Western receives $9.8M in federal SSHRC funding

Western researchers earned nearly $9.8 million in new Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grants, announced July 21. That includes nearly $6.5 million in Insight Grants, a 72 per cent increase in funding to Western compared with 2025, and $3.3 million for 46 Insight Development Grants across six faculties.

Music history professor Emily Abrams Ansari received over $115,000 to study Toronto composer Ann Southam, whose music echoed domestic and craft work. Her team plans papers, a website, two books and a September festival symposium at the Don Wright Faculty of Music with colleagues from visual arts.

Law professor Ryan Liss received over $100,000 for a project on how sovereignty shaped international criminal law. Next year he will hold the Oliver Smithies Visiting Fellowship at Balliol College, Oxford.

Political science professor Laura Stephenson received over $400,000 over five years to study how loneliness affects trust in government and political preferences.