UNews - Rhiannon Mesler

More than $1 million in SSHRC grants to support vital social sciences and humanities research projects

caroline.zentner — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:23:51 +0000

Several ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers have received Insight and Insight Development grants worth more than $1 million through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Their projects will delve into varied topics including immigration, artist-run centres, charitable giving, Depression-era Canadian poetry, and medical assistance in dying (MAiD).

“Research in the social sciences and humanities plays an essential role in understanding and improving the human condition,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, vice-president of research at ULethbridge. “These grants enable our researchers to enrich cultural understanding, foster a deeper appreciation of human experiences and make an impact on the lives of everyday citizens.”

The following researchers have been awarded Insight Grants:

Dr. Debra Basil, a Dhillon School of Business professor of marketing, will look at the immigrant settlement experience in small to mid-sized cities in Western Canada and develop a community-based social marketing program to improve newcomer settlement experiences.

Dr. Devon Smither, associate dean in the Faculty of Fine Arts, plans to examine and document the history and impact of artist-run centres, which were created in the 1960s and 1970s as alternatives to commercial galleries.

Dr. Julia Brassolotto’s project focuses on the complexities of MAiD in Canada by examining the ethical issues surrounding MAiD through official government statements and lived experiences.

The following researchers have been awarded Insight Development Grants:

Dr. Hamid Akbary, a sociology professor, will examine potential biases in Canadian immigration policies and the public perception of refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Dr. David Hobbs, an English professor, looks to recover vital portions of Western Canadian literary culture from the Great Depression by examining the work of poet Dorothy Livesay.

Anthropology professor Dr. Jodie Asselin’s project centres on the transformation of culturally significant landscapes due to climate change and climate change mitigation measures. While such landscape change is occurring around the world, Asselin will focus on sites in rural Ireland to both record and acknowledge site loss and the implications for rural futures, providing a lesson applicable to communities across the global north.

Dr. Jessica Jacobson-Konefall, a Faculty of Fine Arts professor, plans to examine longstanding ancestral cultural forms as they appear in contemporary art in Winnipeg. The project brings attention to Anishinaabe, Eastern European and Caribbean diasporic arts.

Charities in Canada face increasing demand but many lack the resources to serve everyone. Dr. Rhiannon Mesler, a Dhillon School of Business professor at ULethbridge’s Calgary Campus, will look at consumer backlash to charities that accept donations from firms that generate their money by legal but morally questionable means, such as alcohol, tobacco, gambling or non-renewable energy, and how they might navigate the challenge.

The Research Support Fund supports a portion of the costs associated with managing the research funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, such as salaries for staff who provide administration support, training costs for workplace health and safety, maintenance of libraries and laboratories, and administrative costs associated with obtaining patents for inventions.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge research projects earn SSHRC funding support

caroline.zentner — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:02:43 +0000

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) announced funding through several grant programs today and three ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge projects are among those receiving awards.

The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport and Quebec Lieutenant on behalf of the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced over $1.8 billion in federal research support, including $35.3 million for 577 research projects at 66 Canadian institutions through SSHRC Insight Development Grants.

Among the successful ULethbridge projects is a proposed two-year study by Drs. Kevin McGeough and Shawn Bubel (Geography & Environment) that will examine how political leaders built economies that satisfied the demands of imperial powers and maintained local loyalties in Iron Age Jordan. Located in environmentally marginal but politically strategic locations, examination of the Iron Age kingdoms of Jordan informs us not just about ancient times, but about issues related to the origins of states, their resilience and collapse.

“The proposed project has the potential to transform the way scholars think about Iron Age Kingdoms such as Edom, as well as contribute to the preservation and interpretation of Jordan’s cultural heritage,” says McGeough. “The study will provide opportunities for ULethbridge undergraduate and graduate students to be trained in field archaeological techniques and laboratory analyses.”

Dr. Anastasia Stuart-Edwards, a Dhillon School of Business professor in Human Resource Management and Labour Relations, will investigate whether mindfulness can improve teamwork, which has been known to be inefficient and result in negative employee experiences and loss of profitability. Mindfulness, a state of being present and aware of what you’re sensing and feeling without interpretation or judgment, has been shown to be beneficial for individual employees, but it’s not clear if the benefits extend to teams.

“This project draws on teamwork theories and mindfulness to examine whether team members’ mindfulness scores are related to a state of shared team mindfulness,” says Stuart-Edwards. “We’ll also be looking at how team mindfulness relates to team processes, engagement and performance.”

