Federations news
Putting HSS expertise at the table on AI transparency
On July 23, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) announced a new consultation on AI transparency in Canada. Over the coming weeks, the Federation will invite humanities and social sciences’ AI specialists to share their insights and perspectives to inform our submission. You can review ISED’s announcement and submission questions to have your say on advancing AI transparency in Canada.
Know an outstanding innovator? Nominate them for the 2027 GGIAs
The Federation is invited to nominate outstanding candidates from our community for the Governor General’s Innovation Awards (GGIAs). In line with our commitment to EDID, we encourage associations and institutions to recommend candidates from underrepresented groups, including women, visible minorities/racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and individuals from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Learn more and nominate a candidate by September 29, 2026.
Apply for $30,000 in scholarly book translation funding
Planning to publish a scholarly book in translation? The Scholarly Book Awards Translation Grant offers $30,000 to help cover the costs of English or French translation, with a dedicated grant available for Indigenous languages. Don’t miss this opportunity! Publishers and authors working with publishers can apply now before November 2. Learn more and apply.
As summer wanes, ignite your mind with some Big Thinking
Ease into a new season by tuning into hit summer episodes of the Big Thinking Podcast. Catch up on conversations that bring fresh perspectives to today’s hot topics, and give yourself something thought-provoking to turn over as fall approaches.
- More than a game: Finding belonging through soccer
- Turning research into action on student homelessness
- Finding joy in a world in crises (episode in French)
- Minority, not marginal: The strength of French-language research (episode in French)
Congress and Big Thinking Summit news
Save the date(s): Congress 2027
Congress 2027 will take place in person at Simon Fraser University from July 5 to 9, and online from May 18 to 21. Stay tuned as we’ll soon be announcing this year’s theme! Stay in the know by signing up for Congress news.
Rapporteurs share their findings from the Big Thinking Summit
During the 2026 Big Thinking Summit, five rapporteurs covered key themes and dialogues across the event from EDID and Indigenous research and treaty relationships to communities of practice. Review their reports.
HSS news
Seeking input on the progress of NSERC and SSHRC’s joint accessibility plan - The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) invite you to share your feedback on the steps they have taken to remove accessibility barriers since January 2026. Learn more.
Government of Canada announces support for the Université de l’Ontario français - A strong Canada is one where everyone can learn, stay informed and innovate in the official language of their choice. By supporting the next generation of Francophone scientists, we are helping promote Canadian innovation and knowledge, both at home and abroad. On August 20, Chi Nguyen, Member of Parliament (Spadina–Harbourfront), announced $99,980 in funding for the Université de l’Ontario français, on behalf of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. Learn more.
Canada partners with Falling Walls Science Summit 2026 - The Falling Walls Science Summit 2026 will feature Canada as its partner country for 2026, highlighting the country’s leadership in science, research, innovation and technology. A high-level delegation, to be led by senior Canadian officials, will participate at this year’s Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin. The delegation will include university presidents, leaders of research funding agencies and other senior representatives from Canada’s science, research and innovation ecosystem. Read more.
The Jason Arday story was never going to be just about him. That’s a shame - In the curious case of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, we need to separate the facts from the conjecture. But Mr. Arday’s story was never going to be just about one academic. Scrutiny has devolved into speculative spectacle as the case becomes the property of the culture wars. Read more.
Reading democracy: a Quebec initiative to recreate citizen dialogue - In a context marked by polarization, disinformation and growing distrust of institutions, the Research Chair on Democracy, Living Together and Common Values in Quebec, led by Professor Mireille Lalancette of the Université du Quebec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) and Professor Éric Bélanger of McGill University, announces the launch of Lire la démocratie, a reading club open to the public and which aims to recreate spaces for citizen discussion in Quebec. Read more (in French only).
How is AI shaping social and behavioural science research? – Sage is surveying researchers to understand where and how AI is changing research practices, and where it is not. Researchers at all levels of AI use are invited to complete the short survey.
Level Up Learning - Video games are much more than simple entertainment; they can be seen as bona fide works of contemporary literature — especially in French-language classes. That is the thesis of Amélie Vallières, a PhD candidate in education and lecturer in Université du Québec à Montréal’s Department of Language Didactics and School of Media. Read more.
Why the real test of Canada’s AI strategy is in university classrooms - Back to school this fall brings not only syllabi and lectures, but growing uncertainty about how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping Canadian classrooms. That uncertainty is part of a larger shift. Canada’s new AI strategy calls for broader AI literacy, stronger public trust and responsible AI adoption, including AI learning for post-secondary students. Read more.
Toronto students who live in residence get better grades, study finds - Only seven to nine per cent of Toronto university students live in residence. A new study suggests that scarcity carries an academic cost. Toronto’s rental market is unforgiving for everyone. But for students, it exacts a cost that has gone largely unmeasured in housing-affordability debates: academic performance. Read more.