Enhancing Environmental Science in Alberta (EESA)

Eligibility

Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are eligible to apply with a faculty member as the Principal Investigator (PI).

Summary

The Enhancing Environmental Science in Alberta (EESA) program aims to support new collaborative environmental science projects and build greater linkages between UCalgary's research programs and Alberta Environment and Protected Area's (EPA) policy, science, monitoring, and natural resource management programs. Grant applications must identify active collaboration with EPA staff. If you do not have active collaborations with EPA staff, please contact the Office of the Chief Scientist at EPA.OCS@gov.ab.ca and indicate the specific area of expertise you are seeking.

Project funds will be provided to help support highly qualified personnel, including graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, to participate in collaborative environmental monitoring and science research projects to fill knowledge gaps and advance knowledge focused on EPA priority areas. Key priorities include:

• the Premier's mandate letter to the EPA;
• fish, wildlife, and habitat management;
• water quality, quantity, and wetlands; and
• climate.

Project proposals must: a) show how they address one or more of EPA’s key priorities or mandates from the Premier’s letter to EPA; and, b) identify an EPA collaborator. Projects that show the ability to begin within three months of funding becoming available and to be completed by March 31, 2028, will be given priority. Funding decision are expected by March 28, 2025.

To apply, you must use the grant application template (max. 8 pages) provided in the Request for Proposals.

Program Resources

• Environment & Protected Areas, Office of Chief Scientist Request for Proposals
• program contact:  EPA.OCS@gov.ab.ca

Submission Process

This competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS.

Full Application

The Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Application record, must be submitted to RSO by March 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application by email to the funding agency by the deadline of March 7, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

Overhead

Not applicable.

Application deadlines

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.

RESOURCES 

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research: 

Support with the development of your grant application is available 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, community partnerships, and responsible research assessment (DORA) is available through the Knowledge to Impact Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca. For more information, please visit the KI 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@ucalgary.ca OR research.data@ucalgary.libanswers.com. 

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 edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Support for Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to assist researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the new policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with RSO units, the more help we can be! 

RMS: 

Creating a Pre-Award Application (do not create a new Application record if you have an existing LOI record for the same competition)