Impact Awards

Gold Medal ($100,000)

The Gold Medal is SSHRC’s highest research honour. It is awarded to an individual whose sustained leadership, dedication and originality of thought have inspired students and colleagues alike.

The recipient’s achievements in research must have significantly advanced understanding in their respective fields of research in the social sciences and humanities. The exceptional quality and impact of the recipient’s research, and their ongoing efforts to share the results of this work, must have greatly enriched Canadian society, and contributed to social, cultural, economic and intellectual life in Canada and/or internationally.

Gold Medal funds must be used within one year for research, knowledge mobilization or other research-related activities. At least 10% of the award must be used to promote the impact and outcomes of the recipient’s research achievements.

Talent Award ($50,000)

The Talent Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual who, on April 1, 2022, holds a SSHRC doctoral scholarship or fellowship or postdoctoral fellowship. This includes, but is not limited to, a Canada Graduate Scholarship, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship or Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship.

The Talent Award is given to an individual who maintains academic excellence, has a talent for research and knowledge mobilization and has demonstrated clear potential to be a future leader within and/or outside the academic sector.

The Talent Award can either be:

• taken up as a fellowship to fund the recipient’s doctoral or postdoctoral research over a one-year period; or  
• used within one year of receiving the award as a grant to support research, knowledge mobilization or other research-related activities.

At least 10% of the award funds must be used to promote the recipient’s research achievements.

Insight Award ($50,000)

The Insight Award recognizes outstanding achievement arising from a single or multiple SSHRC-funded initiatives. It is given to an individual or a team of six people maximum (including the nominee) whose initiative(s) have significantly contributed to knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world. The research outcomes must have led to demonstrable impact within the nominee’s fields of research and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community.

In the case of a team initiatives(s), the nominee must be the principal investigator. If successful, this person will receive the award on behalf of the team.

The nomination package must include the nominee’s SSHRC CV, and those of any team members (up to five), if applicable.

Insight Award funds must be used within one year to further develop the initiative(s) being recognized, through research, knowledge mobilization or other research-related activities. A minimum of 10% of the award funds must be used to promote the recipient’s research achievements.

Connection Award ($50,000)

The Connection Award recognizes an outstanding SSHRC-funded initiative that facilitates the flow and exchange of research knowledge within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community. It is given to an individual or team whose initiative has engaged the campus and/or wider community, and has generated intellectual, cultural, social and/or economic impacts.

In the case of a team initiative, the nominee must be the applicant/project director for the initiative. If successful, this person will receive the award on behalf of the team.

The nomination package must include the nominee’s SSHRC CV, and those of any team members (up to five), if applicable.

Connection Award funds must be used within one year to further develop the knowledge mobilization activity being recognized, or to support other research-related activities. At least 10% of the award funds must be used to promote the recipient’s research achievements.

Partnership Award ($50,000)

The Partnership Award recognizes a SSHRC‑funded formal partnership for its outstanding achievement in advancing research, research training or knowledge mobilization, or developing a new partnership approach to research and/or related activities. It is awarded to a formal partnership that, through mutual co-operation and shared intellectual leadership and resources, has demonstrated impact and influence within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community.

For the Partnership Award, the nominee must be the project director. If successful, this person will receive the award on behalf of the partnership.

The nomination package must include the nominee’s SSHRC CV, and those of any team members (up to five), if applicable.

Partnership Award funds must be used within one year to further develop the research, knowledge mobilization or research-related activities being recognized. At least 10% of the award funds must be used to promote the recipient’s research achievements.

Nomination process

Eligible institutions are invited to put forward nominations for all SSHRC Impact Award categories. Each institution may submit only one nomination for each award in a given year, up to a maximum of five SSHRC Impact Award nominations. Institutions must provide the name and contact information of a person to whom SSHRC will send all questions and correspondence, including results.

Researchers interested in being nominated for one of the above awards are asked to contact Dr. Batia Stolar, Associate Vice-President, Research & Graduate Studies, at avp.research@lakeheadu.ca well in advance of the competition deadline.

Please note the SSHRC will be holding a webinar for research administrators and potential nominees which will include an overview of the nomination requirements, frequently asked questions, as well as a question and answer period. 

The webinar will be held via Webex at the following times: