Harper Government Supports Social Sciences and Humanities Research on Cyber Scholarship

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 16, 2011) - Researchers can look forward to using new technologies and working with international teams on social sciences and humanities studies, thanks to an innovative international partnership. Today, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced that the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is partnering with seven international research funders to launch the second round of the Digging into Data Challenge.

"This innovative partnership helps to put Canada at the forefront of global research by giving Canadian researchers the opportunity to work with their colleagues in the United States and Europe on leading-edge projects in a variety of scientific areas," said Minister of State Goodyear. "It is another excellent example of our government's support for science and technology and how we are working together internationally by sharing Canadian knowledge the world over."

The Digging into Data Challenge focuses on large-scale data analysis. The development of techniques for large-scale data analysis has led to new discoveries in fields such as genetics and astronomy and to increasing connections among scientific disciplines. The Digging into Data Challenge will contribute to Canada's capacity to innovate using new and emerging information and communication technologies as well as to the development of world-class digital data sets. It encourages Canadian researchers in the social sciences and humanities to partner with international research teams in the public and private sectors to produce high-quality research that can benefit communities around the world.

"The social sciences and humanities have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to bring to our understanding of all the critical dimensions—economic, social and cultural—of the world. This understanding is enhanced by our ability to work the most advanced computational methods to analyze millions of pieces of data," said Chad Gaffield, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. "SSHRC is contributing to Canada's digital economy by fostering these types of partnerships, which give Canadians the opportunity to conduct innovative international research."

SSHRC is partnering with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (United Kingdom), the Economic and Social Research Council (United Kingdom), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (United States), the Joint Information Systems Committee (United Kingdom), the National Endowment for the Humanities (United States), the National Science Foundation (United States) and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (Netherlands).

SSHRC is the federal agency that promotes and supports university-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. Through its three funding programs—Talent, Insight and Connection—SSHRC enables the highest levels of research excellence in Canada and facilitates knowledge-sharing and collaboration across research disciplines, universities and all sectors of society.

For additional information on round two of the Digging into Data Challenge, please visit the News Room on the SSHRC website (www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/news_room-salle_de_presse/press_releases-communiques/2011/data-donnees_numeriques-eng.aspx).

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