Science in Society - Connections and Intersections Award
Call for Research Proposals
Funding Opportunity Details
Funding Organization
University of Saskatchewan
Program Name
Science in Society – Connections and Intersections Award
Important Dates
Announcement
2010-10-08
Application Deadline
2011-01-15
Application Notice of Decision 2011-03-01
Funding Start Date
2011-04-01
Description
Through this Call for Research Proposals, the Office of the Vice-President Research (OVPR),
with leadership from members of the Working Group for the Innovation and Cultural
Commitment of the University of Saskatchewan’s Second Integrated Plan, intends to fund
initiatives that explore the connections and intersections between scientific pursuits (social
science, natural science, and engineering) and pursuits in the humanities and fine arts.
Through cross-disciplinary teams that represent both humanistic and scientific perspectives,
these initiatives will shed new light on the role of science in society and investigate the roots
of our societal perceptions and understanding of science. Further, these initiatives will allow
for an examination of different ways of knowing that make up society and science and will
foster horizontal connections between these different ways of knowing that are situated
within society.
Scientists sometimes decry public misconception of their work and lament the absence of
adequate scientific education. However, scientific projects are often treated as the property
of scientists, rather than as social decisions with public welfare consequences. But this
image of two solitudes understates the degree to which science itself is shaped by the
models that society projects onto it. Tensions between religion and science, or between
science and the humanities, are often assumed rather than investigated.
Through this call for research proposals, one goal is to overcome the disconnection between
the campus community and the larger regional, national and international communities of
which it is a part. It is intended to stimulate thought and discussion on the connections and
intersections between ―science‖, understood to be multifaceted and multidimensional, and
―society‖, equally complex and multilayered. To provide some context for this challenge, we
are particularly interested in proposals that focus on the University of Saskatchewan’s
substantial scientific assets, its researchers and its facilities from the engaged perspective of
the fine arts, humanities, and social sciences. Big science projects are natural social
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experiments. They invite comment, collaboration, and disputation. How have our projects
fared as societal undertakings? What has been their impact on the community’s sense of
engagement, esteem, and involvement? Are the promises, real and implied, being fulfilled
or disappointed? How and/or do the presence of nationally important science facilities at the
U of S impact Saskatchewan’s social, cultural and economic context or ―sense of place‖?
We are also interested in proposals aimed at helping to frame policies around our scientific
investments. For example, how can we meet the public’s need for information and
assurance about our substantial scientific endeavors, while addressing researchers’ and
decision-makers’ needs for adequate independence to direct a scientific agenda?
In its second integrated plan, the University of Saskatchewan committed to developing
cross-unit collaborations and interdisciplinary research in order to better address issues of
societal concern. This call for research proposals challenges researchers to work across
disciplinary boundaries, to explore inter-connections between humanistic and science
perspectives, and to break new ground in examining the ―science in society‖ question. The
intent is to examine, embrace, and foster horizontal connections among vertical structures,
that is, disparate modes of thought.
Research proposals will be considered which are related, but not limited, to the following
themes:
1) The fiction, ambiguity, and reality of relations between science and the arts.
These are projects that explore the interaction between scientific projects and social
and human aspirations. Proposals should examine the contributions that disciplines not
typically associated with material or natural science can make to increasing
understanding of and improvements to scientific activities and methods.
2) The impact of major scientific projects on our sense of community.
Proposals that evaluate how science affects our values, our self-esteem, our behaviour
and our economic prospects, are particularly welcome. Proposals in this category could
also consider the role and impact of initiatives designed to publicly bridge disciplinary
gaps including, for example, artist-in-residence programs at scientific facilities.
3) The use of major science facilities to enhance social science, humanities and
fine arts research and scholarly pursuits.
Proposals that explore potential applications, impacts and benefits of large-scale
scientific projects and infrastructure for disciplines including History, Religious Studies,
Art History, Music, Archaeology, Philosophy, etc. are welcome.
4) The role of public policy, including subsidies and regulation, in the
management of scientific projects.
Proposals that enumerate and assess the criteria that should be used in evaluating big
science projects are particularly welcome. Also invited are projects that assess current
science policies that seek to channel scientific activity toward commercial applications or
concrete social benefits.
Funds Available
 The total amount available for this initiative is $100,000. The maximum amount to be
granted for a single award is $30,000 for 1 year.
 For allowable costs, applicants should review the Use of Grant Funds section of the TriAgency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Financial Administration Guide for a complete listing
and description of allowable costs and activities.
 The full application must provide a detailed justification of all costs.
Conditions of Funding
All conditions of funding specified in the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide (noted
above) shall apply to applications funded through this funding opportunity. In addition to
standard guidelines and requirements, the following special requirement shall apply:

Within six months of completion of the proposed research, successful teams will
complete a knowledge synthesis of the project, including how the findings have
contributed to our perceptions and understanding of science, and the implications of
such knowledge.
