The Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) is pleased to announce its inaugural Call for Applications to the Balsillie Scholars program, based in Waterloo, ON.
Founded in 2007 by philanthropist Jim Balsillie, the BSIA is an equal collaboration among the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), the University of Waterloo (UW), and Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier). The BSIA is an institute for advanced research, education, and outreach in the fields of global governance and international public policy. The School houses two Masters programs and one joint PhD program through its partner institutions with approximately 105 students currently enrolled.
The Balsillie Scholars program is a new initiative developed as part of the BSIA’s Technology Governance Initiative, which was established on September 28, 2023, funded by a generous $5 million dollar donation to the School.
BALSILLIE SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Balsillie Scholars program aims to attract top technology governance scholars/researchers/practitioners to the School for collaboration. These leading scholars will be immersed in the School and its activities, will engage with BSIA students, and will enjoy regular interaction with a like-minded network of academic colleagues working in the area of technology governance.
Scholars, within or beyond Canada, focused on governance challenges of emerging transformative technology applications (such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, sensors, quantum computing, semi-conductors and microprocessor chips, synthetic biology, and information and communications technologies) are particularly encouraged to apply.
The BSIA is seeking to bring Balsillie Scholars to Waterloo for visiting terms of between six weeks and one year.
EXPECTATIONS
As part of their contribution to the BSIA, Balsillie Scholars are expected to:
- Temporarily relocate to the Waterloo area, to be physically present at the School for the mainstay of their term.
- Participate in the professional and scholarly activities organized by the BSIA which are relevant to the Scholar’s research program, as well as engage with students through such things as lunchtime lectures, class presentations, keynote presentations or informal meetings.
- Write a Balsillie Paper (2500-3200 words) or a Technology Governance Case Study by the end of their term.
- Acknowledge the BSIA by using ‘Balsillie Scholar’ in their professional signature and on research publications, presentations and media interviews that occur during their term with the BSIA.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The Balsillie Scholars program is open to global thought leaders from academia as well as the public and private sectors, based anywhere in the world. Applying to be considered for a visiting Balsillie Scholar appointment is straightforward. Please complete the application form, which also requires you to upload a current curriculum vitae. A committee comprising representatives from the BSIA’s partner institutions will consider applications on a quarterly basis, and invite top candidates for an interview.
ABOUT WATERLOO REGION
The Waterloo Region is a thriving community with a population of approximately 650,000, just an hour away from Toronto. The BSIA is located in Uptown Waterloo, right in the middle of the intellectual square mile, which includes the main campuses of both UW and Laurier, the Centre for International Governance Innovation, the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the largest Google office in Canada.
The Region is safe and accessible, and offers great restaurants, excellent shopping, theatres, art galleries and even a ski hill! We look forward to welcoming you to our community.
