Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC; French: Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada, CRSNG) is the major federal agency responsible for funding natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. NSERC directly funds university professors and students as well as Canadian companies to perform research and training.^[2] With funding from the Government of Canada, NSERC supports the research of over 41,000 students, trainees and professors at universities and colleges in Canada with an annual budget of CA$1.1 billion in 2015.^[3] Its current director is Alejandro Adem.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada
Agency overview
Formed	May 1, 1978 (1978-05-01)
Jurisdiction	Government of Canada
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Annual budget	CA$ 1.1 billion (2015)^[1]
Minister responsible	François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry
Agency executive	Alejandro Adem, President
Website	www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca

NSERC, combined with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), forms the major source of federal government funding to post-secondary research. These bodies are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Tri-Council"^[4] or "Tri-Agency".^[5]

History

NSERC came into existence on 1 May 1978 under the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Act, which was passed in an omnibus manner by the government of Pierre Elliot Trudeau.^[6] University-based research had previously been supported through the National Research Council of Canada. It reports to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. It is governed by a Council composed of its president and up to 18 members appointed from the private and public sectors^[7] and an executive team of eight persons.^[8]

President

Past presidents include Gordon M. MacNabb (1978-1986), Arthur W. May (1986-1990), Peter Morand (1990-1995), Tom Brzustowski (1995-2005), Suzanne Fortier (2006-2013), and B. Mario Pinto (2014-2018).^[9] On 25 June 2019, Alejandro Adem was appointed President of NSERC, effective October 1, 2019.^[10]

Grants and awards

Professors

NSERC offers research funding for programs and projects covering every discipline of the sciences and engineering.^[11] In 1989, NSERC started a Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) program, with Dr. Monique Frize selected as the first Chair.^[12] In 1996, the program was restructured to support one Chair in each of the following five regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies, and British Columbia/Yukon^[12] and in 2006 a CWSE National Network was created, which facilitates collaborations among the sitting Chairs.^[12] The NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for the B.C./Yukon region operates under the name Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WWEST).^[13] Past CWSE Chairs include Dr. Elizabeth Cannon (1997), Dr. Claire Deschênes (1997), Dr. Monique Frize (1997), Dr. Maria Klawe (1997), Dr. Florence-Mary Williams (1997), Dr. Anne Condon (2002), Dr. Valerie Davidson (2002), Dr. Cecilia Moloney (2002), Dr. Julita Vassileva (2004), Dr. Nadia Ghazzali (2006), Dr. Elizabeth Croft (2010), Dr. Annemieke Farenhorst (2011), Dr. Catherine Mavriplis (2011), and Dr. Lesley Shannon (2015).^[12] As of 2023, the current regional CWSE Chairs are Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal (Atlantic), Dr. Eve Langelier (Quebec), Dr. Shohini Ghose (Ontario), Dr. Laleh Behjat (Prairies), and Dr. Jennifer Jakobi (B.C./Yukon).^[14]

NSERC's newest program, launched in 2023, is Chair for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE). Beginning in Atlantic Canada, the current A-CISE co-chairs are Dr. Svetlana Barkanova, a physicist with Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie, Professor of Organic Chemistry Cape Breton University, and physicist Dr. Kevin Hewitt of Dalhousie University.^[15][16][17] These Atlantic Chairs "aim to reach a broad range of underrepresented groups, including women and gender minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized groups and members of LGBTQ communities, with a particular focus on First Nations and French communities, African Nova Scotians and remote and rural areas."^[18]

Students and fellows

NSERC provides awards, scholarships, and fellowships to graduate and undergraduate students for scientific research.^[19]

Partnership programs

NSERC has Research Partnerships Programs to help foster collaborations between university researchers, colleges and other sectors (including government and industry) to develop new knowledge and expertise, transfer it to Canadian-based organizations and meet the objectives of the Government of Canada’s Science & Technology Strategy on innovation.^[20][21]

In February 2021, The Globe and Mail reported that NSERC partnered with Huawei in which the company contributed over CAN $4.8 million in funding for research.^[22]

NSERC is also a sponsor of Women in Science and Engineering Atlantic Region (WISEatlantic)^[23] "primarily engaged in inspiring youth to consider science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers and making them aware of the diversity that exists within these fields"^[24] and Women in Science and Engineering Newfoundland and Labrador (WISE NL).

See also

• Canadian government scientific research organizations
• Canadian university scientific research organizations
• Canadian industrial research and development organizations
• Higher education in Canada
• Women in STEM fields

References

1. "Public Accounts of Canada 2015 Volume II Section 16 - Industry Program Activity". Government of Canada. 2015. Retrieved 21 Feb 2017.
2. Division, Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Communications (28 June 2016). "NSERC - NSERC's Vision". www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2016-06-28). "NSERC - Dashboard". www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
4. Government of Canada, Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (2019-04-01). "Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2018)". ethics.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
5. Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2019-12-18). "NSERC - Inter-Agency, Tri-Agency Financial Administration". www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
6. 1976-77, c. 24, s. 24
7. Division, Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Communications (28 June 2016). "NSERC - Chronicle of Past Events". www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2016-06-28). "NSERC - Executive Team". Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Retrieved 2021-12-28.
9. "NSERC - Past Presidents". 28 June 2016. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
10. "Minister of Science and Sport Kirsty Duncan announces new President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada". 25 June 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
11. Division, Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Communications (28 June 2016). "NSERC - Discover". www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12. Government of Canada (July 2021). Evaluation of the Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering Program. p. 4.
13. "Report snapshots state of women in STEM: Show strong interest in technology management positions lacking". The Whitehorse Daily Star. Vol. 118, no. 245. December 20, 2018. p. 4.
14. Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2023-01-18). "NSERC – Current Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) chairholders". Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Retrieved 2023-10-17.
15. Gill, Pamela (2023-09-27). "Changing the face of STEM". Gazette - Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
16. "Dal prof selected for NSERC team tasked with creating greater inclusion in STEM". Dalhousie News. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
17. "Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie to Serve Term as Atlantic Chair for Inclusion in Science and Engineering - Cape Breton University". 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
18. Gill, Pamela (2023-09-27). "Changing the face of STEM". Gazette - Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
19. Division, Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Communications (28 June 2016). "NSERC - Students and Fellows". www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
20. . Archived from the original on 2011-11-12. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
21. Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2016-06-28). "NSERC - Discover". www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
22. Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (15 February 2021). "Ottawa partners with Huawei to fund university research despite security concerns". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
23. "About | WISEatlantic". www.wiseatlantic.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
24. Elliott, Wendy (April 1, 2016). "Training WISE women at Acadia, attacking science stereotypes". NovaNewsNow.

External links

• NSERC