Sponsor

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

Program

Impact Awards

Description

SSHRC Impact Awards are designed to build on and sustain Canada’s research-based knowledge culture in the social sciences and humanities. The awards recognize outstanding researchers and celebrate their achievements in research, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities funded partially or completely by SSHRC. 

Each institution may submit only one nomination for each award in a given year. 

Gold Medal ($100,000) The Gold Medal is SSHRC’s highest research honour. It is awarded to an individual whose sustained leadership, dedication and originality of thought have inspired students and colleagues alike.  The recipient’s achievements in research must have significantly advanced understanding in their respective fields of research in the social sciences and humanities. The exceptional quality and impact of the recipient’s research, and their ongoing efforts to share the results, of this work must have greatly enriched Canadian society, and contributed to social, cultural, economic and intellectual life in Canada and/or internationally.

Insight Award ($50,000) The Insight Award recognizes outstanding achievement arising from a research project funded partially or completely by SSHRC. It is given to an individual or a team of six people maximum (including the nominee) whose project has significantly contributed to knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world. The project’s research outcomes must have led to demonstrable impact within the nominee’s fields of research and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community.  In the case of a team project, the nominee must be the project’s principal investigator. If successful, this person will receive the award on behalf of the team.

Connection Award ($50,000) The Connection Award recognizes an outstanding SSHRC funded initiative to facilitate the flow and exchange of research knowledge within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community. It is given to an individual or team whose project has engaged the campus and/or wider community, and has generated intellectual, cultural, social and/or economic impacts. In the case of a team project, the nominee must be the applicant / project director for the initiative. If successful, this person will receive the award on behalf of the team.

Partnership Award ($50,000) The Partnership Award recognizes a SSHRC‑funded formal partnership [1] for its outstanding achievement in advancing research,, research training or knowledge mobilization, or developing a new partnership approach to research and/or related activities. It is awarded to a formal partnership that, through mutual co-operation and shared intellectual leadership and resources, has demonstrated impact and influence within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community.  For the Partnership Award, the nominee must be the project director. If successful, this person will receive the award on behalf of the partnership.

More information on the above mentioned awards can be found on the SSHRC Impact Awards website. [2] Deadlines are anticipated. Information will be updated upon program launch. 

Eligibility

A nominee must:

• be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada at the time of nomination;
• be an active social sciences and humanities researcher or student;
• hold or have held SSHRC funding pertinent to the award category;
• be in good standing with SSHRC; and
• maintain affiliation with the institution for the duration of the award if successful.

Nominees:

• cannot nominate themselves;
• can be nominated in two sequential years for the same award, following which two years must pass before they can next be nominated in the same category;
• can be nominated in only one category in any year; and
• can be nominated in a subsequent year for a different SSHRC Impact Award.

Current members of SSHRC’s governing council, previous Gold Medal winners, as well as Impact Awards jury members, are not eligible to be nominated.

Prize

Award funds are to be used for activities that promote and extend the work being honoured. In recognition of the crucial role that postsecondary institutions play as researchers’ knowledge mobilization partners, at least 10 per cent of each award must be used to promote the recipient’s research achievements. Individual recipients and their institutions may choose to devote additional funds, including a higher percentage of the award funds, to these activities.​

• Gold Medal ($100,000);
• Talent Award ($50,000);
• Insight Award ($50,000);
• Connection Award ($50,000); and
• Partnership Award ($50,000).

How to Apply

The Vice-President (Research) encourages nominations for these prestigious awards, and will serve as nominator for those recommended by the Honours and Awards Advisory Committee. 

If you wish to be considered for VPR nomination, please submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to research.honours@uoguelph.ca [3] by the internal deadline. 

An Expression of Interest will include:

• A draft letter (two-three pages) addressed to the VPR which outlines how you/your nominee meets the criteria outlined on the SSHRC Impact Award  [4]website;
• An up-to-date CV (up to 10 pages) for nominee (and each member of the team, if applicable); and
• A short letter or email from the Associate Dean (Research) or College Research Manager indicating the College's support for the nomination.

For more information, please email research.honours@uoguelph.ca [3] or the SSHRC Impact Awards website [2].