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Message from the Associate Vice-President, Research Programs, SSHRC

These last weeks have been a time of unprecedented disruption as we all work to address the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in our professional and personal lives. SSHRC remains committed to serving the social sciences and humanities research community during these exceptional times. We are working to limit the impact of the pandemic on SSHRC funding opportunities and we’d like to give you an update on some of the steps we are taking. 

Our priority is to maintain our core programs. We do not want to cancel competitions and plan to continue with the current funding opportunities’ schedule to the greatest extent possible. We also intend to ensure that support for young and emerging researchers continues to be available. Under the Insight Development Grants, for example, approximately 65% of submissions to the 2020 competition came from first time applicants. We are working to ensure that the adjudication of their applications can proceed, although the usual peer review process will need to be adjusted. 

Like many of you, SSHRC employees are working remotely from their homes. We also recognize that volunteer peer reviewers―who are a key part of the adjudication process―are also teleworking and managing the impacts of pandemic measures where they live. This presents unique challenges for peer review committees that typically meet in-person or by videoconference, supported by the SSHRC IT systems at our offices. 

As we try to deliver programs remotely, we will be implementing temporary changes to peer review adjudication. These changes include reduced feedback for applicants, who will only receive scores on the three merit criteria: Challenge, Feasibility and Capability. No narrative comments will be provided. In addition, committee meetings will be held via teleconference. These changes will be implemented for the following current and upcoming funding opportunities:

• Insight Development Grants;
• Partnership Engage Grants;
• Partnership Grants – Stage 1; and
• The upcoming Connection Grants.

While we know that this will come as disappointing news, we trust you understand that this is a compromise that allows delivery of the adjudication processes in a timely manner, without the risk of postponing or cancelling any of these funding opportunities.  

Thank you for your support and patience as we continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 on our programs. Additional updates about SSHRC programs can be .

Sincerely,

Tim Wilson, PhD
Associate vice-president, Research Programs