{{Short description|Canadian funding body (Tri-council)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada | nativename = {{lang|fr|Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada}} | nativename_a = | nativename_r = | logo = File:SSHRC_CRSH_logo.svg | logo_width = | logo_caption = | seal = File:Social_Sciences_and_Humanities_Research_Council_Logo.svg | seal_width = | formed = {{Start date and age|1978|05|01}} | jurisdiction = Government of Canada | headquarters = 125 Zaida Eddy Private, 2nd Floor, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 0E3 Canada | coordinates = {{coord|45|25|14.5|N|75|43|02.1|W|region:US-DC_type:landmark|display=inline}} | budget = CA$ 1.1 billion | minister1_name = Hon. François-Philippe Champagne | minister1_pfo = Minister of Industry | website = [https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/ www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca] | footnotes = | employees = 260 (approximately) | chief1_name = Ted Hewitt | chief1_position = President | parent_department = Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada }}
The '''Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada''' ('''SSHRC'''; {{langx|fr|Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada}}, CRSH; often colloquially pronounced 'shirk', {{IPAc-en|ʃ|ɝ|k|}}) is a Canadian federal research-funding agency that promotes and supports post-secondary research and training in the humanities and social sciences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/index-eng.aspx|title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council|first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research|last=Council|website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca|date=11 May 2012|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref>
In 2019–2020, SSHRC funded 24,000 researchers and 5000 research trainees in 51 programs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SSHRC IN NUMBERS In fiscal year 2019-20 |url=https://sshrc-crsh.canada.ca/about-au_sujet/publications/strategic_plans-plans_strategiques/2020/SSHRC_in_numbers-eng.pdf |access-date=September 26, 2025}}</ref> Staff numbers were reported as 333 in the same period. Ted Hewitt is the current President.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> SSHRC's provided CA$684 million for funding and $453 million institutional support for the fiscal year 2023-2024 and the number of employees (FTE) was 258.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SSHRC Investments Interactive Dashboard (Power BI Report) |url=https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNWFhMTc4NGYtMmU1ZS00Mjk1LWJiZjAtZGI1OTFjY2EzZGE1IiwidCI6ImZiZWYwNzk4LTIwZTMtNGJlNy1iZGM4LTM3MjAzMjYxMGY2NSJ9&language=en-ca |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=app.powerbi.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s 2023-24 Departmental Results Report |url=https://sshrc-crsh.canada.ca/about-au_sujet/publications/drr/2023-2024/drr-rrm-eng.aspx |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref>
Along with the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), SSHRC forms the major source of federal government funding to post-secondary research. They are collectively referred to as the "Tri-Council"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Government of Canada|first=Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics|date=2019-04-01|title=Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2018)|url=https://ethics.gc.ca/eng/policy-politique_tcps2-eptc2_2018.html|access-date=2021-12-28|website=ethics.gc.ca}}</ref> or "Tri-Agency.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Government of Canada|first=Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada|date=2019-12-18|title=NSERC - Inter-Agency, Tri-Agency Financial Administration|url=https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/InterAgency-Interorganismes/TAFA-AFTO/index_eng.asp|access-date=2021-12-28|website=www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca}}</ref>
== History == Created by an act of the Parliament of Canada in 1977, SSHRC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development. SSHRC came into existence on 1 May 1978 under the ''Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Act'' which was passed in an omnibus manner by the government of Pierre Elliot Trudeau.<ref>1976-77, c. 24, s. 2</ref>
In June 2013, SSHRC's governing council endorsed six future challenge areas<ref>{{cite web |last=Council |first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research |date=11 May 2012 |title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council |url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/challenge_areas-domaines_des_defis/index-eng.aspx#a6 |access-date=28 July 2018 |website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca}}</ref> developed during its Imagining Canada's Future<ref>{{cite web |last=Council |first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research |date=11 May 2012 |title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council |url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/society-societe/community-communite/Imagining_Canadas_Future-Imaginer_l_avenir_du_Canada-eng.aspx |access-date=28 July 2018 |website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca}}</ref> initiative, with a goal of addressing Canada's future societal challenges and meeting future opportunities through social sciences and humanities research.
