Deadline: 17-Aug-21
CIFAR’s third Global Call for Ideas is soliciting proposals for new CIFAR programs related to The Future of Being Human.
New program proposals should explore the long term intersection of humans, science and technology, social and cultural systems, and the environment. The understanding of the world around them, and new insights into individual and societal behaviour, have the potential to provide enormous benefits to humanity and the planet.
CIFAR is confronting challenging problems that require a diverse team incorporating multiple disciplines (potentially spanning the humanities, social sciences, arts, physical sciences, and life sciences) to engage in a sustained dialogue to develop new insights, and change the conversation on important questions facing science and humanity.
Benefits
- An unparalleled environment of trust, transparency and knowledge sharing
- A culture of risk-taking that accelerates discovery and yields breakthroughs across borders and disciplines
- Dedicated strategy and meeting support that frees researchers to do what they do best
- Dedicated support on knowledge mobilization to catalyze change in industry, government and society
- Dedicated support for strategic communications and public engagement
- Access to a global network of more than 400 leading researchers from 161 institutions in 18 countries including 100 Canada CIFAR AI Chairs
- Opportunities to mentor and collaborate with CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars, the next generation of research leaders
- Access to catalyst funds to accelerate collaboration and outcomes
- Unrestricted research support for program co-directors and fellows
Create Impact on a Global Scale
In the nearly 40-year history, CIFAR has made a significant impact on science and humanity. Widely-recognized impacts of CIFAR research programs include:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Role of strong institutions in successful societies
- Importance of the early years in brain development
- Endogenous growth theory
- Advances in superconductivity
- Socioeconomic determinants of health
- UN World Happiness and Well Being Report
- Quantum supremacy
- Genetic networks underlying human health and disease
Criteria
The International Review Body and CIFAR’s President’s Research Council will use the following criteria to assess the submissions.
- Research Significance: CIFAR supports research that accelerates cuttingedge knowledge creation and has the potential to make important contributions to the world’s understanding of complex issues.
- Knowledge Mobilization: A key component of a CIFAR research program is a program-driven Knowledge Mobilization plan that creates pathways to societal impact. Knowledge Mobilization at CIFAR is not a oneway dissemination or translation of research output.
- Excellence of Research Team: CIFAR’s model for supporting interdisciplinary research involves engaging outstanding groups of scholars committed to deep collaboration over a sustained period.
- Potential Leadership: CIFAR’s experience is that leadership plays a crucial role in the success of a given program. In addition to the research team members, in the LOI applicants are expected to describe the potential leadership of the proposed program.
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Efforts to improve equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) help research communities attract and retain the best possible pool of researchers, enable scholars to reach their full potential, and support research outcomes that are strong and more globally relevant.
For more information, visit https://cifar.ca/global-call/