(October
2, 2012 " Thunder Bay, ON)
Innovative
research initiatives have earned Lakehead faculty and students more than $1.5
million over five years in Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of
Canada (SSHRC) funding.
Lakehead
researchers from various fields such as anthropology, natural resources
management, history and psychology are spearheading projects that touch on key
aspects of the human experience.
"The
new SSHRC funding recognizes the excellence of research and scholarly works conducted
at Lakehead as well as their societal and economic impact. We are
so grateful to SSHRC for this grant support, and congratulate our researchers
and students for their achievement in the competition," says Dr. Rui Wang,
Vice-President (Research, Economic Development & Innovation).
In
addition to SSHRC multi-year Insight and Insight Development Grants, Lakehead's
researchers have received Public Outreach Dissemination Grants, Conference and
Scholarly Journal Grants, a Partnership Grant and graduate student funding.
"These
grants are giving our researchers the resources to answer questions about our
past and to address the shifting needs of contemporary society," says Provost
and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Rod Hanley. "SSHRC's emphasis on improving
the lives of Canadians through research aligns well with Lakehead's approach to
education."
Here are some examples of the newly-funded Lakehead University research
projects:
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Dr.
Tamara Varney, an anthropologist, is using state-of-the-art synchrotron-based
technology to determine lead concentrations in the skeletal remains of British
Royal Navy sailors and other inhabitants of Antigua in the colonial era. Her
research will reveal how social class affected exposure to this widely-used toxic
metal.
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Dr.
Ed Rawana, a clinical psychologist, is turning his attention to the present as
he implements strategies to prevent bullying and to encourage academic
achievement in elementary and high school students.
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New
SSHRC grant holder Dr. Paul Carr, an Interdisciplinary Studies professor at
Lakehead Orillia, received one of the largest awards to explore the
interconnections between political literacy, education, and robust democratic
societies.
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Another
of the 2012 SSHRC grants was awarded to Dr. Judy Iseke, Canada Research Chair
in Indigenous Education, for her research project Indigenous Knowledge and Music in Indigenous Language: Storytelling in
Education.
View the complete list of Lakehead University 2012 SSHRC grant projects on the backgrounder below.
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For more information, please contact Brandon Walker, Media
Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca
Lakehead Social Sciences and Humanities Grants Backgrounder
2012
HIGHLIGHTED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Dr.
Tamara Varney, (Anthropology)
Identifying
the social determinants of lead poisoning in colonial-era Antigua through the
use of synchrotron-based techniques
Anthropologist Dr. Tamara Varney has collected bone
samples from historic cemeteries facing imminent destruction from inclement
weather or modern development on the West Indies island of Antigua. Her research seeks to discover just how
prevalent lead poisoning was in the 19th century, to scientifically
determine if an individual's social class influenced their level of lead
exposure.
To make this determination, Dr. Varney is analyzing
bone samples from individuals of European and African ancestry taken from a
Royal Naval Hospital cemetery and a small plantation slave cemetery, using
Canada's only synchrotron facility, the Canadian Light Source.
This high tech particle
accelerator uses intense light and electro-magnets to yield detailed
microscopic and elemental information. Dr. Varney's research is the first in
Canada to address a social historical question using this natural sciences
technology. Dr. Varney received a $62,950 Insight
Development Grant
(see below for more information).
Dr.
Ed Rawana (Psychology)
Cultivating
a Strengths Approach in Education: A Strengths-In-Motion Training Program for
School Administrators
Dr. Ed
Rawana's research focuses on studying the psychological strengths and high-risk
behaviours in children and adolescents. A Clinical Psychologist and Research
Director with the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with
Special Needs, Dr. Rawana is examining the strengths perspective, which incorporates
the idea that everyone has strengths.
Dr. Rawana and his team will be
hosting a two-day workshop open to 60 registrants consisting of Directors of
Education, Superintendents, Principals, and other educators to introduce them
to the principles, tools and resources needed for introducing a school-wide
strengths based approach to improve academic achievement and decrease bullying.
Dr. Rawana received a $49,584 Public Outreach Dissemination Grant (see below for more information).
Lindsey
Wachter (Kinesiology student)
Perfectionist
Youth Hockey Players' Perceptions of Their Parents' Involvement in Sport
This study aims to advance literature in
the area of parental involvement in sport by gaining a better understanding of
how an athlete's personality can influence his or her perception of desirable
and undesirable parental behaviours. How perfectionism may influence these
perceptions will be studied and compared to previous research that didn't
consider the impact personality might have.
Athletes will be
recruited from elite youth teams in Northwestern Ontario and asked to complete
a measure of perfectionism to identify healthy and unhealthy perfectionists.
Those with high levels of either orientation of perfectionism will be interviewed
where they will be asked to discuss their parents' role in their own sport
participation. Lindsey Wachter received a $17,500
grant (see below for more information).
2012
Lakehead University SSHRC Grant Recipients
Aid to
Research Workshops and Conferences in Canada (One-year grant):
Dr. Harvey Lemelin (Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism)
3rd Conference of
the International Polar Tourism Research Network, $24,594
Aid to
Scholarly Journals (three-year
grant):
Dr. Kristin Burnett (History)
Canadian Bulletin
of Medical History, $70,843.
Insight
Development Grants (two-year grants):
Dr.
Lida Fan, (Social Work) Migration
of Aboriginal people to cities and its policy implications: A tale of two
cities, $67,265.
Co-applicants: Dr. Keith Brownlee (Lakehead), Dr. Raymond
Neckoway (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Dr. Nazim N. Habibov
(University of Windsor)
Dr.
Tamara Varney (Anthropology)
Identifying
the social determinants of lead poisoning in colonial-era Antigua through the
use of synchrotron-based techniques $62,950.
