Alison is attending the Canadian Consortium for Research - Spring Summit

“The CCR, in collaboration with the Canadian Psychological Association, is pleased to be hosting a 2-day Summit – What’s needed and what’s next for Canada’s research community: A summit for scientists/researchers working in or outside of academia. Dr. David Naylor, Chair of the panel convened to review fundamental science in Canada, will kick off the Summit with a Keynote Address and Townhall Discussion on the state of fundamental science in Canada. Delegates will then participate in break out sessions focused on the academic work environment, training our next generation for careers outside of academia, and impact/outcome measures in academia and science.”

https://ccr-ccr.ca/ccr-summit-whats-needed-and-whats-next-for-canadas-research-community-a-summit-for-scientists-researchers-working-in-or-outside-of-academia/

University Science and Engineering Education Research needs to grow in Canada

University science & engineering education and Science & engineering education research are high on the Flynn group’s priorities, including support and funding for such initiatives.

Here are some resources that capture some of the issues, including a paucity of funding an opportunities for science education research in Canada.

Quick links

Quick information:

University Science Education Research 

Download as pdf

Importance of university-level science education research (i.e., discipline-based education research): DBER Report 

National Science Foundation (US) 

Education and Human Resources (EHR) active funding opportunities—these are education research grants. Link 

  • EHR Core Research: $500,000–2,500,000. Link 

  • Improving undergraduate STEM education (IUSE:EHR): $300,000–3,000,000. Link 

  • Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES): $75,000–300,000. Link 

NSERC education (Canada) 

Funding supports delivery of education and/or outreach. 

How effective are the programs? What are the outcomes? How are outcomes measured (e.g., based on inputs and assumed outcomes)? 

  • PromoScience: $10,000–300,000. Link 

  • Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering Program: up to $70,000/year for 5 years, renewable once (not currently active). Link 

  • Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program (CREATE): up to $1.65 M. Link 

  • Discovery Grants: Highly Qualified Personnel are a required application component. How is HQP training quality evaluated, by the quality of the researcher themselves, other? Link 

  • Key needs: What works? What needs to change in:

    • Undergraduate education (e.g., curricula and pedagogical approaches)

    • Graduate education (e.g., curricula, pedagogical approaches, training models)

    • Equity, diversity, inclusion 

    • Indigenous peoples’ (EDI, etc.) 

    • Professional skills training 

    • Outreach 

SSHRC grants (Canada) 

SSHRC funds education research at a level an order of magnitude less than the US’ NSF. 

  • Insight Development grant: $7000–70,000. Link 

  • Connection program: $7000–50,000. Emphasis on facilitating the flow of social sciences and humanities knowledge among researchers and between the campus and larger community to enhance benefit and impact. Link 

    • Insight grant: $75,000–400,000. Link

    • Imagine Canada’s Future includes a challenge area addressing: What new ways of learning, particularly in higher education, will Canadians need to thrive in an evolving society and labour market? Link 

Interagency (Canada) 

  • New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration: up to $250,000 (one time). Link