Federation news
2026: An inflection point for the HSS
Next month, the Federation will take an important step forward with the public release of its new Strategic Plan: Inflection Point, setting the direction for our work from 2026 to 2030.
Launching mid-March, the strategy responds to sustained pressures across Canada’s postsecondary and social landscape, while affirming the central role of the humanities and social sciences (HSS) in making sense of complexity and informing public life. It outlines how the Federation will embolden its national leadership, support capacity across HSS scholars and leaders, and evolve how we convene and collaborate.
We look forward to engaging the community around the plan’s priorities and directions.
Nominations close today for the Federation’s Board
The Federation launched an open Call for Nominations for four (4) Board of Directors positions. The Board election will take place during the 2026 annual Meeting in June. Submit your nomination before midnight today, February 27, 2026.
Big Thinking Podcast: Nourishing Black scholarship, nurturing collective joy
Against the backdrop of Black History Month’s 2026 theme, “30 years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations – From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries," Andrew B. Campbell, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, joins Karine Morin to bring joy and vision to this month’s Big Thinking Podcast. Join them as they illuminate Black leadership from the past to the future, the power of building scholarly spaces that are expansive rather than extractive, and what becomes possible when we show up not just as participants, but as allies and co-conspirators in sustaining this transformative work. Listen now.
It’s Time for the Humanities and Social Sciences to Carry Hope into Public Life
Hope doesn't happen on its own. It’s built through shared effort and clear direction. In her recent Illuminating Hope essay for Academica Group, Federation’s President and CEO Karine Morin reflects on what the HSS make possible amid real pressure on postsecondary education and what that asks of us now. Read the essay.
How the HSS promote secure employment and talent development
The HSS shape Canada’s talent pipeline. More than half of all postsecondary students study in HSS programs, forming the country’s largest and most diverse source of skilled workers. These graduates drive innovation, community wellbeing, and economic growth across every sector. Explore the second brief of our Think forward series.
Webinar: From Peer Review to the Public: Re-imagining Academic Freedom and Advocacy
Co-presented by the Samara Centre for Democracy and the Federation, this free webinar on March 5 from 12:00 to 13:00 ET is a timely conversation about how the HSS shape our understanding of civic life, power and participation in a period of democratic backsliding. Dr. Debra Thompson, Dr. Beatrice Wayne, Dr. Eve Haque, and Sabreena Delhon will explore how the political climate in the U.S. is influencing research and pro-democracy advocacy in Canada’s scholarly community. Don't miss it. Register now.
Annual Canadian Consortium for Research breakfast
This month, the Federation hosted the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) annual breakfast with funders, bringing together representatives from member organizations to reflect on the conditions shaping research in Canada in 2026, including how best to support talent and sustain research across disciplines. Learn more about the CCR.
AI task force reports
The Federal AI task force, as part of its consultation process last fall, directly engaged with a group of HSS experts convened by the Federation. Following the consultation period, reports from task force members were released, along with the government’s “What We Heard” summary produced using AI, which received mixed reactions. It also contained minimal representation of HSS perspectives. The experts convened by the Federation have been informed of these concerns, and the Federation continues to monitor the release of the national AI strategy.
Big Thinking Summit news
Explore the Summit program-at-a-glance
Across three days of concentrated programming, the Summit brings together roundtables, research presentations, keynotes, and leading-with-evidence sessions that engage interdisciplinary partnership, teaching and learning, and the challenge of disinformation. You’ll encounter perspectives from across the HSS, grounded in public life and community experience, including scholars, journalists, policy practitioners, and cultural and community leaders. Preview the program.
Federation's 30th Anniversary Gala: At the Inflection Point
Join us in marking a significant moment for the HSS at the Federation’s 30th Anniversary Gala: At the Inflection Point. This gathering offers an opportunity to reflect on the Federation’s journey and look ahead to the decades to come, alongside the announcement of this year’s Canada Prizes winners! Add the Gala to your Summit ticket.
Three-day pass early bird rates end March 9
With access to the full Summit experience - including all sessions, programming, and events - the three-day pass offers the most comprehensive way to take part. Early bird pricing is available for a limited time. Take part.
HSS News
Proposed updates to the Tri-Agency's Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Framework – The panel on Responsible Conduct of Research (PRCR) is seeking written feedback on proposed updates to the 3rd edition of the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research. Learn more and submit your comments before April 17, 2026.
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s insight on trade – Social sciences and humanities research plays an important role in how Canada shapes and strengthens its trade relationships across the country and around the world. This research creates new insights and has informed policy and trade negotiations for a wide range of trade-related topics, including the Canada-U.S. trade relationship, internal trade, trade diversification and trade infrastructure. Read more.
UCalgary to lead national research partnership with historic grant – The University of Calgary will lead a national effort to strengthen Canada’s economic productivity and enhance the country’s long-term resilience and prosperity through a 15-year investment from the Government of Canada. Read more.
The Falling Walls Global call for science breakthroughs 2026 is now open – The Falling Walls Science Summit is seeking internationally recognized, established academics and leaders in the study of the institutions and functioning of human society and of the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society (e.g. politics, economics, philosophy), whose groundbreaking work contributes towards solving the world’s biggest challenges. Read more.
Statistics Canada shares 2025 results of Survey of approaches to educational planning – Statistics Canada has released the 2025 results of its survey of approaches to educational planning, which examines how parents and guardians financially prepare for their children’s postsecondary education. Learn more.
Letter of intent process now open for the Dimensions Canada recognition program – Dimensions Canada announced that the Letter of Intent (LOI) process for the Dimensions Canada recognition program is now open to Canadian post-secondary institutions. Read more.
World events put academics and journalists under pressure – At a time when news is always breaking and disinformation is on the rise, the “Quand l’international fait la une” (When world events dominate the headlines) conference hosted by the Centre d’études et de recherches internationales de l’Université de Montréal explores the precarious relationship between academia and the media. Read more.
Social studies as ‘neutral’? That’s a myth, and pressures teachers to avoid contentious issues – Social studies curricula today are concerned with themes like residential schools and racism. Beyond following explicit pre-set curricula, student-centred education calls for teachers to attend to students’ experiences in the social world. Read more.
Mila aims to make chatbots safer – Over the past few years, chatbot use has taken hold in countless contexts, helping people to write prose and to find information. But their increased presence in situations relating to mental health has raised safety concerns that the Montreal-based AI institute Mila is now trying to tackle. Read more.