Opening dialogue

A message from president Chad Gaffield

As we find ourselves at the heart of the global economic crisis, the world is seeking insight into how it happened and where we go from here. This is a moment when investors and policy-makers must broaden their focus and begin to examine the complexity, diversity and creativity of humans in the 21st century. It is through the social sciences and humanities that deep knowledge and understanding of individuals, communities and societies will inform every aspect of our efforts to create a materially secure, resilient, peaceful and just world.

These are central issues to be addressed, not just for Canada, but for all nations in the current financial decline, and it is clear that many of the answers can be provided by researchers in the social sciences and humanities.

For these reasons, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has put together this special economy-focused double issue of Dialogue. It examines the many ways in which SSHRC-funded research is helping Canada to gain insight and address acute economic challenges and opportunities – not only those evident today, but also those that may only appear in the headlines in the years and decades to come.

Indeed, the media is increasingly turning to Canadian scholars in the social sciences and humanities for expert analysis and commentary. The media’s interest illustrates that long before economic, environmental, social and political issues dominate news headlines, our world-class researchers have already been investigating the background and context of these trends. Inevitably, scholars are “ahead of the curve” with their research — studying long-term drivers of change, comparing today’s conditions with those of the past, and building the foundations of future Canadian innovation and prosperity in an increasingly interconnected globe.

The broad range of research projects profiled in this issue of Dialogue illustrates how SSHRC-funded research helps Canadians address today’s most pressing concerns, and helps build new advantages for our country in the rapidly changing 21st century.

Lessons learned from past social and economic change

David Frank of the University of New Brunswick is leading a project which connects the campus and community organizations in explaining and disseminating the province’s rich labour history, which has underpinned the development of New Brunswick’s present-day economy, culture and social structures. As Frank points out, the province has successfully navigated many difficult transitions, and the lessons of history provide valuable insight into dealing with contemporary challenges.

Insights gained from social change in the midst of globalization

Roksana Bahramitash at the Université de Montréal is conducting research into the ways in which Islamism has fostered new types of economic and social opportunities for women. This work is especially timely now, when globalization has reduced many state-supported services in less developed countries. She shows how building upon these innovative economic approaches helps empower poor women in Muslim countries, all the more critical in today’s economic crisis.

Learning from creative approaches to sustainability in infrastructure

Meanwhile, at Ryerson University, Filiz Klassen is combining research and art to experiment with innovative textile materials that promise to become tomorrow’s building materials. She has developed concepts for building “skins” which change in response to the weather, and which capture and store the products of weather to generate energy for the building. Such research projects enhance Canadian innovation in sustainable energy-conscious building design, an area in which Canada is an international leader.

Lessons learned from “unbridled consumerism”

As for consumers, the economic crisis is leading consumers everywhere to rethink some of their economic, social and environmental values, according to Stuart Walker of the University of Calgary, who says we’re seeing the “failings of unbridled consumerism.” Walker is researching sustainable product design as a challenge to our “throw-away” economic model — developing concepts for consumer electronics built to last for many years.

Other highlights in this issue

• A Q&A piece with Meric Gertler, co-director of the SSHRC-funded program on globalization and regional innovation systems at the Munk Centre for International Studies.
• An article on the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships (CSERP) project by Ian MacPherson, principal investigator of the Canadian Social Economy Hub at the University of Victoria.

Keen anticipation about this year’s “spring harvest” of research results is building with the approach of the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences, to be held at Carleton University in Ottawa, from May 23–31, 2009. Students, scholars, policy-makers, community participants and delegates from around the world will share their research findings and ideas in workshops, panels and presentations organized by participating scholarly associations, under the leadership of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

As always, we are keen to hear from you about how we can continue moving forward as we begin our fourth decade at SSHRC. Fully benefitting from the social sciences and humanities may not guarantee a successful 21st century but, to repeat a question that seems increasingly relevant, what other strategy is more promising? Many thanks for all your efforts and we look forward to continuing our dialogue.