91亚色 visual arts professor Nancy Nicol will lead a major international project on the impact of criminalizing sexual orientation and gender identity, with $1 million in funding over five years from the (SSHRC).

The award will fund Envisioning Global LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) Human Rights, a collaborative project that will foster international research links between Canada and the global south.

Nicol, a professor in the Faculty of Fine Arts and faculty associate in 91亚色鈥檚 Centre for Feminist Research, will lead a 22-member research team as they explore how LGBT and human rights groups resist criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The researchers will also study the implications for human rights policy formation, social services, and immigration and refugee policies.

鈥�Envisioning will capture and contribute to history-in-the-making of distinct but linked struggles at a key moment of national and global change,鈥� says Nicol. 鈥淥ur strategic alliance of partners has proven capacity in international LGBT human rights work, with grass roots partners in Canada and the global south. Our work will combine documentary and participatory video with qualitative interviewing, focus groups, legal data research and analysis and a limited use of surveys. We plan to make a unique contribution to documenting and analyzing criminalization, asylum and resistance to criminalization within and beyond regions.鈥�

(CURA)聽awards, among the largest awarded by SSHRC, bring postsecondary institutions and community organizations together as equal research partners to jointly develop new knowledge and capabilities, provide research training opportunities, and enhance the ability of social sciences and humanities research to build knowledge in areas that affect Canadians and their changing communities.

鈥�91亚色 has developed a strong record in leading national and international collaborative research projects on key social issues,鈥� said Stan Shapson, vice-president Research & Innovation. 鈥淭hrough its connections to the Faculty of Fine Arts, , the Center for Feminist Research, and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies鈥� Department of Sexuality Studies, this project reflects the interdisciplinary strengths 91亚色 offers in human rights research and the success of our researchers鈥� collaborative focus with local and global partners.鈥�

Nicol鈥檚 research team includes 22 researchers and 32 partner organizations. The co-applicants include four 91亚色 Professors: , director of the Centre for Feminist Research; Jennifer Hyndman, associate director of the ; and .

Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science聽& Technology), announced the funding on March 25. Nicol鈥檚 project is one of nine large-scale research projects funded through SSHRC鈥檚 CURA program at a total cost of $8,993,254.

鈥淭hese grants highlight the excellence of our country鈥檚 talented researchers and recognize the importance of fostering collaboration to keep Canada at the leading-edge of research, development and innovation in the 21st century,鈥� said Chad Gaffield, president of SSHRC.

For a complete list of CURA awards, visit Web site.

Project Partners:

• Africans In Partnership Against AIDS (APAA)
• Alliance For South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP)
• ARC International
• Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black Cap)
• Center for Feminist Research, 91亚色
• Coalition of African Lesbians
• Egale Canada
• Forum for Empowerment of Women (FEW)
• Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK)
• Global Alliance for LGBT Education (GALE)
• Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival
• International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
• International Lesbian and Gay Law Association (ILGLAW)
• Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG)
• Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO)
• Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies
• Naz Foundation (India) Trust
• Naz International Foundation in conjunction with Maan AIDS Foundation
• Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
• Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION)
• Osgoode Hall Law School, 91亚色
• Pride Uganda Alliance International (PUAI)
• Rainbow Health Ontario
• Sangini (India) Trust
• Sexual Minorities Uganda
• Sexuality Studies Department, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, 91亚色
• Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)
• The 519 Church St. Community Centre
• The Inner Circle
• United and Strong
• United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM)
• University of Witwatersrand

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

The post 91亚色-led global project to examine criminalization of sexual orientation appeared first on Research & Innovation.

SSHRC president Chad Gaffield addressed this process during a town hall meeting held with faculty and students during his May 4 visit to 91亚色鈥檚 Keele campus. 鈥淪ociety has increasing expectations of universities, professors and students,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hatever the issue of the day might be, there is a SSHRC researcher with something relevant to contribute to our shared concerns.鈥�

Left: Chad Gaffield

鈥淩enewing our program architecture allows us to support research in all fields using disciplinary, interdisciplinary and cross-sector approaches,鈥� said Gaffield. 鈥淚t will also enable new and emerging forms of research, partnerships, talent development and knowledge mobilization, which do not always fit easily into our current suite of programs.鈥�

After consultation with the research community, SSHRC鈥檚 governing council has approved the . SSHRC is streamlining the application process to three umbrella programs intended to support the work of individuals and teams, with additional programming to support institutionally based partnerships. The changes will take effect over the next three years.

What does this mean for researchers submitting grant applications this fall?

