Announcements
March 28, 2012
UBC Deadline for NSERC Innovation Challenge Awards for Graduate Students - April 20
These awards, with prizes of $10,000 and $5,000, honour graduate students in the natural sciences or engineering "who have demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit by identifying ways in which their research thesis results can be developed into products and processes to benefit Canadians." In previous years, UBC graduate students have been very successful in securing awards from this competition.
Graduate students may put themselves forward themselves for nomination, but all nominations must be submitted through universities’ industry liaison offices, and each institution can nominate only two students.
We are therefore asking that we receive complete applications at the UILO office by noon on Friday, April 20. This will allow enough time for a detailed evaluation of proposals before the selected nominations are forwarded to Ottawa, complete with our letter of endorsement, by May 1.
Eligibility requirements and application procedure are summarized below.
Full details of the application materials required, as well as NSERC judging criteria can be found at http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Ica-Pdi/Nomination-Nomination_eng.asp <http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Ica-Pdi/Nomination-Nomination_eng.asp> and must be consulted before submitting an application.
<http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Ica-Pdi/Nomination-Nomination_eng.asp>
In summary:
Eligible nominees must:
· have conducted research at the master’s or PhD level in one of the fields of natural sciences or engineering that NSERC supports at an eligible Canadian university;
· have submitted, or expect to submit, their thesis between May 2, 2011, and April 30, 2012 (students must successfully defend their thesis before the award is offered); and
· be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in Canada at the time of nomination.
Materials required in the application are:
· An up-to-date curriculum vitæ that provides information on the student's contributions to publications (including patents) and collaborative research activities. The curriculum vitæ should include the mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address where the nominee can be contacted until the end of July 2012.
· A letter from the graduate office of the university stating the date of the successful defence/submission of the student's master's or doctoral thesis, or anticipated date of defence/submission.
· An essay that clearly explains how the research results produced during the pursuit of the student's master's or PhD degree have been, are being or could be translated into a commercial product or service. Visit http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Ica-Pdi/Nomination-Nomination_eng.asp <http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Ica-Pdi/Nomination-Nomination_eng.asp> for more details
· A one-page letter from the supervisor or departmental chair. The letter must clearly outline the specific contributions made by the student to the research.
· A photocopy of documents confirming Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
· A letter of support from any private sector organization(s) that have expressed an interest in the commercial product or service. The letter should address the significance of the commercial product or service to the organization.
· A Consent To Disclosure Form signed by the nominee http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/prizes/ConsentForm_e.pdf <http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/prizes/ConsentForm_e.pdf> . The nominee must read and agree to “What do the signatures on the nomination mean?” (the nominee section would apply).
We also ask that in the interest of ensuring a timely submission to NSERC, all applications also include a copy of the entry form signed by the nominee. The entry form can be accessed at http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/prizes/ica_form_e.pdf <http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/prizes/ica_form_e.pdf>
I would be most grateful if you could circulate this information to interested current or recent graduate students in your faculty, and the hard copy of the application should be sent to:
Angus Livingstone, Managing Director, University-Industry Liaison Office, #103-6190 Agronomy Road, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3.
It should be received by noon on Friday April 20.
A copy of this information is posted on the UILO website at www.uilo.ubc.ca/innovation-challenge <http://www.uilo.ubc.ca/innovation-challenge> accessible directly from our homepage at www.uilo.ubc.ca <http://www.uilo.ubc.ca>
NSERC Innovation Challenge Awards Website <http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Ica-Pdi/Index-Index_eng.asp>
January 17, 2012
Call For Nominations - Canadian Association for Graduate Students
The Call for nominations and the Check List for the 2012 CAG/UMI Distinguished Dissertation Awards are now available on the CAGS website http://www.cags.ca/cagsumi-award.html.
Nominations must be received by March 31, 2012.
December 7, 2011
New Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research
Canada’s research granting agencies—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada <http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/> , the Canadian Institutes of Health Research <http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/> , and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada <http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/> —are committed to fostering and maintaining an environment that supports and promotes the responsible conduct of research.
On December 5, 2011, they officially launched the new Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research <http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/governance-gouvernance/Message-Message_eng.asp> . This new framework is an umbrella document that describes agency policies and requirements related to applying for and managing agency funds, performing research and disseminating results. It also outlines the process that institutions and the agencies follow in the event of an allegation of a breach of agency policy.
This new framework replaces the previous integrity policy and related documents, including the Tri-Agency Policy Statement: Integrity in Research and Scholarship (TCPS-I, 1994), the Framework for Tri-Council Review of Institutional Policies Dealing with Integrity in Research (1996) and the Tri-Agency Process for Addressing Allegations of Non-compliance with Tri-Agency Policies (2010).
It is important to note that:
1. Effective December 5, applicants, grantees and awards holders are required to comply with the new Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research <http://www.rcr.ethics.gc.ca/eng/policy-politique/framework-cadre> and all the policies contained within it.
2. To ensure full accountability and transparency for the proper use of public funds in supporting research, the agencies now require all researchers applying for funding to provide a Consent to Disclosure of Personal Information <http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/governance-gouvernance/consent-consentement_eng.asp> , allowing the agencies (subject to applicable laws, including the Privacy Act, and in cases of a serious breach of agency policy) to publicly disclose:
o the name of the researcher;
o the nature of the breach;
o the name of the institution where the researcher was employed at the time of the breach; and
o the name of the institution where the researcher is currently employed.
3. The new Panel on Responsible Conduct of Research <http://www.rcr.ethics.gc.ca/eng/index/> will be responsible for ensuring a coherent and uniform approach to promoting the responsible conduct of research and addressing allegations of breaches of agency policies. The panel will be responsible for governing and implementing the new framework, with support from the new Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research (previously the Secretariat on Research Ethics).
For more information about the new framework, including a message from the tri-agency presidents and some highlights of the new framework, please visit the panel website <http://www.rcr.ethics.gc.ca/eng/index/> or contact the Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research at secretariat@rcr.ethics.gc.ca.
Student Safety Abroad Policy
The UBC Board of Governors, the UBC Okanagan Senate and the UBC Vancouver Senate have recently approved a policy to support and better prepare students for safe travel abroad. Policy #69 covers UBC students travelling abroad for university activities such as exchange and study abroad, attending conferences, international service learning, conducting research, and volunteering.
Under the Student Safety Abroad policy, all staff and faculty members are to inform students of their obligation to register for travel for university purposes. Students can undertake these steps on the Go Global website at www.students.ubc.ca/global/safety-abroad.
UBC students are required to seek authorization and register for international travel on university activities. For most regions, students can complete these requirements online on the Student Safety Abroad website.
For regions designated as Level 3 or 4 by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), students must undertake additional safety planning and risk assessment prior to authorization. In partnership with Go Global, Heads of Units will be responsible for granting or declining students’ requests to travel to Level 3 and Level 4 destinations.
The Safety Abroad website provides students with:·
- A quick and easy online mechanism to register travel dates and complete essential documents
- Instructions and reminders on safe travel abroad
- Travel reports status updates on the region they will be studying or working in
- A process for them to request approval to countries with Level 3 and 4 advisories
University activities do not include activities sponsored or organized by student clubs or the AMS, the Students' Union or the Graduate Society unless the activity is funded, coordinated or sponsored by UBC. Students engaged in these activities are welcome, and encouraged, to use the Student Safety Abroad resources and registry.
Review the policy on the University Counsel site: www.universitycounsel.ubc.ca/policies/policy69.pdf Information sessions about the policy will be held in March. View the event schedule: www.students.ubc.ca/global/events/
Last reviewed 
3/28/2012 10:37:31 AM
