NSERC Prizes – Science Promotion

How to Apply: 

Nomination deadline: November 25 before 8:00 p.m. (ET). If the deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, your nomination must reach NSERC before 8:00 p.m. (ET) the following working day.

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

Science promotion activities with award potential could include

  • organizing science camps, fairs, clubs or mentorship programs with youth organizations
  • enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion in existing programming
  • creating new learning materials
  • sharing best practices for outreach in science and engineering
  • 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 multimedia programs

Eligibility

Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada; posthumous or self-nominations will not be accepted. NSERC strongly encourages nominators to consider equity, diversity and inclusion in their nomination process.* Nominators may be colleagues or people who have benefited from the nominee’s contributions, such as teachers, parents, community members or administrators. Note: For nominations within postsecondary institutions, senior administrators within the institution can nominate an individual or group, as long as the award does not directly benefit the nominators.

Nominees for the individual award must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Nominees for the group award can be any registered non-profit organization, postsecondary institution, non-federal museum, science centre or company within Canada. Current NSERC Council members are not eligible for nomination.

All nominees must have made a successful and sustained effort to encourage public interest in, and an understanding of, the natural sciences and engineering (including math and technology) in Canada. As a guideline, nominees have typically been involved in science promotion over the course of at least five years, and their endeavours must be outside the formal education system.

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 individuals or groups who are, or were, linked with an organization that has previously won an NSERC Award (or a Michael Smith Award) for Science Promotion. In order to qualify, the achievements of any nominee (group or individual) must be distinct from those of the previous award winner. Such nominations must include a letter from the organization confirming the distinct nature of the activities.

*NSERC is acting on the evidence that achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise is essential to creating the excellent, innovative and impactful research necessary to advance knowledge and understanding, and to respond to local, national and global challenges. This principle informs the commitments described in the Tri-agency statement on equity, diversity and inclusion.

If you are interested in being nominated for this award, please contact Dr. Batia Stolar, Associate Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, at  bstolar@lakeheadu.ca 
 

 

External Deadline: 
Friday, November 25, 2022
Award Category: 
Award
Funding Source: 
External
Funding Level: 
Research