Civic Engagement Research Awards
The Institute supports research from UIC faculty that centers on the concept, practices, and methods of civic engagement.
We seek to partner on research that furthers understanding about effective strategies or tools that help:
- Citizens better understand the policy making process
- Citizens and communities to become more engaged in policy debate or deliberative processes
- Government become more responsive to citizens
- Government, non profits, and civic institutions use technology to engage and connect citizens (including those with disproportionately lower access to technology than the public at large) with government and/or improve service delivery
- Community development efforts or local community change initiatives use civic engagement to enhance effectiveness or increase the overall impact of programs
- Advances research on how disinformation and misinformation impacts how civic engagement intersects with technology, public health, or public policy.
Our research award amounts vary year to year. Historically, awards have been between $10,000 and $20,000 per project. UIC faculty and research staff of UIC research centers, institutes, and programs are eligible to apply.
IPCE commitments are contingent upon state funding and availability.
For more information, please contact IPCE Associate Director Norma Ramos.
Our 2021-22 FY Civic Engagement Research Awardees Heading link
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Jennifer Brier, PhD
Gender and Women’s Studies Program and Department of History
“Building a Community History Corps for Chicago”
Federica Fusi, PhD
Department of Public Administration
“Inclusive Open Government Data Implementation for Environmental Justice: Enhancing Community Stakeholder’s Voice”
Chris Kanich, PhD
Department of Computer Science
“Motivating Change: Understanding the Costs of Chicago’s Current Redistricting Process”
Elizabeth A. Kócs, PhD, MBA
UIC Energy Initiative
“Accelerating University-Community Partnerships for Climate Justice”
Kate Lowe, PhD
Department of Urban Planning and Policy
“Enhancing Public Engagement in Municipal Transportation Decisions”
Past award recipients Heading link
IPCE Civic Engagement Research Awards have historically been allotted to areas of study ranging from sociology to education to computer science.
Recently Featured Research Heading link
Andy Clarno, PhD (UIC) recently presented his IPCE-funded research project, entitled “Big Data Policing and Racialized Surveillance: the CPD Gang Database.” He, along with the Policing in Chicago Research Group, focused on examining the role of big data and tech in policing and surveillance especially as they are applied to communities of color.