Co-applicants: Dr. David M.L. Cooper (University of
Saskatchewan), Dr. Ian B. Coulthard (Canadian Light Source Inc.), Dr. Treena M.
Swanston (University of Saskatchewan)
Collaborator: Dr. A. Reginald Murphy (National Parks Authority,
Antigua & Barbuda)
Insight
Grants (five-year grants):
Dr.
Paul Carr (Departments of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Studies - Orillia)
Democracy,
political literacy and the quest for transformative education, $265,500.
Co-applicants: Dr. Joel Westheimer (University of Ottawa),
and Dr. Gina Thésée (Université du Québec à Montréal)
Dr.
Judy Iseke (Education)
Indigenous
Knowledge and Music in Indigenous Language: Storytelling in Education, $489,575.
Public
Outreach Dissemination Grants (one-year grants):
Dr.
Michel Beaulieu (History)
Hard
Work Conquers All: Mobilizing Knowledge about the Finnish Experience in Canada,
$72,600.
Co-applicant: Dr. Ron Harpelle
Collaborators: Kelly J. Saxberg,
Samira S. Saramo (York University), Hanna K. Snellman (University of Jyäskylä)
Partners: City of Thunder Bay, Finlandia Association of
Thunder Bay, Lakehead University, Northwestern Ontario Archivists Association,
Thunder Bay Finnish-Canadian Historical Society, Thunder Bay Historical Museum
Society
Dr. Edward Rawana
(Psychology)
Cultivating a Strengths
Approach in Education: A Strengths-In-Motion Training Program for School
Administrators, $49,584.
Co-applicant: Dr. Keith Brownlee
(Lakehead)
Partners: Children's Centre - Thunder Bay, Lakehead Public
Schools, Wellington Catholic District School Board
Peggy
Smith (Natural Resources Management)
Building Resilient
Forest-Based Communities through Community-based Forest Management II, $92,195.
Collaborators: Dr. Chander K.
Shahi (Lakehead), Dr. Gayle E. Broad (Algoma University), Dr. Ryan C.L. Bullock
(University of Saskatchewan)
Partners: BC Community Forest Association, Canadian
Environmental Network, Hearst Economic Development Corporation, Northeast
Superior Regional Chief's Forum, Northwatch, Town of Atikokan
Dr. Ronald
Harpelle (History)
Pulp Friction: The
Intersection of Globalization and Community, $113,588.
Collaborators: Diego Piniero (Universidad de la Republica),
Thomas W. Dunk (Brock University), Bruce W. Muirhead (University of Waterloo),
Hanna K. Snellman (University of Jyäskylä)
Partnership
Grant LOI:
Dr. Ronald
Harpelle (History)
Research TV: A New Media
Network for Social Science and Humanities Research, $20,000.
Co-applicants: Dr. Connie Nelson
(Lakehead), Dr. Noreen Golfman (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Dr. Myra
Hird (Queen's University).
Collaborators: Wesley Shrum, Louisiana
State University.
Partners: ItSticks Inc.,
Lakehead University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Queen's University,
University of Alberta - Division of Community Engagement, Univerity of
Saskatchewan - Division of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Science,
Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic: A Northern Research Network, Yukon College,
Confederation College.
Graduate
Student Funding:
PhD Students - Doctoral
Fellowships Program
Kathy Kortes-Miller, (Program: Education; Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Korteweg)
The Pedagogical Use of Simulation in
Higher Education ($20,000/year for
two years).
Emily Fawcett (Russell),
(Program: Psychology; Supervisor: Dr.
Dwight Mazmanian) Personality
and Gender Differences in Precautionary Behavior ($20,000 one year award).
Master's Students -
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (one-year awards worth
$17,500)
Scott Caspell, (Program:
Education; Supervisor: Dr. David
Greenwood) Exploring the role of
wilderness and story in shaping our understanding of self, place and the
other-than-human world.
Christopher Gash, (Program:
Sociology) A Measure for Change: Social
Media in Long-Term Care.
Katelyn Gomes, (Program:
Psychology; Supervisor: Kristen Oinonen)
Individual Differences in Flirting and
Attractivity Mating Strategies: Sex, Gender, and the Menstrual Cycle.
Annie Grainger, (Program:
Education) Visions of Reconciliation:
Non-Aboriginal Teachers' Reflections on Decolonizing Perspectives and
Reconciliatory Practice.
Robyn O'Loughlin-Pepin, (Program:
Education; Supervisor: Dr. Lori
Chambers) The Ontario Family Mediation
Process and Its Potential Influence on Children's Educational Achievement.
Lindsey Wachter, (Program: Kinesiology;
Supervisor: Dr. John Gotwals) Perfectionist Youth Hockey Players'
Perceptions of Parental Involvement in Sport.
Megan Wady, (Program: Northern
Environments and Cultures) Dietary Change
and Continuity at the Northern Edge of the Great Plains (3000 - 500 BP):
Residue Analysis of the Forks Archaeological Locale, Winnipeg, Canada.
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To request an interview
with any of our grant recipients, please contact Brandon
Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca
Lakehead University
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. More than 8,700 students and 1,850 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards.
"This
promotes Lakehead's Faculty of Education program and thanks Thunder Bay and Simcoe
County school boards for allowing our students to complete their teaching
practicums in their schools," says Jan Oakley, Coordinator of the Student
Artwork Calendar Contest. Colleen Davey, a Grade 2 teacher at Sherbrooke Public School
in Thunder Bay, comments that: "The contest provided the students with an
opportunity to produce art for an authentic purpose, and the fact that they
were able tochoose their own topic and medium spurred their creativity.
The students who won were immensely and justifiably proud of themselves." 
