Centres for Research in Youth, Science Teaching and Learning (CRYSTAL) Pilot Program

Duration	Application Deadline
Up to 5 years	Letters of Intent due May 29, 2004 Full proposals due October 22, 2004
Program Contacts

Important Information

• Federal Government Announces Recipients of $5 Million Program to Foster Science Literacy and Numeracy
• CRYSTAL Pilot Program Competition Results

Introduction

There is widespread and growing recognition that science literacy and numeracy are vital skills in the 21^st century economy, and that there is much that can be done to improve the quality of science and mathematics education in Canadian primary and secondary schools. The CRYSTAL program will provide a forum for the many partners who share an interest in developing and enhancing the skills of, and resources available to, science and mathematics teachers, and in enriching the preparation of Canadian children in these foundation subjects.

Improving science literacy and numeracy among Canadian youth will help to increase the supply of students qualified for and interested in science, mathematics and engineering programs at the university level. Advanced training in such programs contributes to the availability of a highly skilled labour force, capable of thinking critically and creating and applying knowledge in all sectors for the benefit of Canada.

Objectives

Centres will establish effective collaborations between researchers in education with those in science, mathematics and engineering, as well as with the education and science promotion communities, and others (as appropriate) at the national, regional, provincial and/or local level. Together, the group will develop a cohesive, interdisciplinary research program to:

• increase our understanding of the skills and resources needed to improve the quality of science and mathematics education (K-12), and
• increase our understanding of the best ways to enrich the preparation of young Canadians in these foundation subjects.

In addition, Centres will evaluate and develop knowledge translation and outreach activities, including the practical application of research results that enhance the skills of, and resources available to, teachers and that enrich the preparation of Canadian youth in science and mathematics.

Centres will also support the successful training of university students as highly qualified researchers and/or professional educators in science and mathematics.

Collectively, the Centres will form a national network for the exchange of research results and best practices.

Description

Funding

CRYSTAL will initially run as a pilot program with a single competition in 2004. NSERC will provide funding of up to $200,000 per year, for up to five years, for five or six centres. NSERC funding will support each centre’s research and knowledge translation/outreach programs by covering such costs as personnel, travel, materials and supplies, administration and dissemination/communications (see Use of Funds). A cash contribution from partners is not required, but it is hoped that NSERC funding will be used to leverage cash and in-kind contributions from other sources (e.g., corporate, university and provincial).

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. A selection committee of experts will review proposals using the selection criteria outlined below. From among those proposals deemed to be excellent, NSERC will select up to six for funding. Collectively, the centres will cover a range of important themes and activities and the regional make-up of Canada. NSERC expects to announce the results of the competition in February 2005.

Applicants and Co-applicants

Each centre will be hosted by one or more of the faculties of education, science and engineering of the lead university(ies). The group must include researchers from education and researchers from science, mathematics and/or engineering, and possibly other areas, as appropriate (such as program evaluation, communications and the arts). All researchers may be from one institution, but NSERC encourages the participation of two or more universities in each centre. A significant commitment from the host institution(s) is expected. Centres may be “virtual networks.”

Partners

Partners from the “user community” must also be actively involved, such as teachers, students and parents from primary and secondary schools, school boards, provincial ministries of education, colleges, non-governmental organizations involved in science promotion, museums, science centres, learned societies, policy makers, curriculum developers and text book publishers. Partners will play a key role in all stages of the research (development of the proposal; planning, direction and conduct of the research; and application of results), through ongoing interaction with the university researchers. The level and nature of their involvement in the centre will depend on the type of research and knowledge translation/outreach activities proposed, and the expected impacts on the user community.

Research Themes

Each centre should have its own specific theme or focus reflecting the applicants’ research expertise and the needs and interests of the partners from the user community. The research theme must be focused on one or more areas that specifically address the objectives of CRYSTAL. The selected theme must also be reflected in the expected outcomes and impacts. Examples could be, but are not limited to, pre-service and in-service professional development of teachers; specific subject areas such as mathematics for grades 1-6; computer-based learning; and gender, Aboriginal or urban-rural issues.

