K* Scholarships
2016 Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum
“K* (K star) is the collective term for the set of functions and
processes at the various interfaces between knowledge, practice,
and policy. K* improves the ways in which knowledge is shared
and applied; improving processes already in place to bring about
more effective and sustainable change.”
There is a wide variety of terms used to depict and describe knowledge sharing activities. Terms
such as knowledge brokering, knowledge translation, knowledge exchange and knowledge
mobilization are all used extensively, but the different terminology has hidden the fact that the
actual functions they describe are all systemically related to each other.
K* was coined as an overarching concept and as a useful shorthand to describe the various
aforementioned terms along with others used within and amongst the knowledge-focused
community. K* also represents a framework to think about K* functions and processes, allowing
one to see how the diverse range of K* functions, processes, practitioners fits within the
landscape of knowledge to optimize knowledge sharing.
To access the K* Concept paper and case studies and/or the Executive Summary go to
http://inweh.unu.edu/kstar.
Call for Applications
Applications for up to eight K* scholarships are now being solicited from Canadian research
trainees and early career professionals who are attending the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization
Forum. Preference will be given to individuals presenting a poster or oral presentation. These
scholarships, valued at $500 each, will be used to help offset the costs of travel, accommodations
and registration. Each K* scholarship recipient will be expected to write for the Institute for
Knowledge Mobilization’s blog about their presentation at the Canadian Knowledge
Mobilization Forum.
Total value: The value of each scholarship is $500.
Eligibility: To be eligible you must be:
 A graduate student (Masters and PhD) actively enrolled in a Canadian university graduate
program at a Canadian university or allied research institution
 A post-doctoral fellows at a Canadian university or allied research institution
 A Senior (4th year) undergraduate students from exclusively undergraduate universities
 An early-career professional (younger than age 35 as of the date of the conference) at a
Canadian non-academic organization
Use of Funds: Funds will be used to reimburse applicants for travel (transportation including
taxis) and accommodations (including hotel and meals). For more details on allowable expenses
please see York University’s travel and expense reimbursement guidelines, section 6, Eligible
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Expense Criteria. Registration for the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum is also an
eligible expense for reimbursement and a number of lowest-cost registrations are being reserved
for scholarship-holders. In the event a K* scholar is attending the Canadian Knowledge
Mobilization Forum in his/her own city and/or expenses of travel, accommodations and
registration is less than $500 then the remaining portion (total expenses - $500) will be paid from
Cloverleaf Foundation funds as an honorarium paid to the K* scholarship recipient.
Application Package: An application for the K* scholarship includes all of the following four
components. Incomplete packages will not be considered eligible.
1. If applicable, the applicant’s submission to the call for content for the Canadian Knowledge
Mobilization Forum
2. A 2 page request letter (Times Roman 12 point font, .75 inch margins) providing the
following:
a. How the proposed poster, oral or paper submission meets the goals of the Canadian
Knowledge Mobilization Forum. If the applicant is not presenting a poster or paper
describe how the applicant’s presence will enhance the Canadian Knowledge
Mobilization Forum.
b. the applicant’s career aspirations
c. how the applicant will use the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum to advance
these career aspirations
3. A maximum 2 page letter of support from the applicant’s work or thesis supervisor (Times
Roman 12 point font, .75 inch margins) describing: 1) the applicant’s contributions to
knowledge mobilization research and learning and/or practice; 2) the quality of the applicant
and the applicant’s scholarship/work; 3) his/her contributions to leadership in research,
learning and student/professional life.
4. Signed Acknowledgement and Release form (Appendix A) including agreement that the
applicant will acknowledge the K* scholarship in scholarly publications and other
dissemination opportunities (such as blogs, videos) produced in part from the presentation at
the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum.
Applications will be reviewed by the Planning Committee of the Canadian Knowledge
Mobilization Forum. A member of the Cloverleaf Foundation may join the committee in an
observer capacity.
Please send a scanned and signed pdf of the complete application package to
peter@knowledgemobilization.net
Deadline for applications is 430 pm Eastern on March 31, 2016. Please submit with your
submission for content (if applicable). Information about submitting content for presentation at
CKF16 may be found at http://www.knowledgemobilization.net/archives/8471.
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About the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum:
The Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum was founded in 2012 by Knowledge Mobilization
Works to support a growing international community in knowledge mobilization. The success of
the event and input from a broad range of people led to the creation and crowd funding of the
non-profit Institute for Knowledge Mobilization – who is now the host and organizer of the
Forum.
