Congratulations to Dr. Michael Lithgow
Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) recently awarded the Partnership Engage Grant to Dr. Michael Lithgow, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The Partnership Engage Grants provide support for research activities that inform decision-making for non-academic organizations. These partnerships let non-academic organizations and researchers access each other’s unique knowledge, expertise, and capabilities to solve and learn from each organization’s unique challenges.
Dr. Lithgow will be exploring how Indigenous and other remote communities create and sustain locally-owned and operated Information Communications Technology (ICT) access networks to overcome the “digital divide.” With the help this grant, Dr. Lithgow will be better equipped to examine different facets of the network creation process.
The research program will explore AlterMundi partnerships with five Indigenous communities in Cordoba, Argentina, and two remote villages in Chiapas, Mexico to better understand partnerships in socially and economically sustainable, locally-owned ICT access network solutions, and the strategies used by local communities to operate and expand networks over time. It’s an exciting opportunity for relationship building with these partnerships.
“There is much to be learned from how these communities have bridged the digital divide on their own terms, lessons that could have important implications for other communities around the world facing barriers to connectivity, including in Canada.”
– Dr. Michael Lithgow
Congratulations again Dr. Lithgow. We’re looking forward to learning more about your research!