Knowledge Translation

Each centre will also be involved in the practical application of research results and the transfer of expertise to the user community, by evaluating, developing and providing outreach activities related to its research theme. Some examples are: professional development for primary and secondary school teachers; innovative tools, materials, textbooks, workbooks and other aids for classrooms; career planning for secondary school students; internships, workshops and exchanges for science, mathematics and engineering university students to develop expertise in education, and for education students to develop expertise in science, mathematics and engineering; and mentorship programs (e.g., university students mentoring secondary school students, secondary school students mentoring young children, accomplished teachers mentoring recent teaching graduates).

Outcomes and Impacts

The program is intended to be flexible and to accommodate a variety of themes and activities that address the different needs and concerns of diverse partners. While the broad, long-term objective is to improve the quality of science and mathematics education in Canadian schools (K-12), the short-term impacts of the program will depend on the specific objectives, themes and activities of the centres themselves. Some examples are: increasing the number of K-12 teachers with expertise in science and mathematics; changing young children’s attitudes towards science and mathematics school work and towards careers in these areas; and identifying the best pedagogical approaches for teaching science and mathematics based on an improved understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved in learning these foundation subjects.

Management and Communication

Each centre will have a sound management structure to plan, direct and integrate all of its activities, including an evaluation plan to assess success in meeting objectives and the resulting outcomes and impacts. As well, centres will be expected to have strong communication plans to ensure the timely exchange of information and results with partners, school boards, provincial ministries of education, other CRYSTAL centres, the public, and other relevant groups nationally and internationally.

National Leadership

Interested applicants are invited to apply for the additional role of overall national networking and leadership. One centre will be selected to receive extra funding of up to $25,000 per year and the accompanying responsibility of organizing annual events and other means for encouraging the exchange of research results and best practices between centres and stakeholders across Canada.

Requests for this extra funding will be evaluated in the context of the full proposal. NSERC will consider applicants’ past experience with planning and organizing similar events, the feasibility of the national networking plan, originality and appropriateness of events and approaches, and the expected impacts and need for funds.

Use of Grant Funds

CRYSTAL grants provide funding for the direct costs associated with the delivery of the centre’s research and knowledge translation/outreach programs. A detailed Use of Funds document specifically for the CRYSTAL program is available for referral. Applicants who wish to request funding for items not covered by these guidelines, or that deviate from them, should consult NSERC.

In general, costs such as student stipends; salaries for research personnel and fees for professional services; equipment, materials and supplies; and travel for networking, collaboration, and knowledge translation/outreach; and dissemination and communications are eligible. While some administrative costs directly related to program delivery are eligible (e.g., clerical staff), overhead costs such as telephone rental and connection fees, insurance and the renovation of office space are not.

Partners from the user community are not eligible to receive direct funding through this program. However, grantees may wish to support selected activities of partners to carry out the centres’ research programs and other activities. Some partner organizations may be eligible for funding from NSERC’s PromoScience Program. Outreach activities supported through the CRYSTAL program are expected to be either distinct from those supported by PromoScience, or will complement them and provide incremental value.

Eligibility

The host university(ies) must be eligible to administer NSERC grants. Individual applicants must also meet specific eligibility criteria. One exception to the eligibility criteria for the CRYSTAL program is that not all applicants have to be engaged in research in the natural sciences or engineering.

Application Procedures

Letter of Intent

A Letter of Intent of up to five pages must be submitted by the principal applicant, on behalf of the proposed centre, to NSERC by May 29, 2004. The Letter of Intent must provide the following information:

• The title of the proposal and key words that describe the proposed research program and knowledge translation/outreach activities.
• The principal applicant’s contact information and area(s) of expertise.
• A list of potential co-applicants from universities, including their contact information and area(s) of expertise.
• A list of potential partners, including a description of their roles and current level(s) of interest and commitment.
• A plan for developing collaborations should be included (if potential co applicants and partners are not already in place).
• A description of the theme or focus of the centre and an outline of the proposed research and knowledge translation/outreach activities.
• The proposed management structure.
• The level of interest in a national leadership role.
• The estimated annual budget for years 1-5, including funds requested from NSERC, estimated cash and in-kind contributions from other organizations, and an outline of proposed expenditures.
• A letter of support from the lead university (as an additional page).
• The names of five to seven suggested referees, including their contact information and area(s) of expertise (as an additional page).

Preliminary Review

NSERC will invite a limited number of applicants to submit full proposals, based on its review of the Letters of Intent. If two or more proposed centres are found to be highly related, NSERC may invite one joint application.

Full Proposal

The deadline for receiving applications is October 22, 2004.

