Two researchers from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) have secured more than $300,000 in federal funding for their studies.
The funding, awarded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), supports research into 15th-century Jewish women who converted to Christianity in Spain and climate change education in northern B.C.
History Prof. Dana Wessell Lightfoot and School of Education assistant Prof. Hartley Banack received grants from SSHRC's Insight Grant and Insight Development Grant programs.
“With support from SSHRC, UNBC researchers are advancing knowledge on critical societal issues and informing public policy,” said UNBC President Dr. Geoff Payne. “These grants enable UNBC to address both local and global challenges, advancing our mission to foster thriving communities.”
The Insight Grant program supports researchers and teams advancing knowledge about individuals, groups, and societies. It also provides research and funding opportunities for graduate students.
“SSHRC-funded research enhances our understanding of the past and present, fostering a more informed public,” said UNBC vice-president of research and innovation Paula Wood-Adams. “By involving students, we are preparing the next generation to tackle complex challenges.”
Wessell Lightfoot is partnering with University of Toronto associate Prof. Alexandra Guerson to explore the lives of 15th-century Spanish Jewish women, known as conversas, who converted to Christianity. Their research, funded by a $240,994 Insight Grant over five years, examines how these women’s choices, work, marriages, and religious identities were influenced by their local contexts in Barcelona, Girona, and Valencia.
“We are eager to continue our study of Jewish women and conversas in late medieval Spain,” Wessell Lightfoot said. “Our project highlights the deep historical roots of current societal questions, demonstrating the value of understanding the past to address present and future issues.”
Banack received a $60,489 Insight Development Grant over two years for his Climate Education in Teacher Education project. Using participatory action research, Banack and his team will investigate northern B.C. K-12 teachers' beliefs about climate change and their approach to climate change education. The project also includes workshops for teachers on climate change action.
“Climate change is already affecting northern B.C.,” Banack said. “Teachers play a crucial role in preparing students to adapt. Our project explores how teachers understand and teach about climate change, developing tailored supports to enhance their ability to deliver the B.C. curriculum.”
Five other UNBC School of Education faculty members, including Joanie Crandall, Christine Ho Younghusband, Alex Lautensach, David Litz, and Glen Thielmann, are co-applicants on Banack's project.
SSHRC is one of three major federal research funding agencies in Canada, alongside the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
“The SSHRC Insight Research program funds projects aimed at advancing knowledge in the social sciences and humanities,” explained research project officer Sharleen Balogh. “Insight Grants support long-term research of two to five years, while Insight Development Grants back short-term projects of up to two years.”
