History Associate Professor Dr. Jacqueline Holler examines microfilm documents related to 16th-century sorcery cases. Researchers studying the history of medicine use documents involving witchcraft because some include information about contemporary healing practices. Photo Courtesy: UNBC
UNBC research grants

UNBC researchers receive more than $330,000 in grants

Jul 21, 2020 | 10:39 AM

PRINCE GEORGE—Two UNBC faculty members are recipients of more than $330,000 in grants to help continue their research into medical history and the role local governments play in promoting entrepreneurs in rural and small-town communities.

History Associate Professor Dr. Jacqueline Holler and Geography Professor Dr. Greg Halseth are the recipients of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grants.

“Support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council facilitates the thorough investigations and originative explorations UNBC researchers engage in every day.”—Dr. Geoff Payne, UNBC Interim President

Professor Holler received $181,948 grant for her project titled, Medicines, Marvels and Mestizaje: Women’s Healing in New Spain, 1530-1750. Holler, two master’s students and a post-doctoral researcher will examine conventional medicine treatises used in New Spain as well as convent recipe books that contained healing remedies and inquisition records that describe women’s healing activities and the herbs, medicines, and even incantations that ordinary people used to treat illness.

Dr. Halseth is the recipient of $149,388 for his project titled, Entrepreneurialism and rural/small-town local government. The project will include multiple graduate students, examines the critical role of local government in responding to the forces re-shaping resource-dependent communities and economies.

“These projects are superb examples of research in the humanities and social sciences underway at UNBC.”—Kathy Lewis, UNBC acting Vice-President Research

“The knowledge these research teams are generating will provide insights we can use to initiate positive change today and inform the work of future scholars,” adds Lewis.