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Announcements, events, and news from Spark

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April 10th 2025

Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University

Centre News

Innovation is about building the future today

Failed experiments can point the way

This is the final newsletter for Spark. As readers likely know, the centre is permanently closing at the end of June, and with the impending end of the school year, today and tomorrow feature our Goodbye Celebration, last newsletter, and last Spark Talk.  For the amazing team of Sparklers past and present that have loved this centre and are saying a slow goodbye, it is a sad time.

And yet, as people devoted to innovation and the advancement of social sciences at McMaster, there is a truth beyond the sadness.  Spark wasn’t the right answer to the challenge at hand.

Long before it became a centre, Spark was an ambition for a dedicated team of cross-disciplinary faculty. It was designed to advance interdisciplinary methodological rigor and experimentation.  And that vision sustained itself through years of meeting, a faculty survey, pilot testing, finding funding, recruiting their chosen director, and writing the proposal to become a centre.  And for the empirical researchers in the Faculty, the team that became Spark worked diligently to embody that vision – to become the support, the nudge and the inspiration to venture out methodologically, to interrogate the ‘way it’s always been done’, and to advance the kinds of social science research that can brighten the world.  We had that impact and were well on our way to having far more.

The mandates for Spark were to support methodological rigor and innovation in the Faculty, to raise enough funds to cover our activities, and to build an international reputation for excellence. All three were major challenges, but it turned out it was far easier to earn funding and reputation than it was to influence methodological adoptions in the Faculty.  Our services were well used and deeply appreciated by a core set of users in FSS, yet demand for empirical methodology support in FSS was limited. Seeing this, we expanded the range of services in response to identified needs in the Faculty and made our services available to those beyond FSS and the University.  We were very busy benefitting research teams in FSS, across the University and in the community.  We were building a national reputation with our Data Champions Research Data Management work, and we were bringing in funds and positioning ourselves to bring in far more under challenging circumstances.  But still the same core problem – we could raise awareness, encourage engagement, but we couldn’t change the basic internal demand.

In a time of fiscal austerity, FSS could not justifiably continue supporting a centre providing substantial research supports to a narrow subset of FSS faculty, students and staff, plus many others beyond the Faculty. Ultimately, the decision was made to close Spark.  And that decision makes space for new opportunities.

It has been a great honor and joy to build Spark into what it became, to have been building to what it could have become.  Our hope is that this is just an opening act – that the commitment that built Spark can be re-harnessed and that what we have done can inform the future.  While we are sad, we are also hopeful for the future of FSS and its wonderful people – space is cleared and the problem clarified.

So what is next?  To support your thinking about that, Spark will publish a final report discussing what we’ve done and the results as we understand them, as well as reflections on the experience, and what directions we intended to pursue.  We will also be publicly archiving many of our materials on MacSphere.  And many entities (the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Library, the Sherman Centre, and a new business called Brighter Spark Applied Research and Consulting started by the Brighter Spark team at Spark) will be picking up aspects of Spark’s materials and services to take them forward.

What is happening with each aspect of Spark will be communicated before we close. We’re doing all this because Spark is about innovation, and some day, hopefully soon, some of those reading this will gather in a room and ask yourselves, what is the challenge, what have we learned, and how do we build the future now?  We believe in FSS and its next stage of innovation.

Upcoming Events

“Taking Care: Tools for Balanced Work”

Many of us in academia struggle mightily with the idea of work-life balance amidst the expectations of others, our own ambitions and passion for the work. This talk discusses in-depth an approach to finding something like balance that the speaker uses to manage her own life and research.

Allison Van is the Executive Director of Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. She specializes in mixed-methods complex systems analysis, community/academic partnerships, and the translation of research into social change. Her career has traversed sectors and disciplines, including extensive work in agricultural and rural development, poverty, child welfare and juvenile justice, social entrepreneurship, and medical innovation. Uniting these experiences was a common approach to applied research and experimentation, allowing Allison to transform radically different systems and organizations. Previously, she was the Associate Director of Evaluation at the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute at University of North Carolina. Prior to that she worked at Winrock International, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the National Rural Funders Collaborative. Allison Van is currently building the Spark into an international model of innovation in social science research support.

