• Description
• Grants guide
• Eligibility
• Call for applications
• General Presentation Guidelines
• Selection criteria
• Sample budget
• Contact

NSERC’s PromoScience Program offers financial support for organizations working with young Canadians to promote an understanding of science and engineering (including mathematics and technology). Organizations may request funds for up to three years at a time.

PromoScience supports hands-on learning experiences for young Canadians and their educators.

Grants may be used to cover improvements to program content or delivery, as well as for new programs and activities. Grants can also be used to cover operational costs such as salaries (except the applicant’s salary), travel, postage, materials and supplies, provided that they relate to the promotion of science and engineering. Note that grants may not be used to support research. Details on the eligibility of expenses are contained in the Use of Grant Funds section of the PromoScience Grants Guide. The information in this Guide may change without notice.

All eligible applications are peer reviewed by the PromoScience Review Committee. Members are chosen from the science and engineering promotion community and the education community based on their expertise and experience. Committee members are responsible for respecting the confidentiality of application material and the review process and for declaring real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. All members are required to sign a declaration of confidentiality and non-disclosure.

Successful applications will be screened by NSERC staff to ensure adherence to NSERC’s policies and guidelines.

Progress reports may be required. Final reports are mandatory. An outline of reporting requirements will be provided to recipients along with the notification of the grant.

The PromoScience program uses the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration (TAGFA) as its general guideline. This page lists the exceptions to the Guide for PromoScience grants.

All applicants and grant holders must comply with NSERC’s policies and guidelines. While these policies were written for research-related activities, in the context of PromoScience they may also apply to outreach, teaching and instructional activities. In addition to post-secondary institutions, eligible institutions for PromoScience grants include non-profit organizations, science centres and museums.

If an organization is not awarded all the funding it originally requested, it can modify the scope of its activities based on the funding it receives. Modified activities must still address the objectives of the original application. All adjustments should be documented in the year-end progress report (if applicable) and in the final report.

Any significant changes to the programs or activities supported with NSERC funds must be approved by NSERC. A revised budget may be required. Any large deviations in the budget (greater than 20% of a budget line) also require NSERC approval in advance.

The PromoScience program also follows Part 2: Use of Funds of the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration. The following exceptions apply to PromoScience grants.

Eligible expenses

• salaries and benefits for program delivery staff, except for the salary of the principal applicant
• costs for program evaluation (maximum 20% of the grant instalment per year)
• costs of prizes awarded through a fair and open process

Ineligible expenses

• salaries and stipends for youth participants in the program or activity
• costs for research
• costs for substitute teachers
• scholarships for program participants

Grant expenditures must:

• be direct costs of the activity for which the funds were awarded, with benefits directly attributable to the grant
• be effective and economical
• not result in personal gain for the applicant

The requirements for PromoScience activity reports are outlined in the notification of decision letters sent to all new grantees after each competition. Payment of future instalments or future grants may depend on receipt of satisfactory activity reports. Reminders and updates on the requirements for reports will be sent to organizations by email at least three months before the report is due.

PromoScience grants are awarded to the organization, not to the principal applicant. NSERC must be notified immediately of any change in the responsibility of administering the grant. PromoScience grants are not transferable from one organization to another, and funds from one PromoScience grant cannot be transferred to another.

All grants that have not been extended, or that have been terminated, may contain residual balances of funds allocated in prior years and/or issued in the current fiscal year. NSERC will request reimbursement for any current-year funds not required for the purpose for which they were granted if no future payments are scheduled.

PromoScience encourages a wide variety of organizations to help young Canadians in elementary school and high school (including the equivalent first year of college in Quebec), and their educators, develop skills and interests in science and engineering. Organizations that encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in natural sciences and engineering (NSE) are also eligible.

