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Ottawa, Canada, June 29, 2009 ─ Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Orléans, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced today an $8 million collaborative initiative funded as part of the International Community-University Research Alliance (ICURA) program. As a result of this joint funding initiative of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), community organizations and universities in Canada are teaming up with similar alliances in the developing world to undertake research on global issues. Four research teams will be carrying out research projects on coastal adaptation to climate change, the impact of poverty on the environment, services for at-risk youth, and mental health.

“Our government recognizes the importance of involving the community — nationally and abroad — directly in research results, through partnerships like the ICURA program,” said MP Galipeau. “Social sciences and humanities research plays a valuable role in advancing innovation and competitiveness, fostering job creation, and building a diversified, resilient economy over the long term. That’s why Canada’s Economic Action Plan includes a $5.1-billion investment in science and technology initiatives.”

ICURA brings together university-based experts from Canada and developing countries to work with community members who will directly benefit from the research and training. The research teams will address issues of shared importance for Canada and the developing world.

“IDRC is pleased to bring an international dimension to SSHRC’s successful model of support for community-university research alliances in Canada,” said David Malone, President of IDRC. “ICURA provides an important mechanism through which academics and local advocates can work together to improve the quality of life in communities in Canada and the developing world.”

“This initiative illustrates superbly how social sciences and humanities research can have a direct impact on societies through community-university partnerships,” said Chad Gaffield, President of SSHRC. “The ICURA program is funding leading-edge international research collaborations that will bring global perspectives to the analysis and understanding of social, economic, environmental and technological issues.”

The four successful projects, selected from over 100 applications through a rigorous peer-review process, are as follows:

Managing Adaptation to Coastal Environmental Change: Canada and the Caribbean

Dan Lane
Telfer School of Management
University of Ottawa
Canada

Patrick Watson
Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies
University of the West Indies
Trinidad and Tobago

Protected Areas and Poverty Reduction: A Canada-Africa Research and Learning Alliance

Grant Murray
Department of Recreation and Tourism Management
Vancouver Island University
Canada

Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah
Sunyani Polytechnic
Ghana

Pathways to Resilience: Formal Services and Informal Support Use Patterns among Youth in Challenging Social Ecologies

Michael Ungar
Maritime School of Social Work
Dalhousie University
Canada

Guoxiu Tian
College of Politics and Law
Capital Normal University
China

Petra Engelbrecht
Faculty of Education Sciences
North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus
South Africa

Luis F. Duque
Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública
Universidad de Antioquia
Colombia

Santé mentale-Citoyenneté

Lourdes Rodriguez
École de service social
Université de Montréal
Canada

Rosana Onocko Campos
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Brazil

For more details on each of the projects, consult: www.idrc.ca/icura

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About IDRC
Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is one of the world’s leading institutions in the generation and application of new knowledge to meet the challenges of international development. For more than 40 years, IDRC has worked in close collaboration with researchers from the developing world to build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.

About SSHRC
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is the federal agency that promotes and supports university-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. Through its programs and policies, 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.

For more information:

Angela Pereira
Media Advisor, IDRC
Tel.: 613-696-2171
Email: apereira@idrc.ca

Trevor Lynn
Manager, Communications, SSHRC
Tel.: 613-992-7302
Email: trevor.lynn@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
 
Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
Tel.: 613-943-7599
Email: Gary.Toft@ic.gc.ca

2009-06-29

News 31 of 76