Important Dates

Notices

Table of Contents

• Description
• Objectives
• Eligibility
• Guidelines
• Performance Measurement
• Review Process and Evaluation
• How to Apply
• Contact Information
• Partner/Collaborator Description

Description

CIHR's Café Scientifique program, created through the Youth and Public Outreach Unit of CIHR's Communications and Marketing Branch, is made up of informal events, not lectures between the general public and health research experts regarding a particular health-related issue of popular interest. CIHR's Café Scientifiques cover a wide range of topics, from nutrition to mental health at the workplace to air pollution.

For that reason, these events are all about accessibility. CIHR Café Scientifiques take place at a café, a pub or a restaurant and do not require that the participants have a science degree. The informal conversations about a particular health subject may provide answers to any questions that are on the minds of Canada's general population.

CIHR Cafes can be hosted by its 13 Institutes as well as affiliated universities and research centres. As a result, they take place in cities across Canada and are either in English or French. Admission is always free.

In order to be funded, applicants must demonstrate how their particular Café Scientifique will follow the universal structure of the event itself:

CIHR Cafés start with the help of a moderator, who introduces the subject of discussion and is also a specialist in the field. Following the instruction, expert speakers each give a short presentation about what they know regarding the subject. While they are allowed to bring props along that highlight their presentation, these speakers must avoid technical jargon and are not allowed to have scientific slides.

A short break follows, which includes food/drink. The moderator then introduces a question/answer period between the audience and the speakers. This period represents a clear demonstration of public engagement – and it's the moderator's responsibility to direct any public questions to the appropriate speaker who could potentially answer them. Everyone then has the chance to both listen and learn.

Each CIHR Café Scientifique offers the public an anonymous survey that's fully intended to improve the event. The response through the survey has been extremely favourable – mostly due to CIHR's effort to educate the public and the speakers' ability to offer answers to questions that have remained unanswered in popular culture.

Members of CIHR's Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch of the Knowledge Translation Portfolio have also used results of the survey as a consultation tool. For that reason, some of the survey questions specifically ask how the Canadian public would like to be educated regarding progress in health research and in what ways they would like CIHR funding to be allotted.

CIHR's contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them.

Funds Available

CIHR's contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them.

• The total amount available for the current funding opportunity is $120,000. This amount may increase if additional funding partners decide to participate.
• The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $3,000 for up to one year. Café Scientifique Grants are non-renewable.
• Each applicant who applies for a Café Scientifique grant may do so only once per year.

Partner/Collaborator Participation

CIHR is dedicated to identifying and developing collaborations with other funding organizations and stakeholders to enhance the availability of funding for this strategic initiative, and to create, where appropriate, opportunities for knowledge exchange and translation related to the scope of this particular initiative. Applicants are invited to visit the Partner/Collaborator Description section to find a list of partners/collaborators and their respective mandates and/or strategic interests. This list will continue to evolve as new partners/collaborators join in this initiative.

Successful applicants within CIHR's Café Scientifique program can collaborate with other organizations that also wish to present the scientific subject matter at-hand. These additional collaborations and organizations must be identified in the application submitted.

Objectives

The objective of this funding opportunity is to:

• Establish an accessible/informal discussion between the general public and scientists/health professionals about the value and impact of health research on the health of Canadians, the health care system and the economy as a whole.

Eligibility

In order to apply (become a partner) in the CIHR Café Scientifique program, the applicant can be a member of an affiliated university or be part of a non-profit organization, research centre, science centre and museum. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

The CIHR definition of Principal Applicant does not apply to the Café Scientifique program. Applications are equally welcomed from independent researchers, research trainees, activity/event coordinators affiliated with Canadian non-governmental not-for-profit organizations, and/or community leaders. In the context of the Café Scientifique program, the term Principal Applicant is defined as any individual who plays a primary role in the organization or administration of the proposed activity/event.

The applicant, through relevant background or previous experience, will organize a Café Scientifique involving subjects that will engage the Canadian public as well as heighten awareness of the significant role that science and health research play in improving the health of Canadians.

Activities/Events taking place before the funding start date, whichever is first are not eligible to apply to this opportunity.

Each applicant may do so only once per year.

Determination of the recipients will be selected by an external board of review, made up of CIHR staff members and peers who are experts in science/health-related fields.

If an organization or institution is uncertain about its eligibility for funding through the Café Scientifique program, it is encouraged to seek clarification from CIHR staff designated in Contact Information.

Guidelines

This funding opportunity will follow the General Guidelines for Grant Programs.

Allowable Costs

Applicants should review the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Financial Administration Guide for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.

The full application must provide a detailed justification of all costs.

Expenses eligible for support through the Cafe Scientifique Grant program include:

• Promotion of the event (eg. advertising, poster design)
• Costs associated with planning, publication, translation, and/or dissemination;
• Fees or honoraria for the preparation of background documents (e.g., environmental scan).

For meetings funded through the Cafe Scientifique Grant program, the following expenses are eligible for support:

• Travel and accommodation for participants;
• Meeting rooms and associated meeting costs (e.g., audio-visual equipment, videoconferences);
• Hospitality costs (non-alcoholic refreshments or meals).

