Osgoode Professor Stephanie Ben-Ishai has received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded Knowledge Synthesis Grant to study labour market challenges facing millennials, as well as their levels of financial literacy and indebtedness.
Ben-Ishai’s research project is one of 30 Knowledge Synthesis Grants, valued at up to $25,000 each, recently announced by the federal government.
The grants are designed to consolidate existing knowledge while identifying gaps where future research is needed, and they place a strong emphasis on ensuring that the outcomes of these projects are accessible to a broad audience, including decision-makers across community, public and private sectors.
“Canadian social sciences and humanities researchers play a vital role in identifying, anticipating and preparing for global changes in our culture, politics, economy and demographics,” said Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science. “The knowledge gained through these Knowledge Synthesis Grants will provide our government with the evidence we need to develop policies and tools to respond to these complex trends so that we may ensure a prosperous future for all Canadians, including the middle class.”
By bringing together existing research on these important issues, the government is positioning Canada to respond to these challenges to the benefit of all Canadians.
The SSHRC-funded investment of $744,000 will allow Canadian researchers to shape responses to the emerging global challenges and opportunities playing out in the country and around the world.
The projects will focus on a variety of topics, including advanced technologies, rural and urban resilience, and social innovation This work will help stakeholders, researchers and governments better understand how to reduce the economic inequalities faced by this demographic.
“SSHRC is proud to support research that addresses tomorrow’s challenges,” said Ted Hewitt, president, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. “These projects will further our understanding of the relationship between the complex factors that will shape Canada’s future.”
SSHRC disburses more than $350 million in funding annually to support more than 8,300 research projects.