Research Awards
Western Research Excellence Awards
In 2023, Western expanded its recognition program to celebrate faculty members at all career stages for exceptional achievements in research, scholarship and/or creative activity. We recognize the responsibility and potential for research to significantly contribute to a more equitable, just and inclusive society; therefore, these awards embed advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization and accessibility (EDIDA) in the research ecosystem as a central area of celebration. Three categories of award are offered. Two awards in each category are offered annually: one in the area broadly defined as the natural sciences, engineering and health (research that would be supported by NSERC and CIHR) and one in the social sciences, arts and humanities (research that would, in general, fall under SSHRC's mandate). See More
Inaugural winners: Western Research Excellence Awards
Hellmuth Prizes for Achievement in Research
Previous to the introduction of the Western Research Awards in 2023, the Hellmuth Prizes for Achievement in Research were named in honour of Bishop Isaac Hellmuth, who founded The University of Western Ontario in 1878. Two such prizes were offered annually, one in the area broadly defined as the natural sciences, engineering and health, and one in the social sciences and humanities. See More
John Charles Polanyi Prizes
In honour of the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Government of Ontario has established a fund to provide annually up to five prizes to outstanding researchers in the early stages of their career who are continuing to post-doctoral studies at an Ontario university. The prizes have a value of $15,000 each and are available in the areas broadly defined as Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Economic Science. Western faculty members have won half of all Polanyi Prizes in Literature since 1987. See More
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada is the senior national body of distinguished Canadian scientists and scholars. Its primary objective is to promote learning and research in the arts and sciences. The Society consists of approximately 1,700 Fellows: men and women from across the country who are selected by their peers for outstanding contributions to the natural and social sciences and in the humanities. Currently, Western has approximately 40 faculty members who have been appointed to the Society. See More
Canada Research Chairs
The Canada Research Chairs Program was established by the federal government in 2000 to promote excellence and innovation in research by rewarding the country's leading academics and attracting the best research minds in the world to study at Canadian universities. See More
