Carleton PhD Student Finalist for SSHRC Storytellers Contest
By
Ellen Tsaprailis
Photo Credit:
Chris Cline
Carleton University Law and Legal Studies doctoral student Anita Grace has been named one of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s (SSHRC) top 25 finalists in its 2019 Storytellers contest.
Chosen from more than 200 entries, the 25 finalists representing 18 universities across Canada were announced on April 11. The annual Storytellers contest challenges post-secondary students to tell a story, in 300 words or less, of how SSHRC-funded research and knowledge about social sciences and humanities has great impact on the lives of Canadians.
Grace submitted a video entitled, “Women’s Reintegration and Employment” and was pleased to be selected as a finalist.
“I am quite passionate about issues relating to the criminalization and reintegration of women, so I appreciate this as a platform to bring awareness to some of these issues,” says Grace whose video explains the difficulties many women encounter leaving the prison system.
“I was fortunate to receive a SSHRC Bombardier scholarship in 2016 for my PhD work. The Storyteller contest is open to all SSHRC-funded graduate students—so I thought I would make an attempt. I have never made a video before, but I do have a background in print journalism and was very attracted the ‘storyteller’ aspect of this—the challenge to turn a complex academic project into an accessible story.”
As a finalist, Grace received a $3,000 prize and will attend the Storytellers Showcase at the University of British Columbia in June.
“I will be presenting my research there,” says Grace. “I’m nervous, but also excited. I’m looking forward to meeting the other finalists.”
The final five winners will be selected at the showcase.
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports post-secondary-based research and research training in the humanities and social sciences. Created by an act of Canada’s Parliament in 1977, SSHRC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Science.
Related Stories
Carleton University’s Top 10 Stories of 2025
As the 2025 season comes to a close, we reflect on the groundbreaking research, innovative leadership and inspiring community achievements that defined 2025 for Carleton…
Family Fun: Ravens Siblings on Competing Together
Game time is family time for a surprising number of Carleton University’s varsity athletes this year. Across the rosters, from hockey to soccer to rugby…
Transforming the Justice System in Indigenous Communities
Three times a year, a temporary courtroom is set up in the community centre in Kawawachikamach, a Naskapi Nation community more than 500 kilometres north…