Here are four things you need to know:

1. No changes are currently expected to affect fellowship and scholarship applications from master鈥檚 and聽doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in 2010. The process will be the same as 2009鈥檚 competition. There may be changes coming in 2011 and 2012, however, so be sure to check the Web site聽periodically.
2. The new architecture will not affect the 2010 Standard Research Grants competition. The deadline for this year鈥檚 competition remains Friday, Oct. 15.
3. Although Oct. 15 has historically been the due date for SSHRC鈥檚 Standard Research Grants, the deadline for 2011鈥檚 competitions may be changed. No firm date has been announced yet;聽check聽the Web site聽for updates.
4. Application calls for Partnership Grants and Partnership Development Grants will begin in fall 2010. Additional information will be posted on the Web site聽as it becomes available.

If you have questions about changes to SSHRC鈥檚 program architecture,聽visit the Web site or contact your Faculty-based research officer for more information.

Faculty members seeking to prepare large-scale, collaborative, institutional applications in the Institutional Partnerships category may also contact , senior research officer in the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation.

By聽Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer

The post Four things you need to know about SSHRC's streamlined program architecture appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Above: The 91亚色 Research Tower, which opened in September 2009, features聽some 84,000 square feet of space and houses 12 research centres and two research project teams

鈥�91亚色 is a leading university in social sciences and humanities research, and nothing proves that more than a peer-review process,鈥� said Mamdouh Shoukri, 91亚色's president聽& vice-chancellor, referencing the recent successes of 91亚色 researchers in securing a Killam Prize, two out of four of the Social Sciences聽& Humanities Research Council of Canada鈥檚 (SSHRC) Major Collaborative Research Initiative awards, and a SSHRC Community-University Research Award.

鈥淏ut having excellent researchers puts another level of responsibility on the University, which is to make absolutely sure that we have the environment and the support they need to reach their potential,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his building represents 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to building a research culture for success.鈥�

The 10-storey building, which recently received聽, opened in September 2009 and聽features approximately 84,000 square feet (net) with wireless Internet access. It currently houses 12 research centres and two research project teams, and also provides office space for the and (ABEL) group, which provide support services for researchers. The Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation, Office of Research Ethics and Office of Research Services occupy the fifth floor, along with extensive conference and meeting facilities (full occupant list).

鈥淚 think this is the best facility for social science and humanities research in the country, and our researchers deserve it,鈥� said Stan Shapson (left), vice-president research聽& innovation. 鈥淚n addition to many new technologies, it鈥檚 built on the Greek agora model of community that allows researchers to come together and collaborate, both with researchers across the University and with external groups. Some of the issues they鈥檙e studying can鈥檛 be solved in isolation. No one has all the knowledge or the strategy to do it all聽鈥� we have to collaborate, which is also why we want the YRT to be a meeting place for the community to work with us.鈥�

Chad Gaffield (left), , was also present for the event as part of a daylong visit to 91亚色鈥檚 Keele campus. 鈥淲e use e-communications to deepen and enrich relationships that are, at least periodically, complemented by physical contact,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he genius of the YRT is its confirmation of the importance of creating face-to-face contact and then complementing those interactions through information communications technology. It鈥檚 a new model of engaged scholarship and research.鈥�

Professor (below, right), director of the Centre for Refugee Studies on the research tower鈥檚 eighth floor, spoke about the importance of creating neighbourhoods for researchers. Since moving into the building, McGrath has formed new research connections with peers in the 91亚色 Centre for Asian Research, the Centre for Research on Latin America & the Caribbean, and , all of which are her neighbours on the聽eighth floor.

鈥淗aving neighbourliness, good meeting space and research resources under one roof is great,鈥� said McGrath. 鈥淚 hosted colleagues from all around the world here for a three-day session in the bright and spacious Conference Centre. With help from ABEL, we streamed parts of our meeting online, allowing those who weren鈥檛 able to travel here opportunities to participate. The facilities are fostering our sense of research culture and allowing us to work more collaboratively than I think we would have without it.鈥�

Graduate students have also benefited from new space on floors six, seven and eight that was designed for them as researchers. 鈥淲hen you walk around the building, you see graduate students everywhere,鈥� said Susan Henders, director of the 91亚色聽Centre for Asian Research. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e working on projects, relaxing in the lounges and interacting with their peers. It鈥檚 quality space that brings them into the centres and fosters their work and professional development, complementing their graduate program training.鈥�

Watch videos from the Research Tower opening, with remarks from President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, Vice-President Research & Innovation Stan Shapson, SSHRC President Chad Gaffield, Professor Susan Henders and Professor Susan McGrath.

