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This story originally appeared in Dal News.

Dalhousie researchers recently secured a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grant for the African Nova Scotian Research Ethics project developed in conjunction with Dalhousie’s African Nova Scotian Strategy. 

This $356,000 in funding celebrates research excellence in the social sciences and humanities, igniting scholars' passion to unravel complex societal issues and expand collective understanding. The faculties of Health, Law and Medicine committed another $25,000 each over five years to the project as well. 

“There is a wealth of African Nova Scotian culture, experiences and contributions to be explored through research. This African Nova Scotian-led project aims to ensure that research first ‘does no harm’ but also benefits African Nova Scotian communities and reflects our collective research priorities,” says Michelle Williams, a professor in the Schulich School of Law and the project’s Principal Investigator.

This African Nova Scotian-led project aims to ensure that research first ‘does no harm’ but also benefits African Nova Scotian communities and reflects our collective research prioritie

Prof. Williams is joined on the project by two co-leads: Melisa Marsman, an assistant professor also from the law school, and Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch, a professor in the Faculty of Health.

The project builds on a successful pilot community-based project initiated in 2021 and centres around the development of African Nova Scotian community-based research ethics rules.

Melisa Marsman. (Submitted photo)

A pivotal moment

The new funding marks a pivotal moment for the project, propelling it into its next phase. The project team will bring on an African Nova Scotian community engagement research specialist. The specialist will be crucial in actively maintaining research-related connections within African Nova Scotian communities, ensuring continuous communication about the initiative, and guiding project-related activities. 

The team is enthusiastic about welcoming an individual with strong community roots to energize this phase of the project and establish impactful collaborations across the province.

Research adhering to an ethics protocol developed by African Nova Scotians can profoundly influence whether data perpetuates systemic racism or genuinely improves their lived experiences. This work promises local, provincial, and national impacts on research methodology and dissemination. Moreover, it aims to influence government policy and research priorities. 

Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch. (Cody Turner)

“It is imperative that researchers take accountability for their actions and improve the way research has been facilitated,” says Dr. Hamilton-Hinch. “The African Nova Scotian community should be involved in any research about them. Not only involved but included in the research from the very beginning of the process to insure it is facilitated ethically which takes us to the important philosophy of Nothing about us without us."

The project team is honoured to be ranked in the top 30 per cent of all applications nationally. 

As the African Nova Scotian Strategy continues to expand its work at Dalhousie, this project is poised to lay the foundation for a more equitable relationships between post-secondary research institutions, government, and African Nova Scotian communities when it comes to research practices.