2023-2028
Knowledge for the Future: From Creation and Discovery to Application York University Strategic Research Plan
Table of Contents
02 | York University
02
About York University
03
Our Research Excellence
04
Message from the President and Vice-President Research & Innovation
06
Six Areas of Research Strength
14
Six Areas of Research Opportunities
22
How York is Enabling Research Success
24
Towards the Future
Strategic Research Plan | 01
About York University York is a top research-intensive, multi-campus University located in Toronto, Canada. We are one of the largest and most diverse universities in Canada with more than 50,000 students from more than 170 countries. York is an international leader in collaborative and interdisciplinary
research excellence. A community of changemakers, York is home to award-winning faculty at the forefront of their respective fields, with work that spans the globe and has real world impact.
Our Research Excellence York is committed to excellence in research and scholarship in all its forms. This plan seeks to advance York’s research vision – to aspire to better understand the human condition and the world around us, and to employ the knowledge we gain in the service of society and the health of the planet. This aspiration is reflected by one of York’s longstanding strengths – how we do research. At York, research is conducted through building trusting relationships with local and international communities, including the Global South, conducting collaborative research; critical analyses of social, political and economic realities; trans- and interdisciplinary research; fundamental and theoretical research; and decolonized and decolonizing research paradigms. Coinciding with these principles, this plan reaffirms York’s long-standing commitment to the values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice, as well as to diversity of thought. York strives to pursue inclusive excellence by decolonizing research and ensuring that our researchers are committed to a global mindset, ethical judgment, and critical integration of diverse ideas and worldviews.
An aerial view of York’s Keele Campus, one of the University’s three campuses. 02 | York University
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A Message from the President and Vice-President Research & Innovation Rhonda Lenton President and Vice-Chancellor Amir Asif Vice-President Research & Innovation
As a modern and progressive institution, York University conducts purposeful research about the pressing challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
Ranked among the top universities in the world for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - due in large part to a rapidly intensifying research enterprise - York U is on the rise. With research output at an all-time high, enhanced funding of worldclass research programs, and a campus expansion, the University is entering an exciting new era for research and innovation - an era of significant impact and greater benefits to the communities we serve, both locally and globally. This moment in time for York demands an ambitious and
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forward-thinking research strategy to build on our success and influence; one that speaks to the University’s community of changemakers, our founding principles of social justice, and our steadfast commitment to research excellence. Supporting the University Academic Plan Building a Better Future 2020-2025, our new strategic research plan is called Knowledge for the Future: From Creation and Discovery to Application. The plan lays out a vision for accelerating the growth and development of our research, scholarship, and creative activity, as well as our innovation arm, boosting entrepreneurship, commercialization, and knowledge mobilization efforts, over the next five years. This plan showcases the highcalibre research at York, the ground-breaking leadership and expertise of our faculty, and the unique and distinguishable traits that define us as one of the most comprehensive universities in the country. It is a plan for the community and by the community, having been developed after a series of open forums, public consultations and faculty presentations that engaged over 1500 York community members, all of
whom will ultimately help bring this plan to life. We have identified six areas of existing research strengths and six areas of opportunity for the University to direct its focus and resources towards in the years ahead. Investments in these areas, which are outlined in this brochure, will help us grow and expand the University’s capacity to drive positive change. The advancement of knowledge and the pursuit of discovery and innovation at York have always been rooted in social responsibility and community engagement. We leverage these core institutional values to continue our upward trajectory to create a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world. And in five years time, York will have a lot to be proud of as a research-intensive University that worked together to carry out the vision of our Strategic Research Plan, contributing to the wellbeing of society, and strengthening our reputation and standing. We invite you to learn more about our plan for research and innovation and join us on our mission to make things right for our communities, our planet and our future. Strategic Research Plan | 05
Six Areas of Research Strength
Advancing Fundamental, Discovery, and Theoretical Research and Scholarship
• York recognizes that fundamental scholarship, systematic examination, and the development of creative works and scholarly activities remain essential to the evolution of knowledge • Advancement of fundamental discovery research and theoretical research at York is sought through the formulation and exploration of critical questions that push the boundaries of traditional modes of inquiry and scholarship • Critical scholarship at York is a hallmark of the institution and is embedded in the research conducted in the natural sciences, engineering, arts, humanities, and social sciences
York is providing nationally and internationally recognized research leadership across six broad intersecting areas. Each area includes a broad segment of scholarship and is built upon several research strengths where York maintains research excellence. This forms the basis for York’s recognition as a leading Canadian research institution. York is committed to ongoing 06 | York University
investment that will support these research areas across the institution, which, in turn, will enhance the influence and recognition of our scholarship and creative activity more broadly. In highlighting these key research themes, we continue to strategically support our traditional research strengths and advance our research vision.