鈥淥ne student told me that having study space made him feel valued as a researcher and professional in the making,鈥� Henders continued. 鈥淚 want to commend the University for its foresight in recognizing the critical role graduate students play in organized research units and research on the campus.鈥�

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer. Photos courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post 91亚色 Research Tower: Creating a new model for research collaboration appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Two teams led by 91亚色 University researchers have received $5 million in research funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Their multinational research teams, involving multiple universities and community partners in a large-scale collaboration, have each received $2.5 million to examine long-term residential healthcare and global suburbanization.

The funding is part of 鈥檚 $10-million investment in critical issues of intellectual, social, economic and cultural significance through the (MCRI) program, the largest award competition SSHRC currently runs.

The program contributes to the deeper understanding of people and society while providing graduate students with research training opportunities. Royal Galipeau, MP for Ottawa鈥揙rl茅ans, made the announcement in Ottawa this morning on behalf of Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology.

Pat Armstrong, professor of sociology in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and an executive member of both the 91亚色 Institute for Health Research and the Graduate Program in Health Policy & Equity, will lead a study to identify promising practices for understanding and organizing long-term residential healthcare.

Right: Pat Armstrong

Although many of Canada鈥檚 most vulnerable citizens live in long-term residential care, it is often characterized as a last resort rather than as a positive option where both providers and residents can thrive. Armstrong鈥檚 project seeks to learn from and with other countries to understand the approaches, structures, accountability practices, and ownership arrangements that create conditions prompting respectful and dignified treatment for both residents and caregivers.

Twenty-five researchers, eight partnering institutions, and 17 universities in six countries will work across disciplines to capture and share data and best practices. Armstrong is Chair in Health Services and Nursing Research, co-funded by the (CHSRF) and the (CIHR).

Roger Keil, professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, director of the City Institute at 91亚色, and director of the , is working with 44 researchers at 29 universities, and 16 partners in 12 countries to better understand the challenges suburbanization poses in a globalizing world.

Right: Roger Keil

Based on the experience of Canadian suburbanization, but ranging from North America鈥檚 wealthy gated communities to Europe鈥檚 high-rise-dominated suburbs, the exploding outskirts of Indian and Chinese cities to the slums and squatter settlements of Africa and Latin America, this project is the first to systematically take stock of worldwide suburban developments while analyzing their governance models, land use, infrastructure and suburban everyday life. The project also includes collaboration with the on documentaries about life in suburban high rises.

Of the four $2.5-million grants awarded, 91亚色 was the only institution with two successful projects, building on its strong track record in leading large, interdisciplinary collaborative research projects. Prior to today鈥檚 announcement, 91亚色 researchers held nine major SSHRC collaborative grants worth a total of $13.6 million in research funding.

鈥淎s the only institution to win multiple awards in this category, 91亚色鈥檚 researchers have clearly demonstrated their national and international excellence and leadership in large-scale, SSHRC research projects,鈥� says Stan Shapson, vice-president research and innovation. 鈥淟eading major research initiatives allows us to address key social issues facing our society. As global populations expand and age, suburban research and new approaches to long-term residential healthcare are increasingly important to the well-being of Canadians and nations around the world. These projects provide unique opportunities for Pat, Roger, and their research collaborators to conduct groundbreaking research with significant impact on real-world issues.鈥�

鈥淭hese grants highlight the excellence of our country鈥檚 talented researchers and recognize the importance of fostering international collaboration to keep Canada at the forefront of research, development and innovation in the 21st century,鈥� said Chad Gaffield, president of SSHRC.

91亚色's other major SSHRC-funded interdisciplinary collaborative research projects

