PromoScience

Selection criteria

The following table describes the criteria that the selection committee will use to evaluate each submission. Note that your submission must clearly demonstrate how your proposal meets each specific criterion. It is highly recommended that you address all indicators and provide all relevant requested evidence in your application. New organizations/pilot programs must include strong evidence of the feasibility and anticipated impact of the activities through support letters and/or data from similar successful programs.

In your application, use the criteria and indicators as headings and subheadings to structure your proposal.

NSERC is committed to promoting the integration of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in its practices. As a result, EDI considerations have been integrated into the selection criteria below.

Criterion – Excellence of the organization (30%)

Indicator Evidence to be provided in application
Ability of organization and its collaborators to deliver the proposed program(s) successfully
  • Relevant background of the organization
  • Education/experience of staff and how this supports the organization’s science or engineering promotion to young people
  • Program delivery team representative of audience (especially for programming involving underrepresented youth)
Continuity of the organization
  • Evidence of sustainability
  • Contributions to the science, engineering and education communities
Communication
  • Publicity activities of the organization and its program(s) aimed at the public
  • Examples of networking with and/or mentoring others involved in science and engineering promotion to share best practices
Financial status (not included in five-page limit)
  • Realistic budget forecast and budget justification
  • Ability to raise funds from non-federal sources
  • Letters of commitment from outside sources
  • Letter of commitment from the host organization (for post-secondary institutions only)

Criterion – Quality of the program (30%)

Indicator Evidence to be provided in application
Program objectives
  • Objectives consistent with those of PromoScience
  • Plans to show how objectives will be attained
  • Need for activity(ies)
Program content
  • Detailed description of program(s) and what participants will do
  • Suitability for intended audience (e.g., integration of Indigenous knowledge, roles of appropriate contributors/mentors especially for programming involving underrepresented youth)
  • Focus on the natural sciences and engineering
  • Differences from other groups (i.e., originality/creativity)

Criterion – Impact and reach (40%)

Indicator Evidence to be provided in application
Impact of program(s) on audience
  • Quality of the program interaction (number of participants, number of interactions per participant)
  • Success stories
  • Evaluation plan and highlights from past program evaluations
  • Participant feedback (testimonials, survey results)
  • Letters of reference
Impact of PromoScience funding
  • Explanation of the added value or benefits that funding will bring to the organization, its program(s) and, ultimately, its participants
Audience
  • Profile of participants (age, numbers reached)
  • Geographical reach (i.e., national, provincial)
  • Transferability to other geographical areas
Focus on underrepresented groups (include evidence relevant to your strategy)
  • Plans and strategies to make activities inclusiveFootnote 1 for participants
  • Plans and strategies to reach specific groups based on gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, language, geographical location and/or socio-economic status, as applicable
  • Plans and strategies to include members of Canada’s Indigenous communities (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), if applicable
  • Letter of reference from organization linked to underrepresented audience, if applicable

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