring Indigenous Jurisdiction.” The project will explore novel approaches to strengthening Indigenous jurisdiction and sovereignty over hereditary lands and waterways.

The announcement also includes $5.2 million in  for 30 researcher projects across multiple Faculties, including the Faculty of Health, the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, the , the Faculty of Education, , the  and .

In addition, six 91��ɫ researchers received just over $1 million in funding under the  to foster new research and related activities with new or existing partners, and to design and test new partnership approaches.

 “I want to congratulate today’s award recipients and wish them success in their research endeavours. SSHRC’s investment in the social sciences and humanities at 91��ɫ affirms and validates our commitments to scholarship and knowledge-seeking and to building a more sustainable and equitable future,” said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation.

“This has been a remarkable year for 91��ɫ. To date, 91��ɫ has achieved record levels of research funding across all three tri-councils and has accomplished the highest ever funding in 91��ɫ’s history with a 100 per cent success rate in the Partnership Grants, Partnership Development Grants and SSHRC Connection Grants, as well as our most successful year in SSHRC Insight Grants. I attribute this success to the passion and dedication of our research community and staff who are so committed to helping 91��ɫ conduct purposeful research for positive change,” added Asif. 

A complete list of the SSHRC funding grants can be found .

Article originally published in the June 17, 2022 issue of

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Today’s youth will face some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including the climate crisis, global inequality and sustainability. Preparing young people with the educational tools and skills to navigate complex issues is a key driver behind the research of Faculty of Education Professor Kate Tilleczek.

Through the she leads, Tilleczek is working with, by and for youth to design revolutionary, innovative and community-based educational models that empower younger populations to respond to emerging global challenges while supporting their own personal and community well-being.

“Education is not a one-size-fits-all approach,” explains Tilleczek, a Canada Research Chair in Youth, Education & Global Good. “As educators, our role must consider the different needs of different communities. What we need is not a set curriculum, but a model that can be adapted to what matters to youth, their communities and the planet.

“The kind of education I’m advocating for is one that opens up space for dialogue to talk about what one person can do, what one community can do. It is a shift towards understanding the place of education in youth socialization and development as it relates to planetary health.”

Tilleczek says that education will be key to achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), which 91��ɫ has pledged to support. The UN SDGs represent the blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

“Education underpins every single SDG,” she says. “Young people’s lives are at the intersection of many of the SDGs, with climate justice being one of them.”

New knowledge

The Wekimün Project is one of the initiatives supported by the Young Lives Research Lab. With funding from Global Affairs Canada, Tilleczek and her team, including her Senior Research Assistant and Manager, Deborah MacDonald, worked with Indigenous communities in Chiloé, Chile to build a school and develop a community-centered approach to sustainable education for Indigenous Williche youth. The project successfully created a curriculum based on traditional knowledge informed by Indigenous youth and community members.

“Indigenous Peoples have experienced ongoing colonization for hundreds of years. This project puts those communities at the centre to design, implement and execute their own educational model,” says Pablo Aránguiz, a PhD student at Polytechnic University in Valencia, Spain, who is a visiting research Fellow and associate researcher with the Young Lives Research Lab, and professor of sustainable development for the Wekimün Project. “(It is) a model that addresses the problems of the planet, including issues such as climate change, biodiversity and pollution.”

Wekimün, which translates to “new knowledge” in the Indigenous Williche language of Mapudungun, was integral to the creation of new relationships between people, but also with that of the Chiloé environment.

Tilleczek’s research at the Young Lives Research Lab has inspired a larger collaboration at 91��ɫ through the , which was announced in December 2021. The project “The Partnership for Youth and Planetary Well-being,” brings together an interdisciplinary team that includes, among others: Tilleczek; Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Justice Deborah McGregor (Osgoode Hall School of Law, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change); James Orbinski (Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research); and Postdoctoral Fellow in Planetary Health & Education James Stinson.

The research will employ ethnographic research to understand how young women, men and gender diverse people experience system inequalities and climate injustice, and how this impacts their well-being and ability to live sustainably. The project aims to support youth in sustaining life on the planet for healthier individuals and healthy communities.

Stinson is a cultural anthropologist working on a number of research projects centred around working with Indigenous youth in digital media production. Through the CIRC project, Indigenous youth will have the opportunity to head out into the field to record environment-themed content to connect with other youth, their Elders and the natural world.

“Research demonstrates that connecting to nature is really good for our mental and physical health, but consuming environment-related media – whether you’re seeing or hearing environmental images and sounds – can also have positive health benefits,” says Stinson.

“There are multiple pathways of learning that will take place for youth,” says Stinson. “The CIRC project will support youth with the skills to produce media content about the issues affecting their lives, their communities and the environment they live in. That information can be distilled to the broader community and with policymakers.”

Despite the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, Tilleczek says that today’s youth are motivated and inspired.

“Young people may be overwhelmed by the challenges they face, but they are also hopeful,” says Tilleczek. “Being able to work alongside them, learning from their fresh ideas and perspectives makes me more hopeful for the future.”

Article originally published in the May 12, 2022 issue of , a special issue of

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