“91��ɫ is pleased to partner with CASRAI and support its initiatives to streamline the research administration process,” said Robert Haché, 91��ɫ’s vice-president research & innovation. “The continued development of these standards will help our researchers save time and improve efficiency during the funding application process.”

CASRAI provides both a forum and the mechanisms required to standardize the data that researchers, their institutions and their funders use to describe research activity.  Key benefits for the research community include saving time for researchers, improving access to quality data for institutions and funders, and clarifying the measurement of research impacts on society.

"We are very pleased to see 91��ɫ joining this initiative," said David Baker, executive director of CASRAI. "Their expertise and innovative contributions to the CASRAI mandate will be highly valued. We look forward to this collaboration."

The 91��ɫ membership with CASRAI provides the University and the Office of Research Services with access to information on standards that will help streamline the grant application process.  The information can also be applied to the way researchers describe their research activities on their CVs.

By standardizing the data that researchers use to describe research activity, the University can further pinpoint its strengths and challenges. This in turn, will help 91��ɫ move forward with research planning.

For more information, contact David Phipps, director, Office of Research Services, at ext. 55813.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post 91��ɫ joins research information consortia appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post What is knowledge mobilization and why does it matter to universities? appeared first on Research & Innovation.

The Research Open House will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011,  from 1 - 3 p.m., on the 5th Floor of the 91��ɫ Research Tower.   Remarks at 2:30 p.m.

Staff from the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, the Office of Research Services, the Office of Research Ethics, Research Accounting, Procurement Services, Innovation 91��ɫ and the Faculty of Graduate Studies will be on hand to answer questions related to research services.

Please RSVP by October 5th, 2011 at .

The post Join us for a Research Open House Oct. 11 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��ɫ’s Keele campus. “Society has increasing expectations of universities, professors and students,” he said. “Whatever the issue of the day might be, there is a SSHRC researcher with something relevant to contribute to our shared concerns.”

Left: Chad Gaffield

“Renewing our program architecture allows us to support research in all fields using disciplinary, interdisciplinary and cross-sector approaches,” said Gaffield. “It 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.”

After consultation with the research community, SSHRC’s 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’s and doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in 2010. The process will be the same as 2009’s competition. There may be changes coming in 2011 and 2012, however, so be sure to check the Web site periodically.
2. The new architecture will not affect the 2010 Standard Research Grants competition. The deadline for this year’s competition remains Friday, Oct. 15.
3. Although Oct. 15 has historically been the due date for SSHRC’s Standard Research Grants, the deadline for 2011’s competitions may be changed. No firm date has been announced yet; check the Web site 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 as it becomes available.

If you have questions about changes to SSHRC’s program architecture, 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 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.

Professor Susan Henders, director of the 91��ɫ Centre for Asian Research, spoke about the new facilities during a recent research celebration. Her remarks are available on the Research Web site's multimedia centre.

The building, which recently received Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED),  opened in September 2009 and 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).

Published by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

The post Video: Graduate students benefitting from space in 91��ɫ's Research Tower appeared first on Research & Innovation.

David Phipps, director of 91��ɫ's Office of Research Services, heads the university's . He and Peter Levesque, chair , gave a presentation at on the interplay between research, knowledge mobilization and what it takes to be successful in this new and growing field.

The complete video series is available on .

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

The post Video: Research, Knowledge Mobilization and Careers appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Two teams led by 91��ɫ 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 ’s $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–Orléans, 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��ɫ 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’s 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’s 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��ɫ, 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’s wealthy gated communities to Europe’s 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��ɫ was the only institution with two successful projects, building on its strong track record in leading large, interdisciplinary collaborative research projects. Prior to today’s announcement, 91��ɫ researchers held nine major SSHRC collaborative grants worth a total of $13.6 million in research funding.

“As the only institution to win multiple awards in this category, 91��ɫ’s researchers have clearly demonstrated their national and international excellence and leadership in large-scale, SSHRC research projects,” says Stan Shapson, vice-president research and innovation. “Leading 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.”

