Industry Minister Announces New Centres for Research Into Science and Math Education

The initiative called CRYSTAL (Centres for Research in Youth, Science Teaching and Learning) will create up to six multidisciplinary centres specializing in this field at Canadian universities.

“To remain among the world’s most innovative nations, Canadians must build a better foundation of understanding and appreciation of science and math among young people and attract them to science and engineering careers,” said Minister Robillard. “The Government of Canada is working strategically with the provinces to improve research into primary and secondary school science education.”

NSERC will provide up to $200,000 a year over five years to each of the research centers, which will be established in collaboration with education, science, and engineering faculties, and will be charged with developing new links with agencies, governments and individuals active in Canada’s education and science promotion communities. The contribution represents an NSERC investment of $5 million to this initiative.

“K-12 education is a new domain for a federal organization, but we have learned that we would be most welcome as a partner in activities that already occupy many others,” said NSERC President Tom Brzustowski. “Meeting the future demand for scientists and engineers is a critical challenge for Canada, and NSERC will work in partnership with other key players to ensure that more young Canadians will be interested in and prepared for advanced training in science, mathematics and engineering,”

The centres program is being launched following extensive consultation with university science and education faculties, and with many other stakeholders, including provincial ministries of education, schoolboards and schools, and the science promotion community.

Collectively, the centres will cover a range of important research themes and activities, as well as the regional make-up of Canada. Complete program details are available at http://www.nserc.gc.ca/initiatives/crystal/crystals_e.htm. The deadline to receive Letters of Intent from those wishing to mount proposals for the new centres is May 29, 2004.

Today’s announcement took place during the International Conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). The organization is meeting this year in Vancouver.

The CRYSTAL initiative is part of a new vision for NSERC, which sees the agency moving forward with a coherent plan to address emerging national issues while maintaining its core commitment to its traditional programs in science and engineering research and research training.

Other new initiatives include:

• building the capacity of smaller universities to do research;
• assisting community colleges to play a greater role in stimulating innovation at the local level;
• helping Canada develop a new framework for the preparation and evaluation of major new science projects; and
• establishing regional offices, initially in the Atlantic and Prairie regions.

NSERC, now also known as Science and Engineering Research Canada, is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery, and innovation. It supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among postsecondary institutions, government and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

For more information, contact:

Judy Paron
NSERC
Tel.: (613) 996-1417
E-mail: judy.paron@nserc.ca

Daniel Grenier
Office of the Honourable Lucienne Robillard
Minister of Industry
Tel.: (613) 995-9001