File photo of the University of Lethbridge. (Photo: LNN)

By Joel Mendelson

University of Lethbridge receives funding for research projects

Mar 13, 2024 | 11:35 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Social Services and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has announced funding through several grant programs. Three University of Lethbridge (U of L) projects are among those receiving awards.

Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced funding in federal research support, which includes $35.3 million for 577 research projects at 66 Canadian institutions through SSHRC Insight Development Grants.

One of the projects receiving funding at the U of L is a proposed two-year study by Drs. Kevin McGeough and Shawn Bubel (Geography and Environment). It aims to examine how political leaders built sustainable economies in Iron Age Jordan.

Dr. McGeough says, “The study will provide opportunities for ULethbridge undergraduate and graduate students to be trained in field archaeological techniques and laboratory analyses.”

Another one of the local projects will investigate whether mindfulness can improve teamwork. Mindfulness is a state of being present and aware of what you’re sensing and feeling without interpretation or judgment.

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Dr. Anastasia Suart-Edwards, professor at the Dhillon School of Business in Human Resource Management and Labour Relation, is running the investigation.

Stuart-Edwards explains, “This project draws on teamwork theories and mindfulness to examine whether team members’ mindfulness scores are related to a state of shared team mindfulness.”

She adds, “We’ll also be looking at how team mindfulness relates to team processes, engagement and performance.”

The third project is being run by Drs. Christy Tu and Rhiannon Mesler, professors at the Dhillon School of Business (Calgary Campus). They will explore the relationship between charitable giving and social status, and how the positioning of a charitable gift to consumers can affect donations. They are proposing a series of six studies with both student and public participants.

Tu says, “This research has important implications for improving charitable giving and prosocial behavior in society.”

She adds, “Our results should help equip charitable organizations and governments with tools to better communicate and raise funds from consumers for prosocial purposes.”

Along with nearly $200,000 for these projects, the UofL will receive $2.4 million from the Research Support Fund, which supports the indirect costs of research.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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