Five York researchers receive Dahdaleh Institute 2021 Seed Grants

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With so many outstanding applications received this year, the Dahdaleh Institute Critical Social Science Perspectives in Global Health Steering Committee had an abundance of  inspiring proposals to consider. After much deliberation, the committee has selected the following faculty to receive the 2021 Dahdaleh Institute Seed Grants:

Faculty of Health Associate Professor Claudia Chaufan, in the School of Health Policy and Management, for her proposal titled: “The violence of nonviolence: A critical analysis of the academic literature on the health effects of sanctions.” 

Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Associate Professor Denielle Elliott, in the Departments of Anthropology and Social Science, for her proposal titled, “Situated neurology: An ethnographic study of neurology in Kenya.” 

Faculty of Health Assistant Professor Oghenowede Eyawo, in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, for his proposal titled, “Critical perspectives on the epidemiological dimensions of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: What can the world learn?” 

Faculty of Health Professor Michaela Hynie, in the Department of Psychology, for her proposal titled, “Consequences of human rights violations on trust among refugees in South Africa: Implications for public health.” 

Faculty of Health Assistant Professor Jessica Vorstermans, in the School of Health Policy and Management, for her proposal titled, “Decolonizing the social determinants of health to identify areas for mobilizing South-South partnerships of humanitarian solidarity.”

The purpose of the Seed Grants is to enable and support York University–based critical social science perspectives in global health research that contribute to the research themes of the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research: Planetary Health; Global Health and Humanitarianism; and Global Health Foresighting. Each recipient will receive $5,000 to support their critical social science global health research.

The scope of critical research is quite broad, though it usually involves the use of critical theory with social justice aims. Critical social science perspectives in global health often inform transdisciplinary, participatory, experimental, or experiential analyses that actively seek greater effectiveness, equity, and excellence in global health. The research engages directly with global public health actors, structures and systems to transform global public health while remaining committed to social science theory and methodology.

In addition to supporting promising critical social science research programs in global health, the Seed Grants are meant to encourage faculty to develop fuller grant proposals over the 2021 summer term for fall Tri-Council and other grant deadlines. Each recipient will present their “Work in Progress” at a Winter 2022 workshop on Critical Social Science Perspectives in Global Health Research, marking the beginning of the Dahdaleh Institute Seed Grant Program’s third year.

The Dahdaleh Institute Critical Perspectives in Global Health Steering Committee extends thanks to each of the applicants and congratulates the 2021 recipients.