Two Arts and Social Sciences researchers awarded Canada Foundation for Innovation Funding 

Congratulations to Ellen Waterman (School for Studies in Art and Culture) and Maria Rogers (Department of Psychology) on receiving research infrastructure funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (CFI JELF). 

Dr. Waterman’s project, the Sonic Arts Participation Lab, will facilitate community-engaged research-creation projects in music, sound, and audiovisual art to address the complexities of ideological, technological, and environmental social change in Canada. The Lab will comprise audio and video equipment for co-creation, presentation, recording, post-production, and analysis of these collaborations. Adaptive equipment will facilitate equitable participation for d/Deaf and disability-led projects.  

Dr. Rogers’ project, Student absenteeism and child mental health in the post-pandemic era, addresses the dramatic increases in school absenteeism among the world’s children and youth. Emerging research suggests that student absences have doubled and even tripled in some regions, and rates of mental health problems in children are at an all-time high. Given the well-established links between school attendance and long-term child well-being and health, there is an urgent need to address the problem of student absenteeism. Dr. Rogers’ timely research will advance our understanding of this complex problem. 

The Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (CFI JELF) is a critical strategic investment tool designed to help institutions attract and retain the very best of current and future researchers.