The BRNI makes strides toward its long-term plans

The Black-led Research Network Initiative (BRNI) continues to be an endeavour of impact that fosters excellence among Black researchers at the University of Alberta. The BRNI — which is housed at the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) — aims to build long-term and sustainable capacity for Black researchers across the institution, its colleges and stand-alone faculties. This includes aiding Black researchers as they apply for grants, identifying opportunities for collaborations and cross-disciplinary work and navigating ethics and the publication process. Further, it aims to foster mentorship opportunities for early career researchers, to leverage existing access to funding opportunities and to generate a platform that highlights and sustains the innovative and important work of Black researchers. In the long term, it aims to build an expansive and comprehensive strategy to achieve its goals. 

In its earliest stages, the BRNI connected with researchers across the institution to support the creation of the network, utilizing their knowledge and reputation in their respective fields. The BRNI has led or aided in the successful development of numerous projects since its creation both in the CSSH and across the U of A. These are just a few of BRNI’s success stories to date:

• Since the founding of the BRNI in 2022, research funding secured by Black researchers named as principal investigators has nearly doubled from $2.1 million to $4.1 million. In the first five months of this fiscal year, BRNI researchers named as principal investigators have also collectively secured $3.6 million. This could potentially lead to a record-setting year for Black-led research at the U of A. Over the less than two and a half years since the BRNI began, Black researchers have secured more funding than they did in the previous eight years.

• The Black Health Research Initiative through the Black Health Initiative aims to foster Black-led research capacity in the College of Health Sciences and support Black-led health entrepreneurship. The BRNI recently supported the effort with a $30,000 investment from external sources. 

• Launched in Spring 2024, the Black Youth for Social Innovation Program (BYSI) in the CSSH, is a Black youth mentorship and work program. Created by Black youth for Black youth, it empowers undergraduate students to address long-standing and emerging issues through research and leadership in the social sciences and humanities. With mentorship and employment components, BYSI connects participants with Black researchers at the U of A and leaders and innovators in Black communities. 

• Conceived, developed and led at the U of A in 2021 in the Faculty of Engineering in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, the Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (ELITE) Program for Black Youth is unique in that it is designed to create opportunities for Black youth to access paid experiential (hands-on and observed) learning and work-integrated training in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and business and psychology. Several BRNI research experts and scholars have helped run and grow the ELITE Program, which has secured more than $4 million in funding to support youth since it began more than three years ago. 

• The ELITE Program and the BRNI made a $15,000 investment of externally sourced funds for Natacha Louis, professor of Science and Technology Education at the Francophone Campus Saint-Jean and Shirley Anne Tate in the Faculty of Arts. This funding is to support work with Black Canadian Women in Action to conduct research that involves Black women in STEM entrepreneurship in Canada.

• Based out of the U of A’s Department of Political Science, Common Ground is a research initiative that parses the state of political culture across western Canada. It combines surveys with community focus groups, youth engagement and other methods. It is led by Jared Wesley, professor in the Department of Political Science, and has secured more than $500,000 in funding.

• Funded through a partnership grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Alberta Teachers’ Association and the College of Alberta School Superintendent, the School Leadership at the Intersection of Gender project explores the complex dynamics of educational leadership within Alberta's K–12 education system, focusing on age, gender identity, and the impact of parental and family leaves on women's career progression. The project is led by Samira ElAtia, professor and associate dean research and graduate studies at the U of A’s Campus Saint-Jean — where it is also housed.

• The Adesida Lab, led by Adetola Adesida, professor at the U of A’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in the College of Health Sciences, works to discover and develop autologous cell-based tissue engineering strategies to repair cartilage and meniscus defects. Supported by over $1.9 million in funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Adesida Lab projects are at the interface of basic and applied research fostering the expertise and collaborative efforts of chemists, biologists, clinicians, bio-engineers and material scientists.

• Better Than the Cure: Preventing Intimate Partner Violence, is an 11-episode podcast series featuring discussions on intimate partner violence from the lens of gender relations, engaging men, mental health, financial literacy, religion and more. The podcast is supported by partnerships with Partnership for Research with African Newcomers, the Africa Centre's Enhancing Gender Equity program and Women and Gender Equality Canada.

• Partnership for Research with African Newcomers (PRAN) is led by Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika, professor at the U of A’s Faculty of Arts, and co-funded through a $2.5 million SSHRC partnership grant and $1.7 million in matching contributions from partners. The multidisciplinary research partnership is dedicated to optimizing the settlement and integration of new Canadians from Sub-Saharan African countries.

• In October, 2023, the BRNI invited Black researchers at the U of A to a visioning session. Participants took part in an innovative and human-centred workshop to aid in the development of the BRNI. The BRNI collected the insights from this event and created a ‘What We Heard report,’ which is available online. 

The BRNI represents an emancipatory approach to the support of research and scholarship led by Black professors, students, postdoctoral trainees and other Black researchers and their allies. Through this effort, Black researchers define and drive the strategic directions that will facilitate collaborative, interdisciplinary and community-driven research projects at local, national and international levels, with a view to secure externally sourced funding to ensure long-term sustainability of their work. 

From an institutional perspective, the BRNI’s efforts align well with the U of A’s strategic plan of impact, SHAPE and the strategic plan for research and innovation, Forward with Purpose. As the network notes on its website, the BRNI “intends to take a global approach to research, connecting with scholars and research opportunities within Africa and Small Island Developing States to promote Black academic excellence wherever it occurs.”

“By investing in diverse talent, the BRNI hopes to create a research ecosystem that highlights researchers from historically underrepresented communities, helping to develop and retain exceptional researchers.”