Science Horizons Youth Internship Program

The deadline for applications for the program was February 3, 2006. All placements for the 2006-07 year have been filled. The call for applications for the 2007-08 program will be issued in December 2006.

T he Environment Canada Science Horizons program is a collaborative effort with Canadian universities and the private business and non-government organizations. The program offers promising young scientists and post-secondary graduates hands-on experience working on environmental projects under the mentorship and coaching of experienced scientists and program managers.

Environment Canada puts out a call for project proposals from potential employers each December. Environment Canada reviews the proposals and awards contribution agreements to successful employers. Successful employers hire youth for their projects.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Employers are:

• universities;
• private businesses; and
• non-governmental organizations.

Employer Obligations to the Science Horizons Program

Employers will:

• recruit and match youth who must be 30 years of age or under and eligible to work in Canada;
• match youth with mentor/coaches (experienced scientists or program managers in the private or public sector);
• try to select youth from employment equity groups;
• assume responsibility of hiring the youth, negotiating the salary, paying the wages and any other approved costs subject to the cost-sharing agreement with Environment Canada;
• ensure that the consent of the youth is obtained to participate in the evaluation/assessment of the program;
• ensure the achievement of project objectives and compliance with the financial requirements of the project;
• disclose to Environment Canada all technical information, inventions, designs, methods and processes and other intellectual property rights related to the Project that are conceived, developed or first reduced to practice in the carrying out of the Project (collectively, the "Intellectual Property"). All Intellectual Property shall be the property of the EMPLOYER or the YOUTH as appropriate. Environment Canada shall have a non-exclusive, unconditional, irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free right to use the Intellectual Property.
• make available to Environment Canada any models developed and data gathered in undertaking the project;
• ensure submission of a statement of expenditures for the project;
• ensure submission of a final project report by the Employer and the Youth to Environment Canada by the termination date of the project; and
• assist in securing longer term employment for the Youth in the Canadian labour market.

Deadline

2006-02-03

Summary

The program offers eligible youth practical work experience on projects focused on environmental issues such as air, toxics and ecosystem research, wildlife research and management, ecological monitoring and assessment and the development of scientific tools such as standards and guidelines of environmental quality.

Financial Parameters

• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada will provide up to a maximum of $12 000 per placement.
• Employers must provide a minimum of 30% of the eligible cost of the project.
• Project costs must be only those costs associated with the Youth's involvement in the project.

Eligible Costs

Eligible costs may include any of the following:

• salaries, wages and related expenses of interns such as statutory employee benefits;
• operating expenses such as travel, training, utilities, materials and supplies, rental of premises, disbursement for research and technical studies.

It is expected the major cost of any project would be the salary or wages paid to the interns. Central administrative costs are NOT eligible costs.

How to apply

Potential employers should submit a signed Employer Application form for project approval to the appropriate Environment Canada address listed in the Contact section below.

Environment Canada will assess the projects against the following criteria:

• the degree of congruence and relevancy of the proposed project activities to the Science Horizons Youth Internship program objectives and the mandate of Environment Canada;
• the project must provide meaningful work experience for the youth;
• the duration of projects must be from 6 months to 1 year;
• all projects must start on or after April 1 and terminate by March 31;
• the employer must be willing to provide a minimum of 30% of the project costs;
• a mentor must be identified for each project. 

Saskatchewan Contact(s):
See National Contact.