PromoScience - Call for Applications

Eligibility

PromoScience encourages a wide variety of organizations to help young Canadians in elementary school and high school (including the equivalent first year of college in Quebec), and their educators, develop skills and interests in science and engineering. Organizations that encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in natural sciences and engineering (NSE) are also eligible.

PromoScience grants support organizations that:

• work with young Canadians to inspire an interest in science and engineering
• motivate young people to study science and engineering and to pursue careers in these fields
• bring interactive, hands-on science experiences to young people

These include organizations that:

• focus on underrepresented groups in NSE careers
• provide instruction and resources to science, math and technology educators

Is your organization eligible?

To be eligible, you must:

• be a Canadian registered non-profit organization, post-secondary institution or a non-federal museum or science centre
• deliver ongoing programming in the promotion of NSE to young Canadians

Examples of ineligible organizations include:

• federal departments and agencies
• federal museums and “friends of a federal museum” societies
• provincial, territorial, regional and municipal government departments
• organizations running one-time, project-specific activities
• elementary schools, high schools and school boards

What activities are eligible?

A very broad range of activities promoting NSE are eligible for funding. The following points answer common questions about eligibility.

Ongoing programming

Activities must be delivered on a continual basis from year to year. One-time, project-specific activities are not eligible.

Youth-focused programming

Activities and content must be designed for young Canadians in elementary school, high school (or the equivalent first year of college in Quebec) and/or their educators. Activities and content that specifically encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in the NSE are also eligible. Programming for youth that involves their families is encouraged. We do not support activities for preschool-age children, the general post-secondary student population or the general public.

Educator-focused programming

PromoScience supports the development of resources and tools for educators that make it easier for them to teach science well, as well as professional development for educators to improve their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for teaching science to youth. Proposed programming must be independent of accredited courses or degree requirements.

Programming in the NSE

Proposed activities must include significant NSE-focused content and be primarily focused on promoting interest and careers in the NSE. Programming focused primarily on health, medicine, social sciences or arts is not eligible for support, nor is programming primarily focused on advocacy.

New/pilot programs

Such applications must include strong evidence of the feasibility and anticipated impact of the activities (i.e., support letters, data from similar successful programs).

Proposals with broad impact and reach

We encourage proposals at the national, provincial, territorial and regional levels. We will not support local activities unless they are part of targeted programming for underrepresented groups in NSE.

Interactive, hands-on programming

Activities must involve social or technology-mediated interaction with a two-way flow of information and influence between youth and their facilitators. We will not support the production of books, videos, lectures, etc., that are not part of an interactive program.

Research experience

Applicants must demonstrate how their program meets the objectives of the PromoScience program by going beyond simply providing work experience. Grants may not be used to support research but should motivate young people to study science and engineering and to pursue careers in these fields.

University-based activities

The proposed science and engineering activities must address the PromoScience objectives and must not be primarily for recruitment purposes. If an activity is linked to university course work (i.e., university students as instructors or mentors), the course work must be clearly delineated from the youth-based outreach component for the application to be eligible.

Summary

NSERC invites applications for initiatives that promote the natural sciences and engineering (NSE) to Canada’s young people, particularly to under-represented groups in NSE careers.

PromoScience encourages a wide variety of organizations to apply for funding to help young Canadians in elementary school and high school (including the equivalent first year of college in Quebec), and their teachers/educators, to develop science and engineering skills and interests. Activities that will encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in the NSE are also supported.

Selection criteria

In addition to the PromoScience application summary form, your submission (up to five pages maximum) must include:

• an executive summary of up to 150 words, including the nature and goals of the program, the number of young people or educators to be reached and an overview of how the PromoScience funding would be spent
• a description of how your proposed program addresses the selection criteria

Divide your application into three sections; use the selection criteria as headings and use the indicators as subheadings.

Organization’s financial status

Your PromoScience application must also include the financial information listed below. This information is not counted in the five-page limit and must also conform to the general presentation guidelines. Before completing this section, review the guidelines on the use of grant funds within the PromoScience Grants Guide.

• Proof of non-profit status—e.g., certificate of incorporation, audited financial statement including notes, notification of registration (not applicable to post-secondary institution applicants)
• General budget forecast covering each year of the requested granting period (January to December); this sample budget is intended as a guide for your organization to follow; some items may not be listed or may not apply to your organization; adapt the template according to your needs—include the following:
  • projected revenues of your program(s) (breakdown by source: PromoScience, federal government, provincial government, private sector, foundations, self-generated, university, etc.)
  • anticipated expenses of your program(s) (breakdown by expenditure: salaries, equipment, materials and supplies, travel costs, publicity, etc.)
  • estimated in-kind contributions (salaries, equipment, space, etc.)
• Justification for each budget item (one-page maximum): explain and justify each budget item and any contributions from other sources in support of the proposed programming. This could include specifying which sources of revenue have been secured as well as details on the salaries (position, hours, etc.), equipment (list of items) and travel (mode of transportation, distance to destination(s), etc.).
• Explanation of any relationship and/or overlap, conceptual or financial, with other PromoScience grants or federal funding held by the non-profit organization, non-federal museum or science centre, or department in a post-secondary institution (one-page maximum, see Multiple awards). Organizations that are members/chapters of an umbrella group should include an explanation of any relationship and/or overlap with PromoScience grants awarded to their head office.

Overhead

Not appliable as per organization policy. 

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application