Three New Issue Areas Targeted for Study
As the first step in developing its new strategic themes, SSHRC began
consultations in 1997 with academic, student and social/cultural
organizations, universities, learned societies, think-tanks, private
sector/labour groups and policy-oriented federal government departments
and agencies. This exercise identified a number of pressing social and
intellectual issues, and provided an opportunity for researchers,
universities, governments and users of research in various sectors to
help define SSHRC targeted research priorities. As a result of these
consultations, SSHRC has launched three new themes under its Strategic
Research Grants Program:
In a Knowledge-based economy, ideas and information are fast becoming
principle raw materials of production, distribution and wealth. Economic
successes and social stability will depend on the ability of
individuals, communities and societies to adapt to new challenges and
opportunities. The Challenges and Opportunities of a Knowledge-based
Economy (KBE) theme will enable interdisciplinary collaborative
research in areas that may include entrepreneurship and innovation,
historical comparisons with other eras, or the cultural and
environmental dimensions of a KBE.
Health research has often narrowly been defined as research in
medicine, in biomedical models, in technology or health services. Now
there is a growing understanding that an accurate picture of health
requires research in a broad array of social, cultural, and economic
factors. Interdisciplinary team research under the
Society, Culture and the Health of Canadians theme may target
attitudes and behaviours influencing health, the restructuring and the
social history of the current health care system, differences between
professional and lay meanings of health, or relationships between
health, education, life cycle and development.
One of the most complex issues facing societies undergoing rapid
change is the impact of globalisation on the complex web of human
relationships that make up the social fabric. Interdisciplinary research
is needed to explore the concept of social cohesion and to understand
emerging pressures, problems and opportunities for civil society. Team
research projects under the new Exploring Social Cohesion in a
Globalizing Era theme may target trends in social
marginalisation, understandings of the "other" in cultural productions,
or the roles of public or private institutions and their impacts on
social cohesion.
For complete information and application instructions, please consult the detailed description specific to each theme:
