Eleanor Fast, Director of Policy & Programming, Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Over a thousand people gathered in Montreal this past weekend for the World Social Science Forum, which brought together social science researchers from 80 countries to address the theme of “Social Transformations in the Digital Age”. Sessions took place on a diverse range of topics – from cyber politics to the role of digital games in aging well – and there was palpable energy and excitement in the air as scholars from around the world exchanged views and ideas with one another.
The conference program also included a number of special events, such as the announcement of the SSHRC Impact Awards, a movie night featuring Canadian filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, and the SSHRC Storytellers: Research for a Better Life showcase.
The Federation took part in the Forum with a booth in the exhibition, which welcomed an exciting number of international guests curious about Congress and our “Ideas can…” message (not to mention our buttons, which were a big hit!). Federation President Antonia Maioni moderated two panels on Imagining Canada’s Future, which looked into how the social sciences and humanities can play a practical role in addressing the challenges we are likely to face in the future of Canadian society.
The 2013 World Social Science Forum was an engaging and truly valuable event that allowed minds from across the globe to connect, share experiences, and discuss big ideas.