The 2025-26 '''Departmental Plan''' portrayed the core responsibilities as two-fold:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s 2025-26 Departmental plan |url=https://sshrc-crsh.canada.ca/en/about-sshrc/planning-and-performance-reporting/corporate-reports/departmental-plans/2025-2026/full-plan.aspx |access-date=September 26, 2025}}</ref>
# Funding Social Sciences and Humanities Research and Training # Institutional Support for the Indirect Costs of Research
=== Presidents ===
* André Fortier (1978–1982)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kendle |first=John |date=1982 |title=PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS -- The Scholar and the State Revisited: Further Words of Caution |url=https://cha-shc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/4zubi842e.pdf |access-date=7 September 2025 |work=Canadian Historical Association News}}</ref> * William Ewart Taylor Jr. (1982–1988)<ref>{{Cite web |title=William Ewart Taylor Jr {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-ewart-taylor-jr |access-date=2022-01-26 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=William E. Taylor Jr. {{!}} Canadian Archaeological Association / Association canadienne d'archéologie |url=https://canadianarchaeology.com/caa/about/awards/recipients/smith-wintemberg-award/william-e-taylor-jr |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=canadianarchaeology.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Abu-Laban |first1=Baha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uG5bjw_aT4IC&dq=William+E.+Taylor+president+SSHRC+Social+Sciences+and+Humanities+Research+Council+of+Canada&pg=PR16 |title=The Human Sciences: Their Contribution to Society and Future Research Needs |last2=Rule |first2=Brendan Gail |date=1988 |publisher=University of Alberta |isbn=978-0-88864-134-2 |language=en}}</ref> * Paule Leduc (1988–1994)<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Leduc |first1=P. |date=1994 |title=Evaluation in the social sciences: the strategic context |url=https://academic.oup.com/rev/article-abstract/4/1/2/1542887?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false |journal=Research Evaluation |volume=4 |pages=2–5 |doi=10.1093/rev/4.1.2 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-01-26}}</ref> * Lynn Penrod (1994–1997)<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 June 1994 |title=Daily Bulletin, Friday, June 24, 1994 |url=https://bulletin.uwaterloo.ca/1994/1994%20June%2024%20Friday |website=University of Waterloo}}</ref> * Marc Renaud (1997–2005)<ref>{{Cite web |title=marc.renaud {{!}} Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation |url=https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/member/marc-renaud |access-date=2022-01-25 |website=www.trudeaufoundation.ca}}</ref> * Chad Gaffield (2006–2014)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kondro |first=Wayne |date=1997-04-11 |title=Funding council hopes plan offers port in political storm |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=HRCA&sw=w&issn=00368075&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA19371147&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs |journal=Science |language=English |volume=276 |issue=5310 |pages=195–196 |doi=10.1126/science.276.5310.195 |s2cid=144222639 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council |date=2012-05-11 |title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council |url=https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/news_room-salle_de_presse/latest_news-nouvelles_recentes/2018/40th_anniversary-40e_anniversaire-eng.aspx |access-date=2022-01-25 |website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chad Gaffield resigning as president of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/chad-gaffield-resigning-as-president-of-social-sciences-and-humanities-research-council |access-date=2022-01-25 |website=ottawacitizen |language=en-CA}}</ref> * Ted Hewitt (2015-current)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada |date=2012-05-11 |title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council |url=https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/executive-gestion/index-eng.aspx#hewitt |access-date=2022-01-25 |website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Government of Canada reappoints president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-reappoints-president-of-the-social-sciences-and-humanities-research-council-839579882.html |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=www.newswire.ca |language=en}}</ref>
== Governance == SSHRC creates policy, plans budgets, and directs priorities through a council established by the federal government. The appointed members are a mix of academics and representatives from the industry.<ref name=sshrc/> They have the role of advising the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development on research policy in the areas of research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities, with the goal of representing the interests of academic, public and private sectors.<ref name=sshrc>{{cite web|url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/governance-gouvernance/committees-comites/council-conseil-eng.aspx|title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council|first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research|last=Council|website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca|date=11 May 2012|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> Council committees<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/governance-gouvernance/committees-comites/index-eng.aspx|title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council|first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research|last=Council|website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca|date=11 May 2012|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> create and oversee SSHRC's programs, determine the distribution of funds and handles the strategies for enacting the council's policies.
== Programs == SSHRC funding opportunities<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/index-eng.aspx|title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council|first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research|last=Council|website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca|date=11 May 2012|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> are very diverse and include partnerships with other institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Social sciences and humanities research funding opportunities |url=https://sshrc-crsh.canada.ca/en/funding/opportunities.aspx?utm_content=home |access-date=September 26, 2025}}</ref> They are organized into three program streams: '''Talent''', '''Insight''' and '''Connection''' (plus thematic and strategic grants and initiatives).
