Prentice Post
Spring 2020 Volume 11 Issue 1
Prentice Institute Leadership Message
Inside this issue:
World War. Canada’s death toll was 55,000,
Trevor Harrison, PhD,
Interim Director Prentice Institute Associate Professor Sociology Department University of Lethbridge
mostly young adults, nearly as many deaths
Leadership Message
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as from the war.
New Director Search
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Seed Grant Opportunities
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New Research Grants
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Governance Structure
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Student Researcher Funding
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As in these past pandemics, the current one is resulting in profound economic and social changes, many of which are likely to continue long after the current crisis has abated.
As I write, Alberta, Canada – the world –
But while the pandemic is a medical event,
are in the grips of a pandemic caused by a
it is also much more than that. Our most
coronavirus, Covid-19. The pandemic has
recent pandemics have all involved diseases
already infected over one million people,
that jumped from animals to humans
with over 53,000 deaths. While the rate of
(“zoonotic diseases”) - HIV, Ebola, Zika,
transmission appears slowing in some coun- Hendra, SARS, MERS and bird flu. These tries, it is speeding up in others, notably the
diseases didn’t just “jump,” however. They
United States, where the most recent figures moved as the result of human decisions and show 210,000 cases and over 4,500 deaths.
actions the understanding of which requires
Top American health officials estimate the
the efforts of a whole array of disciplines,
number of cases for that country could hit
including biology, economics, environmen-
150 million with perhaps 100,000 to
tal studies, and sociology – in short, the
200,000 deaths.
kind of interdisciplinary research that lies at the heart of the Prentice Institute’s mandate
How bad might the pandemic become?
and mission. I have no doubt too that all of
Thomas Homer-Dixon contends, based on
you are already considering the broader
competing lethality rates of 0.5 to 3.0
questions and implications arising from this
percent, that the number of deaths world-
pandemic.
wide could be between 12 million and 150 million.
In closing, I want to acknowledge everything that all of you personally are going
This is not, of course, the world’s first pan-
through, and to also thank in particular the
demic. The most in famous in recent
Prentice Institute’s staff who have continued
memory of course is the Spanish Flu epi-
to do their work diligently, faithfully, and
demic of 1918-20 that took the lives of be-
with purpose. I implore all of you to please
tween 50 and 100 million people worldwide take care and stay safe, so that we may all – more than the recently concluded First
get together in person when this is over.
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Mission Statement The Prentice Institute excels at researching the changing human population and its potential impacts on social and economic issues, and communicating its findings widely. The Prentice Institute and its research collaborators seek to understand longterm changes in the human and economic environments, within a historical context, with particular attention to the role human actions play in influencing those outcomes. We conduct and integrate research on the dynamics of Canadian and global demography and their impacts on economic wellbeing through migration, culture, trade and natural resource availability.
We communicate widely the output of our work and that of others to stimulate further research and to enable individuals, governments, and corporations to make better-informed decisions. We educate students and future researchers.
Prentice Post is the bi-annual newsletter of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy at the University of Lethbridge.
Spring 2020, Volume 11, Issue 1
Prentice Post
Prentice Institute Seeks a New Director knowledge of social demography and economics, related to themes that may include income inequality and family structure, migration, the environment, aging and fertility, health, and labor markets.
On March 31, 2020 the search for the new Director of the Prentice Institute officially began. The wording of the announcement was the first matter considered by the newly formed Steering Committee and the Strategic Governing Council. The Prentice Post is also publishing the position announcement. Interested parties should consult the linked Human Resources page for special instructions.
