The Lewis and Ruth Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship (SCDS) supports research grant applications and projects that align with its mission, and to the extent that it has the resources, capacity, and expertise to do so. When evaluating support requests, we prioritize opportunities that:
- Promote equitable access to digital scholarship resources and expertise for researchers within and beyond those seeking grant support;
- Use institutional resources efficiently and effectively; and
- Build reciprocal and respectful relationships between the SCDS and its collaborators.
Support Guidelines
We are enthusiastic about working with researchers and have recently created these guidelines to make the process of support requests clearer and more efficient. We make the best use of the resources of our small but mighty team. As requests increase, we may need to consider scope, timelines, and alignment with Sherman Centre priorities when discussing our support. We ask that you contact us early in the grant-writing and/or planning process so we can discuss how best to assist you with your project.
Below you will find some general guidelines. We encourage you to read through them before you browse our grant and project support menu and complete the corresponding support request form.
Collaborations with SCDS are built on respect, reciprocity, and clarity. As support requests increase, we are streamlining our process for review.
Request and review timelines
To ensure that we have time to review your grant and project support request and pull together any required documentation, we encourage researchers to complete the request form at least two weeks before the earliest deadline. Researchers are encouraged to contact us earlier in their planning process, so we can have a conversation about how our support can benefit their project. We strive to respond to submitted requests within 2-3 business days.
The SCDS provides formal support letters for the projects it supports, presuming that requisite information is provided (via the request form) with appropriate advance notice.
SCDS support priorities
We prioritize partnerships that are mutually beneficial and that show a meaningful engagement with SCDS and its work. Those that most closely align with the Centre’s mandate and support areas and demonstrate a willingness to be a part of the community will be evaluated more favourably.
Strong projects will include one or more contributions to the Sherman Centre community: for example, presenting in-progress research at a roundtable, leading a workshop or panel at the Centre, holding a session for graduate students, or producing content to share in our newsletter or social media.
Post-award communication and acknowledgement
Applicants are expected to notify the Sherman Centre of the outcome of their grant application and to update the Centre as the project progresses. A follow-up conversation may be required to reconfirm both the project’s scope and our ability to provide support.
Successful projects must acknowledge the Sherman Centre’s support in presentations, publications, and other knowledge-mobilization efforts. Co-authorship should be offered to SCDS contributors where contributions are substantive enough to warrant it. You may also be requested to provide short summaries, links to viewable outputs, and testimonials for potential promotion via the SCDS website, newsletter, and annual report.
Grant & Project Support Menu
| Support category | Activity name and contribution details | Eligibility, expectations, and suggested reciprocal contributions | In-kind contribution value and details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event and Collaboration Support | Use of SCDS event space Access to the Sherman Centre event space for project-related activities and events (# per year over # of years). Space usage is strictly discretionary based on the project’s alignment with the Sherman Centre’s objectives. | Use of space must align with SCDS mission and mandate. Users are responsible for space configuration, technology, event logistics, etc. Users must return the room to its default arrangement after. Where appropriate and possible, users should consider making the event available to the broader digital scholarship community. | $250 / day. |
| Event and Collaboration Support: | Event promotion and coordination SCDS support to promote, create, or facilitate events (talks, panels, etc.). Includes any or all of: – Promotion via SCDS website, newsletter – Graphic development – Creating and managing event registration – Creating virtual meeting spaces, recording. – Post-event communications | Supported events must relate to the SCDS mission and mandate. Event date and details must be provided to SCDS at least 6 weeks in advance. Where appropriate and possible, hosts should consider making the event available to the broader digital scholarship community. | $80 per hour. Number of hours is activity-dependent. |
| Consultation and Collaboration | Network/Group meeting participation SCDS members participate in network or research group meetings in an advisory/consultative capacity. | Meetings and their host network/group must relate to the SCDS mission and mandate. | $80 per hour, per individuals. Maximum of 12 total hours per year. |
| Consultation and Collaboration | Project Consultation Project consultation sessions with SCDS members on a wide range of supported topics, technologies and methods. | $80 per hour, per member. Number of hours determined based on need and capacity. | |
| Consultation and Collaboration | Project Collaboration SCDS members are embedded in a project group and contribute actively to research activities (planning, collection, analysis, dissemination, etc.) | Projects must relate to the SCDS mission and mandate. Research groups and SCDS will engage in conversations about reciprocal contributions. | $80 per hour, per member. Number of hours determined based on need and capacity. |
| Training | (New) workshop development and delivery SCDS members create and deliver a new workshop or informational sessions in support of a research group’s specific needs. | Requests must be made at least 6 months in advance. Where possible and appropriate, sessions are delivered through the SCDS workshop series, at a date/time agreed upon between the requesting research group and the SCDS. | $80 per hour x 35 hours = $2,800 (per workshop) Topics and timing is dependent upon team expertise and capacity. |
| Training | (Existing) workshop delivery SCDS members deliver a pre-developed workshop in support of a research group’s needs. | Requests must be made at least 2 months in advance. Where possible and appropriate, sessions are delivered through the SCDS workshop series, at a date/time agreed upon between the requesting research group and the SCDS. | $80 per hour x 5 hours = $400 (per workshop) Topics and timing is dependent upon team expertise and capacity. |
| Training | Graduate Student Residency Participation Mentorship of and support for graduate student collaborators through participation in the SCDS Graduate Residency. Includes direct support from the SCDS Co-Directors during cohort meetings, and 3 x 1 hour consultations with SCDS members. | Students participate fully in residency programming and opportunities for knowledge mobilization. Students can present their learning as part of Sherman Centre programming, as invited. | $840 per year (per student). |
| Training | Access to workshops and asynchronous modules SCDS provides McMaster members open access to its catalogue of asyncrhonous learning resources for on-demand learning and training. | No in-kind value specified, but can be included in support letters to describe other institutional supports. | |
| Technology & Tools | Use of SCDS equipment for research-related activities Use of SCDS equipment for research-related activities. Equipment includes: 1. Computing workstations (in-person and remote) 2. Document scanners 3. 3D printers 4. Microcontrollers, microcomputers, and associated peripherals | Use of equipment must be negotiated with SCDS staff in advance. | $25 per hour per equipment item. Physical access to equipment is subject to SCDS hours and equipment availability. |
| Technology & Tools | Technical solution prototype development Support from SCDS members to implement proof of concept / prototype technical solutions, or install open-source software for internal use and testing. Carried out in partnership with the McMaster University Libraries or other infrastructure providers. Out of Scope: Implementing a production-ready solution or service to be used beyond the project team, or as a long-term solution. | $80 per hour, per member. Number of hours determined based on need and capacity. |
Request Support
Ready to order? Complete and submit our grant and project support request form. We will do our best to respond to your inquiry in 2-3 business days.
