Big Picture at #congressh: Storytelling in the Digital Era

Blog
May 26, 2017
Author(s):
Karen Leiva, Congress 2017 blogger

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences brings together leading thinkers, academics, researchers, policy-makers and innovators to explore some of the world’s most challenging issues. Congress celebrates the vitality and quality of Canadian research contributions, and helps train the next generation of Canadian ideas leadership. This year’s theme “The Next 150, on Indigenous Lands" celebrates the history, legacy and achievements of the peoples and territories that make us who we are, and anticipates the boundless opportunities of the future. Organized by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, this year’s Congress is being hosted by Ryerson University in Toronto from May 27-June 2. Follow this series of Big Picture at #congressh blogs.

In this digital era, the humanities and social sciences are vital to advancing technologies, creating content and spurring innovation.  It’s no surprise then, that research on media and social media will be a key component of Congress 2017. From violence in cyberspace, to issues of authorship and originality online, top humanities and social sciences researchers from across the country will explore these budding issues.

The Storytellers

Nadia Naffi, a PhD candidate at Concordia University is one of 25 finalists in The Storytellers contest, run by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). In this video, Nadia looks at “How Canadian Youth Construe their Role in the Integration & the Inclusion of Syrian Refugees”.

As part of this annual contest, SSHRC challenged post-secondary students to tell the story — in three minutes or 300 words — of how SSHRC-funded research is making a difference in the lives of Canadians. 

The top 25 finalists from SSHRC’s Storytellers contest will be telling their stories at Congress 2017 before a live audience and a panel of expert judges, including Paul Kennedy, host of CBC Radio’s Ideas. On May 29 from 10 am to noon, come find out who will be this year’s Final Five winners — or follow along virtually with #congressh and #SSHRCStorytellers.

Ou avec #congressh et #RécitCRSH. Qui seront les cinq grands gagnants de cette année? Venez le découvrir! 

For more information:

https://www.congress2017.ca/calendar/1804

What’s on: 3 sessions to look for

Brexit, Trump and the rise of radical right populism in the West: Is democracy in danger?

May 31, 10:30 to 12:00

Presenter: Sheri Berman, Mark Blyth, Jacob T. Levy, Christopher S. Parker

At scale and under pressure: How social media platforms moderate and choreograph public discourse. 

May 31, 5:30 pm – 7pm

Speaker: Tarleton Gillespie

Big Thinking lecture: Media in the Age of Terror

May 31, 12:15 to 13:15

Mohamed Fahmy, award‐winning journalist