“These grants highlight the excellence of our country’s 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,” said Chad Gaffield, president of SSHRC.

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

• “Assets Coming Together for Youth: Linking Research, Policy and Action for Positive Youth Development”, 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’s 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’s 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 social work Professor Susan McGrath, studies refugee and forced migration issues to find solutions to the plight of refugees worldwide.
• “Monitoring the Human Rights of People with Disabilities in Canada”, 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 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.
• “Slavery, Memory, Citizenship”, led by Distinguished Research Professor Paul Lovejoy, includes a team of more than 50 Canadian and international scholars who are researching 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.
• “The University as a Civic Change Agent: Community-Based Knowledge Mobilization”, 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.
• “Work in a Warming World”, led by social science Professor Carla Lipsig-Mummé 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’s transition to a low-emission economy.

For complete competition results, visit .

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with photos courtesy of YFile – 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post 91��ɫ leads all Canadian universities in SSHRC’s largest awards appeared first on Research & Innovation.

The summaries are available in a located on the KM Unit's Web site. They provide an introduction into the variety and depth of research that is conducted at 91��ɫ and the University of Victoria as part of ResearchImpact, a service-oriented program designed to connect university research with across Canada to ensure that research helps inform decision-making. The KM Unit's new Community Collaboration Stations provide research collaborators with access to a 91��ɫ computer, which allows them to access materials contained in the 91��ɫ Libraries and other online resources.

Some of the new research summaries highlight the work of 91��ɫ education Professor Stephen Gaetz, who studies homelessness, and that of Professor Uzo Anucha of the School of Social Work in 91��ɫ's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, who studies youth and poverty. The complete library of research summaries consists of 84 entries that present the results of research on a variety of issues, including HIV/AIDS, immigration & settlement, employment and climate change, as well as research on business & management, law and health services, to name but a few.

First announced in the spring of 2009 (see YFile, May 27), the ResearchSnapshot concept was ;tested in focus groups which included University researchers, provincial policy-makers and community social service organizations. The focus group participants were supportive of the initiative, which was described as offering an excellent introduction to research with just enough background and contact information, without being overwhelming.

Above: Participants in the afternoon research forum presented by 91��ɫ's KM Unit. The forum featured 91��ɫ researchers speaking on the topic of youth engagement. The announcement of the new ResearchSnapshots and Community Collaboration Stations was made at the Dec. 2 forum.

There are limitations to the utility of the research summaries, says David Phipps, director of the Office of Research Services at 91��ɫ. He points out that a decision about public policy or professional practice should not be made on the basis of a single research study. “We use ResearchSnapshots as a calling card to alert our non-academic research partners that there is research expertise at 91��ɫ that might be relevant to a partner’s interests,” says Phipps. This calling card helps 91��ɫ’s KM Unit broker relationships between 91��ɫ and potential collaborators or organizations seeking to use research to inform decisions, says Phipps.

“91��ɫ has opened Canada’s first Knowledge Mobilization Unit that is fully integrated into the University’s research infrastructure,” says Stan Shapson, 91��ɫ's vice-president research & innovation. “The expertise of 91��ɫ’s researchers and their graduate students should be accessible in order to maximize the social economic and environmental impacts of public investments in university research.”

Daniele Zanotti, CEO of the United Way of 91��ɫ Region, agrees. “It is important that community agencies are working from the best knowledge available so that they can make well-informed decisions,” she says. “91��ɫ's Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides an avenue for community organizations to tap into the research expertise available in the University. It makes research, as well as researchers and graduate students, accessible to non-academic decision-makers.”

The development of the ResearchSnapshots was supported by a grant from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada. Production of the latest 40 research summaries and the Community Collaboration Stations were made possible through the support of the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation at 91��ɫ.

To access the research summary database, click . To reserve time on a Community Collaboration Station, contact 91��ɫ’s KM Unit by e-mail at kmunit@yorku.ca.

From YFile - 91��ɫ's daily e-bulletin

The post New ResearchSnapshots get knowledge to the community appeared first on Research & Innovation.