Participants
The participation of two or more independent scholars with complementary expertise is
required. Team composition must include expertise in the natural, bio-medical, physical or
applied sciences AND expertise in the social sciences, humanities or fine arts. The onus is on
the applicants to clearly demonstrate that the assembled research team, under the
leadership of the principal investigator, collectively has the necessary expertise for
successful execution of the project. Collaborators from other sectors (e.g. government,
industry, etc.) and foreign researchers are welcome to participate. While the participation of
partners from outside the academic sector is not required, applicants are strongly
encouraged to form linkages with relevant users and stakeholders where applicable and
where new and genuine collaborations serve to strengthen the application. Involvement of
graduate and/or undergraduate students is encouraged.
Eligibility
The principal investigator and at least one other member of the team must hold an eligible
appointment at the University of Saskatchewan. Applicants and co-applicants must be
eligible under Tri-Agency guidelines.
Please note that adjunct professors who meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria, but whose primary
place of employment is outside of academia, are not eligible as principal investigators but
are eligible as co-applicants for this program. Postdoctoral Fellows are not eligible as coapplicants but may be included as collaborators.
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Review Process and Evaluation
Peer Review
The peer review process used to review applications submitted for funding will be aligned
generally with Tri-Agency practices and will involve the highest standard of expert
adjudication. Applications will be circulated to three external referees for review. Following
the receipt of external reviews, a review committee (comprised of relevant internal and
external research and decision-maker peers and chaired by an active research peer) will
evaluate the applications. Committee funding recommendations will be based upon the
thorough evaluation of applications and the rating of each proposal’s merit using a defined
set of evaluation criteria (see below).
Evaluation Criteria
The following evaluation criteria are specific to this funding opportunity. The OVPR
recognizes that applications will emphasize different approaches to research and to
knowledge translation; therefore, the review committee will be expected to weight criteria
such as these differently from one application to another.
All research proposals will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
Potential Impact (50%)
 Originality, significance and expected contribution to knowledge
 Potential of research to affect public debate or intellectual thinking around the
humanistic/scientific interface
 Potential to influence and provoke debate and discussion beyond the academic
environment
 Alignment of research with the identified research theme(s)
 Potential for future collaborations
Merit of the Research Plan (50%)
 Appropriateness, innovativeness and excellence of the research plan or methods
 Commitment and capacity of the team to achieve the proposed research, including
incorporation of appropriate content expertise
 Feasibility—likelihood that the proposed methods can be completed on budget and on
time
Both potential impact and merit of the research plan will be evaluated. Potential impact and
scientific merit will be weighted equally. These scores will then be merged into a single
score, with the highest scores receiving funding.
How to Apply
 Reminder to applicants: Please ensure that your application is complete and includes
all required signatures (application participants, organizational and partner signatures).
Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted into the competition.
 The research proposal must include the following sections:
A. Brief Description of Proposed Research in Lay Language (max. 500 words)
Provide a non-technical overview of the research question, importance of research and
its potential to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and public debate.
B. Detailed Description of Project (max. 6 pages plus references)
Using the headings listed below, please provide a comprehensive description of your
project:
(i) Purpose of the Study and the Research Questions to be Answered
Clearly outline the main objectives of the proposed research, its potential to
contribute to academic and public knowledge and debate about the interconnections
between science and society.
(ii) Background Context and Literature review
Briefly describe the current literature and research pertinent to your proposal.
(iii) Research Plan
Describe the methods, detailing sources of data, inclusion/exclusion criteria, critical
appraisal techniques, methods for synthesizing findings and strategies to ensure
methodological rigor. Identify possible challenges and how they will be dealt with.
(iv) End-of-Award Knowledge Translation
Explain what steps will be taken to ensure the knowledge generated by the research
will be shared – to whom and in what way.
C. Roles and Responsibilities of the Research Team (max. 3 pages)
Describe the roles and expertise of each member of the research team, including how
you have added or will add the necessary content or methods expertise to effectively
address the research theme. In addition, described how the project will contribute to
student training strategies.
D. Operating Budget Module (max. 3 pages)
Provide a clear, detailed budget for the project including estimates of all anticipated
expenditures by type and amount. All expenditures must be eligible under Tri-Agency
Guidelines. Clearly justify all budget items.
E. Common CV
 Full CV Module for Principal Applicant and any other Principal Applicants and CoApplicants, properly signed by each.
 It is the responsibility of the Principal Applicant to ensure that all CV modules
submitted with the application are the validated versions.
Send the completed application package (original plus “five” copies) to:
RE: "Science in Society: Connections and Intersections"
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
Room 201, College Building
107 Administration Place
Saskatoon SK S7N 5A2
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Contact Information
For questions on University of Saskatchewan funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer
review process contact:
Amanda Sawlor, Assistant Director, Grants and Contracts
NRC/PBI Building, 3rd Floor, 110 Gymnasium Place
Saskatoon SK S7N 4J8
Phone: 966-1318
Fax: 966-1653
Email: amanda.sawlor@usask.ca
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Karen Chad, Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
Room 201, College Building
107 Administration Place
Saskatoon SK S7N 5A2
Phone: (306) 966-8514
Fax: (306) 966-8736
Email: karen.chad@usask.ca