PETER AND DORIS KULE MEMORIAL CONFERENCE
The Bi-Annual “Peter and Doris Kule Memorial Conference” celebrates the legacy of the founding donors of the Kule Institute for Advanced Study. KIAS will provide funding to one successful application of up to $40,000 every two years in support of a high-profile conference that aligns with and furthers the KIAS Mission, Vision, and Goals.
KIAS Mission - To facilitate transformational interdisciplinary and comparative research at the highest level nationally and internationally, guided by the ideals of Peter and Doris Kule, the legacies of Ukrainian history, and the purpose of research and learning at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø, articulated by President Henry Marshall Tory in 1908: “the Uplifting of the Whole People.”
When to apply: Proposals will be accepted by July 15, 2025.
Eligibility: The primary applicant must be a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø.
Guidelines and Criteria: The successful application will demonstrate alignment with the KIAS Vision, Mission, & Goals by developing a conference theme drawing from expertise in the Social Sciences, Humanities, or Fine Arts that furthers “the study of major modern and historical, political, social, and cultural issues and therein, advances society and global polity in a manner consistent with the high humanitarian ideals of the founding donors.”
Other considerations will include the following:
- Applicants will be required to identify members of their conference organizing team and demonstrate the team’s capability to achieve their goals.
- The conference plan and budget must be feasible. Applications must include a full budget that identifies specific plans to secure additional funding.
- The conference plan should demonstrate the potential for a high-impact event that will achieve international recognition.
- The conference must take place on the ß÷ßäÉçÇø campus or in the Edmonton area.
- In order to ensure accessibility and reduced environmental impacts, proposals with a clear plan for a sustainable conference (especially hybrid and/or fully virtual components) will be preferred.
Funding: Up to $40,000 will be committed to the successful applicant team on the condition that 50% matching funds are secured from internal and external sources (not including separate KIAS awards). That is, organizers should budget for a minimum of $60,000 in expenditures, including matching funds. SSHRC Connection Grants are a recommended funding resource, but other sources would be eligible. Funds must be expensed during the following fiscal year (April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027.)
Requirement: The language “Peter and Doris Kule Memorial Conference” must be displayed prominently in the title of the conference and all development and promotion materials.
Special Note: The Kule Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS) is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive research community and recognizes that achieving a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive research environment is essential to creating the excellent, innovative, and impactful research necessary to advance knowledge and understanding, and to respond to local, national and global challenges.
Below are links to resources at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø and Universities Canada that can assist you in incorporating EDI practices into planning your research proposals.
How to Apply: You will need to apply through the . This form asks a number of demographic and project related questions that are used by KIAS to assist with strategic planning and to support the Faculty of Arts and ß÷ßäÉçÇø as they work to fulfill the commitments outlined in their strategic plans.
Completion of the form will require the following information. If you have any questions please email kias@ualberta.ca.
Word counts below are based on size 12 font, single spaced.
Principle Investigator:
- Name
- Position
- Faculty
- Department (If Applicable)
Project Overview:
- Project Title
- Public Summary (Max 1,000 characters or approximately 250 words)
- Is this project related to research on Ukraine or the Ukrainian Diaspora
- Does this project engage with, involve, or impact areas connected to Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion
- Does this project engage with, involve or impact First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences, knowledge systems, lands, or waterways?
- Describe how your project aligns with the KIAS Vision, Mission, and Goals.
Peter & Doris Kule Memorial Conference Specific Questions
- Conference Plan (Demonstrating the potential for a high-impact event that will achieve international recognition) (Max 2,000 characters or approximately 500 words)
- Anticipated Date of Event
- 5 Key Words to describe your event
- Identify members of the conference organizing team and demonstrate the teams capability to achieve the goals. (Max 1,000 characters or approximately 250 words)
- Plan to secure additional funding (Max 1,000 characters or approximately 250 words)
- If Applicable: Plan for developing a sustainable conference (Max 1,000 characters or approximately 250 words)
- Any Additional Information (Max 1,000 characters or approximately 250 words)
Demographic Information: (questions in this section are voluntary and not required to be eligible for KIAS funding, information collected is for KIAS internal use only, anonymized, and used for strategic planning purposes)
- Identifying as a Indigenous / Aboriginal person
- Gender Identity
- Sexual Orientation
- Identifying as a Visible Minority
- Identifying as a person with a Disability