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Guidelines Governing Membership of Selection Committees and PanelsThe following criteria and guidelines govern the appointment of members of NSERC selection committees and panels. These guidelines were approved by the three program standing committees (Committee on Scholarships and Fellowships, Committee on Research Grants and Committee on Research Partnerships) and presented to NSERC's Council at its June 2001 meeting. CompositionIn order to perform its task efficiently and equitably, each selection committee or panel must represent diversified expertise in the areas of research covered by the committee or panel and have good judgement and a broad knowledge of the areas, including new and emerging ones that are often at the frontier between disciplines, and an ability to assess the potential contribution of the proposals against the objectives of the program. Selection committees and panels are peer based. Although the majority of panel members are drawn from Canadian universities, committees and panels should include research managers, experienced practitioners (those with hands-on experience) and researchers from industry, government laboratories and/or foreign institutions. Recently retired individuals who remain very active in research are potential members. Members from the private and public sectors provide an important perspective in the assessment of applications. Their participation in the review process can enhance awareness and appreciation of the value of applied research and the potential for application of basic concepts to technology transfer or, where appropriate, commercialisation. Members from the private and public sectors can offer an understanding of the potential exploitation of research results in commercial operations. Members from outside the Canadian university system provide valuable contributions and help bring fresh ideas to the process. This is particularly important in relatively small disciplines, or in areas where Canadian expertise is concentrated in only a few institutions. In addition to bringing an international perspective, foreign members bring with them valuable experience with other peer review systems and research communities. Although each committee or panel should be representative of the community it serves, members should not be considered representatives of their university, industry or government department. Potential members include accomplished researchers, new scientists and engineers from all sectors and all universities, large or small. Members need not be NSERC grantees. Scholarships selection committees should also include postdoctoral fellows. Because of the diversity of the population of Canada and of the research community, other factors need to be taken into account to ensure equitable representation of various groups. For example, both women and men should participate in the selection process, the various fields of research under the purview of a committee must be adequately represented over time, the different regions of Canada must participate fully in the selection process and each committee must be able to assess applications in Canada's two official languages. Membership DynamicsTo maintain a certain stability in membership while providing a mechanism for membership renewal, NSERC has established a rotation pattern based on three-year terms for committee and panel members. These terms represent an appropriate balance between giving members time to become familiar with policies and procedures and time to deal with the workload. Three-year terms also address the need for renewal, so that it is not always the same people involved in the review process. Inasmuch as possible, one third of the membership should be replaced each year. Roles and Responsibilities for AppointmentsSelection committee and panel members are appointed by the Corporate Secretary to Council, upon co-approved by the appropriate Director and/or Vise-President. In developing recommendations, Program Officers, in consultation with Team Leaders and/or the Director:
The committee and panel chairs are appointed by NSERC, generally from the continuing members of the committee or panel. Guidelines for Nominators, Panels and NSERC StaffIt is essential that committees and panels examine trends in research and lend special consideration to planning their expertise requirements for the next three years, noting particular pressures, or changes in direction of research; it is important to recommend the appointment of new members to cover new or priority areas. One-for-one replacement is not always appropriate. Prime considerations in the renewal of membership are the nominees' stature in the research community, their areas of expertise and breadth of interest, their good judgement and their ability to work on a committee or panel. In addition to the requirements of competency and being representative of the community the committee or panel serves, the following guidelines are taken into account in considering nominees:
Recommendations not consistent with the guidelines, as well as recommendations for a change in the size of the committee or panel, must be fully documented. NOTE: Committee or panel members who find themselves in the position of having to respond to formal allegations of financial or professional impropriety will not participate in the work of the committee while an investigation is under way. NSERC |
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