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The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) recently announced the 12 finalists of its 2024 Impact Awards. Two of the finalists are faculty members in the Faculty of Arts and Science – Susanne Soederberg and Reena Kukreja, both professors in Global Development Studies.

The annual recognize the highest achievements by outstanding researchers and students in social sciences and humanities research, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities funded by SSHRC.

Dr. Soederberg has been shortlisted for the Insight Award which recognizes outstanding achievement arising from a single or multiple SSHRC-funded initiatives. It is given to an individual or a team of six people maximum (including the nominee) whose initiative(s) have significantly contributed to knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world.

“I believe that I have met the criteria in that my SSHRC-funded research has focused on investigating the most pressing issues on precarity and inequality, across multiple scales of governance and geographical sites,” Dr. Soederberg says. “I have also been fully committed to pursuing and fostering interdisciplinary knowledge production and global mobilization involving multi-stakeholders, from private and public sectors, with projects ranging from consumer debt to affordable housing.”

She adds the award provides well-deserved recognition to colleagues and her graduate students in her home Department of Global Development Studies and Political Studies, where she holds a cross-appointment.

“As with all awards, being named as a finalist for the SSHRC Insight has been the result of collaboration and institutional support from these Departments, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Queen’s University.”

Dr. Kukreja has been shortlisted for the Connection Award which recognizes an outstanding SSHRC-funded initiative that facilitates the flow and exchange of research knowledge within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community. It is given to an individual or team of six people maximum (including the nominee) whose initiative has engaged the campus and/or wider community, and has generated intellectual, cultural, social and/or economic impacts.

“I was overwhelmed with disbelief and joy when I heard the news,” she says. “My first though was to share the news with undocumented migrant men who were my collaborators for the multi-media installation. However, being undocumented and hence ‘illegal’ in Greece, many have moved on to other countries that offer better chances of residency and so are unreachable. But for those who are still in Greece, they were thrilled that their ‘voice to make people learn about migrant life has been heard.”  

Dr. Kukreja adds “this recognition is such an incredible validation for the undocumented, racialized migrant men who sought to provide their side of the migrant story to people – that of their lives as precarious labourers who face ‘othering’ in host countries because of their race, gender, or religion, and how their deliberate illegality lends to their dehumanization as migrant workers.”

The winners in each award category—Talent, Insight, Connection and Partnership, in addition to the Gold Medal recipient—will be announced on November 25.