Federation news
Federation launches strategic planning exercise
The Federation will soon embark on a dynamic exercise to develop and launch a new strategic plan, shaped by the voices of our members, partners, and the broader humanities and social sciences community. Through engagement sessions with our community, the process will reimagine the vision, scope, and format of the annual Congress.
The Federation is currently reviewing proposals from strategic planning consultants following a Request for Proposal process launched in late 2024, and member and stakeholder engagement sessions will begin in the spring and continue through the fall of 2025. We will provide our community with ongoing updates as development progresses.
EDID Initiatives Fund spring cycle is now open
The Federation is now welcoming submissions for the spring cycle of the EDID Initiatives Fund, closing February 28. The Fund supports member associations' initiatives that advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization. Association members are encouraged to approach their leadership to explore developing an application. Contact your respective association to learn more about how you can get involved! Learn more and explore past submissions.
EDID Fund featured initiative
Explore the report that emerged from the panel “We Need to Talk About the Backlash – What is to be done?” co-hosted by the Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science, the Canadian Philosophical Association, and the Canadian Society for Women in Philosophy at Congress 2024. Read the report.
New episodes of the Big Thinking Podcast!
Is the rise of radical groups in Québec and across Canada an isolated phenomenon, or the reflection of a worrying global trend? In this episode, we explore the definition of extremism, as well as the ideologies and growing impact of right-wing extremist groups. Stay tuned for a new episode each month and explore the archive!
Reframing the Value Proposition of Social Science and Humanities to Society and Policy
Join the Federation and Evidence for Democracy (E4D) for a non-partisan panel event to foster a diverse and dynamic conversation on the role of the social sciences and humanities in society, highlighting cross-disciplinary contributions and offering strategies for advocacy. Engage with experts from academia, policy, and research, and leave with tangible policy insights and actionable takeaways at the Impact Hub Ottawa and via Zoom on February 20 from 17:30–19:30 ET. Register via E4D.
Canadian Consortium for Research annual breakfast
This week, members of the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) gathered at the Federation’s office in Ottawa for a morning of discussion on advancing Canadian science across disciplines. The event brought together representatives from 14 organizations across Canadian research disciplines, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and Mitacs, among others.
Nominations for the Board of Directors
The Federation will soon launch an open Call for Nominations, for two (2) open positions on the Board of Directors. These new directors will play a pivotal role in shaping the Federation’s future, taking a critical part in developing our next strategic plan. The Board elections will take place during the 2025 Annual Meeting, to be scheduled in June. An invitation to attend the Annual Meeting will be shared with the leadership of all member associations and institutions in the coming weeks.
Call for submissions: Black History Month
The theme for Black History Month 2025 is Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations. We want to amplify your work relevant to this theme on our social media and blog! If you have research to highlight, a story to tell, a reading list, articles, videos, or art you’d like us to share, please submit them to communications@federationhss.ca.
A look back: Celebrating the 2024 Canada Prizes winners
Revisit the five books and authors awarded the 2024 Canada Prizes and explore the writers’ features in the news:
- Trent prof wins Canada Prizes awards; given to recognize impactful scholarly books – The Peterborough Examiner
- Book Column: Villain, Vermin, Icon, Kin: Wolves and the Making of Canada
- Impactful and transformative authors recognized at Canada Prizes - Rabble
You too can be a future Canada Prizes recipient – apply for book grants for your work through the Scholarly Book Awards.
Podcast recommendation: The Academic Issue
Steven Pinker, internationally renowned cognitive scientist, bestselling author, and one of the most prominent public intellectuals of our time, joins The Academic Issue podcast. In The Public Intellectual: A Conversation with Steven Pinker, Kate Kenyon delves into what it means to bridge academia and the public sphere. From the art of writing for a general audience to navigating media appearances, Steven shares his insights on making complex ideas accessible - and why it matters. Listen now.
The Federation is on Bluesky
The Federation is now on Bluesky @federationhss.ca. Follow us and stay up to date on all Federation news!
Congress news
Register for Congress 2025
Registration is now open for Congress 2025: Reframing togetherness, hosted by George Brown College in Toronto from May 30 to June 6, 2025. By bringing together nearly 7,000 post-secondary participants from across Canada, Congress 2025 will invite the research community to bridge the gap between colleges and universities and promises to be a catalyst for transformative discourse and collaboration. Book your spot for this milestone Congress before March 20 to take advantage of early bird rates. Register today.
Plan your trip
The Federation is pleased to offer discounted accommodation and special travel rates to all Congress attendees. View current discounts and stay tuned for information on residences, childcare services, local amenities, and more! Plan your trip.
HSS News
Rethinking the role of social sciences and humanities to help drive innovation and productivity – Ted Hewitt, president of the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada discusses the need to think differently about how we measure and report the impact of humanities-related research. Read more.
On the Hope Circuits Circuit: An introduction – The postsecondary education sector is experiencing tremendous pressure from multiple angles. The Hope Circuits project regroups academics engaging in conversations from across Canada and around the world. This project is about taking a systems-level approach to re-wiring universities and colleges. Read more.
TRU launches Canada’s first Honours College – Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is launching Canada’s first Honours College in fall, beginning with a University Honours Certificate that offers students a way to enrich their primary degree through interdisciplinary learning, research, and experimental opportunities. Read more.
“Défis et opportunités : La recherche et la publication scientifique en français au Canada” – On the occasion of the International Day of La Francophonie, the Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) announces its first francophone editorial series on the role of French as a language of research in Canada. Learn more and submit your application (in French only).
Tariffs: the cascading effects of a political decision on the economy, business and citizens – Starting Saturday February 1, US President Donald Trump will impose 25% tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico. The adoption of this extraordinary measure risks triggering a complex series of cascading effects, affecting governments, businesses and citizens alike. Read more (in French only).
Addressing the gap in academic professionalization for graduate students – Graduate development programming has experienced significant growth over the past decade. The growth is welcomed as graduate-focused resources help both institutions and graduate students reimagine the potential contributions of graduate studies outside academia. Read more.
The legacy of anti-Black racism: The public health crisis of racial trauma – The traumatizing after-effects of anti-Black racism also result from Black people’s experiences within other social structures, such as employment, education and health care. Read more.