Research Grants

Senior college funds small grants to assist the ongoing scholarship of Fellows. These can be used for hiring research assistants, travel to field work, accessing archives, presenting results at conferences, or any other activity related to a scholarly project that is approved by the Research Committee. Applications are due September 30 of each year for grants starting the following January. They are adjudicated by the Research Committee, chaired by the Vice Principal (Academic).

Grants for four scholarly projects were awarded in the first round in 2016, with total funding of $5000. The recipients were Judith Friedland, Peter Hajnal, David Kenny and Ken Norwich.

David J. Kenny (Professor of Dentistry at the University of Toronto and Shelley McKellar Professor and Hanna Chair in the History of Medicine at Western University) received a grant to cover travel expenses for his research into the history of the dentistry faculty at Western. The half century of its existence saw many challenges with respect to changes in dental education, gender diversity, immigration, and even a threat of closure. In this short article, he offers insight into the role of university presidents, governing bodies and stakeholders that could serve any faculty whose survival is threatened.

Judith Friedland (Professor emerita, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy), in collaboration with Elizabeth Peter, ran a focus group to examine the roles and responsibilities of research assistants with research participants in vulnerable circumstances. They are still analyzing their data and have promised an article for the next issue of the Bulletin.

Ken Norwich (Professor emeritus, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Physiology) studied quantum physics (QP) and perception. This branch of physics trees very small quantities like atoms.

Measurement in QP is such a “delicate” process that the presence of the measurer, or observer, must be considered. The physiological rules governing observation or “perception” can help elucidate the nature of QP measurement. Click here for his report.

Peter Hajnal (Research associate, Monk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy) used his grant to support his project on the history of reform of the G7/G8 and G20, their current challenges, and potential scenarios for their future development. This will inform a substantive chapter in a revised edition of his book “The G20: Evolution, Interrelationship, Documentation” (Ashgate/Routledge, 2014). Click here for his report.

The next call for proposals will be issued in the Summer of 2019 for receipt by September 30, 2019.