The following excerpt is from the Carleton Newsroom’s article: “Carleton Researchers Awarded almost $2 Million for Innovative Projects through SSHRC“.
Carleton University researchers were awarded almost $2 million in funding for 11 research projects through Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grants. The projects touch on a wide range of subjects, from tracking the trade of human remains, and relationships between Mexico, Canada and the United States, to dialogues around victimization of Indigenous peoples.
“Carleton has always prioritized innovation and excellence in academic research,” said Rafik Goubran, vice-president (Research and International). “SSHRC’s support through these grants reflects Carleton’s commitment to advancing Canada’s global leadership in numerous fields.”
History Prof. Shawn Graham and his partners are looking for ways to combat the trade in human bones using machine learning and neural networks. There is a thriving online trade in anatomical, ethnographic and archaeological human remains that makes ready use of social media. The sheer volume of materials being produced, shared and sold can be overwhelming.
“I am grateful to SSHRC for supporting our research,” said Graham. “The trade in human remains is just part of a broader use of social media to trade in illegal goods. Trading in human remains or cultural objects does real harm. This funding will enable us to develop the tools, techniques and ethical approaches to help us understand and mitigate this trade.”