The third project by Drs. Christy Tu and Rhiannon Mesler, professors at the Dhillon School of Business (Calgary Campus), will explore the relationship between charitable giving and social status and how the positioning of a charitable gift to consumers can affect donations. They are proposing a series of six studies with both student and public participants.

“This research has important implications for improving charitable giving and prosocial behaviour in society,” says Tu. “In addition, our results should help equip charitable organizations and governments with tools to better communicate and raise funds from consumers for prosocial purposes.”

Along with nearly $200,000 for these research projects, ULethbridge will receive a $2.4-million grant from the Research Support Fund which supports the indirect costs of research.

New EDI Scholars represent broadening of important program

trevor.kenney — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 16:33:37 +0000

An unprecedented number of applications has created the broadest representation of disciplines for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Scholars program yet, with six new scholars named by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge today.

Drs. Dawn Burleigh, Sean Fitzpatrick, Kara Granzow (BA ’99), Jason Laurendeau, Rhiannon Mesler and Tracy Oosterbroek (BN ’95, MSc(N) ’09) were named EDI Scholars for 2023-24, committing to engage in projects that advance the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s EDI priorities. When complete, they will then share the information with the campus community.

“We are excited to broaden the pool of EDI champions across the institution,” says Hernando (Nando) Ortega Arango, project manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. “Congratulations to our 2023-24 EDI Scholars and thank you to all who applied. This was a highly competitive process, and we look forward to working with this exceptional group of scholars to build EDI capacity together.”

The EDI Scholars program began in 2021, and for the 2023-24 intake, the application process was expanded with the intention to broaden the capacity for EDI work across campus. This resulted in applications from a variety of faculties, departments and backgrounds. Each project for 2023-24 is uniquely different with representation from the Faculties of Arts & Science, Education, Health Sciences and the Dhillon School of Business.

“It is a collective responsibility to champion EDI initiatives, and we all can play a role in facilitating inclusion and belonging,” says Ortega. “Through the efforts of the EDI Scholars, we hope to reach diverse audiences and broaden the capacity of EDI work across campus.”

Three EDI Scholars will undertake their projects beginning in the Fall 2023 Semester, and three in Spring 2024.

Fall 2023 EDI Scholars

Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick

Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick (Mathematics & Computer Science – Faculty of Arts & Science) plans to work with undergraduate student assistants to ensure that the open textbooks for many mathematics courses are fully accessible for all students, including those who require screen reader technology. Part of this work will include ensuring that all images have alt-text descriptions, and that all features of the textbook can be accessed using keyboard navigation.

“I am excited to receive this award because it will enable me to complete some long-overdue work on accessibility,” says Fitzpatrick. “I hope that the status of EDI Scholar will help me to promote the importance of selecting accessible course materials, and to remind people that our commitment to EDI must include accommodations for those with disabilities.”

Dr. Kara Granzow

After attending the Walls to Bridges instructor training this summer, Dr. Kara Granzow (Sociology – Faculty of Arts & Science) will work with colleagues and the community to bring the program to ULethbridge. Walls to Bridges is an internationally renowned initiaive, offered through post-secondary institutions, that provides for-credit courses to incarcerated and non-incarcerated students together to learn as peers.

“Without the support of the EDI Scholars Program, this project would not be possible,” says Granzow. “Programs like this give much needed time and support for the work necessary to further open doors to post-secondary education.”

Dr. Rhiannon Mesler (Management (Marketing) in the Dhillon School of Business) will undertake a series of studies with the goal to better understand when and why individuals choose to support, or not to support, organizations, causes and policies that create more equity, diversity and inclusion.

Dr. Rhiannon Mesler

“I am very grateful to undertake this research with the support of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge EDI Scholar program,” says Mesler. “This project will help understand the ways that fundamental beliefs about social structures shape support for charitable causes, and in particular those that serve people in need.”

Spring 2024 EDI Scholars

Dr. Dawn Burleigh (Indigenous Education – Faculty of Education) will focus on establishing a sustainable pathway for indigenization in the Faculty of Education that will build faculty, staff and student capacity for years to come.

“Considering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action in education, and a newly revised teaching quality standard in Alberta, all teachers are required to integrate Indigenous perspectives into their classrooms. This means faculties of education must do the same to ensure pre-service teachers are prepared,” says Burleigh.

