Sustainability issues are often misunderstood as solely involving ecological and environmental concerns, with solutions rooted exclusively in the hard sciences. The SSH Ideas fund aims to challenge that perception by providing seed funding to researchers exploring bold projects and novel ideas drawn from the social sciences and humanities to shed light on sustainability's cultural, social, and economic aspects. This year’s awardees are working on sustainability-related challenges worldwide- from building community-based food production systems in Lebanon, studying the impacts of energy poverty in Nova Scotia, and building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities outside of Montreal to protect biodiversity. Congratulations to the awardees!
Urban Sustainability in the Wake of Disasters: Community-based Food Production in Beirut. Led by Dr. Diana Keown Allan and Cyntia Kraichati.
This project supports the development of an urban garden in Beirut where financial crisis, and ecological and infrastructural collapse have led to deepening food insecurity. It underscores the relevance of alternative food production systems for building resilient urban communities and demonstrates the significance of sustainable transitions in cities where poverty and hunger threaten human development.
Quantifying and characterizing energy poverty: a community-based survey. Led by Dr. Mylene Riva.
This project will conduct a community-wide survey in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, with the goal to provide an in-depth quantification and characterization of residential energy poverty and of its impacts on the well-being of households. Evidence will contribute to research and policies at the intersection of housing, public health, sustainability, and climate change.
Knowledge co-creation for inclusive decision-making to protect the Chateauguay watershed. Led by Dr. Colin Scott.
This project will develop a knowledge co-creation alliance between Indigenous (Kanien’kehá:ka) and non-Indigenous communities, organizations and researchers in the Chateauguay watershed. The goal is enhanced stewardship of the biocultural diversity of the watershed as a ‘territory of life’ – involving deep cultural and historical connections between the territory and custodian communities, and decision-making through governance arrangements that contribute both to conserving nature and to community well-being. Chateauguay Valley allies will also compare experience with like-minded groups in the global networks of the research team.
Congratulations to our 2022 SSH Ideas Fund awardees. Thank you to all those who applied to this year’s SSH Ideas call for applications. Look out for future funding opportunities for sustainability related research with the MSSI!
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