Blog
May
20
The push and pull of open government
Thom Kearney, Government of Canada – Open Government Secretariat
The 2015 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is happening at a watershed moment for Open Government in Canada. In November 2014, the Government of Canada released its Action Plan on Open Government 2014-16, a series of commitments to sustain a more transparent and accountable government. More recently, the third International Open Data Conference, hosted by the Government of Canada, the World Bank, and the International Development Research Centre, took place on May 29, 2015, in Ottawa.
At its core, Open Government is about giving Canadians...
May
19
Truth and Reconciliation at Congress
Nour Aoude, Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
As thousands of scholars congregate in Ottawa for Congress 2015, the capital will be anticipating the release of the final report of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The report will contribute towards truth, healing and reconciliation in response to Indian Residential Schools.
Justice Sinclair, Chair of the TRC is the opening Big Thinking speaker at Congress on May 30th and will offer a call for action towards reconciliation in Canada, including the role of...
May
18
Congress “above the fold”
Nicola Katz, Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Well before the start of Congress, the Federation and the University of Ottawa are actively engaging with the media to build buzz around Congress. In addition to organizing Congress, part of our joint mandate is to bridge the gap between the research community and the Canadian public. One way to accomplish this is to get the valuable research work undertaken in the community recognized and featured in the mainstream press. Yes, your research work!
You never know what will get the media’s attention. At Congress 2014, the media pickup was impressive, but it can be a bit of a surprise which research gets traction with journalists.
Last year, researcher Kathleen Riddell, a PhD...
May
15
Gobbledegook, or how to avoid it by entering the SSHRC Storytellers contest
Carla Funk, Doctoral Candidate at Royal Roads University and a Top 25 finalist in the SSHRC Storytellers contest
gobbledegook
British Dictionary definition for gobbledegook
/ˈɡɒbəldɪˌɡuːk/
noun
1. pretentious or unintelligible jargon, such as that used by officials
Has this happened to you?
You are out socializing when a friend asks you about your research, and you answer. They ask another question, and you reply again, this time a little more in-depth. Then, said friend turns to others and says, “Isn’t it funny? She just talked for 10 minutes and I don’t understand a word she just said!”
As a doctoral candidate I struggle to communicate with friends and family about something I am...
May
13
Discover the capital during Congress 2015
By Erika Hansen, Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost, University of Ottawa
There is no shortage of things to see and do in Ottawa, whether it’s your first time in the nation’s capital or a repeat visit. To help you decide what to do in your spare time during Congress, we have compiled a list of some of our favourite activities on our What’s on in Ottawa page. See what piques your interest, be it touring the iconic Parliament buildings, visiting a local brewery, or urban rafting on the Ottawa River! Don’t forget that, as a Congress attendee, you are entitled to discounted visits to certain attractions, tours and restaurants through the...