Register for this Spark Talk here.

This video is a preview video for Allison Van's Spark Talk on April 11th, 2025.

Resources for Researchers

Research Conversations

We provide up to 4 hours of free support each year to any researcher (students, staff, faculty or community) on every social research topic imaginable.  If we can't help you, we'll help you find someone who can.

Request a research conversation here.

Qualtrics Licenses

If you are an Faculty of Social Sciences researcher who would like to request access to Qualtrics survey software, please contact us here.

Looking to pool software licences?

Now you can! Fill out this form and we will reach out if we can match you with others looking to pool licences.

Methods Demonstrations

Faculty in Social Sciences may request demonstrations, short trainings, or code-along sessions from Spark staff for Research Methods or Professional Skills courses.  We're happy to discuss any needs and have already developed trainings for Literature Review, Interviewing, Survey Development, Focus Groups, Data Visualization.  Email us at [email-masked] to discuss if there's a fit for your course.

CoLab

Research on research innovation (yes, it's very meta) points to a simple truth.  Being in the same physical space and able to informally interact significantly increases cross-disciplinary collaboration and discovery.  The Spark CoLab aims to be such a space.  It is a free, open co-working space for graduate students, research staff and faculty.  You can learn more on our website or stop by from 9 am - Noon or 1 pm - 4pm on Tuesday or Thursday for a tour and orientation.

SEAL

Some data is critical to addressing major research questions, but is also profoundly sensitive and must be secured.  SEAL is a high security data repository that allows approved researchers worldwide to access highly sensitive data securely.  Data owners can use it to engage researchers in using their datasets and researchers can access data that otherwise would not be available to them.

Learn more about SEAL at: https://seal.mcmaster.ca/

Brighter Spark Applied Research

Spark offers custom research and evaluation, as well as highly skilled assistance in implementing virtually any social research method. Our cost-recovery services include methods and software training, custom research, state-of-the-art facilities, and taking on elements of your project to support its completion.

For a full list of Brighter Spark Applied Research's services, visit here.

Spark Collaborations

Help us profile your research, publications, job ads, opportunities, and upcoming events by sending them to: [email-masked] to be showcased in our following newsletter.

Workshop: Turning Statistics into Stories

Description: Stories resonate with audiences while numbers alone may overwhelm. Join us for an introductory workshop that will help you to communicate the messages emerging from your data in a more effective manner. During this workshop, you will focus on your target audience, use statistics to present your story and put numbers into a context to help your audience understand your messages. Along the way you will learn some useful tips on how to use tables and graphs to illustrate your story.

Intended Target Audience: This is an introductory workshop; it may be too basic for advanced data users.

Registration Information:

For more information and to register for a session, please go to this link: Workshop – Turning Statistics into Stories P0001044 (statcan.gc.ca)

Cost: $325 per learner

Workshop: How to Use Census Data

Description: Conducted every five years, the Census of Population is the most comprehensive source of data on the demographic, social and economic characteristics of Canadians. The Census workshop is designed for those new to working with Census data or those who want to further develop their abilities in working with Census concepts, methodology, geography and analysis. The workshop material will explore the depth and breadth of data available and enhance participants’ ability to use the 2021 Census resources effectively.

Intended Target Audience: This is an introductory workshop; it may be too basic for advanced data users.

Registration Information:

For more information and to register for a session, please go to this link: Workshop – How to Use Census Data P0001156 (statcan.gc.ca)

Cost: $325 per learner

Analysis 101: Steps of the Analytical Process

How can you identify the right questions to tackle in your data projects?

Or translate data into useful insights for decision-makers?

One of our flagship courses, Analysis 101 introduces participants to the steps of the analytical process, to ensure policy or context-motivated data questions, so that participants learn to build a solid plan to interpret the data and share findings for different audiences. Through applied exercises and coaching from a top researcher, you’ll continue to build your analytical and storytelling skills.

