Funding
The Federation offers two funding programs designed to support the participation of attendees and speakers at the Big Thinking Summit.
Context
The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences supports the participation and recognition of emerging scholars as part of its commitment to strengthening research mobilization in Canada through the Big Thinking Summit Graduate Mobilization Awards (“the Awards”).
Deadline: June 11, 2026
Purpose
The Awards aim to:
- Recognize graduate students whose participation contributes to knowledge mobilization and engagement at the Big Thinking Summit: Inflection Point (“the Summit”); and
- Reduce financial barriers that limit emerging scholars’ participation in Summit activities.
Description
The Awards recognize graduate students who actively contribute to the sharing and mobilization of knowledge at the Summit. The Awards promote equitable participation for graduate students in Canada, regardless of scholarly association membership, across disciplines, institutions, and regions.
Each Graduate Mobilization Award is worth $750 CAD.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current graduate student (Master’s or PhD) enrolled at a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution at the time of application or event;
- Provide proof of enrolment; and
- Register for, attend, and participate in the Summit.
Graduate students may participate either by presenting at the Summit or by demonstrating how their attendance will support the mobilization of their research through a short personal statement (200–250 words).
Graduate students who are confirmed Summit presenters will be prioritized for funding.
The Federation encourages applications from individuals from equity-deserving communities as part of its commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID). Self‑identification is voluntary and used solely to support equitable program delivery.
Process
Applications are submitted directly to the Federation through the designated online platform. Complete applications must include:
- Applicant’s contact and institutional information;
- Proof of current enrollment at a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution (e.g., unofficial transcript, enrollment letter, tuition/registration confirmation, or student portal screenshot showing active status).
Applicants must also provide one of the following:
- Presenters: Proof of accepted participation in the Summit program.
- For non-presenters: A 200 - 250-word personal statement describing how participation in the Summit will support the mobilization of their research.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring all information they provide is accurate and complete.
Applications are reviewed by the Federation in accordance with established eligibility criteria. Presenter applications will be prioritized and approved on a rolling basis. Any remaining funds will be distributed among other eligible applications by lottery.
Award Notification
Funding decisions will be communicated by email and include:
- Confirmation of award status; and
- Instructions and deadline regarding any additional documentation required for fund disbursement.
Funding decisions for presenters may be sent on a rolling basis; funding decisions for non-presenters will be sent after the application deadline.
Decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Recipients may be asked to provide consent for the promotion of their award through Federation communications channels.
Reimbursement and Documentation
The prize amount will be disbursed after the Summit upon confirmation of attendance and receipt of requested documents.
Recipients must submit complete banking information for direct disbursement of the award. Recipients may also be required to provide their Social Insurance Number (SIN) for tax reporting purposes where applicable. A T4 will be issued in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency requirements.
Administration
The Federation reserves the right to modify program guidelines, timelines, or eligibility requirements to ensure equitable and effective program delivery.
Questions regarding the fund or application process may be directed to membership@federationhss.ca.
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Context
The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences provides the Big Thinking Summit 2026 Accessibility Fund as part of its commitment to fostering an equitable, accessible, and inclusive research mobilization environment.
Deadline: June 11, 2026
Purpose
The Fund aims to ensure that participation requirements do not limit who can participate and contribute to the Big Thinking Summit: Inflection Point 2026 (“the Summit”).
Description
The Fund provides targeted financial support for individuals who have accessibility-related needs arising from participation at the Summit. For the purposes of this Fund, an accessibility need refers to a support or accommodation required to address and enable full participation in an activity or event.
Funding requests can range from $250 to $1,000 CAD, depending on the type and cost of the support required.
Eligible supports may include, but are not limited to:
- Communication supports: sign language interpretation, real-time captioning or transcription, note-taking, and assistive communication technologies;
- Personal and caregiving supports: childcare, elder care, or other dependent care costs incurred to attend or prepare for the event, including personal support workers or disability-related assistance;
- Mobility and physical access supports: accessible transportation, mobility aid rentals, and accessibility equipment;
- Technology supports: adaptive hardware or software, accessibility tools for virtual participation, and temporary access to required devices; and
- Other accessibility-related supports required to enable equitable participation in the Summit and aligned with the purpose of the Fund.
Supports provided through this Fund are intended to complement, not duplicate, accessibility features or services already available at the venue.
If an attendee’s accessibility needs fall outside the scope of this Fund, they are encouraged to contact us directly at membership@federationhss.ca.
Note: Registration fees for support persons or companions' is complimentary. Email events@federationhss.ca to confirm whether registration of support persons or companions is required for a specific event at the Summit.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Register for, attend, and participate in Summit activities such as presenting, facilitating, leading a discussion, or joining sessions.
- Identify an accessibility barrier to participation at the Summit; and
- Submit an application describing the support needed to address that barrier (including estimated costs if available).
The Federation encourages applications from individuals from equity-deserving communities as part of its commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID). Self‑identification is voluntary and used solely to support equitable program delivery.
Process
Applications are submitted directly to the Federation through the designated online platform. Complete applications must include:
- Applicant contact information;
- A description of the accessibility-related need; and
- Estimated costs associated with the requested support or accommodation (if available).
Applicants are responsible for ensuring all information they provide is accurate and complete.
Applicants who require additional time at any stage of the process due to accessibility-related circumstances may request an extension by contacting membership@federationhss.ca.
Applications are reviewed by the Federation in accordance with established eligibility criteria. Where eligible applications exceed the available funding, allocations will be determined through random selection to ensure fairness and equity.
Funding notification
Funding decisions will be communicated by email prior to the Summit and will include:
- Confirmation of funding status;
- Requests for any additional documentation required for reimbursement (e.g., receipts); and
- Instructions and deadlines for fund reimbursement.
Decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Applicants who receive an extension will be notified promptly after submitting their completed application.
Reimbursement and documentation
Funding will be disbursed after the Summit upon confirmation of attendance and receipt of requested documents. Recipients must submit complete banking information for direct disbursement of the funds.
Administration
The Federation reserves the right to modify program guidelines, timelines, or eligibility requirements to ensure equitable and effective program delivery.
Questions regarding the fund or application process may be directed to: membership@federationhss.ca.