Dr. Dawn Burleigh

“Being an EDI Scholar will afford me the opportunity to work with the amazing members of faculty and staff in education to create service opportunities that could connect with community, build relationships, support instructional capacity and meet the emerging needs of the field.”

Dr. Jason Laurendeau (Sociology – Faculty of Arts & Science) aims to contribute to the work of kinesiology departments and faculties as they work to indigenize course offerings, teaching practices and curricula.

Dr. Jason Laurendeau

“My goal is to shed light on the processes by which individual faculty members engage in this work – the barriers, challenges, and/or opportunities they experience,” says Laurendeau. “More broadly, I plan to contribute to vital conversations at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge about what it means to reckon with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as a colonial institution.”

Dr. Tracy Oosterbroek (Nursing – Faculty of Health Sciences) will examine the impact of a pilot implementation of CASPer, an online situational judgment test intended to expand the assessment and evaluation of applicant suitability and capacity for ethical caring that extends beyond standard admission metrics. Historically, nursing program admission processes have relied predominantly on GPA which restricts ethnic and cultural diversity among students.

Dr. Tracy Oosterbroek

“This resulting lack of diversity among health-care providers has been shown to have a negative impact on the quality of care received by patients of minority or underrepresented groups,” says Oosterbroek. “My project will examine and compare historical and post-implementation applicant and admission data to determine whether these strategies have a positive impact on the diversity of the student body, or further perpetuate barriers to application and admission for minority, underrepresented or marginalized applicants.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers secure SSHRC funding

trevor.kenney — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 15:14:53 +0000

Four ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers were successful as principal applicants in earning funding support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The projects were part of 809 research initiatives from across Canada that received more than $175 million in funding.

This investment, through SSHRC’s Partnership Grants, Partnership Development Grants, Insight Grants and Aid to Scholarly Journals grants, supports research, research partnerships, and knowledge mobilization across a multitude of issues of critical relevance to Canadian society. Funding is provided to researchers, research teams and publications for projects of up to seven years.

“Now, more than ever, social sciences and humanities research plays an integral role as we navigate through the post-COVID-19 reality and continue to build a healthier, stronger and more prosperous Canada,” says the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “These grants enable scholars to address complex issues about communities and societies, and further our collective understanding so we can build a better future for all Canadians.”

Social sciences and humanities research such as this is essential to help Canadians understand and address some of the biggest challenges of our times.

ULethbridge projects include an examination of postpartum depression and maternal mental illness from Dr. Heather Stanley (history); a look at cancel culture from a marketing perspective by Dr. Rhiannon Mesler of the Dhillon School of Business; a study on successfully managing physical activity, from Dr. Scott Rathwell (kinesiology & physical education); and historian Dr. Kristine Alexander’s study, Children of the State: Age, Race, and Settler Colonialism in Canada.

“There’s a great breadth of expertise reflected in these successful projects and the culmination of their teams’ work will enhance our understanding of some very important issues,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge vice-president (research). “Research work like this in the humanities and social sciences creates insight and perspectives on key societal interests and sets the stage for the development of policies and practice.”

As well, ULethbridge researchers such as Dr. Carly Adams (kinesiology & physical education), secured funding as co-applicants on other projects. Adams is part of a Partnership Grant led by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria, Past Wrongs, Future Choices, that examines the mid-20th century internment, dispossession and displacement of people of Japanese descent (Nikkei) in allied countries. She also partnered with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba on an Insight Grant, The People’s History of Sport in Canada.

Following is a list of SSHRC grant recipients as principal applicants for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge:

Insight Grant

Dr. Heather Stanley, History, Maternal Darkness: Postpartum Depression and Maternal Mental Illness in Western Canada — $91,319 (5 years)

Insight Development Grant

Dr. Rhiannon Mesler, Dhillon School of Business, Marketing, Cancel Culture: An Examination of Individual and Situational Drivers — $74,636 (2 years)

Dr. Scott Rathwell, Kinesiology & Physical Education, Getting Back on Track: A Mixed Methods Study of Successful Management in Physical Activity — $74,170 (2 years)

Dr. Kristine Alexander, History, “Children of the State”: Age, Race, and Settler Colonialism in Canada — $25,459 (2 years)

UNews - Rhiannon Mesler

More than $1 million in SSHRC grants to support vital social sciences and humanities research projects

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��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers secure SSHRC funding