CSPC 2018

Organized by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Chantal Barton

A dynamic multi-sectoral panel organized by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) that illustrates innovative approaches to inform evidence-based decision-making in policy development. Two successfully implemented models of collaboration between researchers and graduate students and other federal departments/agencies will be showcased. These models are set in the context of SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future initiative, which positions the social sciences and humanities as essential to addressing complex societal challenges facing Canadians, to the greater benefit of Canada and the world.

The first model features the International Policy Ideas Challenge (IPIC) - a special initiative developed in partnership between SSHRC and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), which taps into the talent base in post-secondary institutions across Canada, with graduate students and emerging scholars poised to inform policy development on key priority areas identified by GAC. In 2017, IPIC included key themes such as promoting democracy in a digital age; implications of climate change for Canadian trade and investment; and identifying best ways for Canada to support fragile and conflict-affected states.  Speakers will include Ioanna Sahas Martin, Director, International Assistance Research and Knowledge, GAC and Maïka Sondarjee, a SSHRC doctoral candidate, University of Toronto, and 2017 IPIC winner for her policy brief on the topic of, “Inclusive Gender-Based Analysis (GBA)+ in public participation processes”.

The second model will be illustrated by the work of Dr. Bipasha Baruah, Canada Research Chair in Global Women’s Issues, Western University and Ian Clark, Acting Chief, Economic Research, Science Integration and Outreach, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).  Following a knowledge synthesis report produced by Dr. Baruah, as part of SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future initiative, NRCan commissioned Dr. Baruah to produce a dedicated report on “Women in Natural Resources Sectors”, which examines current participation rates of women in natural resources industries and formulates recommendations for governments and industry to increase recruitment, retention and advancement of women in the sector.
Both models foster effective collaboration between the academic and public sectors, and  will provide a good foundation on which to engage the audience in a discussion about these and other new ways of informing policy through scientific knowledge.