From: Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives
Date: April 22, 2022
Re: Call for Nominations — SSHRC Impact Awards 2023

I am pleased to invite internal nominations for the 2023 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Impact Awards for faculty, which recognize outstanding researchers and celebrate their research achievements, research training, knowledge mobilization, and outreach activities funded partially or entirely by SSHRC. 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:

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).

Internal nominations for the Talent Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual holding a SSHRC doctoral or postdoctoral fellowship or scholarship, will be invited in early 2023.

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 2023, 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 by May 25, 2022.
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 8, 2022.

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 2023.

Candidates whose 2022 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 2022 Impact Award, the next-ranked candidate will be selected as the University’s nominee for 2023.

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