The successful candidate will also bring demonstrated ability to navigate academic administration, with exceptional interpersonal and advocacy skills, as well as demonstrated commitment to cross-cultural and interdisciplinary competencies, intercultural sensitivities and collegial governance. For a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, as outlined in the University of Lethbridge Centres and Institutes The Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy Policy, please refer to https://www.uleth.ca/ seeks a visionary Director, committed to leading its talented prenticeinstitute/prentice-institute-policies-and-procedures members and affiliates toward international prominence in transdisciplinary research and training. Founded on the Our University’s Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Saprinciple of liberal education, the University of Lethbridge cred Buffalo Stone. The University is located in Blackfoot is a comprehensive academic and research university that Confederacy territory. We honour the Blackfoot people and provides its students with a personal and engaging learning their traditional ways of knowing in caring for this land, as experience. At the graduate level, the university offers well as all Aboriginal peoples who have helped shape and thesis- and course-based doctoral, masters, diploma, and continue to strengthen our University community. Located certificate programs, and attracts highly qualified postin Southern Alberta near the Rocky Mountains, Lethbridge doctoral fellows. With fifteen transdisciplinary centres and offers a sunny, dry climate that is agreeably mild for the institutes, the University of Lethbridge strives to produce prairies, excellent cultural and recreational amenities, and research outcomes that address the problems and opportuni- attractive economic conditions. Founded in 1967, we have ties of society in the 21st Century. This includes the remained true to our vision – a student-focused, researchPrentice Institute, which is an endowed Institute, thanks to intensive institution, grounded in the liberal education the generosity of the family of John Prentice. The Director tradition – as we have grown to a student body of 9000. of the Prentice Institute will work in collaboration with key For more information about the University, please visit stakeholders to implement and advance the Institute’s our web site. Research, Academic, and Strategic Plans, and to foster success in all of its initiatives and priorities. The University of Lethbridge recognizes that researchers have varying career paths and that career interruptions The central research mandate of the Prentice Institute is to due to personal circumstances can be part of an excellent examine big-picture issues relating to global population academic record. As such, the impact of certain circumchanges within a broad historical framework, while also stances (including, but not limited to, parental leave, family connecting local and regional changes with similar global responsibilities, illness, disability, research in emerging trends. In doing so, the Institute will provide information fields and limited access to resources) that may legitimately and contribute to the development of policy options to affect a candidate’s record of research achievement will be guide Canadians and their governments in addressing some given careful consideration when assessing the candidate’s of the difficult challenges facing the world. prior career history. Candidates are strongly encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience The ideal candidate shall hold, or be suitable for appointand/or career interruptions, to allow for a fair assessment ment at, the rank of Professor. The Director will bring a of their application and research achievements. world-class research program, as well as expertise in global population, its relationship to social, cultural, physical, and Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but economic well-being, its relationship to socioeconomic consideration of complete files will commence on April 30, development and resources, and implications for global 2020. The expected start date of the appointment is negotiastability. Valuable strengths would include recognized ble, but will ideally begin before the Fall 2020 semester, expertise in formal demographics, including strong statisti- and as early as July 1, 2020. cal and methodological techniques, as well as a broad Continues on Page 3
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Prentice Post
Spring 2020 , Volume 11, Issue 1
alumni to achieve the desired outcomes identified within our Strategic Plan. Further, we recognize the benefits of a diverse research and academic culture reach far beyond the University. To this end, the University of Lethbridge is The University of Lethbridge offers competitive benefits, strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from members of racialand salary will be commensurate with qualifications. ized groups, Indigenous persons, all genders, persons with disabilities, members of sexual and gendered minority All applications must be submitted online and should include a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, and contact groups, and others with the skills and knowledge to contribute to the diversification of ideas. information for three references, preferably academics in the field. For details on how to submit your application, please visit our Human Resources website and choose the We also value and acknowledge our responsibility to proAcademic Postings option. References will be contacted mote equity in the employment of women, racialized/visible directly with information on how to submit their reference minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, and persons letters. In the application package, candidates should also with disabilities. As such, the University of Lethbridge is identify their strengths and experiences with respect to committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion in their instituenvironment, starting with the hiring process. If you require any accommodations during any phase of the hiring tional environment. process, please contact Human Resources at human.resources@uleth.ca, to request accommodation. This position is open to all qualified applicants although All private information received in relation to your preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permaaccommodation request will be kept confidential, and only nent residents of Canada. information required to facilitate the accommodation will be shared with the selection committee. The University of Lethbridge recognizes our success is dependent on how well we include, value, and engage a https://uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/4317 diversity of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and
New Director (continued from p2)
Prentice Institute Seed Grants Grow Research Oppor tunities The Seed Grant was established early-on at the Institute. Some of the noteworthy projects of the past include investigating the feasibility of a food hub for locally grown agricultural production and looking at the intersection of gender in crisis response after Typhoon Haiyan. As an outcome of the AQA review, the terms of reference, granting process, and attribution requirements have been more clearly defined. In addition, the number of awards per year has been doubled. Excerpted here are some of these, but please consult the website for full details .
that are conceptualized to be applicable for subsequent external funding. The criteria used to evaluate applications are as follows: • Fit with the mandate of the Prentice Institute. • Overall merit of the research proposal. • Originality and significance of the proposed research.... • Likelihood of project developing into an externally fundable project.
The Prentice Institute supports its research affiliates in their application for external research grants by offering the Prentice Institute Research Seed Grants (PIRSG). The Institute encourages research affiliates to build research teams, possibly interdisciplinary teams, which could include colleagues at the University of Lethbridge or elsewhere. The PIRSG is not intended to provide funding for major projects initially but rather projects
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• Research record of the applicant/lead researcher. • Training of graduate students. • Justification of the proposed budget. • Likelihood of the project developing into an externally fundable project. Two awards are given per annum. The spring deadline is extended to April 30th this year.
