The Canada Program, funded by the William Lyon Mackenzie King endowment, examines Canadian economic, social, cultural, and political issues in their domestic and international dimensions. Chaired by the William Lyon Mackenzie King Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies, the program’s seminar meets approximately six times each academic semester to host presentations by invited scholars, artists, public figures, and experts from various disciplines. The seminar provides a forum for the lively exchange of ideas on a wide range of issues and offers the Harvard community of faculty and students a perspective on Canadian scholarly and public life. Richard Simeon, a professor of political science and law at the University of Toronto, is the 2007-2008 William Lyon Mackenzie King Visiting Professor.

The Canada Program is particularly pleased to begin providing thesis research support to undergraduates starting in 2008 and will award three undergraduate thesis research grants of up to $3,000 each for field research in Canada. Recipients of the grants will be named Undergraduate Associates of the Weatherhead Center and are expected to present their thesis research at a special conference in the spring semester before their theses are due. Harvard College students, generally juniors, whose thesis research focuses on Canadian topics for at least half or more of the content of their research are eligible to apply. Recipients of the Canada thesis grants will be encouraged to participate in the Canada Seminar and to become involved in other aspects of the Canada Program. For more details on the Canada Seminar, please contact Helen Clayton.

The Center will judge each proposal on the strength of its research design and methodology, the applicant’s preparation for the project, the demonstrated academic talent of the applicant, the feasibility of the project and the need for field research to fulfill its goals, and the relevance of the research to the interests of the Center. Applicants should be certain to give their recommenders a copy of their proposal to read before letters of recommendation are written.

As you begin to narrow your thesis topic and write your proposal, you will find it helpful to address these issues:

• What are you trying to explain? (What is your puzzle?)
• Have you made a thorough review of the available evidence, having spoken with professors or graduate students about recommended data or reading materials?
• On the basis of the evidence you have gathered thus far, what is your working hypothesis?
• Why do require this grant to carry out your research, and what practical steps are you taking now regarding logistics and contacts? Why do you care about this topic? (You must care!)
• Have you thoroughly reworked and refined your proposal before its submission?

If you have questions, please contact Clare Putnam in the Weatherhead Center Fellowships Office, 1737 Cambridge Street, Room N221.

The application deadline is February 26, 2008.

Information and applications for Weatherhead Center Summer Travel Grants, as well as those funded by other international centers at Harvard, is available at the Office of Career Services Web site. Applicants are strongly encouraged to look at all possible sources of funding. They are listed in the Harvard College Funding Sources Database at Applicants for all Weatherhead Center thesis grants, including the Canada grants and the Rogers grants, should use the Common Application.