Federation news
Federation Board welcomes two new Directors
Following the Federation’s virtual Annual Meeting on May 15, two (2) new Directors were elected to the Federation Board. Learn more about the Board.
- Shannon Dea - Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Regina
- Genevieve Fuji Johnson - Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
2024 EDID Action plan
Earlier this month, The Federation released its plan outlining current equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization commitments and actions for 2024. Read the plan.
Federal Budget 2024
On April 16, the federal government released its 2024 budget announcing an important investment in Canadian research and researchers. The Federation was encouraged to see the Budget’s decisive response to calls for action from across the research community, with increases to the base budgets of the federal granting councils, and urgently-needed support for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Read about Budget 2024’s significant investment in research and researchers in Canada in the Federation’s briefing note to members.
As part of our shared advocacy with the Coalition for Canadian Research, the Federation joins research advocacy organizations across Canada in welcoming this investment. Read the Coalition’s news release.
Canadian Consortium for Research Chair announcement
Last month, the Federation’s Director of Policy & Programs Hannah Paveck began her role as Chair of the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR). The Federation is a longstanding member of the CCR, an advocacy coalition established in 1976 dedicated to fostering a flourishing research community, promoting research funding in all disciplines, and supporting post-secondary education across Canada.
Congress news
Congress 2024 update
Over the past weeks, the Federation has been in conversation with associations participating in Congress 2024 regarding the ongoing strike and pro-Palestinian encampment on McGill’s campus.
We understand that many attendees are concerned about what this means for the upcoming Congress at McGill. Congress 2024 is going ahead on the McGill campus as long as it remains safe and accessible to do so, as well as online.
As part of these discussions, we have offered associations to move their conference or a portion of their conference to the Congress Virtual Platform. Attendees can find out their mode of participation by contacting their association. The latest programs and schedules will be updated as they become available on the Association conferences page.
The Federation’s mission is to bring together a network of universities, colleges, and scholarly associations, and to promote the value of research and education in the humanities and social sciences. It is precisely during times like these that we feel academics must come together and demonstrate the valuable work that we do.
We will continue to monitor the situation and communicate important planning and logistics notices to attendees in the lead-up to, and during, Congress and look forward to welcoming attendees in June.
Congress 2025 host announcement
George Brown College will be the first college in history to host the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in 2025. Join us in Toronto from May 30 to June 6, 2025 for the 94th edition of Congress. Read the full announcement.
Big Thinking
The Big Thinking series will be held at Congress 2024 on site as well as online. The series brings together leading scholars and public figures who present forward-thinking research, ideas and solutions to the critical questions and issues of our time. Explore this year’s Big Thinking lectures.
- Sustainable AI – Thursday, June 13 – 17:15 to 18:15
- Sustaining culture – Sunday, June 16 – 12:15 to 13:15
- Sustaining nature – Monday, June 17 – 12:15 to 13:15
- Sustaining political community – Wednesday, June 19 – 12:15 to 13:15
Indigenous Protocols
Indigenous Protocols for Congress 2024, prepared by McGill University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives, highlight guiding principles to consider to respectfully engage with Indigenous knowledges and the peoples of this land and territory at Congress 2024. Attendees are encouraged to review the Protocols.
HSS Community News
University community welcomes Budget 2024 – Budget 2024 focuses on making student life and housing more affordable and provides funds for research and innovation. Read more.
Application and nomination for the Digital Research Alliance of Canada’s Researcher Council – The Alliance is accepting applications and nominations for the Researcher Council. The Council is a key part of the Alliance, providing input and guidance on the $228.3 million investment from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for digital research infrastructure (DRI) initiatives that will directly benefit Canada’s researchers. Applications are open until June 5, 2024. Apply now.
New Tri-agency guidance on research security – The federal granting agencies – the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) - are committed to providing Canada’s research community with the most up-to-date information and best practices to safeguard their research and to mitigate research security risks. Read more.
Sustainable development, here and now - Earth Day is a call to action. The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals are a roadmap for collective progress. Unfortunately, these goals are seen by a significant proportion of our society, particularly young people, as almost unattainable. Read more.
Generative AI a reality at post-secondary institutions – In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, AI (artificial intelligence) and large language models are causing a storm among post-secondary institutions around the globe. Read more.
The skills of care: navigating emotional labour in academia – Emotional labour is an important component of academic work and many people working in academia perform emotional labour daily through activities with students, colleagues and emotionally-charged service roles. Read more.
Humanities are taking a backseat to STEM education and that is creating problems – As more people tend to steer towards STEM careers, high schools and universities started changing the face and the balance of their campuses to reflect the prioritization of STEM subjects. Read more.