Prentice Post
Spring 2020 , Volume 11, Issue 1
New Prentice Institute Research Grants Much of the work that has been done over the past few months at the Institute has been to accomplish the goal of making it easier for Affiliates to benefit from the Prentice Institute in conducting research with the Institute. Consistent with the AQA review recommendations, the Institute established new funding to support the research of affiliates. Dr. Alexander Darku, recent interim director, in consultation with the Steering Committee envisioned the fourfold approach explained in the new Prentice Affiliates Research Program, the essentials of which are highlighted in this issue of Prentice Post. Further details are available through the Prentice Institute web site. Among the new resources are direct grants for Affiliate research.
Up to $60,000 to be awarded annually.
The Prentice Institute Research Affiliate Funding (PIRAF) provides for up to 3 awards of up to $20,000 each to be awarded annually. University of Lethbridge Research Affiliates of the Prentice Institute and their research teams are eligible to apply. The program calls for the Research Advisory Committee & Steering Committee to create “explicit calls for collaboration on PI research priority areas, directly encouraging individuals to develop collaborate relationships, identifying synergies and overlapping interests that would result in useful collaborations, or holding workshops on topics that represent policy priorities of government or community-based agencies (e.g., with multiple speakers) with a goal of identifying synergies and developing collaborative research.“ The funds can be used for research assistants, travel and other research related expenses. While there has been some delay in committee business because of the pandemic, hope is that the RAC will soon be launched, identification of priority areas will follow, and calls for funding proposals will assist in lifting the research of affiliates to the benefit of the world.
Prentice PostDoc Update Md Kamrul Islam is a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Prentice Institute. The Prentice Post had an opportunity to inquire of Kamrul about his recent accomplishments. P: What is unique about your research in the recent article, Regional variations of contraceptive use in Bangladesh: A disaggregate analysis by place of residence, published in PLOS ONE journal this March? K: In our study, we calibrated separate analysis for rural and urban areas to assess regional variations of contraceptive usage in Bangladesh. This helps policy makers and program planners to identify the regions where greater interventions are needed for achieving the desired target of Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR)--72% by 2021 P: What is the potential of your findings for policy? K: Currently Bangladesh has more than 166 million population--in an area of less than one-fourth of Alberta. Findings of our study will provide an evidence-based direction for adapting a pragmatic approach to reducing the divisional disparity of contraceptive usage in Bangladesh. P: How have you adapted your working process to the pandemic situation? K: We are adapting to the new normal of working from home. It is made easier by the excellent support from the Prentice Institute, IT Services, and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. P: How would you describe your concerns for Bangladesh at this time? K: I am very concerned. People in Bangladesh are very vulnerable to the pandemic because it is a very densely populated country, has several resource constraints and inadequate healthcare facilities. P: What excites you about the work you are doing and the projects lined up for the future? K: I am excited that our team gets to unlock the potential that linked administrative data through the Research data Centre (RDC) offers for analysis informing policy on population health and healthy aging. After that, I’ll be glad to collaborate internationally on population research with institutes in Asia, supporting the international connections of the Prentice Institute.
Photo Credit: NASA Images
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Prentice Post
Spring 2020, Volume 11, Issue 1
Governance Structure of the Institute As an outcome of the Academic Quality Assurance Process, the Institute has revised its governance structure to include four governing bodies as are set forth in the newly adopted Prentice Institute Policies and Procedures. Some of the features are summarized here. The Prentice Institute has a Strategic Governing Council (SGC) made up of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, the VicePresident of Research, and the Director of the Institute. The SGC implements the recommendations of the Steering Committee or else returns suggestions to the committee for adjustment where needed. The Steering Committee (SC) is made up of 11 voting members and is comprised of the Director, the Associate Director and tenured faculty members including one each (five in total) from the Dhillon School of Business, Education, Health Sciences, Fine Arts, and the School of Liberal Education; and four (4) from the faculty of Arts and Sciences. The SC provides for the strategic direction of the institute, creates and implements the research, education and operational plans of the institute, provides overall advice and guidance on the institute's activities, and has other duties. Informing the Steering Committee are the following committees. In addition the SC may organize other committees as needed. The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is made up of five tenured faculty drawn from research areas relevant to the Institute’s Vision and Mission. The mem-
Governance Structure of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy bers are selected by the Steering Committee. The RAC develops a 5-year plan for the research themes, training, and dissemination activities of the Institute. The Academic Advisory Committee (AAC), also made up of five tenured faculty, focuses on creating opportunities for interdisciplinary education and training programs linked to the mandates of the Institute. Its work includes increasing involvement of undergraduate and graduate students in the Institute’s research activi-
ties, creating opportunities for students to become aware of-, and involved with-, the Institute. The Policies and Procedures document also includes sections that lay out the duties of the Prentice Institute Director consistent with the revised Research Centres and Institutes Policy. There is also clarification of the duties of the Associate Director, and explanation of the various accountabilities within the structure, as was called for in the external review of the Institute.
