NSERC PromoScience
Sponsor/agency: NSERC
Program: PromoScience
Description
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 students and their teachers. 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, 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.
PromoScience encourages a wide variety of organizations to help young Canadians in elementary school and high school and their teachers, to develop science and engineering skills and interests. Organizations that encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in natural sciences and engineering (NSE) are additionally 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 teachers
*MANDATORY INTERNAL NOI*
NSERC limits the number of PromoScience applications that the university can submit to one per department/Faculty per competition year. As such, if we receive more than one application per department/Faculty, each department/Faculty will decide which application will move forward to the national competition.
If you are interested in applying to the NSERC PromoScience program, please submit the mandatory Notice of Intent Form to Amber Zapletal by Wednesday, July 30.
*NEW THIS YEAR* All NOIs must be signed by your Dean prior to submission on July 30.
See more details below.
Program Summary
Deadlines:
- July 30, 2025: Mandatory internal NOI submission
- September 2, 2025: ORS deadline for comprehensive review + RGA form
- September 15, 2025: Agency deadline
Value: $200,000/year
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, demonstrate your efforts to secure other sources of funding in the budget section of your application. The maximum allowable request is $200,000/year for three years.
Duration: Up to 3 years
How to Apply:
- Read program guidelines and application instructions.
- Submit NOI form to Amber Zapletal by July 30.
- If selected to move forward, complete the PromoScience application summary form, the proposal (use selection criteria and indicators as headings and subheadings, budget and budget justification
- Request and obtain up to 6 Letters of Support (especially to confirm cash and in-kind contributions; University applicants are strongly encouraged to include a letter of commitment from the host institution)
- Submit the full application, including budget and letters of support and an RGA form signed by your Dean by September 2 to allow time for the ORS review and to obtain signatures. The Application Summary Form must be signed by an ORS representative prior to submission.
- Applications must be submitted electronically using NSERC’s ICSP secure submission site by September 15. 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 date) will not be accepted
Contact:
Amber Zapletal, ORS Grants Officer
Agency Program Contact: promoscience@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
Program information:
PromoScience information session webinar – July 23, 2025 1 p.m. -2:30 p.m. (ET)
Internal Ontario Tech Selection Process
NSERC limits the number of PromoScience applications that the university can submit to one per department/Faculty per competition year. As such, if we receive more than one application per department/Faculty, each department/Faculty will decide which application will move forward to the national competition.
If you are interested in applying to the NSERC PromoScience program, please submit the mandatory Notice of Intent Form to Amber Zapletal by Wednesday, July 30.
Please submit a 250-word executive summary of the proposed project that you would like to submit to the PromoScience Grant program. Please outline:
- The nature and goals of the project
- The number of youth or teachers to be reached
- An overview of how the PromoScience funding would be spent
Additionally, please include:
- a list of other sources of funding for the project (NSERC PromoScience provides a maximum of $200,000/ year for three years and NSERC will only fund 1/3 of the total project costs; you must secure the other 2/3 from other sources (the university, partner organizations, etc.)
*NEW THIS YEAR* All NOIs must be signed by your Dean prior to submission on July 30.
If more than one NOI is received in your Faculty/department, the Dean or designate will select the project that will move forward to the full application stage. Selected applicants will be notified by August 13 at the latest and will develop their full application package and submit to ORS for review by September 2.
Eligibility
Subject Matter
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
Applicant
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.
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.
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.
Activities
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.