Insight Grants
Funding Workshop
August 25, 2011
Research Office
Josephine Adda
Proposal Support Officer
Topics
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Overview of the Insight Grants & Program
Key objectives of Insight Grants (IGs) vs Standard
Research Grants (SRGs)
Highlight of Differences in the IG & SRG
Insight Grant vs Insight Development Grant
Multiple Applications
Evaluation Committees
Criteria and Scoring
TIPs
Questions ???
Manipulating the On-line Forms (Based on Interest)
Overview
The IG (of the Insight Program) succeeds the SRG
broad purpose of both grants is the same namely “to
support research and develop excellence in research
activities in the social sciences and humanities”
 The
Specific Objectives
Insight Grant
Standard Research Grant
build knowledge & understanding from
disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or crosssector perspectives through support for
the best researchers;
foster and develop vigorous collaborative,
multidisciplinary research activities among
researchers in the social sciences and
humanities; and
maintain and develop vigorous disciplinary
research activities;
support new approaches to research on
complex and important topics, including
those that transcend the capacity of any
one scholar, institution or discipline;
contribute to the development or elaboration
of new theoretical or methodological
approaches to research;
provide a high-quality research training
experience for students
provide opportunities for the training of future
researchers
fund research expertise that relates to
societal challenges and opportunities;
???
mobilize research knowledge, to and
from academic and non-academic
audiences, with the potential to lead to
intellectual, cultural, social and
economic influence, benefit and impact.
assist the communication of research results
both within and beyond the academic
community.
Highlights of Differences (IG vs SRG)
Program Description
Area
IGs
SRGs
Research
Results
Emphasis on knowledge
mobilization and intellectual,
cultural, social and economic
influence, benefit and impact
Emphasis on contribution to
knowledge and
communication of research
results
Duration
3 – 5 years. Shorter term
projects advised to explore
IDG
3 years. Option available for
shorter term projects with
explanation
Value
$7,000 - $500,000; Maximum of
$200,000 per year
$7,000 – $250,000; Maximum
of $100,000 per year
Evaluation and
Adjudication
No new scholar category—all
scholars are scored using the
same set of criteria
New scholars were scored
60% for the section they
performed best
Highlights of Differences (IG vs SRG)
Web Instructions and Forms
Sections
IGs
Research
Activity
- Indication of priority area added to this section
- Number of disciplines choices reduced to 3 instead of 5
Detailed
Description
- No ‘Communication of Results’ required in this section. See Kmb
Plan section
Kmb Plan – 1
pg.
- New; Knowledge mobilization is multi-directional and involves
transfer, translation, exchange, brokering ... of knowledge. –
refer to SSHRC Insight Program web instructions for details
Intended
Outcomes
- New; an ‘impact’ statement – refer to SSHRC Insight Program
web instructions for details
Statement of
Alignment – 1
pg.
- New; a ‘justification’ of choice of Priority area – refer to SSHRC
Insight Program web instructions for details
Insight vs Insight Development Grant
The Insight Program offers 2 Grants:
The Insight (aka SRG) and the Insight Development Grants
IGs
IDGs
IG support for long-term research
initiatives 3 -5 years
IDGs support research in its initial
stages 1-2 years
Up to $500,000
Up to $75,000
No scholar categories
Scholar categories – New vrs Old; 50%
each
Scoring
- Challenge – 40%
- Feasibility – 20%
- Capability – 40%
Scoring
- Challenge – 50%
- Feasibility – 20%
- Capability – 30%
Deadline
October 15th
Deadline
February 01st
Multiple Applications

Researchers may not apply, as applicant, for
an Insight Grant and an Insight Development
Grant within the same calendar year.

Researchers may apply, as applicant, for only
one Insight Grant at a time. An applicant may
not hold a Standard Research Grant (no
longer offered and an Insight Grant
simultaneously.

There is no limit to the number of SSHRC
applications on which a researcher may be
listed as a co-applicant or collaborator.
Evaluation Committees
Committees are drawn from academics and other
experts in the following fields





Group 1: History; medieval studies; classics; literature; fine arts;
philosophy; religious studies and related fields.
Group 2: Anthropology; archaeology; linguistics; translation;
political science; public administration; law; criminology,
geography; urban planning and environmental studies; and
related fields.
Group 3: Business and management; economics; and related
fields.
Group 4: Sociology; demography; communication studies;
journalism; media studies; gender studies; cultural studies; library
and information science; and related fields.
Group 5: Education; psychology; social work; and related fields
Evaluation Committees cont’d
 Applicants
will be asked to indicate which
of the five groups they consider most
appropriate for their proposal, and to
select primary discipline and areas of
research from a detailed list available on
the application form. Adjudication
committees will be created based on
these groups, according to the number
and nature of applications received
Criteria & Scoring

Challenge – The aim and importance of the
endeavour (40%)






originality, significant and expected contribution to
knowledge;
appropriateness of the literature review;
appropriateness of the theoretical approach or
framework;
appropriateness of the methods/approach;
Quality of training and mentoring to be provided to
students, emerging scholars and other highly qualified
personnel and opportunities for them to contribute; and
Potential influence and impact within and/or beyond
the social sciences and humanities research community.
Criteria & Scoring cont’d

Feasibility – The plan to achieve excellence
(20%)





probability of effective and timely attainment of the
research objectives;
appropriateness of the requested budget, and
justification of proposed costs;
indications of financial and in-kind contributions from
other sources, where appropriate;
quality of knowledge mobilization plans, including for
effective knowledge dissemination, knowledge
exchange and engagement within and/or beyond the
research community; and
strategies and timelines for the design and conduct of
the activity/activities proposed.
Criteria & Scoring cont’d
 Capability
(40%)



– the expertise to succeed
quality, quantity and significance of past experience
and published outputs of the applicant and any
team members relative to their roles in the project
and their respective stages of career;
evidence of contributions such as commissioned
reports, professional practice, public discourse, public
policies, products and services, development of
talent, experience in collaboration, etc.; and
potential to make future contributions.
Research Office
How can the RO not help you?

We do not critique the research itself: e.g.
Objectives, literature review, theory and
methodology.

No substitute for peer review by colleagues
or mentors.

Do not seek approval on your behalf for
other university commitments (but require
email confirmation from appropriate
authority)
TIPs for the Fall


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



Look over the Research Office websites for
useful resources (updates in progress)
Refer to and follow your ‘First Steps Checklist’
Seek peer review as early as you can
Save your ‘Web Instructions’ for reference
Call ext. 621 or email your questions to
josadda@stu.ca
Follow your ‘Next Steps Checklist’ once you
receive feedback from the RO
Internal Deadline noon September 23
Good luck
On our Website
SSHRC Grant Preparation Tools and Templates (click link to view)
1) Fillable Templates
a) CV Contributions
b) Budget Justification
c) Detailed Description
d) Knowledge Mobilization Plan
e) References
f) Statement of Alignment
g) Team Output Training
2) Tools and References
a) Grant Preparation Timeline
b) Insight Grants vs. Standard Research Grants
c) Insight Grant Webinar
d) Online Forms
Located in the NEWS section of the Research website:
http://w3.stu.ca/stu/research/ top article “SSHRC Insight Grants Tools and
Templates” (documents are also available via email)
The Tools and Templates documents linked above were originally developed by the Office of Research
Services at UNB. They have been adapted where necessary for use internally by STU.
New Brunswick Social
Policy Research Network
(Eric Gionet)
Questions?
 SSHRC
– Online Systems
Demo