The Members of the Steering Committee The Prentice Institute Steering Committee (SC) was established on October 22, 2020. The three remaining members of the advisory committee under the previous structure were consulted in nominating members to a transition board made up mostly of long-time affiliates of the institute. This board met and in turn appointed the members of the Steering Committee. The SC was organized under the mandate of the revised Research Centres and Institutes Policy, which specifies the steering committee’s existence and duties. The SC was then able to make recommendations for the adoption of policies and procedures of the institute that were harmonized with the Policy for Research Centres and Institutes, adjusted by input from the Dean of
Members of the SC Olu Awosoga Reginald Bibby Glenda Bonifacio Jim Byrne Alexander Darku James Graham Trevor Harrison Noella Piquette Ivan Townshend John Usher Wei Xu 5
Arts and Sciences, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Vice President (Research), Vice President (Academic) and ultimately approved by the Board of Governors of the University. Dr. Darku, the Interim Director at the time, kept a constant momentum behind the progress on the procedures document and the Affiliates Research Program document, provisions of which are highlighted in this issue of the Prentice Post. The Steering Committee next turns its attention to establishing the Research and Academic committees. Once this is accomplished the Governance structure of the Institute will be fully in place, a priority emerging from the Academic Quality Assurance process engaged last year.
Prentice Post
Spring 2020 , Volume 11, Issue 1
Prentice Institute Announces Student Funding
New Affiliate
The Prentice Institute introduces new scholarships and assistantships for students working on topics related to the institute’s vision and mission. The Prentice Undergraduate Research Scholarship (PURS) offers financial support to senior level undergraduate students who undertake a research project associated with independent study, applied studies or thesis under the supervision of a Prentice Institute research affiliate. Ideally, the project should be part of the supervisor’s ongoing research project for the Prentice Institute. The intent of the scholarship is to increase involvement of undergraduate students in Prentice Institute research activities. The scholarship is also an excellent way that research affiliates could identify and recruit well qualified graduate students and ultimately develop the next generation of scholars in Prentice Institutes’ research areas. Scholarship holders are expected to participate in Prentice Institute’s research programs and activities. The research scholarship is administered by the Prentice Research Advisory Committee. • The value of the award is $1,500. • Apply by October 31. The Prentice Graduate Affiliate Research Assistantship (PGARA) is another mechanism to encourage research affiliates to conduct research in conjunction with the Prentice Institute by recruiting graduate students as research assistants. It offers financial support to graduate students who engage in Prentice Institute research projects in furtherance of the Institute’s mission, through their supervisors who are research affiliates of the Institute. This research assistantship enables students to progress towards an advanced degree while performing research activities consistent with the fund requirements. It also enables students to gain knowledge and skills to become independent scholars. • Minimum $13,000 annually (PhD) for 3 full GAs • Minimum $10,800 annually (Masters) for 3 full GAs • Appointments are renewable: The maximum years of award for a PhD student is four (4) years and for a Masters student is two (2) years. The Prentice Graduate Research Fellowship (PGRF) The fellowship is overseen by the School fo Graduate Studies through application portal. Pursuit of thesis research, normally under the supervision of a Prentice Research Affiliate, in alignment with the research objectives of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy: longterm global impacts of demographic, economic and social issues related to changes in the world population patterns. A GPA of 3.7 and evidence of research excellence and ongoing research potential are required. • The value of the award is $12,000 annually. • Apply by May 15
Prentice Institute welcomed a new Research Affiliate, Dan O’Donnell. Daniel Paul O’Donnell is a professor of English and associate member of the University Library Academic Staff. His original training was in the study of early medieval English language and literature. In recent years, he has expanded his focus to explore the practice and dissemination of research in the Humanities and across the disciplines in the digital age. He has played a leading role in many of the most important international research projects in the Digital Humanities and Open Science of the last twenty years. These include stints as Director or President of the following: • Force11, • The Text Encoding Initiative, • Global Outlook: Digital Humanities • Digital Medievalist • Canadian Society for Digital Humanities. He has received funding in Open Science and Medieval Studies from SSHRC, CFI, Mellon, Sloan, and Moore. He is currently director of the FORCE11 Scholarly Communications Institute, a workshop for researchers on Open Science and scholarship held each August in Los Angeles.
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