Zimmermann awarded $1/2m research grant
September 20, 2006
Kristin Fryer
Over the next five years, Dr. Jens Zimmermann and Trinity Western University will receive $500 000 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), to aid Zimmermann in his research of religion and society.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Zimmermann, who was awarded the SSHRC Canada Research Chair in religion, interpretation, and culture this July.
Explaining his area of study in simple terms, Zimmermann said he is “looking at the role of religion and the comeback of religion in academia and pop culture.”
While he was happy to say that religion “is now viewed as legitimately shaping beings,” he also observed that “religion is seen as a source of conflict.”
Of the $100 000 Zimmermann and the university will receive each year, more than $40 000 will buy Zimmermann relief from teaching courses, giving him more time for reading and writing, “which is what I like to do.”
The eventual aim of his research is to write a book on humanism, a book on German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his interpretive faith, and a book on religion and culture.
Approximately $20 000 will be set aside each year to allow Zimmermann to go to conferences, purchase research material and bring in special guest speakers. The first speaker to come to TWU will be Richard Kearney, a world-renowned professor and philosopher, who will speak at the Christianity and Literature conference in May 2007.
Zimmermann believes this grant will be of great benefit to the university and to students, particularly those who are interested in pursuing graduate studies. This year, a portion of the grant will go to Amber Butler, a graduate student, who will be Zimmermann’s research assistant. The remaining funds will be directed towards Zimmermann as a retention scholarship, and to the university’s research office for administration.
Zimmermann is excited that this award coincides with the coming of President Jonathan Raymond. “This [research grant] is part of the change in our climate,” he explained.
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