Call for Nominations

Nomination deadline: September 1, 2013

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; and
• 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 to encourage public interest in, and an understanding of, the natural sciences and engineering (including math and technology) outside the formal education system. Posthumous or self-nominations will not be accepted. Current NSERC Council members are not eligible for nomination.

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 umbrella organization. In order to qualify, the achievements of any nominee (group or individual) must be distinct from the umbrella group as a whole. Such nominations must include a letter from the umbrella organization confirming the distinct nature of the activities. Furthermore, no consideration will be given to any aspect of the umbrella organization or its activities during the review process.

Note: In the context of the NSERC Awards for Science Promotion program, NSERC defines an umbrella organization as an association of groups that work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. The umbrella organization provides services, support, resources and/or an identity to the smaller organizations.

Nomination Process and Selection Criteria

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.

Nominations must include (printed on 8.5” x 11” [21.5cm x 28cm] paper; Times New Roman 12-point or comparable font, single spaced):

1. a completed, printed and signed NSERC Award for Science Promotion nomination form;
2. a letter or document that describes (three pages maximum):
   • the nominee’s efforts and involvement in inspiring public understanding, and developing abilities in, science and engineering;
   • the impact and duration of the nominee’s activities (Note: Nominators are encouraged to include specific measures of impact.); and
   • the project’s content, originality and scope;
3. three signed letters of recommendation;
4. supporting documentation (such as promotional material, participant feedback, media coverage, publications, awards) (four pages maximum); and
5. a Terms and Conditions of Applying Form signed by the nominee.

Signatures

Nominees

Nominees must read and agree to the terms and conditions listed on the Terms and Conditions of Applying Form.

Nominators

Before nominators submit the nomination to NSERC, they must read and agree to the following terms and conditions.

By submitting the nomination, you are certifying that:

• the information provided in the nomination and related documents is true, complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge;
• those listed on the nomination have agreed to be included;
• you are not currently ineligible to apply for and/or hold funds from NSERC, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), or any other research or research funding organization worldwide for reasons of breach of policies on responsible conduct of research, such as ethics, integrity or financial management policies;
• if you are or have been (at any time during the past 12 months) a federal public servant, you have complied with and will continue to respect the  Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service;
• you understand the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act and the Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to NSERC as they pertain to the information contained in the nomination and related documents; and
• you consent to the sharing among the three federal granting agencies (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) and with any academic institution to which you are, or may become, affiliated, of any and all information, including personal information, in any way related to the nomination and to the grant/award.

Nominations may be submitted:

Electronically via  Secure Submissions for NSERC's Innovative Collaborations and Science Promotion Programs. It is preferable that documents be submitted in Portable Document Format (PDF).

By mail:
NSERC Awards for Science Promotion
NSERC
350 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1H5

Submissions and support material become the property of NSERC and will not be returned. Do not include videos or CD ROMS.

Selection Committee

Nominations are reviewed by the PromoScience/NSERC Awards for Science Promotion Selection Committee. Members are chosen from the science and engineering promotion community and the education community based on their stature and expertise.

Announcement

The names of the award recipients will be announced at a public ceremony.