The following costs are not eligible for support through the Cafe Scientifique Grant program:

• Stipend/salary support for investigators, research trainees or technical assistants (other than for aforementioned purposes);
• Purchase or maintenance of equipment;
• Operating costs of research projects.

Conditions of Funding

All conditions specified in CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies shall apply to applications funded through this Funding opportunity. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional Responsibilities, Ethics, Official Languages Policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial requirements prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.

In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements, the following special requirements shall apply:

• Within one month after the event itself the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a final performance report summarizing the results and describing how the grant funds were used.
• This report includes exact number of participants who attend the Café;
• The level of satisfaction and feedback regarding the Café from the attending audience
  • to do so, the applicant agrees to distribute the CIHR Café Scientifique Survey and to tabulate the results in a CIHR pre-formatted Excel spreadsheet (the results of this survey will form part of the formal written report and evaluation provided to CIHR within one month following the Café)
  • these documents will be provided to separately to all successful applicants. NOTE: CIHR expects a response rate of at least 50%
• A minimum of four digital photos of the Café Scientifique as it occurred (these can be photos of participants and panel experts, the locale, and Café in progress);
• The names of any media representatives who attended the Café, along with their affiliation, and a clear idea as to when their respective stories will be filed (for print, television, radio or Internet).
• The applicant will provide CIHR pens and notepads (supplied by CIHR) to participants immediately prior to the Café Scientifique, place a CIHR roll-it-up vertical banner (supplied by CIHR) on exhibit behind or beside the panel of experts during the Café Scientifique, and communicate final information pertaining to the Café Scientifique's location, time, subject matter and panel members at least one month prior to the event for posting on the CIHR website.

Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described in Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review.

CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this Funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.

While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the Funding opportunity will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.

Policy on Access to Research Outputs

CIHR believes that greater access to research publications and data will promote the ability of researchers and knowledge users in Canada and abroad to use and build on the knowledge needed to address significant health challenges. Open access will promote accessibility to CIHR-funded research and will serve to increase the international visibility of Canadian research. As of January 1, 2008, CIHR grant recipients are reminded to adhere with the responsibilities outlined in the Policy on Access to Research Outputs. Under this policy, grant recipients must make every effort to ensure that research papers and bio-molecular data generated from CIHR funding are freely accessible online.

Communication Requirements

Grant recipients are required to acknowledge CIHR in any communication, materials, or publications related to the activity / event. See CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies, Public Communication and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support for details on CIHR's communication requirements.

Performance Measurement

CIHR is committed to demonstrating results to Canadians for the money invested in health research. Therefore, processes for monitoring progress and appropriate use of funds, as well as for performance measurement and program evaluation are in place. As a result, funding recipients must:

• contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes by participating in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops, audits and providing data or reports as required for the purpose of collecting information to assess progress and results;
• encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.

Review Process and Evaluation

Review Process

The Communications and Marketing Branch will provide funding for applications that are relevant to (in alignment with) the objectives and relevant areas described in the "Objectives" section.

Merit Review

A CIHR review committee will evaluate the full applications. The review committee will be comprised of CIHR staff. CIHR staff may also call upon external delegates with expertise necessary to conduct the review. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from Communications and Marketing Branch and the Knowledge Translation Portfolio following CIHR's Policy on Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality in the context of Merit, Relevance and Peer Review (CCIP).

The review committee will review the applications for merit in the context of the CIHR Café objective to establish an accessible/informal discussion between the general public and scientists/health professionals about the value and impact of health research on the health of Canadians, the health care system and the economy as a whole.

Evaluation Criteria

How to Apply

Note: This funding opportunity DOES NOT require the use of Web Forms or ResearchNet to apply for funding.

The applicant will submit a four page description (maximum), in hardcopy, of the proposed Café that demonstrates how the event meets the evaluation criteria, most specifically the following: (Updated: 2009-04-29)

• applicant must demonstrate how their subject is a health research-related issue of popular interest to the general public;
• applicant must submit a reasonable budget for the event (including in-kind contributions on behalf of the organization and respect for potential costs);
• applicant must provide a detailed description of the Café and highlight how their event will meet CIHR's objectives and its guidelines for organizers and participants;
• applicant must structure a communications plan for the Café that will show how the event will be presented (tactics, tools and timeline);
• applicant must list the names of two CIHR-funded expert researchers who will take part in the event's panel (either as moderator or panellist);
• applicant must provide the name of someone who has the signing authority to claim the funds on behalf of the organization; and
• applicant must also provide the name, address, phone number and e-mail address for someone who will act as a point of contact between the organization and CIHR

Five hardcopies of the application must be submitted to:

Peter Maitland
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
9th Floor, 160 Elgin St.
Postal Locator 4209A
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9

Contact Information

For questions about this initiative and the objectives of this funding opportunity contact:

Peter Maitland
Public Affairs Officer and Writer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-1972
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: peter.maitland@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Partner/Collaborator Description

CIHR – Knowledge Synthesis and Exchange Branch

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research's (CIHR) principal objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system. The CIHR Knowledge Synthesis and Exchange Branch is dedicated to supporting outstanding research and research synthesis, building capacity for the uptake of knowledge and strengthening the science of knowledge translation best practices in the interest of improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians.