Announcing the inaugural Zarina Somji Social Innovation Research Award

The Zarina Somji Social Innovation Research Award, established by the Office of the Chancellor and Senate at the University of Alberta, will provide $25,000 each year to a U of A academic faculty member and their team working with communities to address the complex social problems impacting communities within Alberta in innovative ways. 

The award is made possible through a generous gift from chancellor Nizar J. Somji. It is named in memory of his mother, Zarina Somji, to honour her community-minded spirit. For Chancellor Somji, the award is an opportunity to carry on his mother's legacy by supporting work that contributes to the communities around us.

Chancellor Somji says, "She lived her life in service to others. Whether people were in crisis, struggling or needed help, she was always there for them. It fits with what we are trying to achieve — figuring out how we help people in need and creating models that are scalable and sustainable into the future."

The award will support research that brings the university and communities together to develop novel solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our society. It will help move research into action by supporting projects that can be implemented or expanded on alongside community partners. The award will also grow the university’s expertise in social transformations, an area of research growth identified in Shape.

Applicants will be asked to describe the project, methodology, expected impact, roles of team members and community partners, and how the funding will be used to implement the project, extend its reach or enhance its impact. A committee of three to five individuals, appointed by the Office of the Chancellor and Senate and chaired by Dr. Carl Amrhein, will adjudicate the award.

Academic faculty members across the university are encouraged to consider whether their community-engaged research could benefit from the support of the inaugural Zarina Somji Social Innovation Research Award. 

Applications are now open. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, 2026. Full details on application requirements can be found here.