Government of Canada Invests in Research by Top Canadian Scholars to Build Knowledge on Economic, Social and Cultural Issues

CAMBRIDGE BAY, NUNAVUT--(Marketwire - Aug. 5, 2011) - The Honourable Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance), today visited Cambridge Bay and highlighted a Government of Canada investment in research being supervised by Dr. Gita Ljubicic (née Laidler) of Carleton University. Dr. Ljubicic's research will generate greater insight into economic, social and cultural issues specific to Inuit-caribou relationships and will explore connections between land and the Inuit in the Arctic.

"Our government is investing in research to improve the quality of life of Canadians and to keep our economy growing," said Minister of State Menzies. "With this investment, we are supporting partnerships that will advance research and knowledge particular to Inuit social and cultural issues."

On July 28, 2011, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced a federal investment of $121 million to support over 1,700 research projects being undertaken by individual researchers, by small teams or through partnerships. Minister of State Goodyear also announced the results of the research grant competitions offered through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's (SSHRC) Insight and Connection programs. The research projects address a range of topics, such as digital media and innovation, the economy, education, immigration, the environment, food security and youth. All of these topics are directly linked to improving Canadians' prosperity, productivity and quality of life.

Carleton University will receive $5.5 million for more than 100 research projects. Of these projects, Dr. Ljubicic's research, "Connecting Inuit Elders and Youth: Learning about caribou, community, and well-being," will explore the value of elder-youth land camps as a means of fostering intergenerational knowledge transfer and conceptualizing Inuit research. The aims of the project, which will be conducted with the help of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, are to investigate cross-cultural applications of indigenous research, Inuit identity and human-animal relations as well as to understand how community-driven research and education can foster community health and prosperity.

"Social sciences and humanities research is about people—who we are as human beings, what we do, and why. By deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world around us and by sharing that knowledge with government, businesses and communities across the country, researchers continue to make significant contributions to Canada's prosperity and our quality of life," said SSHRC President Chad Gaffield. "Through these investments, we ensure that Canada's best scholars receive the support they need for their research and that they share their knowledge with those who can put it to use across society."

SSHRC is the federal agency that promotes and supports university-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. Through its three funding programs—Talent, Insight and Connection—SSHRC enables the highest levels of research excellence in Canada and facilitates knowledge-sharing and collaboration across research disciplines, universities and all sectors of society.

See the SSHRC website for all Insight and Connection competition results (http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/results-resultats/recipients-recipiendaires/index-eng.aspx).