Whether we call what we do knowledge mobilization, knowledge transfer, dissemination,
implementation science, or by the shorthand of K*- our work is gaining in both influence and
demand. There are now significantly more professional training programs today and social
media streams are filled with discussions and conversations about emerging practice and new
methods for creating value from knowledge. Although KMb has seen significant growth over
the past decade, the need to comprehensively and systematically address key questions as they
evolve and change is growing.
By continuing to assemble practitioners, researchers, students, administrators, thought leaders,
and others engaged in the art and science of knowledge mobilization, we can create: better
practice; better policy and supports; more effective monitoring and evaluation systems; enhanced
training processes; improved employment and job classification policies; more efficient
implementation procedures; and further innovation, all with an ultimate goal of greater value for
society. The Forum is organized as an opportunity to share what you know and to push the
current boundaries of what we do as KMb professionals. This event provides access to some of
the best minds and most creative practitioners in the field.
About the Partners
Cloverleaf Foundation
The Cloverleaf Foundation is a small family foundation chartered in 1989 to allow generations of
family members to work together to make a difference. The Foundation played a catalytic role
bringing together the partners in the K* scholarships.
ResearchImpact-RéseauImpactRecherche:
ResearchImpact-RéseauImpactRecherche (RIR) is Canada’s knowledge mobilization network.
RIR is a pan-Canadian network of universities committed to maximizing the impact of academic
research for the social, economic, environmental and health benefits of Canadians. RIR members
achieve this mandate by investing in knowledge mobilization, supporting collaborations for
research and learning and connecting research beyond the bounds of academia. Each member
university brings unique strengths to the RIR network.
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Canadian Water Network:
Canadian Water Network is a highly sought after mobilizer of multidisciplinary water research
and knowledge from across Canada. Its mission is to nurture national partnerships that mobilize
multidisciplinary research excellence, catalyzing innovation that provides practical,
implementable solutions to complex water resource management issues.
Institute for Knowledge Mobilization:
The Institute for Knowledge Mobilization is a non-profit organization focused on: education,
learning and capacity development on issues of knowledge mobilization; collaboration and
community engagement; applied research and policy support; and evaluation and monitoring.
Our Vision is linked to achieving the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 26 and 27.
United Nations University Institute for Water Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH):
UNU-INWEH is part of the United Nations University and contributes to the resolution of the
Global Water Crisis through a unique programme of applied research and education. It
conceives, develops and manages water initiatives that help developing countries build their
capacity for lasting improvements in human and ecosystem health, and overall reduction in
poverty. UNU-INWEH convened the K* (K-Star) Conference in 2012.
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Appendix A: Acknowledgement and Release Form
Please sign and return with your application to the K* Scholarship – Canadian Knowledge
Mobilization Forum.
I hereby grant permission to ResearchImpact-RéseauImpactRecherche, the Institute for
Knowledge Mobilization and Cloverleaf Foundation (hereinafter known as “Partners”) and their
representatives to take photographs or videos of me and/or my poster/presentation and to make
recordings of my voice. I further grant to the Partners and their representatives the right to
reproduce, use, exhibit, display, broadcast and distribute these images and recordings in any
media now known or later developed for promoting, publicizing or explaining the Partners and
its activities and for administrative, educational or research purposes.
Photographs, video images and voice recordings are the property of the organization creating
them.
I agree to write a summary (maximum 800 words) of my experience at the Canadian Knowledge
Mobilization Forum and grant the Partners permission to post on their respective web sites and
social media channels.
I also agree to acknowledge ResearchImpact-RéseauImpactRecherche, the Institute for
Knowledge Mobilization and Cloverleaf Foundation in any future peer reviewed, non-peer
reviewed and on line publications of the work presented at the Canadian Knowledge
Mobilization Forum.
This does not constitute a transfer of ownership of any intellectual property rights.
Print Name_____________________________________________________
Signature_____________________________ Date_____________________
I hereby grant permission to the Partners to use my name with these images and recordings.
Signature_____________________________ Date_____________________
Privacy: York University is the lead institution for RIR. Personal information including images and recordings in
connection with this form is collected under the authority of The York University Act, 1965 and will be used for
promoting, publicizing or explaining York University and the Partners and its activities and for administrative,
educational or research purposes. Personal information may be disclosed to outside service providers for processing and
production. If you have any questions about the collection of personal information by York University, please contact:
Information and Privacy Coordinator, York University, Ross N945, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, tel. 416736-2100 Ext. 20359, email info.privacy@yorku.ca.
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