The full proposal consists of a CRYSTAL Grant Application and CRYSTAL Personal Data Forms for the principal applicant, each co-applicant, and each key participant from the user community, along with a letter of support from each participating organization. Applicants must follow the detailed instructions and are encouraged to consult with NSERC when preparing the proposal.

Note: Forms and instructions will be made available at a later date to those applicants invited to submit a full proposal.

In general, the proposal will describe the centre’s overall strategy and focus, the research program and knowledge translation/outreach activities the grant will support, the partners’ involvement and the centre’s potential impact on the user community, the training of university students, and a budget (i.e., how the grant will be spent, as well as its relationship to other sources of funding).

Review Procedures

Each proposal will be reviewed by external referees and the CRYSTAL Selection Committee.

Selection Criteria

CRYSTAL proposals are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

Excellence of the Applicants

• Demonstrated knowledge, expertise and experience;
• Complementarity and synergy of expertise;
• Quality and impact of past or potential research contributions (i.e., importance to other researchers and the education and science promotion communities); and
• Quality and impact of past or potential contributions to knowledge translation/outreach activities in science and/or mathematics education.

Quality of the Proposal

• Originality, innovation and the quality of the proposed research and knowledge translation/outreach activities;
• Focus and coherence of the research proposal and the relationship between the research and knowledge translation/outreach activities;
• Clarity and scope of the objectives of the centre’s activities in research and knowledge translation/outreach;
• Clarity and appropriateness of the research methodology, and approaches for other activities;
• Feasibility of achieving intended results; and
• Availability of suitable equipment, resources and facilities.

Partnerships and Communication

• Demonstrated commitment of the host university(ies) to the proposed centre (e.g., shared funding, infrastructure, resources, and fundraising support);
• Demonstrated commitment of applicants to working with partners from the user community;
• Level of involvement and demonstrated commitment of partners to the centre;
• Excellence of partner organizations and their key representatives participating in the centre;
• Communications plan to ensure timely exchange of information and results with partners, other centres, the public and other relevant groups nationally and internationally.

Training of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP)

• Quality and extent of past contributions to the training of HQP in education and/or science promotion;
• Quality and extent of past contributions to the training of research HQP (e.g., graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research assistants);
• Appropriateness of the proposal for the training of HQP as researchers and/or as professional educators;
• Extent to which all centre participants are involved in training activities; and
• Enhancement of training arising from a collaborative or interdisciplinary research environment.

Potential Impacts and Outcomes

• Relevance of a centre’s theme to local, provincial, regional and/or national needs and concerns;
• Clearly defined potential impacts and outcomes for the proposed research and knowledge translation/outreach activities;
• Potential for the proposed research and knowledge translation/outreach activities to impact, within a reasonable time, on the skills and resources available to science and mathematics teachers (K-12), and science literacy and numeracy among Canadian youth;
• Partners’ and users’ ability to benefit from the practical application of the results of the proposed research through outreach programs; and
• Plan for measuring and evaluating the success of achieving objectives, and the anticipated impacts and desired outcomes.

Need for Funds

• Appropriateness of and justification for the level of funding requested vis-à-vis the stated objectives; and
• Availability of other sources of funding and their relationship to the current proposal.

Management

• Leadership and management structure to ensure effective research, knowledge translation, outreach, communication, administration and financial control; and
• Commitment of the principal applicant and co-applicants to the centre and its management structure.

Reporting

The host universities will be required to submit NSERC’s standard financial statement, Grants in Aid of Research, Statement of Account (Form 300), annually. In addition, each centre will be required to submit interim and final reports highlighting the degree to which objectives are being met according to previously determined performance measures, and the resulting outcomes and impacts. Payment of subsequent installments will depend on the continued availability of funds, use of previous installments, the projected amount remaining in the grant account at the end of the fiscal year, and the progress in meeting objectives and the resulting outcomes and impacts.

Details of the reporting requirements will be provided at the time of the award. Each partner from the user community should be involved in the development of the reports and will have the opportunity to provide comments about them directly to NSERC.

An evaluation of the pilot program will be conducted to determine the feasibility of the CRYSTAL program, as well as its demonstrated and potential impact. Progress reports and other indicators will be used to determine the centres’ success in enhancing the skills and resources available to science and mathematics teachers (K-12) and in enriching the preparation of Canadian children in these foundation subjects.