NSERC PromoScience: 2023 Call for Applications and Webinars

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 supports activities and content designed for youth in elementary school and high school, and their teachers, and activities that will encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in the NSE. Grants may be used to cover improvements to program content or delivery, as well as for new programs and activities. Grants may not be used to support research.

The maximum allowable request is $200,000/year for 3 years. NSERC will not fund 100% of the costs of a proposed activity. NSERC’s contribution is generally up to one-third of a program’s funding.

Only one application may be submitted per department in a post-secondary institution per competition year. 

For more information, visit the PromoScience website.

UPEI Submission Process 2023:

Due to NSERC’s application limit, each department can submit only one application.

1) Applicants will submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to their Chair (or Dean for non-departmentalized faculties) by Monday, August 7th.  The LOI (maximum one page) will contain the following:

·        List of names of the principal investigator and co-investigators (and their affiliation)

·        Title of the project

·        A description of the project that includes the following information:

-        A description of the nature and goals of the program including the anticipated number of youth or teachers to be reached

-        An overview of how the PromoScience funding would be spent and details on other sources of funding (confirmed and/or anticipated)

-        A description of the relevant experience of the applicant and other team members in science or engineering promotion

2) Chairs/Deans will select the top LOI from their faculty (or, if appropriate, encourage a collaborative application among interested applicants) and inform Research Services of the selected principal applicant from their department by Friday, August 25th.  Chairs/Deans should consult with Research Services regarding any questions about the eligibility of proposed applications.

3) Selected applicants will prepare their application following NSERC's application process and must submit the application using the UPEI Romeo Researcher Portal for internal review and approval, ensuring that the application is received by Research Services by Tuesday, September 12th.  Upon receipt of approval from Research Services, applicants must submit their application to NSERC by September 15th using NSERC’s ICSP Secure Submission Site.

Webinars:

NSERC will be hosting PromoScience information sessions as follows:

English webinar – July 25, 2023 1:00 to 2:30 pm ET / 2:00 to 3:30 pm AT MS Teams   

French webinar – July 26, 2023  1:00 to 2:30 pm ET / 2:00 to 3:30 pm AT MS Teams