PromoScience grants support organizations that:

• work with young Canadians to inspire an interest in science and engineering
• motivate young people to study science and engineering and to pursue careers in these fields
• bring interactive, hands-on science experiences to young people

These include organizations that:

• focus on underrepresented groups in NSE careers
• provide instruction and resources to science, math and technology educators

To be eligible, you must:

• be a Canadian registered non-profit organization, post-secondary institution or a non-federal museum or science centre
• deliver ongoing programming in the promotion of NSE to young Canadians

Examples of ineligible organizations include:

• federal departments and agencies
• federal museums and “friends of a federal museum” societies
• provincial, territorial, regional and municipal government departments
• organizations running one-time, project-specific activities
• elementary schools, high schools and school boards

A very broad range of activities promoting NSE are eligible for funding. The following points answer common questions about eligibility.

Ongoing programming

Activities must be delivered on a continual basis from year to year. One-time, project-specific activities are not eligible.

Youth-focused programming

Activities and content must be designed for young Canadians in elementary school, high school (or the equivalent first year of college in Quebec) and/or their educators. Activities and content that specifically encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in the NSE are also eligible. Programming for youth that involves their families is encouraged. We do not support activities for preschool-age children, the general post-secondary student population or the general public.

Educator-focused programming

PromoScience supports the development of resources and tools for educators that make it easier for them to teach science well, as well as professional development for educators to improve their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for teaching science to youth. Proposed programming must be independent of accredited courses or degree requirements.

Programming in the NSE

Proposed activities must include significant NSE-focused content and be primarily focused on promoting interest and careers in the NSE. Programming focused primarily on health, medicine, social sciences or arts is not eligible for support, nor is programming primarily focused on advocacy.

New/pilot programs

Such applications must include strong evidence of the feasibility and anticipated impact of the activities (i.e., support letters, data from similar successful programs).

Proposals with broad impact and reach

We encourage proposals at the national, provincial, territorial and regional levels. We will not support local activities unless they are part of targeted programming for underrepresented groups in NSE.

Interactive, hands-on programming

Activities must involve social or technology-mediated interaction with a two-way flow of information and influence between youth and their facilitators. We will not support the production of books, videos, lectures, etc., that are not part of an interactive program.

Research experience

Applicants must demonstrate how their program meets the objectives of the PromoScience program by going beyond simply providing work experience. Grants may not be used to support research but should motivate young people to study science and engineering and to pursue careers in these fields.

University-based activities

The proposed science and engineering activities must address the PromoScience objectives and must not be primarily for recruitment purposes. If an activity is linked to university course work (i.e., university students as instructors or mentors), the course work must be clearly delineated from the youth-based outreach component for the application to be eligible.

If your organization received the last payment of an active award in January of this year, it is eligible to apply in September for continued support of these activities. If you anticipate having remaining funds by the end date of your current grant, you have two options: you can either request an extension before the end date of the grant or apply in September for ongoing support of these activities. Opting for the latter will require the return of the residual balance of your current grant.

If the last payment of an ongoing award is scheduled for next January, wait until the following September to apply for continued support for the same activity.

A new full application will be required at the time of application.

PromoScience will allow a non-profit organization, a non-federal museum or science centre, or a department in a post-secondary institution to hold multiple, concurrent awards as long as they clearly demonstrate in the application that there is no overlap in any way with the activities already supported through their active PromoScience grant(s) (see Call for applications, under Organization’s financial status, point 4). The onus is on the applicant to find out what other activities in their non-profit organization, science centre, museum or department are currently supported by PromoScience.

The expansion of currently funded activities into new geographical areas or to a new audience is considered overlap. Applications proposing such expansions are ineligible. You may reapply when your active grant has ended with your new outreach area/audience clearly defined.

Only one application may be submitted per non-profit organization, non-federal museum or science centre, or department in a post-secondary institution per competition year. NSERC encourages organizers of science and engineering promotion activities for youth to coordinate and prioritize their activities within their own organization and to collaborate with other organizations.

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. Members of umbrella groups may submit individual applications but must include an explanation of any relationship and/or overlap with PromoScience grants awarded to their head office (see Organization’s Financial Status).

If you are not sure about the eligibility of your organization or activity for PromoScience support, contact us at promoscience@nserc-crsng.gc.ca well in advance of the application deadline.