York is a leader in the field of life sciences research, including biology, biochemistry and environmental science. Biology is the University’s longest-established scientific program. Strategic Research Plan | 07
Building Healthy Lives, Communities & Reimagining Futures
• York researchers are improving the understanding, prevention and treatment of disease and injuries, with an emphasis on advancing the most promising practices for access to care, cost, accountability, administrative efficiency and effectiveness, while focusing on advancing equity, improving health care outcomes, seeking to keep people healthier longer • York has a growing reputation as a leader in global and transdisciplinary health research, reflected in the establishment of strong global health links and health-specific Organized Research Units that seek to both inform and transform policy, planning and practice • Research is further advanced through capacitybuilding partnerships that seek to inform policy and improve outcomes by bringing together clinicians, patients and researchers
York’s Motion Media Studio at Cinespace is a creative hub for film production, performance, immersive environments, and virtual production.
Illuminating Cultures and Cultivating Creativity
• York is an emerging leader in the conception of new media and design of digital technologies and a ground breaker in cultural production and creative research • York’s significant breadth and scope of scholarship in communications and cultural studies, fine arts, design, interactive arts and other digital humanities, computing science and engineering, philosophy and environmental studies, literature and linguistics and creative writing, draw together a community of researchers who cut across traditional disciplinary boundaries to facilitate dynamic collaborations in artsand-culture-related research creation • This scholarship is further complemented by the critical study of cultural traditions, production and performance practices, including Indigenous narratives and storytelling
York offers one of Canada’s largest nursing and nursing practitioner programs. 08 | York University
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Reaching New Horizons in Science, Technology and Society
• Taking an interdisciplinary approach, York researchers are exploring the complexity and impact of science and engineering, and technological innovation and the fundamental challenges facing our world today • Our researchers are developing solutions that address complex problems, ranging from environmental sustainability, water sanitation, and clean energy to youth homelessness prevention, modelling and mitigating disease outbreaks, and disaster and emergency management
York’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change is the first faculty of its kind in the world to bring together physical geographers, ecologists, social scientists, humanities researchers and artists.
Pursuing Justice, Equity and Sustainability: From Urban Dynamics to Global Challenges
• York scholarship also informs social decision making by recognizing that solutions to complex contemporary grand challenges have multiple interacting natural, social, scientific and technical features
• York researchers are pursuing collaborative, integrative and solution-oriented research on environmental issues at multiple campuses in various countries through international research partnerships that traverse borders and span social sciences, humanities, arts, natural sciences, law, business, and engineering • Research extends from understanding the global and international environment to exploring identity, human rights, citizenship and the movement of peoples • Researchers are drawing on the strengths of our diverse community to approach justice, equity, reconciliation, and sustainability through a holistic lens of collaboration, innovation and knowledge mobilization, forging new understandings of the natural world President Lenton explores Biskaabiiyaang, an Indigenous metaverse created by assistant professor Maya Chacaby, who teaches at York’s Glendon Campus.
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YSpace, York’s entrepreneurship and innovation hub, operates Ontario’s first accelerator focused on women-led products and service based businesses.
Elevating • Entrepreneurship Through Socially Responsible Innovation •
York researchers are fostering breakthrough innovations that enhance society’s capacity to sustain livelihoods and contribute to economic growth, while supporting the public good Scholars from across the humanities, social sciences, law and business are engaged in tackling evolving organizational environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues and examining how ESG factors and climate risks intersect with relevant policies and laws in Canada, including the impact on Indigenous communities and the duty to consult
• We are establishing a strong collaborative approach to knowledge creation and social and commercial innovation through the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, YSpace and Research Impact Canada, delivering unique entrepreneurial programming and initiatives creating impact from research 12 | York University
Strategic Research Plan | 13
Six Areas of Research Opportunities
York is home to world-leading experts in vision science, and a driving simulator is one of the many tools they use for applied research.
Digital Cultures and Disruptive Technologies
Emerging areas of research are underpinned by a strong vision of the York community. By achieving new levels of research leadership, in ways that bring a unique York perspective, we are solving some of the world’s most compelling challenges. Strategically, by committing to supporting and building these areas of opportunity, we are positioning ourselves to further 14 | York University
enhance the profile and deepen the recognition of York’s groundbreaking scholarship that informs our academic programming. These opportunities have the potential to further enhance the University’s profile, while others reflect the progress of our scholarship and the evolving world around us in areas where York researchers have the potential to excel.
• The integration of disruptive technologies into society is a critical area for accelerated research, including guiding the ethical, legal, sociological, and technical development of rapidly expanding technology, including AI, and high-performance computing that is associated with big data, as well as technological literacy • York will extend our leadership in new disruptive technologies as well as their applications in AI and beyond including social sciences, humanities, health and other STEM fields; interfaces and content creation, scientific inquiry, design, policy development and critical discourse in digital media • Researchers will advance the development and implementation of digital technologies to ensure their equitable and ethical adoption, as well as exploring how the increasingly digital world influences the way we live, interact and conduct business Strategic Research Plan | 15
Healthy Communities, Equity and Global WellBeing
• Over the next five years, York is committed to expanding research that focuses on the social determinants of health, health care regulations, digital health, health outcomes and the promotion of wellness • We will pursue new partnerships across health care, social services, natural sciences, engineering and global health sectors to extend the leadership and influence of our research • York maintains its aspirations for a new kind of medical school to focus on integrated, interdisciplinary, team-based family primary care, community health and wellness through the lifespan York is the first post-secondary institution in Canada to have a wholly autonomous Indigenous Research Ethics Board.
