Environment and Sustainable Development Theme

Environment and Environment and Sustainable Sustainable Development ThemeDevelopment Theme

NSERC Strategic Projects ProgramNSERC Strategic Projects Program

17 Jan 200517 Jan 2005

Dr. Lawrence W. Martz, Ph.D., P.Geo.Associate Dean (Social Sciences) and Professor of Geography

SPG Selection Panel Member

NSERC Research Partnership NSERC Research Partnership ProgramsPrograms

• Strategic Project Program

• Collaborative Research & Development

• Idea to Innovation (I2I) Program

• Research Partnership Agreements

• Research Networks

• Industrial Research Chairs

Strategic Project Grants (SPG)Strategic Project Grants (SPG)

• The SPG program funds project research in target areas of national importance and in emerging areas that are of potential significance to Canada.

• The research is early stage with the potential to lead to breakthrough discoveries.

SPG: 2004-05 ResultsSPG: 2004-05 Results

Myths & MisconceptionsMyths & Misconceptions

Strategic Project GrantsStrategic Project Grants Environment Panel AEnvironment Panel A

To Improve Your Chances of To Improve Your Chances of Success:Success:

• Follow program guidelines

• Address specific program requirements

• Involve your industrial partners from the start

• Present novel ideas

• Ask for help– ORS

– NSERC

SPG GoalsSPG Goals

It is anticipated that the program will result in:

• new knowledge/technology that has potential for impact on Canada’s economy, society and/or environment within 10 years;

• highly qualified personnel trained in the identified target areas or in new emerging areas;

• attracting Canadian-based organizations into early-stage collaborations in academic research; and

• knowledge/technology and expertise transferred to Canadian-based organizations having a capacity to use the results.

SPG Target AreasSPG Target Areas

1. Biosciences

2. Environment and Sustainable Development

3. Information and Communications Technology

4. Value Added Products and Processes

To be reviewed for 2006???

Environment and Sustainable Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

• Environment and sustainable development are comprehensive in scope.

• They include renewable and non-renewable resources, and natural and urban ecosystems, in both managed and unmanaged environments.

• As a cross-cutting theme, sustainable development brings together multiple disciplines and sectors to address a wide array of social, economic, scientific, and technological issues.

Environment & Sustainable Development:Environment & Sustainable Development: Sub-categoriesSub-categories

• Renewal Resources Management• Urbanization and Industrialization• Sustainable Products• Environmental Assessment Techniques• Novel Next Generation Technology Initiative in Energy

Research and Technology Related to Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Renewable Resources Renewable Resources ManagementManagement

• RRM concerns the development, sustainable use, conservation, & restoration of soil, water, air, & living resources.

• The challenge is to maintain the balance and long-term productivity of terrestrial and aquatic systems while sustaining products and services needed by people.

• Goals include: protecting natural biological productivity and quality of air, water and soil; sustaining yields of plant and animal products; and conserving biological diversity.

• Issues for renewable resource management include, for example, the long-term viability of plant and animal populations, soil erosion, export of irrigation water, forestry and greenhouse gas interactions, and the diversification of forest products and aquaculture.

Urbanization & IndustrializationUrbanization & Industrialization

• Growth of the human population, industrial developments and other resource utilization activities have impacts on natural habitats and urban settings.

• The challenge is to predict, manage and mitigate the potential adverse impacts of changes associated with population growth and economic development.

• Goals include developing accurate forecasting tools, mitigation technologies, and improved economic-cum-environmental models and systems to anticipate, manage and mitigate changes in, for example, environmental qualities, habitat losses and pollutant effects.

Sustainable ProductsSustainable Products

• Work on sustainable products addresses energy sources, industrial and consumer products, and modes of transportation.

• The challenge is to reduce the environmental impact of products and processes.

• The goal is to achieve "closed" manufacturing and product life cycles, whereby waste products are minimized and recycled materials are fed back into the production loop.

• Topics include impacts of power production, new solar energy technologies, carbon management, technologies for fossil fuels, or new recycling technologies.

Environmental Assessment Environmental Assessment TechniquesTechniques

• The scope of environmental assessments must address a diversity of legal, ethical, biological, social, economic, and trans-boundary issues.

• The challenge is to develop new approaches, techniques, and linkages among disciplines and sectors to examine relationships between human activities, environmental change, ecosystem integrity, and social and economic factors.

• The goal is to develop knowledge and environmental tools to support sustainable environmental management.

• Issues driving the need for new assessment techniques include but are not limited to pollution, human health, climate change and evolution, and biodiversity.

Novel Next Generation Technology Initiative in Novel Next Generation Technology Initiative in Energy Research and Technology Related to Energy Research and Technology Related to Greenhouse Gas Mitigation (GHGM)Greenhouse Gas Mitigation (GHGM)

• This initiative, established with Natural Resources Canada, is intended to support research that could possibly lead to new energy technologies and/or processes for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the medium- to long-term.

• Projects should focus on advancing solutions to the climate change problem and possibly yield other benefits such as increased energy efficiency, improved productivity, improved air quality, and reduced emissions of other effluents.

• Applicants are encouraged to undertake concerted efforts related to GHG reduction across research areas and train researchers in GHG mitigation science and technology.

The Seven Selection CriteriaThe Seven Selection Criteria

1. Originality of the Research

2. Quality of the Research

3. Project Work Plan

4. Quality of the Applicants as Researchers

5. Training Potential

6. Interactions with Non-Academic Partners

7. Benefits to Canada and Partners

Review ProcessReview Process

• Score each criterion on a scale of 1 to 4

• Also consider the following:

– Any likely adverse environmental effects that might result from the proposed research;

– The necessity and appropriateness of animal-based methodologies and the participation of human subjects;

– Unique aspects of the proposed research not covered by the seven criteria;

– The project as a whole.

