Funding Opportunity

[ PDF (260 KB) | Help ]

In 2006, Synapse was established as a meeting place between CIHR-funded health researchers and Canadian youth. It's specifically designed to motivate students to consider the value of science for the overall well-being of people, and also stimulate their interest in health research as a career. To achieve this, Synapse encourages CIHR-funded researchers, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to become mentors by passing on their passion for health research to young Canadians. Since its inception, over 7,000 Synapse mentors have signed up.

Through this Synapse request for funding application, CIHR wishes to work with well established national science awareness organizations in an effort to a) create more youth outreach opportunities for CIHR Synapse mentors, and b) offer a large number of health research-related hands-on activities to young students across Canada. These include summer science camps, virtual mentorship connections, science fairs, lab-mentorship programs and in-school, hands-on science workshops for all youth. A nationwide proposal can receive up to $100,000 and a northern specific initiative can be granted up to $30,000 (these funds will be allotted for a one-year period).

In order to be funded, the youth science outreach organizations must demonstrate that they meet the following criteria:

• relevant background in youth science outreach programs;
• national or northern network of service providers;
• extensive experience in recruiting, training, integrating and managing volunteer researchers or graduate students;
• provision of significant number of youth outreach opportunities for CIHR Synapse mentors;
• demonstration that program objectives are consistent with those of the CIHR Synapse program;
• extensive number of health research-related hands-on activities to students throughout Canada or specifically in northern Canada;
• appropriate recognition of CIHR support throughuse of Synapse promotional material at both the local and national levels;
• evaluation of the successes and demerits related to the funded programs and submission of a report to CIHR within a month following the end of the funding period;
• identification of a point of contact for all communication purposes (including phone number, fax number and e-mail address).

The application must provide a detailed justification of all costs. CIHR funds cannot be used for the following: capital expenses, leases, warranties and utilities. For more information, please read the complete evaluation criteria on the back of this invitation. You must apply for funding using CIHR's ResearchNet website. Click on "Find Funding" on the left navigation, and then go to the "Other" section of funding opportunities. Synapse – CIHR Youth Connection will be listed there. The deadline for applications is 8:00 pm, March 4, 2011.

For questions or further information, please contact:
Peter Maitland, Youth and Public Outreach Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
160 Elgin Street, 9th Floor
Address Locator 4809A
Ottawa ON K1A 0W9
peter.maitland@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

All submissions will be evaluated by members of the CIHR Youth Outreach Advisory Board; decisions will be announced in April 29, 2011.

Synapse – CIHR Youth Connection Program Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Indicators	Information to be provided in application
Organizational Excellence 30% (Maximum 2 Pages)	Ability of organization and its staff to deliver the program successfully	Relevant background in youth science outreach activities National or northern network of service providers
	Experience in engaging scientists/researchers	Previous integration of scientists/researchers in program delivery Experience of staff in recruiting, training and managing volunteers
	Financial considerations	Realistic budget forecast Evidence of sustainability of organization
Program Quality 40% (Maximum 3 Pages)	Program objectives	Objectives are consistent with those of CIHR’s Synapse program
	Program content	Description of youth outreach opportunities for Synapse mentors that illustrates both the level and nature of the interaction with the students Description of the health research-related hands-on activities and their suitability for intended audience
	Originality/creativity	Innovative and exciting approach to reaching out to youth Need for such a program/activities
Impact and Reach 30% (Maximum 2 Pages)	Impact of program on target groups	Quality of the program interaction (breadth and depth) Past survey results and success stories
	Target audience	Profile of participants (age, background, anticipated numbers reached) National (or northern) in scope with some focus on underserved or under-represented youth
	Communications	Description of use and distribution of CIHR Synapse communication tools at both the local and national levels
	Evaluation	Intent on producing a detailed final report (record of activities, demographics, satisfaction levels, geographic distribution, media coverage, digital photographs of work in action and list of engaged Synapse Mentors that includes a brief description of their contribution)