Call for proposals

The Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture seeks to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship across the Faculties of Arts and Science and Fine Arts. As part of its mission, each year the Centre supports four working groups.

The intention of the working group program is to create a space for interdisciplinary discussions that may lead to new collaborations and the formation of new research teams, or lay the ground for new cross-departmental or cross-faculty cooperation. In the past, working groups have used their funds to invite an external speaker, hold a symposium, attend exhibitions, constitute a reading circle, discuss works in progress, and to subsidize other activities.

To view an overview of current and past Working Groups and their activities visit our Workings Groups website here.

Working groups consist of three or more faculty members from two or more departments who undertake to meet a minimum of five times a year. In order to promote exchange and the development of new research networks, meetings are scheduled in advance, and publicized on the CISSC website. Meetings are open to graduate students as well as faculty, and may occasionally take the form of a public lecture or symposium or exhibition organized by the working group.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

The call for working group proposals for the 2021-2022 academic year is now open. The application deadline is March 15, 2021. 

The following information is required:

• name and rationale for the group’s interdisciplinary character
• key questions
• the issues in scholarship, research, or creation that the group will address
• proposed activities
• projected budget

It is important that the application also include provision for the inclusion of graduate students in the group’s activities (e.g. by hiring a grad student as the working group coordinator). The involvement of graduate students, especially PhD Humanities students is an asset. See profiles of students enrolled in the PhD Humanities Program. The application form must be electronically signed by the Working Group organizer. Supporting emails from two or more other Concordia faculty who have agreed to participate can be sent independently.  

Funding

Working groups can apply for up to $1,500 per year, with funds awarded based on activities proposed. An additional honorarium of $500 is also available for a graduate student coordinator for each group. These funds may be augmented by researchers or their home departments.

Proposals will be reviewed by the CISSC Steering Committee and results are announced at the end of March 2021. Working Groups typically start their activities in May or September.

The Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture (CISSC) aims to promote breaking research in ethnicity and/or social diversity. Three (3) research travel subsidies of up to $1500 apiece will be awarded for the 2021 calendar year. Given pandemic-related travel restrictions, alternative proposals to physical travel will be welcomed.”

“Ethnicity and/or social diversity” is interpreted broadly to include research on a variety of related themes and sub-themes such as post-coloniality, nationalisms, genocide, race and racism, ethnic and inter-ethnic relations, intercultural communications, education and social diversity, immigration and migration, public policies pertaining to ethnicity and social diversity, religion and social diversity, intersectional studies of gender and sexuality, and dis/ability. The research may be empirical, theoretical or some combination of both.

Eligibility and Requirements

All full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty members are eligible to apply. 

The subsidies are keyed to the initiation of research rather than the dissemination of research. (They cannot be used for conference travel.) In an introductory paragraph, applicants are required to state their destination (such as an archive, an exhibition or a visit with a particular person or persons) and to discuss the relevance of the proposed research to the advancement of knowledge in the area of ethnicity and/or social diversity (as defined above). 

It should be noted that the subsidies are intended to support exploratory research rather than supplementary research. In a justificatory paragraph, applicants are required to show how the proposed research represents a new departure for them, or a new branch of an existing program of research. Applicants must also provide a sketch of how they see the proposed research forming the basis of future grant applications, publications, and/or exhibitions. 

The research travel must take place within the same calendar year that the subsidy is granted (i.e. February-December). In December of each year, the four successful applicants for that year will be invited to present their research at a special gathering. 6 months after the research travel, successful applicants will be asked to file a brief (250 word) report on their adventure.

A complete application consists of:

In an Introductory paragraph (ca. 250 words), applicants are required to state their destination (such as an archive, an exhibition or a visit with a particular person or persons) and to discuss the relevance of the proposed research to the advancement of knowledge in the area of ethnicity and/or social diversity (as defined above).

In a Justificatory paragraph (ca. 250 words), applicants are required to show how the proposed research represents a new departure for them, or a new branch of an existing program of research. Applicants must also provide a sketch of how they see the proposed research forming the basis of future grant applications, publications, and/or exhibitions.

Finally, a copy of the applicant’s CV (Canadian Common, SSHRC, CIHR, or homespun but not to exceed 10 pages)  

The research travel must take place within the same calendar year that the subsidy is granted (i.e. February-December). In December of each year, successful applicants will be invited to present their research at an informal gathering organized by the CISSC Director. Six (6) months after the research travel is completed, successful applicants will be required to file a report detailing outcomes.

Diversity Research Travel Stipend application form

Deadlines

The 2021 Call for Proposals is open, with a deadline of Monday, February 22, 2021. Three (3) research travel subsidies of up to $1500 apiece will be awarded for the 2021 calendar year. Given pandemic-related travel restrictions, alternative proposals to physical travel will be welcomed.

All application materials should be submitted electronically to both mark.sussman@concordia.ca and cissc@concordia.ca.

Review and Results

Applications will be reviewed by the CISSC Steering Committee and results will be announced in February 2021. Evaluation criteria will include stage of career, track record, originality and interest of the proposed research, projected outcomes.

Allowable Expenses

Allowable expenses will include: airfare, hotel, local transportation, meals, and admission fees. Please note that travel arrangements are not coordinated by CISSC.

We would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the application process and look forward to receiving your proposal.

The call for the Humanities PhD courses is normally posted in the fall.