Criterion 1. Originality of the ResearchCriterion 1. Originality of the Research

• The novelty of the overall concepts and approach; • How the research relates to the current scientific and/or

technical developments in the field with references to the current literature and patents;

• The potential for developing new knowledge or technology, including innovative techniques, processes or products;

• The extent to which new knowledge or technology is expected to impact on the field of research; and

• The significance of the scientific issues and technical challenges.

Criterion 2. Quality of the ResearchCriterion 2. Quality of the Research

• The focus and clarity of the objectives of the project, both short and long term;

• The appropriateness of the research methodology; • The justification of the approach based on the

background research;• The feasibility of the proposed research; and• The degree to which the project fits the Strategic Projects

target area.

Criterion 3. Project Work PlanCriterion 3. Project Work Plan

• The clarity of the project description;

• The coherence of the activities, milestones, timelines and deliverables on the research activity schedule module;

• The probability of achieving the objectives in the proposed time frame;

• The availability of the equipment and infrastructure required;

• The appropriateness of the roles and time commitment of the applicants and the personnel from the non-academic participating organization(s).

• The need for the funds requested and the justification of the line items in the budget modules;

• The plans for collaboration and communication among the researchers; and

• The details of how the team and project will be managed.

Criterion 4. Quality of the Applicants Criterion 4. Quality of the Applicants as Researchersas Researchers

• The research record of the applicant(s) or, in the case of new researchers, their potential to make contributions;

• The recognition of the collective research contributions of the applicants by their peers or, in the case of new researchers, the recognition of theft potential by others in the field;

• The appropriateness of their expertise in the proposed research areas of the project; and

• The breadth and complementarity of expertise available for the project.

Criterion 5. Training Potential Criterion 5. Training Potential

• The potential to provide highly qualified personnel with skills relevant to the needs of Canadian organizations;

• The quality and track record of the researchers in training highly qualified personnel;

• The training that will be achieved relative to the budget and the nature of the project;

• The roles of the students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, technicians and, if applicable, the research staff of the non-academic participants;

• The extent to which all participants, including the non-academic organizations, are involved in the training; and

• The suitability of the research environment for training.

Criterion 6. Interactions with the Non-Criterion 6. Interactions with the Non-Academic Participating Organizations Academic Participating Organizations

• The fit between the project objectives and the priorities of the non-academic participating organizations;

• The capacity of the non-academic participating organizations to exploit the research results, or the possibility of the creation of a Canadian-based organization to do so;

• The degree of involvement of the non-academic participating organizations in:

– developing the proposal; and

– during the course of the project;

• The plan for knowledge and technology transfer to the non-academic participating organizations and/or the user sector, and a description of how any intellectual property will be protected; and

• The researchers’ track record in transferring research results to a user sector.

Criterion 7. Benefits to Canada and the Criterion 7. Benefits to Canada and the Non-Academic Participating Non-Academic Participating Organizations Organizations

• Potential benefits to Canada and the non-academic participating organizations arising from the proposed research may include, but are not limited to: – economic benefit arising from a new or improved

product or process;– social, environmental or health benefits;– an enhanced knowledge base for public policy

development; and – increased highly qualified personnel in an area of

importance for Canada

Final ranking & recommendationsFinal ranking & recommendations

• For inter-comparison purposes– A list (to be funded)

– B list (fund pending availability)

– C list (not fundable)

• Funding from highest ranked overall as resources permit

Competition TimelineCompetition Timeline

• Applications: Due April 15

• External Peer Review: Summer

• Panel Evaluation: September

• Results Announced: Late October

SPG Application ProcessSPG Application Process

• Application for a Grant (Form 101),

• Personal Data Form (Form 100) for the applicant and each co-applicant

• For each non-academic participating organization• Information Required From Organizations Participating in

Research Partnerships Programs (Form 183A)

• Letter describing involvement in project

• Requests for equipment must be incorporated into the research proposal. • Applicants must justify the need and urgency for the equipment

to effectively conduct the research. Separate equipment requests will not be accepted.

Participating OrganizationsParticipating Organizations

• Public or private sector• Canadian based• Able to use the results• Cash contribution not required• Participation

– in development of the proposal– through ongoing interaction– in guidance on exploitation of results– in the training

Letter of Support must include:Letter of Support must include:• the organization's support for and agreement with the proposal

submitted to NSERC;

• the reasons for being involved in the proposed collaboration;

• how the organization expects to integrate the results into its operations or to otherwise benefit from the anticipated outcomes;

• (for projects) the further effort required to exploit the results in Canada;

• the potential for benefit to the Canadian economy, and the relevant time frame;

• the anticipated interaction of the organization's personnel with researchers from postsecondary institutions; and

• the contribution to the direct costs of the research, in cash and in-kind, as stated in the research proposal.

Reporting Obligations Reporting Obligations

• Second year of the project:– submit a progress report

– each non-academic organization involved will evaluate report

– next installment is contingent on satisfactory progress on the research project and collaboration with non-academic organizations

• Ninety days following completion of the award:– submit a final report on project achievements with respect to

objectives

– each non-academic organization involved will evaluate report

– assessment may be used in review of subsequent Strategic Project Grant applications

Good Luck!Good Luck!