Dates:

English: May 20-21-22, 2025, from 1:00pm to 3:30pm (ET) each day

French: December 9-10-11, 2025, from 1:00pm to 3:30pm (ET) each day

Cost: $500 per learner

Format: Instructor-led, 100% virtual on MS Teams, maximum 25 participants

Working with Disaggregated Data for Better Policy Outcomes

How can disaggregated data analysis empower the policy community in their work, such as addressing social and economic inequities?

What are the key tenets of a good disaggregated data story?

NEW course developed by top analysts and educational experts with specialization in vulnerable groups. Through interactive activities, a showcase of key disaggregated data sources and applied learning, participants will improve their ability to leverage disaggregated data to achieve better outcomes for Canadians, work through common data challenges, and communicate findings effectively.

Dates:

English: June 17-18-19, 2025, from 10:00am to 3:00pm (EST) each day

French: January 13-14-15, 2026, from 10:00am to 3:00pm (EST) each day

Cost: $500 per learner

Format: Instructor-led, 100% virtual on MS Teams, maximum 25 participants

If you are interested in attending these workshops, please email us at [email-masked].

Destination Horizon Grants

SSHRC has launched the May 2025 Destination Horizon Grants competition. These grants are intended to build capacity, foster existing partnerships, and further develop networks and/or consortia with European Union and other “associated countries” researchers, with the goal of applying to Horizon Europe—Pillar II calls for proposals.

Destination Horizon Grants are not intended to support implementation of Horizon Europe projects. Instead, the grants support activities between researchers that facilitate:

disciplinary and/or interdisciplinary exchanges;

scholarly exchanges;

intersectoral exchanges between academic researchers and practitioners from the public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors; and/or

international research collaboration and scholarly exchanges between researchers affiliated with Canadian postsecondary institutions and researchers, students and non-academic partners from the EU and other associated countries.

Eligibility

To be eligible for support researchers must be:

1) affiliated with eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions, and

2) working in disciplines, thematic areas, approaches or subject areas eligible for SSHRC funding.

Postdoctoral researchers and students are not eligible for applicant or co-applicant status for a Destination Horizon Grant.

Value and duration

Destination Horizon Grants are valued at up to $15,000 for one year. Matching cash contributions equivalent to 100% of the amount requested from SSHRC must come from the host institution. The VPR is willing to provide up to 50% of the required matching funds for applications selected for submission to the program.

Application process

The May 2025 competition is the second of three Destination Horizon Grant competitions in 2025. There will be a third competition in September.

For each competition, an institution may submit a maximum of three applications. Consequently, researchers who are interested in applying to the May 2025 competition will be asked to complete and submit to their Vice/Associate Dean Research (cc. [email-masked]) an internal Expression of Interest (EOI) form by April 16, 2025 (please see attached).

Kudos

Let's celebrate the achievements of colleagues, friends, and those doing important social research with the potential to spark a brighter world. We welcome recommendations for kudos features (including for yourself)! Please send any features you would like us to mention by emailing us at: [email-masked].

Congratulations to Sana Khan for being named 2024 Social Sciences Internship Student of the Year. During Summer 2024, Sana Khan undertook a paid internship as a Research Assistant at the McMaster Health Forum. Read more about this here.

Congratulations to Emmalee Parago for being named 2024 Social Sciences Co-op Student of the Year. During Summer 2024, Emmalee undertook a co-op placement as an attraction and economic development student on the Attraction and Economic Development team for the City of Hamilton. Read more about this here.

Congratulations to International student Charlotte Kim for landing a position as an operations coordinator at Habitat for Humanity Halton Mississauga Dufferin (HMD) and is gaining valuable work experience and connections as part of her degree program. Read more about this here.

Congratulations to Erica Speakman for winning the 2025 McMaster Students Union Teaching Award for Social Sciences. Read more about this here.

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