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Carleton Grad Student Among Top Five SSHRC Storytellers

Wereley presenting at the Storytellers

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) today announced that Carleton’s Ian Wereley is among the top five finalists in its 2016 Storytellers challenge.

Wereley is a doctoral candidate in the Department of History. His winning video is entitled: Imagining Energy in Transition: Past, Present, Future.

Wereley serves as Managing Director of the Journal of the Canadian Historical Association. He studies energy transitions and the cultural history of oil. His dissertation explores Britain’s transition from coal to oil power, reconstructing the attitudes and experiences of early 20th century Britons in the process of becoming modern oil consumers. Through his research, he seeks to demonstrate how these histories offer contemporary petro-societies important lessons, particularly in their efforts to transition away from oil.

Wereley et al - Storytellers
Ian Wereley, other four winners and judges at the 2016 SSHRC Storyteller Awards

The annual contest challenges post-secondary students across the country to demonstrate—in three minutes or 300 words—how SSHRC-funded research is making a difference in the lives of Canadians. The top entries this year addressed a range of issues—from sustainable technologies and digital inequality to food security, transgender issues and special-needs education—and highlighted how knowledge about the social sciences and humanities helps Canadians understand and improve the world.

“The Storytellers challenge follows through on SSHRC’s mandate to connect social science and humanities research with Canadians,” said SSHRC President Ted Hewitt. “These students, and their creative, compelling stories, stand as shining examples of Canada’s next generation of research communicators. Congratulations!”

The five were selected from among 25 students in a national competition.

At least one Carleton graduate student has been in the top 25 ever since the Storytellers competition began. Two years ago, another Carleton student, Robin MacEwan, also won one of the coveted top five awards.