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Summer Institute, Workshop and Conference Grants
September 2009 Competition
Context
Objectives
Description
Value and Duration
Eligibility
Evaluation and Adjudication
Administrative Regulations
More Information
Context
In its September 2000 report to SSHRC's governing council, the Working Group on the Future
of the Humanities observed, “New information technologies represent
one of the major impacts on humanities teaching and research. They also
present an exciting opportunity for scholars, teachers and students to
become informed partners and innovators.”
Digital technologies now pervasively inform how research is conducted
in the humanities and social sciences, whether it is simple word processing,
database searches, or highly complex multimedia presentations. To examine
and interpret individuals and their cultures, researchers currently use
three fundamental kinds of digital information: images, text and sound.
These digital forms of information are, however, very sensitive to changes
in the technologies through which they are created, analyzed, published
and preserved. In recent decades, innovative technologies have transformed
the very definition of text and its relationship to image and sound. To
benefit fully from these new technologies, researchers must not only be
aware of technological developments, but also be directly involved in
them. To support researchers in this endeavour, SSHRC developed the Image, Text, Sound and Technology (ITST) program to increase researchers’ familiarity with, and
effective use of, these new tools.
Objectives
It is essential for researchers in the social sciences and humanities
to have the expertise necessary to carry out research in today’s
rapidly evolving technological environment. For example, in 1999, SSHRC
and Statistics Canada launched the Data Training Schools. This program
enables researchers to learn about and apply advanced technologies to
the analysis of social statistics at postsecondary institution-based Research Data Centres
across the country. Similarly, the ITST program will help researchers
refine their ability to apply digital multimedia technologies to their
research on image, text and sound.
The overall objectives of the ITST program are to:
- reflect on, interpret, and analyze new digital media, multimedia,
and text-based computing technologies, and integrate these into humanities
and social sciences research;
- bring together theorists, experimentalists, and technologists from
different disciplines to share and nurture ideas and methods that challenge
research to advance through the use of audio-visual and text-based technologies;
and
- facilitate the creation of national and international networks of,
and partnerships among, researchers, industries, governments, and individuals
that will promote and sustain social sciences and humanities research
and resources worldwide.
Description
The program will provide funding for researchers and their graduate students
to develop expertise in applying advanced technology through summer institutes,
workshops and conferences.
Funds may be requested for the planning and implementation of events
that bring together appropriate academic and government or industry researchers, including Canadian and international scholars and experts,
to exchange knowledge about the use of technology in ITST research.
-
Summer Institutes are intensive, one- to two-week,
interactive seminars that introduce researchers and students to cutting-edge
ITST technologies and skills.
-
Workshops, of two to five days’ duration,
concentrate on the elaboration and sharing of innovative technological
methodologies being developed for use in ITST research.
-
Conferences provide venues for ITST researchers
to present their research methodologies and results to a range of
users and potential users from the academic, public, private, and voluntary
sectors.
Possible topics and areas to be addressed include:
- electronic editing and publishing;
- e-literature studies;
- Web programming;
- immersive and virtual environments in multimedia research;
- textual analysis;
- 3D imaging technology;
- creativity, culture and computing;
- digital image design;
- information aesthetics;
- computer gaming; and
- knowledge transfer of research results to fellow researchers, decision-makers and the public at large.
Please note that this program does not support the following:
- digitization of collections of images, books or sounds;
- support for routine computer applications from which little new knowledge
about image, text and sound technology will emerge;
- creation of stand-alone major research tools;
- research activities, already funded under other SSHRC programs, that
do not need transformative multimedia and new media technologies; or
- development of technological infrastructure.
Value and Duration
Up to $50,000 for 12 months.
Eligibility
Canadian postsecondary institutions are eligible to apply. The summer
institute, workshop or conference must be held at the applying institution.
Detailed instructions accompany the application form.
Institutions that propose to administer any grant awarded under this program must meet the requirements for managing SSHRC funds, and must hold or obtain institutional eligibility.
Evaluation and Adjudication
An interdisciplinary committee of experts in ITST research will assess
all proposals. SSHRC will send all applicants a formal notice of
decision and a summary of the committee's comments.
The committee will adjudicate proposals according to the following criteria:
- fit between the proposed summer institute, workshop, or conference
and the objectives of the ITST program;
- competence and expertise of proposed key resource personnel such
as speakers and discussion leaders (as applicable);
- quality of the program proposed for the summer institute, workshop
or conference;
- significant participation of researchers and advanced students;
- appropriateness of the budget, and value for money; and
- potential of the proposed institute, workshop or conference to achieve
wide and effective transfer of knowledge.
Administrative Regulations
All applicants and grant holders must comply with the Regulations
Governing Grant Applications and with the regulations set out in the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide (TAFAG). While the TAFAG has precedence, additional information can also be found in the
Grant Holder's
Guide.
Note: Eligible expenses include travel, accommodation and remuneration for resource personnel, speakers, course instructors and discussion leaders. Please consult the Grant Holder's Guide
for restrictions regarding those eligible to receive remuneration.
More Information
For further information about ITST Summer Institute, Workshop and Conference
Grants, please contact:
Eric Bergeron
Program Officer
Strategic Programs and Joint Initiatives Division
SSHRC
350 Albert Street
P.O. Box 1610
Ottawa, ON
K1P 6G4
Tel.: 613-996-1422
Fax: 613-947-0223
Email: eric.bergeron@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca