Dr. David Strangway, Chair of the Selection Panel for the eight new chairs in policy research, said today that no fewer than 37 proposals from 14 Ontario universities had been received by the October 14 deadline.

“On initial reading, I am impressed with the quality of the proposals,” said Dr. Strangway. “The Panel has its work cut out for it. I am also impressed with the responsiveness of Ontario universities to this call for service to the public, as well as to traditional scholarly endeavours.”

Proposals are being sent to distinguished reviewers in Canada and abroad. Their advice is being sought by the end of November. The Panel intends to meet as long and as often as necessary in December to meet the deadline of January 10 for announcement of the endowments.

Proposals were received in all of the eight fields specified in the Request for Proposals. Environmental policy and renewable energy and Educational achievement and at risk students were the most popular, followed by Health policy and system design, Urban policy – crime or transportation, and Economics and cross cultural studies, and Biomarkers in disease management and Bioethics. Proposals were also submitted for Postsecondary education policy and measurement.

Funding for the eight new Ontario Research Chairs in Public Policy was announced in the Ontario Budget of May 11, 2005. The provincial government has provided $25 million to endow new faculty chairs for research and the improvement of graduate education. The Council of Ontario Universities has arranged for an arm’s-length Selection Panel to award the endowments. In addition to Dr. Strangway, Panel members are Dr. Art May, Judith Maxwell, and Dr. Harold Shapiro. The Secretary of the Panel is Dr. Harry Swain.

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For further information:

David Strangway
Chair, Ontario Research Chairs
Selection Panel
(416) 979-2165 ext. 300

Harry Swain
Secretary, Ontario Research Chairs
Selection Panel
(416) 979-2165 ext. 300