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NSERC Awards for Science Promotion - 2025

The NSERC Awards for Science Promotion honour people and groups that are inspirational in the way they promote science to the general public.  The awards are an opportunity for Canada's science community to recognize, support and encourage outstanding science promoters.

The individual recipient will receive an award of $10,000 groups will be awarded $25,000 to further science promotion activities in Canada.

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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. Science promotion activities with award potential could include:

• organizing science camps, fairs, clubs or programs with youth organizations;
• enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion in existing programming;
• creating new learning materials;
• sharing best practices for outreach in science in 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 multi-media programs.

Nomination Process

Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Nominators may be colleagues or people who have benefited from the nominee’s contributions, such as teachers, parents, community members or administrators.

A complete nomination package will include:

1. A completed NSERC Award for Science Promotion nomination form;
2. A document (maximum 3 pages) that describes:
   
   • 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 (Note: Letters must demonstrate the impact of the activities and should come from individuals with first-hand knowledge of the nominee’s activities);
4. Supporting documentation (maximum 4 pages) such as promotional material, participant feedback, media publications, awards, publications, etc.
5. A Terms and Conditions Form for Nominees signed by the nominee; and
6. A Terms and Conditions Form for Nominators signed by the nominator.

Note: Documents 2 and 3 above should not include links to websites. Committee members will ignore any links that are provided.

Nominations may be submitted electronically via Secure Submissions for NSERC's Innovative Collaborations and Science Promotion Programs. Nomination materials should be submitted in PDF as a single document.

EDID Resources

Dedicated support and resources for Indigenous research and Equity Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization in research are available through the Inclusive Research Excellence and Impact team. You can complete a request for support form to receive more information or book a consultation. If you are unsure if your project involves Indigenous research we recommend that you contact the team early for determination and support.

Deadline

Notice of Intent to Nominate: September 20, 2024 (email rwprizes@uwo.ca if you wish to have Western Research support of your nomination).

The final nomination deadline is November 15, 2024 by 8pm (Eastern Time).

Contact

Potential nominators and nominees are encouraged to contact Research Awards & Distinctions at rwprizes@uwo.ca regarding Western Research support and coordination of your nomination.