Mandy Rowsell

The Harris Centre's Thriving Regions Partnership Process engages people in regions around the province in research, while also providing funding for Memorial faculty, staff and students to get the research done.

The Harris Centre has recently been working with a local advisory committee in the Humber Valley Region of our province; they held a workshop in Cormac in Fall 2021 with regional stakeholders to determine what their research priorities are.

We want to connect these stakeholders with the expertise and capacity at Memorial to help enhance the understanding of local issues and find sustainable solutions through the co-production of knowledge and practices.

This is a flexible fund with a total of $45,000 available for one or more applied research projects focused on the regionally-identified Humber Valley priorities. We welcome both EOIs seeking smaller amounts of funding as well as larger projects for up to the full amount available (i.e., up to $45,000) from MUN faculty, students (including international students) and staff. In cases where researchers request larger amounts of funding, we strongly encourage projects that lend themselves to multi-disciplinary research teams. An independent evaluation committee will make final recommendations with regards to both the number of awards and funding amounts within the $45,000 envelope.

The deadline for the Letters of Expression of Interest is January 28th, 2022.

Please provide up to 1000 words describing how your research will help address one or more of the priority themes that have been identified for the Humber Valley Region:

• Regional supports for social, mental and physical well-being: This theme recognizes that thriving communities are also healthy communities. Participants adopted a broader conception of health that included topics such as access to healthcare, independent living options, strong social networks, opportunities for intergenerational relationships and mental health training and awareness. There is also interest in the influence of transient workforce on the wellbeing of family and community structures. 
• Sustainable Population and Labour: Recognizing regional demographic challenges, the participants are interested in exploring and engaging innovative or non-traditional workforce models and improving life-work balance in the region. There is strong interest in identifying strategies for attracting new people and families and for retaining those already in the region. 
• Training, Education and Innovation: Programs focused on innovative training approaches and skills development for rural entrepreneurs and social enterprises are of particular interest to the region, including how to better educate and support youth in pursuing entrepreneurial business opportunities. 

Click here for more information on this fund and the application process.

Questions? Contact Chris Paterson, Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator at The Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, at cpaterson13@mun.ca