Application deadline: before 8:00 pm (ET) on September 15. If the deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, your application must reach NSERC before 8:00 pm (ET) the following business day.

NSERC invites applications for initiatives that promote natural sciences and engineering (NSE) to Canada’s young people, particularly to underrepresented groups in NSE careers. In the context of PromoScience, underrepresented groups include, but are not limited to, girls; Indigenous youth (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis); youth with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups; and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Recognizing the need to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the NSE, NSERC may support additional meritorious applications with targeted programming for underrepresented groups if sufficient funds become available. PromoScience supports activities and content designed for youth in elementary school and high school (including those in the equivalent first year of college in Quebec) and their educators, as well as activities that will encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in the NSE.

Furthermore, NSERC encourages organizations to consider the needs of official language minority communities in their area while developing the activities to be proposed in the application and to strive to have official documentation and promotional material in both official languages.

Read the PromoScience program description before completing the PromoScience application summary form. Accessibility notice: If you cannot access the content, contact the online services helpdesk by email at webapp@nserc-crsng.gc.ca or by telephone at 1-855-275-2861. Indicate the email address and telephone number where you can be reached.

In addition to the PromoScience application summary form, your submission (up to five pages maximum) must include:

• an executive summary of up to 150 words, including the nature and goals of the program, the number of young people or educators to be reached and an overview of how the PromoScience funding would be spent
• a description of how your proposed program addresses the selection criteria

Divide your application into three sections; use the selection criteria as headings and use the indicators as subheadings.

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. If your request deviates significantly from the one-third guideline, justify the deviation and demonstrate your efforts to secure other sources of funding in the budget section of your application. The maximum allowable request is $200,000 per year, for three years.

Your PromoScience application must also include the financial information listed below. This information is not counted in the five-page limit and must also conform to the general presentation guidelines. Before completing this section, review the guidelines on the use of grant funds within the PromoScience Grants Guide.

• Proof of non-profit status (not applicable to post-secondary institution applicants)—e.g., certificate of incorporation, audited financial statement including notes, notification of registration
• General budget forecast covering each year of the requested granting period (January to December); this sample budget is intended as a guide for your organization to follow; some items may not be listed or may not apply to your organization; adapt the template according to your needs—include the following:
• projected revenues of your program(s) (breakdown by source: PromoScience, federal government, provincial government, private sector, foundations, self-generated, university, etc.)
• anticipated expenses of your program(s) (breakdown by expenditure: salaries, equipment, materials and supplies, travel costs, publicity, etc.)
• estimated in-kind contributions (salaries, equipment, space, etc.)
• Justification for each budget item (one-page maximum): explain and justify each budget item and any contributions from other sources in support of the proposed programming. This could include specifying which sources of revenue have been secured as well as details on the salaries (position, hours, etc.), equipment (list of items) and travel (mode of transportation, distance to destination(s), etc.).
• Explanation of any relationship and/or overlap, conceptual or financial, with other PromoScience grants or federal funding held by the non-profit organization, non-federal museum or science centre, or department in a post-secondary institution (one-page maximum, see Multiple awards). Organizations that are members/chapters of an umbrella group should include an explanation of any relationship and/or overlap with PromoScience grants awarded to their head office.

The Impact assessment form (Appendix A) may be required. For more information, consult NSERC’s guidelines on impact assessment.

Your organization may provide up to six letters to support your application. Your organization should choose which letters make the most convincing case in support of your application. Applications without letters of reference may be at a disadvantage in the competition. There are two types of letters:

• Letters of reference (or equivalent documents): Applicants are encouraged to include letters of reference in support of the program(s) proposed in the application to demonstrate the need and/or impact of the activities. Applicants proposing targeted programming are strongly encouraged to include a letter of reference from an organization linked with their underrepresented audience. For targeted programming with Indigenous youth, a letter of support from an individual in a community leadership position is strongly encouraged; evidence of community support may be verified. In all cases, the process of obtaining a letter of support should be as efficient as possible and mindful of any unique circumstances the community is experiencing.
• Letters of commitment: Applicants are encouraged to include letters of commitment to confirm funding agreements or in-kind contributions from outside sources. Also, applicants from post-secondary institutions are strongly encouraged to include a letter of commitment from the host institution.

