What effect will the quest for energy and natural resources have on our society and our position on the world stage?
The Government of Canada has identified natural resources and energy, as well as environment and agriculture, as research priorities for the country. The strategy stresses that the complexity of global challenges such as climate change and energy requires “international research collaborations across many disciplines.”
Natural resources and energy is one of six future challenge areas identified through SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future initiative. These complex issues were identified following an extensive foresight exercise, and reflect key challenges that Canada is likely to face in an evolving global context over the coming decades, and to which the social sciences and humanities research community can contribute its knowledge, talent and expertise.
SSHRC is, therefore, launching a Knowledge Synthesis Grants funding opportunity to which social sciences and humanities researchers can contribute insights focusing on the future challenge area “What effects will the quest for energy and natural resources have on our society and our position on the world stage?”
In support of the objectives noted below, these grants will foster a deeper understanding of the state of knowledge in the social sciences and humanities regarding the human aspects of the search for and the extraction, production and use of energy and natural resources. The resulting syntheses will also help identify roles that the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors may play in seizing future opportunities and mitigating risks related to new global geographies and economies of energy and natural resources. This knowledge will pave the way for developing robust policies, practices and tools for a sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for Canada and the world.
The objectives of this funding opportunity are three-fold:
State of Knowledge and Research Gaps:
- describe the state of knowledge of the Future Challenge Area theme under consideration;
- identify knowledge gaps within the theme; and
- identify the most promising policies and practices related to the theme.
Research Data:
- assess the quality, accuracy and rigour of current work in the field; and
- identify gaps in the quantitative and qualitative data available.
Knowledge Mobilization:
- mobilize knowledge related to promising policies and practices within the academic, private and public policy sectors; and
- facilitate dialogue between academic researchers, cross-sectoral stakeholders and policy-makers in government.
Knowledge synthesis grants are not intended to support original research. They are intended to support the synthesis of existing research knowledge and the identification of knowledge gaps.
Value: up to $25,000
Duration: One year
Deadline for submission: September 10, 2015 (8 pm EST)
All synthesis reports must be completed by May 13, 2016
Reports must be submitted in PDF and SSHRC Web CVs are required for each applicant and co-applicant.
Additional details about this opportunity can be found on the SSHRC website: http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/ksg_energy-ssc_energie-eng.aspx