Canada Research Chairs fit strategic research plan

In the first round of a federal government program announced in the 2000 budget, Trent University has been approved for the first two of its total allocation of eight Canada Research Chairs (crc). These chairs are research professorships to be held by outstanding scholars (junior and senior levels) and funded through the crc Program.

Prior to Trent's submission of crc nominations, the university was required to prepare a Strategic Research Plan that identified research strength areas for future institutional development. These areas, identified through a process of consultation, are shown on Page 1.

Bryan D. Palmer will be offered the Tier 1 Senior Canada Research Chair at Trent University to focus on Canadian Studies. This is a seven-year renewable chair available to outstanding experienced researchers with evidence of research excellence. Palmer is currently a member of the History Department at Queen's University, Kingston and has made major contributions to the history of the Canadian working class and social history. He received his BA from Western, his MA and his PhD from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton.

Eric Helleiner, an Associate Professor in the Political Studies department at Trent University with a specialization in global politics and global political economy, will be offered the Tier 2 Junior Canada Research Chair to focus on International Studies. A five-year chair, renewable once, is targeted at those with great potential for research excellence. Helleiner received his BA in political science and economics from the University of Toronto and his MSc and PhD from the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics. He taught at the London School of Economics before coming to Trent in 1991. He has also taught at York University.

Both professors are expected to take up the posts effective July 1, 2001. The key objective of the Canada Research Chairs Program is to enable Canadian universities to achieve the highest levels of research excellence and become world-class research centers in the global, knowledge-based economy.

The Canada Research Chairs Program is governed by a Steering Committee comprising the presidents of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (nserc), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (cihr), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (sshrc) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (cfi), as well as the deputy minister of Industry Canada.