NSERC John C. Polanyi Award - 2025
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada funds visionaries, explorers and innovators who are searching for the scientific and technical breakthroughs that will benefit our country.
The NSERC John C. Polanyi Award honours an individual or team whose Canadian-based research, has led to a recent outstanding advance of high significance and impact in the natural sciences or engineering. The research leading to the advance must have been funded at least partially by an NSERC grant. As part of the award, the winning individual or team will receive a research grant of up to $250,000.
NSERC strongly encourages nominators to consider equity, diversity, and inclusion in their nomination processes.
Eligibility
Candidates may be nominated by any individual or group. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Current NSERC Council members are not eligible for nomination.
The research that led to the advance described in the nomination must have been supported by NSERC. In the case of a team nomination, members may be from academia, government or industry, and
Nomination Process
Nominators should consult NSERC's Guidelines on the Assessment of Contributions to Research, Training and Mentoring.
The nomination consists of:
- Nomination letter (max 3 pages) describing the advance, its significance, and its impact. The letter must also include a lay summary for public release and a title describing the research achievements;
- Up to four documents relating to the advance that provide evidence of recognition by the scientific and engineering community - one must be a peer-reviewed article; the other documents may include testimonials and publications like journal articles, workshop papers/posters, communications, pre-prints, monographs, memoirs or special papers, review articles, conference/symposia proceedings and abstracts, government publications, and reports documenting contributions to engineering practice, among others.
- The names and contact details of six Canadian and/or international researchers who could be approached by NSERC to conduct an impartial review of the nomination;
- For team nominations, a letter from the team identifying one member as the group spokesperson;
- Terms and Conditions Form for Nominees signed by each nominee; and
- Terms and Conditions Form for Nominators signed by each nominator.
The Government of Canada has published its Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. This funding opportunity is in scope of this new policy. Grant applications that involve conducting research that aims to advance a sensitive technology research area will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are currently affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a named research organization. If the prize will support research activities that aim to advance a listed sensitive technology research area, prize recipients will be required to comply with the policy and submit attestation forms to NSERC. Please read the Tri-agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy to understand how this policy may impact your grant.
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.
Submission
Nominations are submitted using the online using the Secure Submissions for NSERC's Innovative Collaborations and Science Promotion Programs.
Deadline
Notice of Intent to Nominate: September 26, 2024 (email rwprizes@uwo.ca if you wish to have Western Research support and coordination of your nomination).
Nominations must be received by NSERC by November 28, 2024 at 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.