• 鈥淎ssets Coming Together for Youth: Linking Research, Policy and Action for Positive Youth Development鈥�, led by social work Professor Uzo Anucha in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) is developing a comprehensive youth strategy that will outline how marginalized urban communities like Toronto鈥檚 Jane-Finch neighbourhood can use their community assets to support positive youth development.
• The , led by Professor Emeritus Wesley Cragg in the Schulich School of Business, is mobilizing the University鈥檚 business expertise by bringing University researchers together in dialogue with leaders and researchers in business, government and the volunteer sector.
• The , led by Professor Stephen Gaetz in the Faculty of Education enhances the impact of research on homelessness and the housing crisis by increasing collaboration and discussion among researchers, policy-makers and community workers.
• The , led by LA&PS聽social work Professor Susan McGrath, studies refugee and forced migration issues to find solutions to the plight of refugees worldwide.
• 鈥淢onitoring the Human Rights of People with Disabilities in Canada鈥�, led by health policy & management Professor Marcia Rioux in the Faculty of Health, monitors and records human rights violations to put together an accurate picture of the daily lives of Canadians with disabilities.
• The Toronto Immigrant Employment Data Initiative, led by聽geography Professor Philip Kelly in LA&PS, assists community organizations whose mandate includes the better integration of immigrants into Toronto's labour force by providing these organizations with free access to statistical data and analysis on various aspects of immigrant labour market integration.
• 鈥淪lavery, Memory, Citizenship鈥�, led by Distinguished Research Professor Paul Lovejoy, includes a team of more than 50 Canadian and international scholars who are researching聽the global migrations of African peoples under conditions of slavery and how the resulting racism arising from the exploitation of African peoples has shaped modern societies.
• 鈥淭he University as a Civic Change Agent: Community-Based Knowledge Mobilization鈥�, led by David Phipps, director of the Office of Research Services, is developing a community-focused input model for that seeks first to identify community knowledge needs and then focus university research expertise to help fill that need by creating a self-sustaining cycle of knowledge production and its uptake for policy, practice and community capacity building.
• 鈥淲ork in a Warming World鈥�, led by social science Professor Carla 尝颈辫蝉颈驳-惭耻尘尘茅 in LA&PS, studies the challenge presents to Canadian employment and workplaces by examining seven Canadian employment sectors to seek policy, training, employment and workplace solutions to effectively assist Canada鈥檚 transition to a low-emission economy.

For complete competition results, visit .

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with photos courtesy of YFile 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post 91亚色 leads all Canadian universities in SSHRC鈥檚 largest awards appeared first on Research & Innovation.

On March 9, the Globe published an article on the . The story was part of its special report on university research and also appeared in the Report on Business section:

The study of literature is rarely associated with economic growth, yet that is precisely the argument made by Impact Group co-founder Ron Freedman: "The Stratford Festival generates huge economic benefit for the local community. What's its core technology? Old English."

According to Mr. Freedman, who authored a report on the economic role of social sciences and humanities research, this type of research doesn't get its fair share of credit for its contributions to the Canadian economy and society.

Discussions about the role of research in economic growth are usually dominated by the so-called "hard sciences," biomedical and technology in particular, and the Conservative government's recent Speech from the Throne was no exception, with its promises to continue investing in the Science and Technology Strategy, create a digital economy strategy and support advanced research in space-based technologies.

But many in the research community believe that focusing funding primarily on science and technology to strengthen the economy is a mistake. "The humanities and social sciences are moving to centre stage," said SSHRC president Chad Gaffield recently in a speech.

Two projects lead by 91亚色 professors were mentioned in the coverage:

There are thousands of groups across the country trying to end homelessness. Yet, often being under-resourced, they lack funds to research whether their programs are effective. Enter Professor Stephen Gaetz of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Education and nursing Professor Bernie Pauly of the University of Victoria who teamed up with community partners to help them evaluate their programs and share their great ideas with other communities.

Megan Davies, a professor in the Department of Social Science in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, had long wanted to share the wealth of knowledge she had accumulated about the history of mental health in Canada with young people, wrote the Globe. So, together with Anne Marshall, director of the Centre for Youth & Society at the University of Victoria, she developed high-school material that teaches students to understand their own mental health and be compassionate toward others with mental illness and made it available to teachers online at the Web site CaringMinds.ca.

On March 8, the Globe also published an article on that included 91亚色's Knowledge Mobilization program, which partners researchers with community organizations and government policymakers to produce mutually-beneficial research.

鈥淭he future lies in exchanging all forms of research not just with industry but with government and with the community at large as well,鈥� says David Phipps, director of the Office of Research Services at 91亚色. 鈥淚n past, the focus has been on technology. Now we are extending it to business, law, the social sciences and the humanities.鈥�

...

At 91亚色, Mr. Phipps has two full-time staff working on what he calls knowledge mobilization. To date, they work with the United Way of 91亚色 Region and The Human Services Planning Coalition of 91亚色 Region, which represents 15 different social services agencies.

Representatives from those agencies meet regularly with 91亚色 researchers for what he calls KM in the AM 鈥� a knowledge management breakfast 鈥� where the agencies get to pick what area of research they want to hear about and a 91亚色 professor specializing in that area delivers a presentation.

"After that we leave it to the agencies and the professors to follow up," he says.

On March 10, Professor Joe Baker in 91亚色鈥檚 School of Kinesiology & Health Science in the Faculty of Health was profiled as one of several . It highlighted his research on the benefits of exercise and competitive sport to older people.

