Priority Area
Canadian Environmental Issues
Context
The Canadian Environmental Issues priority area supports and builds social sciences and humanities research, training and knowledge mobilization that contributes to an enhanced understanding of, and practical solutions for, pressing Canadian environment and sustainability issues, particularly related to interactions and interdependencies between the environment, economy, society and culture.
In 2001, SSHRC identified the environment as a priority area. Consultations by SSHRC (see Nature and Society: Environment and Sustainability Research Program and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Progress) have confirmed the need for research and related activities in this area. Furthermore, following on the Government of Canada’s science and technology strategy (PDF document, 460 KB), Budget 2008 provided additional funding to SSHRC for research on the environment to address the growing and changing needs of Canadian society.
Results from Canadian Environmental Issues priority area research will contribute to advancing identified priorities, including:
- climate change impact, mitigation and adaptation;
- energy and natural resources;
- water; and
- the environmental impact of new technologies (e.g., nanotechnology and biotechnology).
Through the Canadian Environmental Issues priority area, SSHRC invites applications on social sciences and humanities dimensions of these four priority topics or others that are demonstrably a priority for Canada. These topics can be studied from a variety of approaches (e.g., action-research, ethical, historical, economic, recovery, restoration, policy, regulation, governance), and with respect to any sector and/or population group (e.g., forestry, fishing, manufacturing, urban, rural and regional perspectives).
SSHRC Canadian Environmental Issues funding is available for activities proposed by individual researchers, organizations or informal collaborations, or formal research partnerships involving multiple institutions and/or partners from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Multidisciplinary teams from the social sciences and humanities, as well as those that include researchers from the natural sciences, engineering and health sciences, are welcome to apply.
Expected Outcomes
Research and related activities undertaken through the Canadian Environmental Issues priority area are expected to:
- increase knowledge and awareness of Canadian environmental and sustainability issues deemed to be of priority in Canada, from social sciences, humanities and/or interdisciplinary perspectives;
- increase the number of highly qualified personnel (e.g., researchers, scholars, managers) with expertise in social sciences and humanities related to environmental issues; and/or
- increase the application of research knowledge in decision-making and best practices in the public and private sectors, communities, and civil society.
Funding Opportunities
Applicants whose proposals are relevant to this priority area are invited to indicate this in their applications.
Current opportunities are: