Sponsor

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Description

The NSERC Awards for Science Promotion focus on people and groups who are inspirational in the way they promote science to the general public.

Science promotion activities with award potential could include activities such as:

• Organizing science camps, fairs, clubs or programs with youth organizations;
• Creating new learning materials;
• Developing science and engineering-related co-op programs or job shadowing initiatives;
• Arranging demonstrations, visits and lectures;
• Writing books and articles;
• Creating radio or television programs;
• Generating public involvement through multi-media programs.

Eligibility

Any individual, registered non-profit organization, postsecondary institution, non-federal museum, science centre or company within Canada may be nominated for the award. Nominees will have made a successful and sustained effort (as a guideline, typically over the course of at least five years) to encourage public interest in, and an understanding of, the natural sciences and engineering (including math and technology) outside the formal education system. 

Nominators must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Past winners of an NSERC Award (or a Michael Smith Award) for Science Promotion are not eligible to be nominated a second time. Exceptions may be made for organizations or individuals who are, or were, linked with an NSERC Award (or a Michael Smith Award) for Science Promotion winning organization. In order to qualify, the achievements of any nominee (group or individual) must be distinct from the organization as a whole. Such nominations must include a letter from the organization confirming the distinct nature of the activities. Furthermore, no consideration will be given to any aspect of the organization or its activities during the review process.

Posthumous or self-nominations will not be accepted. Current NSERC Council members are not eligible for nomination.

Prize

Individual recipients will receive a $10,000 award and group recipients a $25,000 award. In both cases, the funds are to support further science promotion activities. Funds paid to winners of this prize are subject to the PromoScience Grants Guide.

How to Apply

Anyone with direct knowledge of an individual’s or group's contribution to science and engineering promotion may nominate that candidate for an NSERC Award for Science Promotion. Nominators may be colleagues or people who have benefited from the nominee’s contributions, such as teachers, parents, community members or administrators.

The nomination package should include:

• A description of the nominee’s promotion activities,
• Three signed letters of recommendation,
• Supporting documentation,
• Two signed Terms and Conditions Forms, one for the Nominees and another for the Nominators

Nominations must be submitted electronically using the portal found on the NSERC Awards for Science Promotion website by the external deadline.
Please also submit a copy of the full nomination and OR-5 to research.services@uoguelph.ca by the external deadline.

For More Information

For more information contact ailsakay@uoguelph.ca or promoscience@nserc-crsng.gc.ca. Please also visit the NSERC Awards for Science Promotion website for further details.