From:  Leah Cowen, Associate Vice-President, Research
Date: May 14, 2021
Re: Call for Nominations – SSHRC Impact Awards 2022 (PDAD&C #72)

I am pleased to invite internal nominations for the 2022 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Impact Awards, which recognize outstanding researchers and celebrate their research achievements, research training, knowledge mobilization, and outreach activities funded partially or entirely by SSHRC.

In an effort to better support our faculty in this competition, as of this year we will begin selecting the University’s nominees for four of the five SSHRC Impact Awards each summer, ahead of SSHRC’s official call for nominations. I encourage you to share this information widely and consider preparing nominations of eligible candidates, taking into account principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in your identification of nominees.

Internal nominations are now open for the following four awards for faculty researchers:

Gold Medal for sustained leadership, dedication and originality of thought ($100,000);

Insight Award for outstanding achievement arising from a research project funded partially or completely by SSHRC ($50,000);

Connection Award for an outstanding SSHRC-funded initiative to facilitate the flow and exchange of research knowledge within and/or beyond the academic community ($50,000);

Partnership Award recognizing a SSHRC-funded formal partnership for its outstanding achievement in advancing research, research training, or knowledge mobilization ($50,000).

The University’s nominee for the Talent Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual holding a SSHRC doctoral or postdoctoral fellowship or scholarship, will be selected in early 2022. A separate call for nominations will follow for the Talent Award later this year.

Nomination Process

The University of Toronto may submit one nomination to each award competition per year.As such, I will establish an advisory committee of representatives from across the social sciences and humanities to review nominations and select the University’s nominees for 2022, adhering to standards of rigor, fairness, respect and equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the process.

To submit a candidate for consideration by the University of Toronto internal committee, please complete the following steps:

1. Consult with the candidate’s divisional/faculty awards coordinator or officer to identify any internal deadlines and review processes specific to their academic division or department.
2. Submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) by June 2, 2021.
3. Submit the two-page internal nomination form for the relevant award, available via each award information page linked above, and the candidate’s CV to vpri.awards@utoronto.ca by 12:00 noon on June 11, 2021.

One candidate will be selected for each award. My team will work with divisional offices to facilitate the development of full nominations and ensure their submission to SSHRC in spring 2022.

Candidates whose 2021 Impact Award nominations are currently under consideration by SSHRC, but who are eligible for renomination if unsuccessful, may be renominated internally. Should they be selected as the University’s nominee, but then announced the winner of a 2021 Impact Award, the next-ranked candidate will be selected as the University’s nominee for 2022.

For further information, please contact your divisional/faculty awards coordinator or officer.