SSHRC Impact Awards

The Governor General presented the 2017 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Impact Awards during a ceremony at Rideau Hall.

"Having spent much of my career in post-secondary education, I’m well aware of the impact of the kind of work you do. You help us to understand and improve the human condition, and I’ve been very fortunate to meet with and learn from some truly outstanding researchers in my time as governor general," said His Excellency.

The ceremony also showcased last June’s top five winners of the SSHRC’s annual Storytellers competition. The first storyteller to present was Tammara Soma who gave a talk entitled "Closing the Loop: Food Waste and Consumption in Indonesia."

Claire Battershill received the Talent Award. Ms. Battershill is an innovator in research on the theory and practice of book publishing since the early 20th century.

Nadia Naffi, winner of the SSHRC’s annual Storytellers competition, gave a talk entitled "How Canadian Youth Construe Their Role in the Integration and Inclusion of Syrian Refugees."

Lori Beaman received the Insight Award. Ms. Beaman is a professor in the Classics and Religious Studies department at the University of Ottawa, and holds the Canada Research Chair on Religious Diversity and Social Change. A leading expert on religion, law and society, she is internationally recognized for her innovative research on how to achieve a fair and just society amid increasing diversity.

Karen Bakker (2nd from left) received the Connection Award. She accepted her award with members of her research team. Ms. Bakker leads an interdisciplinary team of academic researchers and community-based organizations participating in the Sustainable Water Governance and Indigenous Law project.

Carol Kauppi received the Partnership Award. Ms. Kauppi is the lead researcher on the SSHRC-funded Community-Based Responses to Poverty, Homelessness and Migration in Northern Communities project. Her research focuses on the three main cultural groups in northern Ontario: Indigenous, Francophone and Anglophone.

Katherine Lippel was the winner of SSHRC’s Gold Medal. Her research has significantly advanced knowledge about the effectiveness of occupational health and safety regulation. Her interdisciplinary work has examined not only the classical legal application of legislation designed to prevent occupational injuries and compensate for work-related disabilities, but also the therapeutic and anti-therapeutic consequences regulatory frameworks have on workers.