鈥淲e鈥檙e finding that a lot of things that we used to attribute to getting older, like decreases in cognitive functioning, depression and increased substance abuse, are really more a symptom of disuse rather than aging,鈥� says Baker, a member of 91亚色鈥檚 Alliance in Graceful Aging, a multidisciplinary research team.

He also examines how society鈥檚 negative stereotypes about aging influence people鈥檚 behaviours as they grow older. 鈥淲e are very much a culture that values youth and devalues the older person,鈥� he says.

His findings so far suggest people鈥檚 expectations about aging play a significant role in their declining physical and cognitive abilities. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just starting to get a handle on how big an influence these negative social stereotypes are on overall health,鈥� he says.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of .

The post Globe & Mail's 2010 Campus Research report cites 91亚色 researchers, programs and projects appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Carla 尝颈辫蝉颈驳-惭耻尘尘茅, professor of work and labour studies in聽91亚色's Faculty of Liberal Arts聽& Professional Studies and research fellow in 91亚色鈥檚 , has received $1 million over six years from the (SSHRC).

搁颈驳丑迟:听颁补谤濒补 尝颈辫蝉颈驳-惭耻尘尘茅

The award will fund an international project to study the challenge climate change presents to Canadian employment and workplaces. 尝颈辫蝉颈驳-惭耻尘尘茅 will examine seven Canadian employment sectors to seek policy, training, employment and workplace solutions to effectively assist Canada鈥檚 transition to a low-emission economy. By combining research, workplace education, policy recommendations and pilot projects in transnational work adaptation, her project will allow Canada to re-enter the international debate about how best to engage the work world in the struggle to slow global warming.

鈥淲e need to know more about the chain of processes that comprise work, employment and training in key Canadian industries and professions 鈥� and how their decision-makers understand and respond to the challenge that global warming poses to these processes,鈥� says 尝颈辫蝉颈驳-惭耻尘尘茅. 鈥淥ur second goal is to engage community partners active in the work world and the environmental community in research that identifies critical spaces for adaptation, drawing on their hands-on experience and linking it to the expertise of the academics.鈥�

(CURA)聽awards, among the largest awarded by SSHRC, bring postsecondary institutions and community organizations together as equal research partners to jointly develop new knowledge and capabilities, provide research training opportunities, and enhance the ability of social sciences and humanities research to build knowledge in areas that affect Canadians and their changing communities.

鈥淭his award is the latest in a series of funding successes that reflect 91亚色鈥檚 leadership in national and international collaborative research projects,鈥� said Stan Shapson, vice-president Research & Innovation. 鈥淐limate change is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and climate research and innovation are priorities for 91亚色. Our researchers are working with industry, government at all levels, academia, and the community to find ways to address the complex issues it raises.鈥�

尝颈辫蝉颈驳-惭耻尘尘茅鈥檚 research team includes nationally- and internationally-based climate scientists, senior labour market actors and academics from a wide range of disciplines. A total of 23 researchers, 20 partners, and 10 universities in three countries will participate, including 91亚色 Professors David Doorey, , , Jan Kainer, John-Justin McMurtry, and Steven Tufts.

Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science聽& Technology), announced the funding yesterday in Kitchener, Ont. Lipsig-Mumm茅鈥檚 project is one of 20 large-scale research projects funded through SSHRC鈥檚 CURA program.

鈥淭hese grants highlight the excellence of our country鈥檚 talented researchers and recognize the importance of fostering collaboration to keep Canada at the leading-edge of research, development and innovation in the 21st century,鈥� said Chad Gaffield, president of SSHRC.

For a complete list of CURA awards, visit Web site.

Project Partners:

• Canadian Steel Trade and Employment Congress
• Canadian Union of Postal Workers
• Centre for Labour Studies
• Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union
• Environmental Defence
• Forest Products Sector Council
• Learning for a Sustainable Future
• National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
• National Union of Professional and General Employees
• Ontario Centre for Engineering and Public Policy/Professional Engineers
• Prism Economics and Analysis
• The Clean Air Partnership
• The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
• Toronto Training Board
• United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Local 1000A
• United Steelworkers of Canada
• UNITE-HERE Canada
• Wood Manufacturing Council
• British Columbia Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

University Partners:

• Auckland University of Technology
• Institute of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne
• Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability, 91亚色
• Queen's University
• Ryerson University
• Simon Fraser University
• St. Thomas University
• University of British Columbia-Okenagan
• University of Manitoba
• University of Toronto

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer

The post Prof receives $1 million from SSHRC for climate change project appeared first on Research & Innovation.