CALGARY, November 15, 2013 – The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to announce that it has selected the University of Calgary to host the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in 2016. More than 8,000 delegates are expected to attend the country’s largest academic gathering.
“We are looking ahead with great anticipation to 2016 when Congress will take place in Calgary on May 28th to June 3rd, 2016. The University of Calgary is a vibrant and dynamic institution that draws talent from across Canada and around the world, providing a rich learning and research environment to over 31,000 students,” said Antonia Maioni, President of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.
University of Calgary President Elizabeth Cannon said she was thrilled to hear that the event is coming to Calgary for 2016 – a significant year as the university marks its 50th birthday. “The University of Calgary is honoured to host this important event that will showcase our vibrant research culture, world-class researchers and our outstanding graduate students,” said Cannon. “We are currently planning an impressive series of events for 2016 to celebrate our past and look to the future. Congress will be the crown jewel in this year of celebration.”
Mayor Naheed Nenshi was also happy to learn that the University of Calgary was selected to host Congress. “This will be a great opportunity for some of the best thinkers from around the world to immerse themselves in global research and learn from international colleagues,” said Mayor Nenshi. “It will also be a chance for Calgary’s growing research community to expand its knowledge to better serve the city by building understanding and encouraging economic growth within our own communities. And, on a personal note, as a university professor and frequent Congress attendee, I’m thrilled it’s being hosted in my home town.”
"The thousands of delegates who come to Calgary for Congress will be welcomed to a world-class city that does highly innovative research,” said Bruce Graham, President and CEO, Calgary Economic Development. “This is great news for the City of Calgary, for the local economy and for the University of Calgary.”
Congress, which is the largest multidisciplinary academic gathering in Canada, brings together scholars, students, practitioners and policy-makers from across the country and around the world to share knowledge and innovative research. Discussions centre on issues related to a broad spectrum of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, including literature, geography, theatre, sociology, education, digital humanities and population studies.
As one of Canada’s leading educational institutions, the University of Calgary has the honour of being, among universities younger than 50 years, ranked first in Canada, second in North America and 16th worldwide, according to the Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (QS) ranking. The university’s Eyes High vision lays out its intentions to become one of Canada's top five research universities by 2016, where research and innovation are inextricably linked and where the university deeply engages the communities it both serves and leads.
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Media inquiries:
Nicola Katz
Manager of Communications
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
613-238-6112, ext. 351
nkatz@ideas-idees.ca
About the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences works to promote the value of research and learning in the humanities and social sciences. Created in 1996, its membership comprises 82 scholarly associations, 80 institutions and six affiliate organizations, representing 85,000 researchers, educators and students across Canada. For more information about the Federation, visit ideas-idees.ca.
Issued in partnership with:
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a leading Canadian university located in the nation's most enterprising city. The university has a clear strategic direction to become one of Canada's top five research universities by 2016, where research and innovative teaching go hand in hand, and where we fully engage the communities we both serve and lead. This strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by the university's Gaelic motto, which translates as 'I will lift up my eyes.'