Indigenous Futurities
• York is publicly committed to ongoing efforts to address barriers to Indigenous research, and further building community partnerships and collaborations with local and global Indigenous communities that will contribute to improving community life while enhancing cultural, economic and environmental sustainability • The intent of this opportunity is to ensure that Indigenous-related research includes a commitment to listening to and learning from Indigenous people’s knowledges, laws, ecology, spiritual practices and experiences • Investments in Indigenous futurities will further support and enhance contributions to the scholarship of Indigenous ways of knowing and foster deeper engagement with the development of research projects and initiatives
York’s proposed School of Medicine in the City of Vaughan would deliver a progressive, populationbased curriculum, informed by new digital technologies. 16 | York University
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Social Justice, Peace, and Equitable Relations
• York was founded on a mission of social justice, and is active in supporting emerging Black and Indigenous researchers as well as addressing structural barriers in research • York is continuing our efforts towards decolonizing research and research administration, foregrounding the voice and needs of Indigenous communities within Indigenous research, facilitating research that is relevant to Indigenous life and respects Indigenous approaches to knowledge and learning
York’s EcoCampus in Costa Rica, Las Nubes, is a project of the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change that focuses on environmental conservation.
Climate Action for a Sustainable Planet
• York is dedicated to expanding collaborative research and programming that is relevant to the historical, cultural and creative productions of Black and other racialized communities
• York will invest in research to concretely address the climate crisis, building on and expanding its knowledge and experience related to climate change, applying our expertise on disaster response and humanitarian emergencies to acute weather events caused by global warming here in Canada and abroad • Research will also focus on issues of equity, justice and sustainability – whether food insecurity, global warming or species demise – major environmental challenges do not affect everyone or everything equally • York will continue to take a whole-institution approach to sustainability and has developed a new Sustainability Framework to ensure sustainability is a critical part of both the scholarly and social and cultural sphere of York’s campus and community
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York alumna Jasmine Swimmer, an Afro-Indigenous multidisciplinary artist, whose work depicts connection between community, identity and resilience, is displayed at York’s Markham Campus. Strategic Research Plan | 19
Inter- and • Transdisciplinary Research Innovation
York is committed to fueling and scaling novel transdisciplinary research approaches that will help drive innovative solutions to increasingly complex societal challenges
• With increased funding capacity and support for transdisciplinary research clusters, researchers will be able to accelerate the capacity of their fully launched research projects and initiatives and expect to pursue larger-scale external research funding • York will seek to expand more meaningful participatory engagement with aligned stakeholders and partners where possible and pursue new research partnerships and alliances with industry, government, community, and other organizations
York’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) program, Connected Minds, pursues cross-disciplinary and collaborative research, co-creating technologies with social scientists. 20 | York University
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How York is Enabling Research Success
These strategic initiatives include: Supporting programming that will foster interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration, global research excellence and world-class training opportunities Targeted investments to raise the recognition and profile of our Organized Research Units (ORUs) as internationally leading research hubs Continuing to build a variety of research grant development supports and programming, offering effective grantspersonship and research mentorship to our researchers
York will continue to support the pursuit of discovery and innovation, knowledge mobilization and social innovation by: Working to realize our full partnership potential through individual and conjoint collaboration with partners from the non-profit, public and private sectors Supporting multidirectional connections between researchers and research partners and encouraging the development of evidence that informs decisions about public policy and professional practice through the Knowledge Mobilization Unit at York York is among the top 40 universities in the world for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development goals.
York continues to prioritize resources in support of the development of its research enterprise with strategic initiatives that will continue to improve the institutional support of individual scholarship and collaborative research activities and programs.
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Growing the provincial and national reputation of York University as an leading entrepreneurial university with YSpace, our pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub Advancing our renewed commercialization strategy, with support from the Government of Ontario, to streamline the University’s support of innovation and intellectual property services to facilitate cost-effective commercialization opportunities for the York community and its partners Strategic Research Plan | 23
Towards the Future
Research, scholarship and creative activity are integral to the fabric of York. Their growth and development are among the highest priorities for the University. With a strong commitment to quality, social justice, responsibility and academic freedom, York delivers research that advances critical inquiry and scientific discovery, challenges our beliefs and perceptions, and affects the social, cultural and economic development of our country and beyond. This plan reflects York’s 24 | York University
commitment to research excellence and to the development of new knowledge and creative activity. In moving us closer to achieving our research ambitions, implementation will be established through collegial discussion with our units and faculties as well as our external research partners as we develop and align research priorities going forward. Success will be measured through demonstration of growth in national and international recognition of our research, scholarship and creative activity, further acceleration of the strong pace of growth of our research funding and outputs, the success of our students, the recognition of our faculty for their scholarly achievements, and the benefits delivered to communities and society at large.
View and download the full Strategic Research Plan 2023-2028 yorku.ca/research/SRP Strategic Research Plan | 25
Follow us on X @YUResearch Read & subscribe to Ascend, York University’s magazine dedicated to research & innovation yorku.ca/ascend Support York U research yorku.ca/alumniandfriends/give yorku.ca/research 26 | York University