King's faculty receive $540K in SSHRC grants to address societal challenges

King’s faculty have been awarded over $540,000 in Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funding for research that addresses real, pressing problems—projects focused on youth substance use, autism services, trauma-informed care, food systems, security, climate change, and global governance. Across nine funded initiatives, 16 faculty members are leading work, the outcomes of which could enhance theory and pedagogy and connecting ideas to impact.

Several of the projects were recognized through the 2025 SSHRC Insight Development Grant competition. Dr. Tom Malleson, Associate Professor of Social Justice and Peace Studies, is investigating the legal and democratic implications of collective workplace democracy. Dr. Lucy Hinton, Assistant Professor of Politics and International Relations, is examining how CARICOM countries are navigating the intersection of food security and climate change within the framework of global governance. Dr. Jennifer Silcox, Assistant Professor of Childhood and Youth Studies, is leading a study on substance use education among Ontario youth, working with Drs. Tara Bruno, Assistant Professor of Sociology; Laura Rosen, Assistant Professor of Psychology; Wendy Ellis, Associate Professor of Psychology; and Lynda Hutchinson, Associate Professor of Psychology; to better understand the perspectives of caregivers and educators.

Dr. Renfang Tian, Assistant Professor in the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics (MEM), and co-applicants Drs. Natalia Bezmaternykh and Jingjing Xu, Assistant Professors in the School of MEM, and Hui Feng and Felipe Rodrigues, Associate Professors in the School of MEM, are using empirical data and cooperative game theory to identify equity gaps in autism services. Dr. Derek Silva, Professor of Sociology, is contributing to a project led by the University of New Brunswick examining the ideological pressures behind risk-taking in Canadian hockey and American football. Dr. Stephanie Baird, Associate Professor in the School of Social Work, is a co-applicant on a trauma-informed care project based at McGill University, focused on the experiences of immigrant survivors of intimate partner violence.

King’s further distinguished itself in the 2024 SSHRC Insight Grant competition. Dr. Stephen Lofts, Professor of Philosophy, received funding for a four-year research project on Japanese philosopher Masakazu Nakai, whose work connects everyday experience to social transformation.

Drs. Hinton and Klaire Gain, Assistant Professor (LTA) of Social Justice and Peace Studies, in partnership with Urban Roots London received a Partnership Engage Grant to explore how local food systems adapt to environmental and social change. Dr. Erika Katzman, Assistant Professor of Disability Studies, is contributing to a SSHRC-funded Connection Grant, led by York University’s Dr. Iris Epstein. Their project—Mobilizing Collective Inclusion Pathways to Access (M-CIPA)—focuses on inclusive policy and service design informed by lived experience.

“King’s-led research is rooted in social justice, ethical action, and community engagement. These SSHRC awards reflect how our faculty are advancing knowledge that matters - work that addresses pressing social challenges while enriching the student experience and strengthening our communities. We are proud to see their scholarship recognized on a national stage,” says Dr. Erin Hannah, Associate Dean of Research.

With these new grants, King’s continues to demonstrate its leadership in mission-driven research that speaks to complex social issues and brings value to our communities and students. From local partnerships to international questions, these projects reflect the kind of work that defines King’s: thoughtful, engaged, and grounded in impact.