NSERC Awards for Science Promotion

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

NSERC celebrates exceptional examples of research excellence with a wide range of prizes. Individual awards focus on accomplishments that range from innovative discoveries by young researchers to lifetime achievement and influence.

NSERC Website


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. The winning group will be awarded $25,000 to further science promotion activities.

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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;
  • enchancing 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

A complete nomination package will include:

  1. A printed and signed NSERC Award for Science Promotion nomination form;
  2. A letter or 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.

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.

Deadline

The final nomination deadline is November 15, 2023 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.