For applicants

Before you, as an applicant, can submit your application to NSERC, you must read and agree to the terms and conditions listed on the Terms and conditions of applying form. It is your responsibility to retain a copy of the agreed terms and conditions for your records. Note: This form must be signed by the applicant identified on the PromoScience application summary form, not the contact person.

For post-secondary institutions

The signatures of the institutional authorities certify that the institution will abide by the roles and responsibilities set out in the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions with the three federal granting agencies, including the Tri-agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research.

You are responsible for submitting a complete application that conforms to the presentation standards established by NSERC. A checklist to help you ensure that your application is complete is part of the PromoScience application summary form. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the presentation standards may be rejected or be at a disadvantage in comparison with those that are complete and respect the presentation standards. Where page limits are stated, pages in excess of the number permitted will be removed. Only the documents requested by NSERC will be made available to the selection committee. For more information, read the general presentation guidelines.

Links to websites should not be included in application documents, including letters of support. Committee members are expected to ignore any links in documents received.

Your application must be submitted to NSERC before 8:00 pm (ET) on September 15. If the deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, your application must reach NSERC before 8:00 pm (ET) the following working day. Late applications will not be accepted.

Applications must be submitted electronically using NSERC’s ICSP secure submission site.

All the parts of your application must be combined into a single document in portable document format (PDF). Zip files and PDF portfolios will not be accepted.

Material or updates to your application received separately (before or after the deadline) will not be accepted.

NSERC will inform all applicants electronically of the results of the annual PromoScience competition in mid to late January. NSERC will not provide results by telephone. All applicants will receive an email with a link to access their notification of decision letter through the NSERC Extranet for Applicants. Results for post-secondary institution applicants will also be posted on NSERC’s Grants and Scholarships Administrative Portal (GSAP). Grantees can expect to receive their first instalment in February. A list of the successful grantees will also be posted on the PromoScience website once the new grants are made public.

Prepare your documents in any word processing program, following the requirements below. All text, including support letters, must conform to these standards.

1. Acronyms and abbreviations must be spelled out completely on initial appearance in text;
2. Pages must be 8 ½" x 11" (216mm x 279mm);
3. Pages must be single-spaced, with no more than six lines of type per inch;
4. All text must be in 12 pt Times New Roman font;
5. Condensed fonts will not be accepted;
6. Colour imagery is acceptable* but the text should be in black;
7. All margins must be set at a minimum of ¾" (1.87 cm);
8. Do not include hyperlinks in your documents;
9. If you have supporting documents written in a language other than English or French, you are required to provide a certified translation of the document.

Applications must be submitted electronically. All the parts of the application must be combined into a single document in Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not apply security features to your document. Zip files and PDF portfolios will not be accepted.

* Applicants who decide to use colour imagery should be aware that the application may not be reviewed in colour. The use of colour increases the file size of your application, and may lengthen download and upload times.

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 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 and are outlined in the table below.

Additionally, the following elements are important to consider when developing targeted programming for Indigenous youth, and should be discussed, as appropriate, in the proposal:

• Establish meaningful engagement with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, or other Indigenous Peoples, nations, communities, societies or individuals.
• Ensure the programming aligns with and responds to the goals and needs of the Indigenous communities involved.
• Promote the participation of community members and foster a culturally safe, equitable, inclusive and accessible environment.
• Integrate and respect Indigenous ways of knowing throughout the programming.
• Engage and recognize the role of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and/or Knowledge Holders, and ensure appropriate remuneration for their contributions.

For additional guidance on NSERC’s expectations, read the CCI guide for research involving Indigenous Peoples and communities.

Email: promoscience@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
Toll free: 1-855-275-2861