{{Copypaste|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317133050/http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/umbrella_programs-programme_cadre/talent-eng.aspx|date=April 2026}} === Talent program === The Talent program<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/umbrella_programs-programme_cadre/talent-eng.aspx|title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council|first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research|last=Council|website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca|date=11 May 2012|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> is a training program designed to support students and postdoctoral candidates to become researchers and leaders across society, both within academia and across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. The program promotes research skills and assists in the training of personnel in the fields of social sciences and humanities.
=== Insight program === The Insight program<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/umbrella_programs-programme_cadre/insight-savoir-eng.aspx|title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council|first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research|last=Council|website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca|date=11 May 2012|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> is to build knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world by supporting research excellence in all subject areas eligible for funding from SSHRC. Research and training in the social sciences and humanities provide the foundation to build knowledge and understanding about individuals, groups and societies.
The program aims to support and foster excellence in social sciences and humanities research intended to deepen, widen and increase collective understanding of individuals and societies, as well as to inform the search for solutions to societal challenges.
=== Connection program === The Connection program<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/umbrella_programs-programme_cadre/connection-connexion-eng.aspx|title=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council|first=Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research|last=Council|website=www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca|date=11 May 2012|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> is to realize the potential of social sciences and humanities research for intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit and impact on and beyond the campus by supporting specific activities and tools that facilitate the flow and exchange of research knowledge.
Knowledge mobilization in the social sciences and humanities facilitates the multidirectional flow of research knowledge across academia and society as a whole, in order to inform Canadian and international research, debate, decisions and actions. Those who can benefit from publicly funded research results in the humanities and social sciences - diverse groups of researchers, policy-makers, business leaders, community groups, educators and the media. The program aims to support knowledge mobilization activities such as networking, disseminating, exchanging and co-creating research-based knowledge as an important element of publicly engaged scholarship, and as a means of strengthening research agendas. SSHRC also recognizes that rapidly evolving information and communications technologies provide new opportunities to engage a variety of audiences with an interest and/or involvement in social sciences and humanities scholarship.
A program entitled Canada 150 Connection was set up for the 150th anniversary of Canada to support activities by post-secondary institutions and researchers that explore the contributions of social sciences and humanities research to Canadian society.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grants help grow Canada 150 events and outreach - SFU News - Simon Fraser University|url=https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2017/02/grants-help-grow-canada-150-events-and-outreach.html|access-date=8 February 2017|work=SFU News|publisher=Simon Fraser University|date=7 February 2017}}</ref>
== Controversies == In 2009, Federal Science Minister Gary Goodyear asked SSHRC to reconsider funding for a conference on the future of Israel and Palestine at York University.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Goodyear questions Mideast forum funds |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/goodyear-questions-mideast-forum-funds/article1175909/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202072128/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/goodyear-questions-mideast-forum-funds/article1175909/ |archive-date=2017-02-02 |access-date=2025-10-02 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-ca}}</ref> In response the Canadian Association of University Teachers demanded (unsuccessfully) the resignation of the Minister for interfering with an academic funding decision.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel-Palestine brouhaha at York rages on – - Macleans OnCampus |url=http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2009/06/16/israel-palestine-brouhaha-at-york-rages-on/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323014901/http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2009/06/16/israel-palestine-brouhaha-at-york-rages-on/ |archive-date=2011-03-23 |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=oncampus.macleans.ca |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2009-06-11 |title=Goodyear questions Mideast forum funds |url=https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2009/06/11/goodyear-questions-mideast-forum-funds/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=YFile |language=en-CA}}</ref>
== See also == *Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) *Natural Sciences and Engineering Resesarch Council (NSERC) *Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) *Genome Canada (GE<sup>3</sup>LS program funds humanities and social sciences) *National Science Foundation - US counterpart *Arts and Humanities Research Council - UK counterpart *Economic and Social Research Council - UK counterpart *Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca}} * [http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/storytellers SSHRC Storytellers] * [http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/awards-prix/index-eng.aspx SSHRC Impact Awards]
{{Canadian funding agencies}} {{International Science Council}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Social Sciences And Humanities Research Council}} Category:Federal departments and agencies of Canada Category:Funding bodies of Canada Category:Education finance in Canada Category:Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Category:Government agencies established in 1977 Category:1977 establishments in Canada Category:Members of the International Science Council