Prof. Claudia Mitchell receives SSHRC鈥檚 top research honour
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) today awarded its 2016 Gold Medal to Prof. Claudia Mitchell of McGill鈥檚 Department of Integrated Studies in Education, in recognition of her work to聽strengthen聽HIV/AIDS聽education and prevention.聽
The Gold Medal, SSHRC鈥檚 highest research honour, comes with $100,000 in research money. It is awarded to an individual whose sustained leadership, dedication and originality of thought have inspired students and colleagues alike.
Over the past two decades, Prof. Mitchell has demonstrated her passion for social justice through her work aiding youth in Canada and in countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, Russia and Ethiopia. Her research includes testing visual methods鈥攕uch as participatory video, photography and archiving鈥攖o engage young people, teachers and community health care workers in strengthening HIV/AIDS prevention and education.
鈥淔or over 25 years, Prof. Mitchell has explored innovative techniques for engaging and empowering young people and teachers around the world,鈥� said Prof. Suzanne Fortier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. 鈥淲e congratulate her on this well-deserved award, and thank the SSHRC for its recognition of the power of academic excellence to create real-world impact.鈥�
The award was presented to Prof. Mitchell at a ceremony in Ottawa by Greg Fergus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, along with Ted Hewitt, president of SSHRC. 鈥淗er efforts to strengthen HIV/AIDs education and prevention in developing countries through the use of video and other visual methods are truly remarkable,鈥� Fergus said.
Prof. Mitchell becomes the third McGill researcher to receive the annual award. Renowned philosopher Charles Taylor won the inaugural Gold Medal in 2003, and medical anthropologist Margaret Lock won the prestigious prize in 2007.
For more on Prof. Mitchell and her research projects:聽
